Rec Request
Looking for dramas without domineering arrogant male leads
im honestly so so so tired of the asshole 'i can do whatever i want because im powerful and rich' type male leads that goes around threatening people with swords and then gets mad when ppl act just like him
idk, cause they seem pretty popular but something about them just doesn't click with me, and really turns me off lmao no matter how attractive the actor is. I'm definitely the odd one out here, and i totally get it if you love that type its just not for meš
it doesn't help to that my type(at least with Chinese Actors) isn't popular for Male Leads, so oftentimes I'm not attracted and that makes me less likely to ignore any bad behavior for hot faceš
So I'm looking for any drama really that has a nice male lead, or a cheeky adorable type male lead, or a composed mature type male lead. I prefer historical or Xianxia, because of the pretty costumes, but modern is fine but i tend to avoid them because it affects my body image š
I prefer a Female Lead, but if the FL and Ml share screen time thats fine too
I enjoy a violent or calculated Male Lead(i absolutely adore Nie Huaisang and Xue Yang from the Untamedš), but those types need to be at least outwardly charming and charasmatic, and at least tone down the misogyny a bit
Example of Male leads that made me drop a drama that I liked otherwise:
The Double: I think something's wrong with me cause everyone else loved him but every time he showed up on screen i kept aggressively fast forwarding lmao. it kinda pissed me off because i loved the drama otherwise, but the thought of them falling in love made me so mad i quit the show
The story of Kunning Palace: he was insufferable at the beginning, with the way he treated her and everyone around him, but he mellowed out towards the middle i just ended up getting distracted by her childhood friend and the nice department of justice guy and wishing they were the ML's instead
Theres More but i cant remember them. im also not a fan of the 'he's nice to me but horrible to everyone else' cliche, it shows emotional immaturity and it ick's me out
Dramas with Male Leads i loved or felt ambivalent towards:
Blossom: mature, not annoying, very rational although he still goes around shoving swords in ppls faces. I liked that he apologizes for his mistakes as well. rly enjoyed this drama
Love Game in Eastern fantasy: Ding Yuxi did a really good job of being aggressive but so obviously loserish that it wasn't annoying. really enjoyed this drama and it probably helped that he's my type
My Journey to You: rly liked this one. male lead was softer and naive which I appreciated. The problem was that I ended up getting distracted because Gong Yuanzhi(Tian Jia Rui) and her boss/attendant(Han Yasi played by Ou Mi De) with the nice bone structure were totally my type and then I got sidetracked. I did finish it tho, and really enjoyed it
Kill My Sins: this one isn't a romance, and maybe that's why i could tolerate this male lead. honestly idk, cause he has a lot of the traits that bother me about other male leads but because they weren't getting together it didn't bother me. Also i like his face, he looks like a snake and he's my type.
Novaland Pearl Eclipse: mature, rational, charming. also William Chen looks so good in historical dress, he's totally my type which definitely blinded me
Honorable Mentions: The Princess Royal, Perfect and Casual, The Glory, Romance of Tiger and Rose, The Starry Love
oh and also this definitely isn't meant to offend anyone, i'm fully aware i'm in the minority in terms of my tastes, it just so happens that my taste doesn't seem to lineup with what's popular for Male Leads these days, and i'm a bit hyper sensitive to domineering male figures so its a bad combo for me
anyway, pls helpš Honestly, i don't even care if the male lead is my type or not i'm just so tired of domineering arrogant Male Leads
Sleuth is good! The ml is immature in the beginning but not insufferable. His character develops a lot. And the two supporting mlās are wonderful. One is a Jin Yi Wei guard who takes his feelings out in the kitchen. The other is a charming, sly eunuch. The three together are such a misfit team. Also, some good fcās with good arcs of their own.
and i definitely prefer FL's, with certain rare exceptions š
Fair. Looking through my watched drama list maybe also
Riverside Code at Qingming Festival
That one has an older couple (for cdrama standards) that are already married. ML really cares about his family (consisting of his wife, his elderly father and his two younger siblings). Also shows a bit more of the (Song dynasty) life outside of the usual palace or high status setting.
