A drama with interesting anti-heroic ML

Dec 13, 2021 01:16 am

Please recommend me a drama, ideally costume drama, wit multilayered anti-heroic ML or SML.

By "anti-heroic" I mean a character that posesses some distinct traits that are traditionally considered as not represented by the hero type, like f.e.: not courageous/cowardly or bad tempered, or bad mannered or uncultured, prone to lying, deciving, manipulating or selfish, greedy , cruel, cynical , lazy, irresponsibe , not empatic etc. I'm not looking for an evil or immoral character or a really bad guy or quite popular "darker shade of a hero" but someone that has clear flaws that don't line well with traditional hero type. Whether he is on the "bad" or "good" site in the story I don't really care.

The characters that I enjoyed and fit this type: Lee Dae Gil from "Chuno", Xiao YuEr from"Handsome Sibilings", Gu Dong Mae from "Mr Sunshine", Jiang Cheng from "The Untamed", Li ChengYin from "Goodbye my Princess" , Ning Yi from "Rise of the Phoenixes"

Please, no simply abusive men.

kura2ninja

Dec 13, 2021 01:48 am

Six Flying Dragons? It's already on your PTW list. Yoo Ah-in's character in that drama can be considered an anti-hero--although I think it's only later in the drama that you get to see his "anti-heroic" characteristics unfold.

Marpleme

Dec 13, 2021 01:14 pm

Thank you!I indeed intended to watch it someday but I knew nothing about how the characters are porteayed. So maybe I will give this one go sooner than later

mahiba

Dec 13, 2021 01:21 pm

I like this kind of flawed (but not evil) heroes. I think they are the cutest and most humanized Male Leads. I tried to stick to costume dramas but snuck a few modern dramas that I thought were worth your while. few I think of:

King2Hearts : He starts out really lazy and incompetent though he gets better by the middle of the show (we see him actually learn and grow through the episodes which I appreciate).

Empress Ki: He's cowardly, lazy and incompetent.

Protect the Boss : Lazy, incompetent, cowardly and I don't remember him being super smart either. Not costume.

The Happy Loner : He has a really submisse and needy personality. Like the antithesis of the dark, aloof hero. Not costume but just 2 episodes, it's really worth it.

Cruel Romance : He's an uncultured gangster who doesn't really know how to communicate with 'good girls', but he's also courageous and a hard worker though...

Marpleme

Dec 13, 2021 02:06 pm

Thank you! Aside from Empress Ki ( watched it, good fit) all these recs are new to me so I'm glad to get them ;)

BabyNandos

Dec 13, 2021 02:39 pm

The Longest day in Chang'an-Li Bi and his team call in the services of death row prisoner Zhang Xiao Jing — a war veteran, beloved police chief, and murderer of his last direct superior.

Dec 13, 2021 05:37 pm

Marpleme:
Please recommend me a drama, ideally costume drama, wit multilayered anti-heroic ML or SML.

By "anti-heroic" I mean a character that posesses some distinct traits that are traditionally considered as not represented by the hero type, like f.e.: not courageous/cowardly or bad tempered, or bad mannered or uncultured, prone to lying, deciving, manipulating or selfish, greedy , cruel, cynical , lazy, irresponsibe , not empatic etc. I'm not looking for an evil or immoral character or a really bad guy or quite popular "darker shade of a hero" but someone that has clear flaws that don't line well with traditional hero type. Whether he is on the "bad" or "good" site in the story I don't really care.

Story of Yanxi Palace - Emperor Qianlong (selfish / cold / lacking empathy).
The Story of Ming Lan - Qi Heng (cowardly / doesn't fight for the FL or consider how his decisions will harm the FL).
The Crowned Clown - Lee Gyu (cold / deceptive / a liar / a murderer) - truly an amazing character.
I Need Romance 3 - Kang Tae Yoon (cynical / cold to the point of being cruel / not empathetic).
Be Loved in House: I Do - Yi Zi Tong (cold in the past / manipulative in the present).
Before We Get Married - Chu Ke Huan (selfish / manipulative); Li Hao Yi (selfish / lacking empathy).
Misty - Ha Myung Woo (didn't listen to the FL and acted on impulse in a way that harmed both of them / murderer) - another very compelling character. Kang Tae Wook on the other hand is ultimately shown to be absolutely awful. Definitely immoral if not outright evil.
Tempted - Kwon Shi Hyun (liar / deceiver / manipulator / cynical / irresponsible).
Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo - Wang So (cruel / lacking empathy / arguably selfish).