Second leads I would like to throw off a building
Mostly includes second male leads who are not written as villains, and yet their actions made me want to reach through the screen and strangle them.
I have a more complicated relationship with second female leads. Yes, I often dislike SFLs, but that's because they're written in a misogynistic pick-me way and we are meant to hate them. So I end up just feeling uncomfortable and wishing the writers would just drop the outdated bullsh*t.
Again I'm excluding second leads who are intentionally written as villain characters, i.e., we're supposed to hate them anyway. These are second leads who could have been likeable but annoyed the hell out of me.
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1. Reply 1997
Korean Drama - 2012, 16 episodes
EW EW EW somebody come arrest this SML fr
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2. Ani ni Aisaresugite Komattemasu
Japanese Drama - 2017, 5 episodes
not that I liked the ML any better... every single male character in this drama was a dumpster fire personified
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3. Cunning Single Lady
Korean Drama - 2014, 16 episodes
SML does not understand the meaning of the word "no"
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4. Mr. Queen
Korean Drama - 2020, 20 episodes
why are you in love with your cousin???
get a grip ffs
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5. The King's Affection
Korean Drama - 2021, 20 episodes
Why Are You in Love With Your Cousin: Part 2
but at least this SML was hot enough to get away with it -
6. Please Feel at Ease Mr. Ling
Chinese Drama - 2021, 24 episodes
Why Are You in Love With Your
CousinAdopted Sister?! WTF dude -
7. Clean with Passion for Now
Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes
SO unethical. he was the ML's psychiatrist ffs! How did he not lose his medical license over this??
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8. Boys over Flowers
Korean Drama - 2009, 25 episodes
I hate the SML character in every adaptation tbh
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9. Legally Romance
Chinese Drama - 2022, 33 episodes
never took "no" for an answer. the FL was literally rejecting him from day one and he still kept inserting himself into her life
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10. Love Better Than Immortality
Chinese Drama - 2019, 40 episodes
SML's personality was more boring than watching paint dry. I swear you can hear crickets every time he's on screen
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11. Love with Flaws
Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes
he had "nice guy" energy, as in, he's only nice to you until you reject him, at which point he turns into an asshole
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12. Strong Woman Do Bong Soon
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
ACAB includes In Gook Doo
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13. Marriage, Not Dating
Korean Drama - 2014, 16 episodes
another case of "every male character is a dumpster fire"
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14. Meow, the Secret Boy
Korean Drama - 2020, 24 episodes
no
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15. Best Mistake
Korean Drama - 2019, 15 episodes
SML was so presumptious and annoying
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16. Moonlight
Chinese Drama - 2021, 36 episodes
can't take no for an answer. a common SML affliction unfortunately
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17. What's Wrong with Secretary Kim
Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes
I guess we probably were supposed to hate him all along. but the SML was just so irritating and took up so much screentime, ugh
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18. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
it was the FL who liked the SML first but it's super weird that he kinda reciprocated after a while. he was her DOCTOR. ewwww
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19. Once We Get Married
Chinese Drama - 2021, 24 episodes
at first the SML was clearly the better choice but he WAY overdid it as the story went on. like, she doesn't like you. stop constructing your whole life around a woman who does not reciprocate
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20. Kakafukaka
Japanese Drama - 2019, 10 episodes
SML is a raging misogynist who proposes marriage to the FL because he likes how she can clean and cook for him but doesn't have any pesky dreams or ambitions for him to accomodate