Anti-Heroes / Villainous Male Leads

I want either sweet gooey softies or toxic anti-heroes and this list is devoted to the latter. For the most part, I'm looking for primary male leads who fit this description because there's an overabundance of villainous 2nd MLs, however I'm going to make an exception for the unloved guys who were interesting, multi-dimensional, or gave me second lead syndrome.

Elsa Mae Mae Apr 17, 2022
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  • Cheese in the Trap

    1. Cheese in the Trap

    Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes

    9.0
  • That Winter, the Wind Blows

    2. That Winter, the Wind Blows

    Korean Drama - 2013, 16 episodes

    9.0

    the set up for this drama is literally "conman swindles blind heiress out of money by pretending to be her long lost brother who he knows is actually dead" so if Oh Soo doesn't deserve to be at the top of the list I don't know who does! 

    [One of my favorite melodramas.]

  • The Smile Has Left Your Eyes

    3. The Smile Has Left Your Eyes

    Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes

    9.0

    this bold drama doesn't give anything away or provide an explanation for the ML's behavior in its early episodes so Kim Moo Young comes off as irredeemable and unsympathetic, which I actually loved since it isn't something I have seen before (most anti-hero MLs are provided with tragic backstory very, very quickly)

  • Flower of Evil

    4. Flower of Evil

    Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes

    9.5

    the plot of this drama rests on the ML's morally ambiguous characterization and the mysteries surrounding his violent past, which is similar to The Smile Has Left Your Eyes so I think if you liked one, you'll probably enjoy the other

  • Goodbye My Princess: Director's Cut

    5. Goodbye My Princess: Director's Cut

    Chinese Drama - 2019, 55 episodes

    9.5

    the scheming ML uses the FL as a pawn in his nefarious plans for power & revenge

  • Fall in Love

    6. Fall in Love

    Chinese Drama - 2021, 36 episodes

    the scheming ML uses the FL as a pawn in his nefarious plans for power

  • Love Better Than Immortality

    7. Love Better Than Immortality

    Chinese Drama - 2019, 40 episodes

    5.5

    the scheming ML uses the FL as a pawn in his nefarious plans for power & revenge

  • The Innocent Man

    8. The Innocent Man

    Korean Drama - 2012, 20 episodes

    7.5

    the scheming ML uses the FL as a pawn in his nefarious plans for revenge

  • Money Flower

    9. Money Flower

    Korean Drama - 2017, 24 episodes

    the scheming ML uses the FL as a pawn in his nefarious plans for revenge

  • Hotel King

    10. Hotel King

    Korean Drama - 2014, 32 episodes

    the scheming ML uses the FL as a pawn in his nefarious plans for revenge

  • Twisted Fate of Love

    11. Twisted Fate of Love

    Chinese Drama - 2020, 43 episodes

    the scheming ML uses the FL as a pawn in his nefarious plans for power & revenge

    [I dropped this drama because the ML consistently and easily outwitted the FL while she's portrayed as sulky and irrational, which isn't a combination I enjoy.]

  • Behind Your Smile

    12. Behind Your Smile

    Taiwanese Drama - 2016, 19 episodes

    the scheming ML uses the FL as a pawn in his nefarious plans for revenge

    [I dropped this drama because the lead actress's performance as a naive FL was distracting.]

  • Tempted

    13. Tempted

    Korean Drama - 2018, 32 episodes

    the scheming ML uses the FL as a pawn in his nefarious plans

    [I dropped this drama because Joy's acting was a disappointment. I might return to it with adjusted expectations though, I'm a huge fan of Kim Min Jae, Moon Ga Young, and Woo Do Hwan.]

  • Bulgasal: Immortal Souls

    14. Bulgasal: Immortal Souls

    Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes

    8.5
  • The King's Woman

    15. The King's Woman

    Chinese Drama - 2017, 48 episodes

    8.0

    obsessive ML who is willing to engage in unethical behavior to keep the FL by his side

  • Empress Ki

    16. Empress Ki

    Korean Drama - 2013, 51 episodes

    10

    obsessive ML who is willing to engage in unethical behavior to keep the FL by his side

  • Well-Intended Love

    17. Well-Intended Love

    Chinese Drama - 2019, 20 episodes

    obsessive ML who is willing to engage in unethical behavior to keep the FL by his side

  • About Is Love

    18. About Is Love

    Chinese Drama - 2018, 30 episodes

    obsessive ML who is willing to engage in unethical behavior to keep the FL by his side

  • Before We Get Married

    19. Before We Get Married

    Taiwanese Drama - 2019, 13 episodes

    6.0

    obsessive ML who is willing to engage in unethical behavior to keep the FL by his side 

    [I wouldn't recommend this drama, although it fits this trope well. The performances and premise were great, but the execution fell flat for me.]