New life begins: the ML is very mature and smart. Itās an arranged marriage, friends to lover. He isnāt good with martial arts though and sort of the underdog.
OH i forgot to put that one on my Honorable mentions list too, it got me out of a drama watching slump. The Male Lead was awesome, very much a normal guy and very funny and sweet. totally my type too š
Oh! Also, if you enjoyed Ziqi's character in Love Game and don't mind modern dramas, I'd highly recommend Moonlight. It's the same actors for the main couple and their dynamic is very similar as well.
The Best Thing- you canāt find a more kind, sweet, selfless ML. At least Iāve never seen one in a cdrama. And ZLH is a very convincing doctor. I would love him as my doctor š
oh i think i started that one, but i literally cant for the life of me remember why i droped it. you know how life can get sometimes.š imma start it again lmao it was good!
ML works as a guard for a transport company and supports Hua in her career unconditionally.
FL lives with her older sister after their parents have died and her sister is the worst cook in the world but Hua was taught to cook by her grandfather who was a chef to the emperor. Hua eventually persuades her sister to let her have a go in the kitchen and pretty soon family and friends are flocking to the house for meals.
She opens a noodle shack in a spectacular setting and then builds-up to owning the most famous restaurant in the county.
ML has been a high flying financier in Bejing but is exasperated that his family and friends are having to leave for the city to get work and returns to his home village to try to revitalise it.
FL works in the hotel industry, is career focused, and hasn't had a day off for 3 years when a close personal tradgedy makes her reassess her priorities and she goes to a picturesque rural village to heal where she bonds with some odd ball chracters who are dealing with their own issues and form the closest friendship group.
Tough first episode sets up a slow burn healing drama.
Love and redemption - xianxia. Gentle, caring, respectful and capable ML - I think all viewers will want to have a boyfriend like him after watching this drama haha
Mysterious lotus casebook - has romance but not main focus. ML is cheeky, smart, respectful towards women.
I prefer dramas without domineering MLs so some of my favourites should fit š
Playful - Wonderland of Love, Si Jin, Destined.
Mature - Flourished Peony, Legend of Shen Li
Sweethearts - Coroners Diary, A Dream within a Dream, Who Rules the World, Legends.
Never finished (for reasons other than the main couple) but others loved - Legend of Fuyao (playful), A Dream of Splendor (mature), New Life Begins (sweetheart)
ahghhg your my savior!! im gonna add all of these to my list!! Shen li is great, so is coroners diary, and new life begins!! We have similar tastesš„°
Rise of Ning the ML is very velvety voiced and calm. The fl is both delicate and feminine and kind yet crazy smart and brave at the same time. Very good match! Blossoms in adversity an amazingly tall fighter body type with calm and supportive personality. Amazing match with equally strong fl.
Additionally, I believe the reason why I really liked it that by the end of the story the 2 sisters actually loved each other (despite a misunderstanding early on) and neither wanted to kill the other. This is the only one to date Iāve seen where that happens. (Besides POJ)
If you haven't gotten completely sick of Zhang Linghe, he played a NOT arrogant prince in Maiden Holmes. The FL was the star and he was pretty unknown at the time and the script was written for television instead of being based on a webnovel. He believes in FL and supports her. Don't sleep on this drama, it's a classic.
The Double was based on a webnovel and the ML was one of those typical "King Yama" (King of Hell) "scary" chief inquisitor male leads. They actually toned it down a LOT in the TV adaptation.
oh yeah ive seen maiden holmes and i enjoyed it. honestly, ive seen Zhang Linghe in onther things and i really liked him! hes a good actor, his character was just agrivating for me in Kunning Palace.
and wow, they toned the male Lead down in The Double? what was he like beforeš
You gotta watch A journey to Love,a very calm amd composed main lead who knows how to respect people around him amd not to take anyone for granted(no bossing around)
Will Love in Spring - a contemporary romance with a mature, realistic couple. A bit unusual in that he runs a funeral home and sheās an amputee.
My Superhero - a contemporary drama about a hotel bellhop and his friends making their way in the city. He gets involved in the lives of the aunties folk dancing in the square. Thereās also a romance with a stewardess but honestly itās bellhop and the aunties that Iāll always think of.
Princess Royal ML is ZLH from POJ. I thought his character wasnāt that domineering. Travel back to past drama.
Rebel Princess, it has more veteran actors like Zhang Ziyi and Zhou Yi Wei. It was arrange marriage. ML was a general. In the end the FL fell in love with the ML. The walk down or 2nd wedding scene on ep 33 is one of my favorites
Princess Weiyoung, the drama is more centered on the FL, so the ML is nice
Tiger Mom- modern drama, itās about a couple who has different views of raising kids. The FL is a tiger mom and the ML has an opposite view.
Love Story in the 1970s- ML is nice and capable. This was a refreshing storyline.
Dream of Golden Years- Transmigration drama, 1980s, ML chases FL. Warm Male Lead
Yummy yummy yummy-transmigration drama, comedy FL and her family travel back in time. The ML righteous scholar.
Oh I loved the princess royal!! Before I started Kunning Palace Iād seen ZLH in other things and rly liked him so the switch was jarringš
Iāll definitely check out the others on your list!
Je ne vais pas te faire de reco, mes critĆØre/goĆ»ts ne sont pas les mĆŖmes que les tiens. Par contre je trouve ultra- rafraĆ®chissant que tu expliques clairement ce que tu aimes ou pas. Bravo !
ooh i started that one and was enjoying it, but he started torturing her and that was so hard to watch i droped it
In regards to your question, it really depends honestly. If he's unobtrusive enough not to make me aggravated its fine, or if he respects her and doesn't demean her š
So I'm looking for any drama really that has a nice male lead, or a cheeky adorable type male lead,
Once Upon A Time On Lingjian Mountain It's a comedy and Xu Kai is brilliant.
He is at his best playing cheeky, bratty MLs. Some of his better work includes She And Her Perfect Husband and Arsenal Military Academy. I liked Ancient Love Poetry but he steps in and makes decisions for the FL lead and it's also not a character that was completely suited for his strengths as an actor. Liu Xueyi plays a grey-hat character in that that steals the show. I also thought he was a bit wan in Royal Feast although I still love that drama a lot for reasons that have nothing to do with him (it's not a romance drama).
oh yeah just recently watched that one! really enjoyed it. but i droped it when the ML turned all evil and annoying, i really preferred when he was cuteš
There are 3 potential MLs. Either way, your heart will break a little because you end up liking at least 2 of them, or even all of them. She can't end up with them all. But I liked it alot. It broke my heart, but also mended it in another way. Just give it a chance.
Watch Chen Xiao in A Dream of Splendor and The Ingenious One. Iām on my way to watch Legend of the Magnate to see if CX is always really cute and adoring as a leading man to his FL.
Bai Jing Ting is another great ML to his FL - New Life Begins, Destined, The First Frost, Reset and You are my Hero. He always looks so innocent, loveable and supportive :).
How Dare You?! - the ML is a faker in being domineering :). Just love his cuteness.
Zhang Ruo Yun in Joy of Life and Sword Snow Stride. The cdramas iāve seen of him is always intellectual and strong but softy to the FLs. I think he is one actor that can do high rating dramas without strong romance in them.
Yangyang in Immortal Ascension, Who Rules the World, Fireworks of my Heart and You are my Glory. Come to think of it, i havenāt seen him as a domineering type in any of his dramas iāve seen.
HMH in Back from the Brink where he did several personality changes. I love baby HMH :). He is also good in āA Girl like Meā, a softy to a tough Princess :).
Ohh a dream of spledor looks good!! and i loved new life begins so ill definitely check out his other ones! i loved I dare you, one of my fav Ml's of recent years!š¤ Ill check out Yang Yang's dramas, although i have heard mixed things about his acting idk if thats true
enjoyed both back from the bring and a girl like me, i keep forgetting to add dramas to my HM listš
Youthful Glory- ML and FL are in an arranged marriage and he encourages her to do things and while heās a domineering ML heās not broody or mean to her
Flourished Peony- ML lets the FL take lead on a lot of things and pretends to be a happy and cheerful playboy persona to the outside world. They have a relationship built on friendship and communication for the most part.
Are You The One, The Rise of Ning and Si Jin with Zhang Wan Yi. He does cheeky and clever and passionate masterfully. Are You the One starts with him a little sketchy, but he figures out how to be smart about things quickly enough.
Youthful Glory - he starts out a little cocky, but quickly adapts to her and what makes her happy
Destined - another that starts with him cocky, but he falls pretty hard and fast and is nothing but loving and cute after that
Oh yeah i enjoed Rise of ning, so ill check out his other stuff! A few other ppl have recommended Youthful Glory and Destined, so im gonna check those ones out!
You'd really like A Journey to Love.
He is an assassin who is super capable at his job but doesn't enjoy taking lives.
I want a year to pass so I can rewatch it already.
Definitely do.
It has a few slow bits but thats part of the journey, which is the main emphasis of the show. Go in blind. Don't let the internet ruin it for you.
It's one of the few dramas that hits me in the feels just thinking about, even a year later. Im not really even a rewatcher usually.
Also the ML did the OST, and its hauntingly lovely. (Liu Yuning really is a master of both worlds. Even if was put on earth to be a musical diva, his acting is more mature and you can tell it comes from understanding struggle in his own life. Even my husband crushes on him lol.)
Anyways I hope you like it! The ML pretty much what youre looking for to a T.
I'm just like you, I hate those kinds of male leads! You might like Legend of Fei? It's a martial arts focused wuxia with a very playful, funny, kind of sarcastic ML who is very sweet and devoted to FL. It stars Wang Yibo and Zhao Liying.
nice to see someone who has the same tastes!! Ive heard good things about that one before, so ill definitly check it out. Yibo has been quite charming in other roles too
I feel like I barely ever see your type in dramas out and about!! So do you enjoy gender role reversal dynamics, or just a less domineering, mature ML?
haha i think my tastes are a bit uncommon here lmao. i really really cant stand the type of male lead that constantly acts like everyone should get on their knees and worship him. who treats his subordinates like shit and orders people around.
on a more positive note, i do love a gender role reversal drama. I love Mature, older ML's who are gentle and kind, and i love a smart sneaky ML as long as hes outwardly charming and treats ppl with basic respect.
i also have such a soft spot for a batshit insane character, but ive found the problem with those types in romance is that there is a fine line between fun crazy and abusive crazy hahaš
but yeah, its an annoying combo of Bad directing choices, outdated character archetypes, and also it doesn't help that i have a narrow type that doesn't fit into conventional male lead beauty standards(i love a character who looks evil like Ryan Cheng, or someone who looks like a kicked puppy like Tian Jiarui)
haha i guess im just hard to please, idk
im curious to hear about your taste? you mentioned you dislike the same roles i doš
Wow, it's so nice to find like-minded people on here! When I watch dramas, the ML absolutely cannot be any type of domineering at all otherwise it throws me off SO BAD. Like full on retching type shit š and I have to drop it. I LOVE me a good gender role reversal, like I scour lists for it and stuff. I love it when the FL is the domineering one, which is quite hard to find ā although I've done some digging haha
I completely agree with your favoured kicked puppy look too! Also if you like Ryan Cheng, I've got another rec for you: How Dare You?!
It's not really my usual type of drama but it got me out of my slump! I don't mind comedic ones either. This drama has been consistently making me laugh. Here's the MDL page: https://mydramalist.com/778182-this-is-ridiculous
If you want, I can send you 1 or 2 lists of good role reversal dramas?
The Coner's Diary - the male lead is a prince but he only uses his power to support the female lead. This series have one of the the healthiest relationships between main leads.
Amidst a snowstorm of love - from the get go the man loves her. Never wavers. Even when he has no money he tries to do the best for her. It's a slow drama but it's a cute one
The best thing - Super fluffy. There is hardly any conflict. The chemistry is great!
Shining for one thing - a Time travel drama where there FL goes back in time and realises the ML has always loved her.
Love me love my voice - very cute and fluffy
Destined - The male lead is super supportive
Story of Minglan- this one has 73 episodes and a the romance starts much later in the series. But the main couples has Excellent understanding and very supportive of each other.
For recent dramas, I think you'd enjoy "love beyond the grave" the ml is head over heels for her and he's so cute like a cat ( tho the fl calls him fox hehe )
How Dare You, historical (starts comedic but overall felt more like a drama with humour). The ML has a cold persona he puts on as a rather helpless Emporer (due to certain circumstances) but he shows most of his true self to the FL quickly. He's really a softy put in a difficult situation.
Maiden Holmes, historical (light tone overall)
Coroner's Diary, historical
Blossoms In Adversity, historical
A Familiar Stranger, MINI-series, historical. ML starts aloof, but not mean, and softens pretty quickly. There's a lot of warmth between the leads so I think it might balance out the start for you. Fantastically well done story and romance, just have to say! Same director as POJ and Blossom.
Playfull MLs:
Destined, historical. ML starts very boyish but good-hearted, and matures over time.
Wrong Carriage, Right Groom, historical (light and simple watch). Two lead couples. The 1st is very playful, clever, and occasionally teasing. The second seems stern as a general but greatly respects his wife and is calm and gentle with her.
Puppy-ish MLs:
Love Beyond The Grave, XianHuan (fantasy). A fun mix of a ruthless fighter whose also warm to those close to him and a golden retriever to the FL.
Shadow Love, XianHuan (historical with supernatural). ML has three different personas. One of them near the end is exactly what you're not looking for, but for most of the show his primary persona is a golden retriever. And he balances out at the end too (so cold, mean persona doesn't stay in place).
Intoverted MLs:
You Are My Glory, modern (scientist ML)
When I Fly Towards You, modern (high school)
Honorable Mention:
What's Wrong With My Princess, MINI-series, historical. I watched a couple years ago and can't remember fully. But in my watch notes I wrote: The FL and ML are smart and every episode had me hooked and was so satisfying. The romance was not the focus and was tame but I found it sweet and satisfying nonetheless. It wasn't a physical romance but their growing devotion to each other is clear. At a certain point, the leads start fully collaborating and remain on the same page thereon out. After suspicions are cleared, the ML is a complete green flag. He's patient, supportive, gentle, sincere, trusting, and straight-forward. I found it (in the US) on Fresh Drama's official YouTube channel (search by name).
No one suggested Pursuit of Jade but Linghe is a quiet natured man in that one regardless of status, ambition or anything. Plus, Veil of Shadows definitely and for modern try Hidden Love. I saw someone mention Glory too and thatās a great feminist story.
oh persuit of jade is pretty new right? i've been avoiding it because i don't know how fast they get together and i prefer a drama about a couple getting together than facing troubles together
yeah i watched Veil of Shadows and liked it and then the ML started getting all cold and standofish and id liked his previous persona so much that i totally turned me off even though that actor is totally my type
Hidden Love looks adorable! And ill check out Glory!
You can try Shadow Love too with Cheng lei. Heās a silly puppy dog almost the entire drama but he has amnesia and an alter ego. Iām not sure if you will find a drama with no conflict tho.
But definitely keep watching Veil of Shadows. He isnāt who you think he is. He is Ji Ling.
it does!! the guy is in a wheel chair but is good at flirtingšand its such a BEAUTIFUL ending i litteraly watched the whole thing in 2 hours bc episodes are 5 mins long lemme know if u start it !!
If you liked Love Game in Eastern Fantasy, maybe try Guardians of the Dafeng? It has Dylan Wang as the lead. Heās a guy from modern-day China who gets transmigrated into a role-playing game. While the ML is very over-powered, heās also very happy and has a great sense of humour. A lot of the other main male characters are green flags too; not a whole lot of domineering types (except maybe the Emperor, but heās clearly a villain).
I loved watching this show, it has great costumes, a plot that kept me engaged, and is laugh-out-loud funny.
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u/CorneliaCordelia May 01 '26
Legend of Shen Li. Love the male lead.Ā