Drama Recommendation: Shizuka-chan to Papa
*This article contains some minor spoilers, so please be careful if you haven't seen the shows.*
Whenever I see "contracted relationship" in a drama's synopsis, I just know that I have to watch it.
Contracted relationships are situations in which the main leads decide to either get married or be in a pretend romantic relationship. They sometimes sign a contract, other times it's a verbal agreement. There are various reasons that make the characters want to fake a relationship including getting an inheritance, parental pressure, and keeping up appearances. The benefit for us viewers are forced skinship, cohabiting hijinks, the inevitable falling in love, and perhaps even permanent relationships.
So here are my top 10 dramas including contracted relationships, ranked from highest (1) to lowest (10).
1. PRIDE
"I was born to love you, with every single bit of my heart.."
First of all, the intro song "I Was Born to Love You" by Queen is the perfect choice for this drama. This is the only J-drama in this list because it is the only contracted relationship that I've seen in Japanese dramas. If you know any others, please recommend them to me!
This drama is absolutely worth watching! It's a mature drama about Aki, an office lady who is waiting for her boyfriend to come back from the USA after several years of not getting any news from him. One day, she decides to go to a hockey game. There she meets Haru, the team's ace, and enters a contracted relationship with him. This drama talks about love, friendship and achieving your dreams.
KIND OF CONTRACTED RELATIONSHIP: Boyfriend and girlfriend.
PURPOSE OF THE CONTRACTED RELATIONSHIP: For this couple it's playing a "game". If you want to know what this game is about, watch the drama!
2. MARRIAGE CONTRACT
This drama is sad but heartwarming. A young widow (Hye Soo) and her little daughter meet the owner (Ji Hoon) of a restaurant where Hye Soo starts working. There she finds out that Ji Hoon is looking for a liver donor for his mother and is willing to marry a stranger in order to get it. Hye Soo also finds that out that she has a brain tumor and little chances of surviving, so she decides to enter a contracted marriage with Ji Hoon. In this drama, they actually sign a contract stating the conditions of the marriage.
It's a sad premise but I assure you that it's worth the watch. The drama will definitely make you cry, but only in the last couple of episodes. The acting is great, the little girl wins your heart and Uee's acting in this drama is very memorable.
KIND OF CONTRACTED RELATIONSHIP: Marriage.
PURPOSE OF THE CONTRACTED RELATIONSHIP: For Ji Hoo to get the liver donor and for Hye Soo to assure her daughter's financial future.
3. MARRIAGE NOT DATING
This drama is full of fun, it's definitely not your typical drama. It has a very interesting story and characters.
This is about Jang Mi who is obsessed with the idea of getting married, but her current boyfriend dumps her and cuts off all contact with her. While looking for him she meets his friend Ki Tae, who is a bachelor who hates the idea of getting married and loves living by himself in his apartment. But because of his parents' pressuring, he enters a contracted relationship with Jang Mi. Ki Tae tells his parents that if they want him to marry they'll have to accept the girl he chooses, otherwise he'll never marry anyone.
This drama makes you laugh in almost every episode and is full of unexpected plot twists.
KIND OF CONTRACTED RELATIONSHIP: Soon to be married.
PURPOSE OF THE CONTRACTED RELATIONSHIP: For Ki Tae's parents to disapprove of his choice, therefore freeing him of getting married. For Jang Mi to get revenge on her ex boyfriend.
4. DELIGHTFUL GIRL, CHOON HYANG
This is an old drama (2005) but the story still works. It's one of the first dramas made by the Hong Sisters and is based on an old Korean folktale.
Choon Hyang and Mong Ryong are two high school students that end up spending a night together (nothing happens between them). When their school finds out, they are forced to get married. This drama follows their high school days, their university days and their adult days. For me, the character that stands out the most is the villain, Hak Do, because I get to understand his feelings and his actions towards the heroine. When I recently rewatched this drama it made me wonder if Hak Do wouldn't have been a better choice instead of Mong Ryong.
KIND OF CONTRACTED RELATIONSHIP: Marriage.
PURPOSE OF THE CONTRACTED RELATIONSHIP: Keeping up appearances. Since the school thinks spending the night together was immoral they have to get married so they can graduate.
5. FATED TO LOVE YOU (Korean)
Fated to Love You was originally a Taiwanese drama, but I prefer the Korean remake and this is mainly related to the male lead character. The Korean character is way kinder to the female lead, unlike the Taiwanese version where he acts like a jerk.
The story is about Mi Yeong who gets compared to a Post-it because she is convenient and you can dispose of her when she's not needed anymore. When she goes on a trip with her boyfriend she gets dumped and coincidentally ends up having a one night stand with the heir, Lee Gun. Later they find out she is pregnant and because of their parents' pressuring, they have to enter a contracted marriage. In this one they actually sign a contract stating that they will get divorced once the baby is born, without the knowledge of their parents, who think they will stay married for good.
Jang Hyuk steals the show in this drama, his Lee Gun is full of heart and is always looking out for Mi Yeong and I will never forget his characteristic laugh. It was creepy and hilarious at the same time.
