Ooooh your recommendation topic is so similar to mine. I too am looking for show with a more subtle love story. You know the kind where the leads don't have to say I love you for the viewers to feel the chemistry. It also helps in keeping focus on plot. So given how you seem to like shows similar to what I like I'll recommend some that I thought had amazing chemistry:
Liar game: you won't find a romance tag in this show and many viewers think that the relationship between the leads was purely platonic but I thought their chemistry was way too palpable for it to be platonic. The show also keeps you on the edge with twist and turns.
Kairos: the plot is similar to signal however the time gap here is 1 month. Leads had good chemistry and I loved how every episode had you wondering if the characters would make it our alive. This was my favourite 2020 show. Also spoiler Your friend is confessing to you and go to stand next to the male lead? Yeah I see what the makers did there :P never liked the friend anyway
Train: the show is about parallel worlds and the butterfly effect. However what I never expected to find was the beautiful chemistry that the leads had. The male lead is deeply in love with the FL and protects her with everything he's got (she's no damsel though). I came for the plot but the chemistry was so natural that even though the leads never say love you, you feel their love for each other in a deep level.
The Ghost Detective: sooooo underrated. I was so upset to find out that the show did not get ratings at the time it was airing but maaan this show has a beautiful love story hidden beneath all the horror and darkness. The first time the leads hug will have you smiling like an idiot. The two leads also never confess their love or anything but their willingness to sacrifice themselves for one another was enough proof. Also 'special relationship ' seems to be a good replacement for I love you lol. Yeah the show has some plot holes but definitely not the kind that will make you dislike the show. It's the kind of show that leaves you to deduce most of the answers for yourself and I was fine with that.
Voice season 2 and 3: the two lead actors have been friends since 2006 and this translates to the chemistry we get from their characters in the show. The show is dark gritty and yet you find yourself happy at small moments of affection they sometimes (very rarely) show for one another. This is a pure action thriller and can get disturbingly violent sometimes. I know many people think do kang woo and kang center were platonic but I always thought they definitely liked each other. I also think (spoiler: do kang woo is alive and is getting treated for his condition)
The guest: horror, excellent plot and lots if action. I honestly thought there were sparks between Mateo and detective kang gil and as a whole the trio was just way too adorable together. This can get a little scary sometimes (it wasn't for me but I know some people did find it scary)
Sell your haunted house: again another horror show with definite chemistry between the leads though we never see them talk about their feelings with each other. We do get the occasional staring into each others' eyes moments and in the last episode their feelings were a little more apparent but again there's never any Confession. You just kinda know (plus the male lead is very obvious about his crush). Jang Nara also nails her role so that's definitely something to look forward to.
My mister: this show is a little different from my other recs. This isn't a thriller or horror nor a crime/action drama. This is a show about two people healing each other and finally emerging from a place of darkness. I never thought I would love this show as much as I did but this show is now my number 1. People are left to interpret whether the leads remained platonic or had a relationship. I choose to believe that they ended up in a relationship because despite the age gap, they were so....pure. their love for each other was obvious and very pure. They were soul mates and would be the best partner for each other.
Stranger: platonic partners, female police officer and male prosecutor who feels no emotions. Their chemistry was awesome and the plot was just amaaaaazing. This had 2 seasons and both are excellent. Keeps you on the edge nor because of action sequences but because of the way everything unravels
Circle: another criminally underrated show. The leads are adorable together (the switch between past and present confused some but I thought it was done well). The plot is also something I haven't seen repeated many times in korean dramas. It's pretty unusual and I liked it a lot. But again no love confessions or anything. The characters are way too busy for that. But their crush is adorable.
Children of nobody (not to be mixed up with children of a lesser god): this is a dark show and trigger warning (child abuse) It's kinda obvious that the male lead really likes the female lead.
Law school: a show about the struggles faced by law students and to spice things up, there's a murder to solve as well. I loved how all the cases discussed in their classes were relevant to the two main cases. Everything was interconnected and the makers did a good job of wrapping things up in the last episode. What I never expected to see in the show when I first started watching it was the adorable chemistry between kang sol A and ham joon who. Their banter was hilarious and even though we get no clue about whether they ended up together (not even a confession) I was content with it because I didn't come for the love story and the chemistry between them was enough for me to enjoy the show. Plus who's to say they aren't together? If the show didn't tell us that they are a couple, we'll they didn't say they are NOT a couple either. This and beyond evil have been my favourite 2021 shows (till now, I haven't watched Taxi driver or devil judge but I do plan on it)
These are all for now (I have some more but these are the top ones). In my opinion if the leads have good chemistry, you can interpret their relationship in whatever way you want. Especially if the makers leave the question of romantic feelings untouched. I prefer it that way. Sort of like an unspoken love?
Vampirehunter007:
kardasx:
