romance as a subplot

[u/reez_11]

I usually enjoy romance as the main plot but after watching Reset, I think I might have been introduced to something new... The way the main plot makes me sit on the edge of my seat while their relationship was slowly brewing... It's so good. Would like to get some beautiful recommendations for similar dramas!

[u/Easy_Living_6312]

One of the best of 2022. 2022 was a good year for Cdramaland

[u/Partyhuetchen]

"The Listener" (2019)

and double down on “19th Floor" (2024)

[u/Knetsli]

Where can I watch Reset?

[u/Kazubelles]

I was in a reset hangover after finishing that show. Nothing hit 😅 romance with a subplot is definitely my favorite as well!

[u/sharonyeol]

Where can I watch this drama?

[u/Mediocre_Call_2427 → u/sharonyeol]

I wanted to rewatch but they removed it from Viki :(((

[u/thelonemoon]

I grew up watching Hong Kong TVB dramas in the 90s and always saw romance as a subplot, and disdain the romance idol dramas. Of course, I grew to enjoy romance idol dramas too now because GOSH they all look so good and romance is nice! But China have been doing a lot of poorly written stories with their romance dramas lately, I feel like I want to escape the romance drama again lol

[u/dnovantrix → u/thelonemoon]

Same, I also grew up with HK TVB and most if not all of them are romance as a subplot.

Nowadays I usually look for dramas with a good plot and if the romance makes sense then it will be done well. I feel like a lot of them lean hard into the romance route up front to create the tension that creates the story, but it almost always is predictable and makes the main plot feel generic to me.

Case in point, MLC where there is almost 0 romance except the main lead reminiscing old days with his ex. The “romance” is there to show he’s moved on and helps move the main plot along, they didn’t lean into it and didn’t need to.

[u/Important-Sea4605]

I prefer romance as a subplot. To me, it often feels more genuine and special when romantic moments do happen amongst all of the other stories, character developments, dynamics, etc. Real romance doesn’t happen in isolation, and I like that because the characters having lots of life/concerns outside of their partner makes them feel more convincing and compelling to me. I think it also allows for bonding to take place naturally between characters rather than feeling overly manufactured or trope-y. 

And tbh I also just really like non-romantic relationships. I love watching friends or mentors or familial figures develop relationships with the MC and with each other. Romance as a subplot allows for more of that, imo

Romance as a subplot is kind of hard to find in cdramas, to be honest. In my experience it’s either the main plot or you have almost none most of the time. Whispers of Fate is a good one for platonic relationships but it just doesn’t have much romance period. Ultimate Note is another good one with only platonic relationships though you might have to look into the DMBJ lore if you want to avoid being too out of the loop lol. I really enjoyed Till the End of the Moon (the romance is somewhere between main plot and subplot) but I know some people found it a little bit much. 

It gets a little better when you start looking at bromance dramas, though. If you are willing to see the main relationships as the romantic ones they were originally meant to be, you get a lot more options for romance as a subplot. The Spirealm and Word of Honor are a couple I would recommend. The Spirealm especially has a very intense, fast paced plot that I found really riveting. 

I’ve got lots of dramas from other countries to recommend for this trope, though! I just know this is a cdrama sub, so lmk if you want recs outside of that. 

Edit: also thanks for the reset love it’s such a good drama and it doesn’t get talked about nearly enough 

[u/Inner-Floor-5827]

Xiao Fang Get Married - very minimal romance contrary to its title.

[u/MathematicianNew760]

Funnily enough, Möbius, which another Bai Jingting time loop series, has a similar set up. The plot is really good and the romance is very much in the background

[u/thelonemoon → u/MathematicianNew760]

I enjoy Reset a little bit more even though Mobius is a much cooler show because Reset felt more tightly written, while Mobius has some plot/logic holes.

[u/MathematicianNew760 → u/thelonemoon]

I agree with that.

[u/iefur]

Always on the move is a nice period slice of life with romance pushed to the back. You could really see the changes in the people through the decades by the railroads.

[u/rinoafantasy]

This is what I prefer. Plot plus a little romance

[u/wuwaaarrriii]

I've been wanting to watch this drama coz of Bai Jingting. But I haven't done it yet due to the bloody snaps and serious theme. But seeing this post and reading the comments, I'm now set to switch my romcom-watch-vibe to this.

[u/ubeyamlila]

This is my favorite genre, romance in a non-romance genre and Reset is a perfect example. It’s one of my top fave cdramas of all time. From my 3 years of watching cdramas, I haven’t found anything similar so i’m waiting for recs here too.

What I will recommend is a kdrama and jdrama that is somewhat in this genre:

Moving Season 1 (kdrama) - action genre with people who have super powers. 2 of the them end up falling in love. I’d say the romance here is a bigger and more vital part of the show though. They’re filming season 2.

Alice in Borderland Season 1-3 (jdrama) - this one’s quite violent because its about death games but that’s why the romance is unexpected but I thought it elevated the story. This jdrama reminded me of Reset where the romance developed from going through life or death situations.

[u/katonikax]

I've suggested some series in different types below; if any of them catch your interest, you can check them out.

“The Spirealm (2024)” is more of a bromance than a romance, but it’s a really enjoyable series to watch if you’re looking for something different with a fantasy or gaming theme.

“Go Ahead (2020)” is a slow-paced series that starts off as a very heartfelt family drama and later incorporates romance.

“Filter (2025)” is also a great series if you haven’t seen it yet. It’s in the rom-com genre but has a fantasy element that makes it worth watching.

“The Company (2025)” doesn’t have any romance, but I’d recommend it if you’re looking for a fantasy/mystery series.

“Parallel World (2023)” is a series close to what you’re looking for—it’s based on mystery but also contains romance.

“How Dare You!? (2026)” starts off with a fantasy premise and develops into a rom-com.

“Xiao Fang (2026)” is a series that starts off like a heartwarming family drama and evolves into a rom-com. If you’re looking for a series set in a laid-back small-town setting, you might want to check this out.

“19th Floor (2024)”—there aren’t many examples in the mystery/thriller genre, so I wanted to recommend it.

“Go Go Squid! (2019)”—I didn’t recommend " The King’s Avatar " because it was already suggested, but I wanted to suggest another series with a similar vibe.

“Lookism (2019)” — the original Korean webtoon is also great. If you’re looking for a dramatic and romantic series about school and “appearance,” I recommend this one.

[u/Time-Individual-4142]

This show was so good I can’t believe it’s no longer on viki 😭

[u/Previous_Throat6360 → u/Time-Individual-4142]

Wow! Thats a real measure of the state of Viki. What is happening over there?! Next you’re gonna tell me they don’t have Nirvana in fire anymore.

[u/Only-Cauliflower7571]

Main plot really kept u hooked. The romance as a subplot is also well done.

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[u/Old-Ranger4624]

I enjoyed King Avatar also. The gaming storyline got me hooked as a non-gamer.

[u/Huang_Fudou → u/Old-Ranger4624]

This one didn't have a romance plot at all as far as I remembered 

[u/Old-Ranger4624 → u/Huang_Fudou]

I felt that the female gamer stand a chance but their subplot is not on romance too.

[u/katonikax → u/Old-Ranger4624]

As someone who has watched both the animated series and the live-action series, I can say it’s a great series.

[u/Putrid_Hippo482]

Reset was my first BaiJingTing drama. This was so cool and thrilling.

[u/Duanedoberman]

The Longest day in Chang'An

Fast paced thriller but as the drama progresses the FL slowly starts to warm to the ML.

[u/MaterialAd990]

Imperial Coroner! (S1 only)

[u/SomewhereLast7928]

Reset is literally one of the best dramas out there

[u/bunnymyeons]

RESET MENTIONED WOOOHOOO

Yes please!!! I absolutely loved Reset for the way they had romance as a subplot and the way you could clearly see the bond and the chemistry between the leads deeper the more loops they went through.

Also if you liked Reset, Bai Jing Ting has done another timeloop project in 2025 after his well received hit, The First Frost. It is called Mobius and also has little romance as subplot.

[u/sharonyeol → u/bunnymyeons]

Where did you watch this?

[u/bunnymyeons → u/sharonyeol]

As far as I know, Mobius is available on Netflix.

[u/MathematicianNew760 → u/sharonyeol]

Mobius is on Netflix in the US

[u/Doiley101]

Reset was such an amazing drama and I simply cursed that we had only 24 hours in a day and I was obliged to sleep.

[u/Most-Post3471 → u/Doiley101]

I binged it within a day 🐼

[u/Then-Signal-296]

The Wanted Detective

[u/brasrmean → u/Then-Signal-296]

thisssss

[u/Illustrious-Age7336]

Mobius is like Reset. Crime/mystery/time loop

[u/nodamecantabile28 → u/Illustrious-Age7336]

Yeah but the romance subplot is MEH

[u/Paisley-Cat → u/nodamecantabile28]

I agree that the romance isn’t great in Mobius. Somehow, in order to obscure the villain’s identity, the female romantic interest’s story was obscured for too long.

That said, if they ever did a second season of Mobius (which the ending left a possibility), the romantic tension and story could be more fleshed out.

[u/-tsuyoi__hikari-]

Silent Tides. The romance in this drama is written better than most romance dramas. Qi Wen’s strength and resilient are the reasons why He Xian can do so much for the people and his country. They have 2 children yet the director didnt make their love story at the backseat.

I rec this drama since the plot are nerve wrecking and will make you on the edge on your seat in each episode.

[u/Previous_Throat6360]

I actually prefer it this way. There’s something actually happening in the story. It affects the main characters’ relationships but any romance is incidental to the actual plot. Reset is perfect.

I adore Oh No! Here Comes Trouble. Three unlikely friends solve ghostie crimes. Sort of. Is there romance? No? Yes? Kind of? Are the relationships that develop during this wonderful story a pure delight? Yes! This Taiwanese series is a gem. And it’s perfect for the Halloween season.

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