KIND OF CONTRACTED RELATIONSHIP: Marriage.
PURPOSE OF THE CONTRACTED RELATIONSHIP: Appeasing their parents until the baby is born.
6. GOONG
In this drama, royalty still exists in Korea. The crown prince, Lee Shin, is a high school student who has to marry a common girl, Chae Kyung. This arranged marriage was decided between his dead grandfather and one of his friends. So they get married and Chae Kyung has to move into the palace and follow all the palace’s rules, which have been practically the same since the Joseon period.
This drama is very interesting because you get to see the royalty but in a modern setting instead of a Sageuk. This is a high budget drama with lots of beautiful clothing and scenery. I really liked how Shin started opening his heart to Chae Kyung, and started discovering new things he didn’t know anything about because he grew up in the palace. Also, I must say this: One has to be careful of the second lead syndrome. Lee Yul is one of my favorite second leads in dramaland.
I'm not really satisfied with the drama’s ending, but those are two episodes I can skip when I rewatch it.
KIND OF CONTRACTED RELATIONSHIP: Marriage.
PURPOSE OF THE CONTRACTED RELATIONSHIP: Shin's purpose is to follow his grandfather's arrangement (the king's commands have to be followed). Chae Kyung's family is drowning in debts so she has to marry Shin to support them.
7. MARY STAYED OUT ALL NIGHT
This is the first drama starring Jang Geun Suk that I really enjoyed. I’ve tried others but either I dropped them or suffered to finish them. I find this drama really cute and light-hearted. It has a very good OST, the songs are sticky and you will probably end up singing along to them.
It’s about a girl called Mae Ri, whose father lives hiding from debt collectors. Her father’s old friend who recently appeared pays off all the debts and makes an agreement with her father to marry Mae Ri with to son, Jung In. Mae Ri tries to escape this deal by asking Moo Kyul (Geun Suk’s character) to fake a marriage with her.
KIND OF CONTRACTED RELATIONSHIP: Fake marriage.
PURPOSE OF THE CONTRACTED RELATIONSHIP: For Mae Ri to escape the arranged marriage with Jung In.
8. SUNNY HAPPINESS
I really like the main couple in this drama, I think they have great chemistry and are very visually appealing.
Yong Yong is a housekeeper who works at a hotel owned by Yun Jie. One day, Yun Jie finds out that he has a son with his previous wife and decides to ask for custody. In order to do so, he enters a contracted marriage with Yong Yong. Then they end up having a one night stand due to both of them being drunk. They discover Yong Yong is pregnant have to prolong their fake relationship.
This drama has a contracted relationship, pregnancy, cute second lead, cute lead; it's an all-rounder.
KIND OF CONTRACTED RELATIONSHIP: Marriage.
PURPOSE OF THE CONTRACTED RELATIONSHIP: For Yun Jie to gain custody of his child. For Yong Yong to save the orphanage she grew up in. After she gets pregnant, Yun Jie and Yong Yong decide to be responsible for the child by maintaining the contracted marriage.
9. FULL HOUSE
This is another pretty old drama (2004). This drama was a big hit for Rain and Song Hye Kyo not only in Korea but in other parts of the world as well. Full House was also one of the first contracted relationship dramas, the premise was still pretty new back then.
Full House is about a writer, Ji Eun, who lives in a house designed by her dead father. One day, she finds out her friends sold her house to a very famous actor, Yeong Jae. She enters a contracted marriage with Yeon Jae and the story starts developing as they gradually fall in love.
dThis is one of the first contracted relationship dramas I saw and I found it very entertaining. The couple had great chemistry. In this drama, they actually sign a contract but it is the cutest contract ever!
KIND OF CONTRACTED RELATIONSHIP: Marriage.
PURPOSE OF THE CONTRACTED RELATIONSHIP: For Ji Eun to get her house back. For Yeong Jae to keep up appearances and also to maintain his pride. Yeong Jae kisses Ji Eun at a party while trying to prove to his childhood friend (who he is secretly in love with) that he has no feelings for her. Many reporters watch this kiss and turn it into a scandal.
10. SMILING PASTA
"Smile and there is nothing you can't overcome."
Also an old drama (2006). I have rewatched it and honestly, the story is kind of weak and it was less interesting to watch the second time around.
He Qun is a famous singer who meets Xiao Shi, an ordinary girl who thinks she is cursed with bad luck. He ends up getting involved in a scandal with her and the contracted relationship begins.
Like I said, when I rewatched it, it had many parts that were kind of nonsensical and unbelievable, so if you want to watch this drama you have to unplug your brain and not dig that deep into the story. Still, I think is watchable.
KIND OF CONTRACTED RELATIONSHIP: Soon to be married.
PURPOSE OF THE CONTRACTED RELATIONSHIP: For He Qun to mantain his public image.
I'd like to make a special mention to three dramas that complete the list of contracted relationship dramas that I've watched but couldn't make it into this top 10:
What are some of your favorite Contract Relationship dramas?