  • The Wolf

    20. The Wolf

    Chinese Drama - 2020, 49 episodes

    8.5
  • The Romance of Tiger and Rose

    21. The Romance of Tiger and Rose

    Chinese Drama - 2020, 24 episodes

  • Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo

    22. Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo

    Korean Drama - 2016, 20 episodes

    9.5
  • Man in Love

    23. Man in Love

    Taiwanese Movie - 2021

    debt collector ML

  • Man in Love

    24. Man in Love

    Korean Movie - 2014

    debt collector/thug ML

  • When a Man's in Love

    25. When a Man's in Love

    Korean Drama - 2013, 20 episodes

    4.0

    debt collector/thug ML

  • Cruel City

    26. Cruel City

    Korean Drama - 2013, 20 episodes

    gangster ML

  • Cruel Romance

    27. Cruel Romance

    Chinese Drama - 2015, 40 episodes

    gangster ML

  • Lady & Liar

    28. Lady & Liar

    Chinese Drama - 2015, 46 episodes

    gangster ML

  • Bad Guys

    29. Bad Guys

    Korean Drama - 2014, 11 episodes

    NOT a romance, but like the title suggests, it's full of (sexy) bad guys

  • The Last Empress

    30. The Last Empress

    Korean Drama - 2018, 52 episodes

  • Todome no Kiss

    31. Todome no Kiss

    Japanese Drama - 2018, 10 episodes

  • Kill Me, Heal Me

    32. Kill Me, Heal Me

    Korean Drama - 2015, 20 episodes

    the ML has Dissociate Identity Disorder and one of his identities acts as an antagonist

  • Born Again

    33. Born Again

    Korean Drama - 2020, 32 episodes

    4.0
  • The Bridal Mask

    34. The Bridal Mask

    Korean Drama - 2012, 28 episodes

  • Extraordinary You

    35. Extraordinary You

    Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes

    8.0

    extraordinarily toxic 2nd male lead who I was rooting for because I found Rowoon's character extraordinarily boring

  • Bloody Romance

    36. Bloody Romance

    Chinese Drama - 2018, 36 episodes

    9.5

    2nd male lead who I was not rooting for but found very, very compelling and multi-dimensional regardless

    scheming 2nd ML

  • The Princess Wei Young

    37. The Princess Wei Young

    Chinese Drama - 2016, 54 episodes

    9.5

    the lead actors share such out-of-this-world explosive chemistry (they're married IRL) that their respective love triangles became window dressing, but I was excited every time Vanness Wu appeared on my screen

    scheming 2nd ML

  • Boys over Flowers

    38. Boys over Flowers

    Korean Drama - 2009, 25 episodes

    6.0

    bully romance

  • Meteor Garden

    39. Meteor Garden

    Chinese Drama - 2018, 50 episodes

    bully romance

  • F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers

    40. F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers

    Thai Drama - 2021, 16 episodes

    bully romance 

    [My favorite version of Boys Over Flowers.]

  • Uncontrollably Fond

    41. Uncontrollably Fond

    Korean Drama - 2016, 20 episodes

  • Really Meet Love That Day

    42. Really Meet Love That Day

    Chinese Drama - 2021, 40 episodes

  • Love in Time

    43. Love in Time

    Chinese Drama - 2020, 24 episodes

  • Jealousy Incarnate

    44. Jealousy Incarnate

    Korean Drama - 2016, 24 episodes

  • Cheese in the Trap

    45. Cheese in the Trap

    Korean Movie - 2018

    the film version

  • Love Me Not

    46. Love Me Not

    Korean Movie - 2006

    the Korean film version of That Winter, the Wind Blows

  • Lawless Lawyer

    47. Lawless Lawyer

    Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes

  • Kill It

    48. Kill It

    Korean Drama - 2019, 12 episodes

  • Falling for Innocence

    49. Falling for Innocence

    Korean Drama - 2015, 16 episodes

  • Vincenzo

    50. Vincenzo

    Korean Drama - 2021, 20 episodes

  • My Lethal Man

    51. My Lethal Man

    Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes

  • Till the End of the Moon

    52. Till the End of the Moon

    Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes

    8.5
  • The Starry Love

    53. The Starry Love

    Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes

  • Princess Agents

    54. Princess Agents

    Chinese Drama - 2017, 67 episodes

    7.5
  • Love Between Fairy and Devil

    55. Love Between Fairy and Devil

    Chinese Drama - 2022, 36 episodes

  • Dong Lan Xue

    56. Dong Lan Xue

    Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes

    10
  • Night of Love With You

    57. Night of Love With You

    Chinese Drama - 2022, 24 episodes

    8.5
  • Circle of Love

    58. Circle of Love

    Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes

    7.0
  • Maid's Revenge

    59. Maid's Revenge

    Chinese Drama - 2022, 30 episodes

    7.0
  • Painted Skin: The Guo Jingming Edition

    60. Painted Skin: The Guo Jingming Edition

    Chinese Movie - 2020

    7.0
  • Dear Liar

    61. Dear Liar

    Chinese Drama - 2023, 27 episodes

  • Alchemy of Souls Season 2: Light and Shadow

    62. Alchemy of Souls Season 2: Light and Shadow

    Korean Drama - 2022, 10 episodes

    7.5

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