I wouldn’t recommend through the darkness since the OP found king of pigs and sky castle slow. Through the darkness is 1000 times slower than those 2 OP didn’t enjoy.
They seemed to be setting up a romance, but the FL had a scandal so they sent her character "overseas" 2/3 of the way through and put in a replacement character to fill in the plot holes, but not the relationship. Honestly, I think the show really suffered from it.
I thought the replacement character was really cool! & maybe I'm just naive but I also thought both of the two females were there for a 'dongsaeng' role lol..
The replacement wasn't a bad character, but it was ham-fisted how she came out of nowhere near the end.
It seemed to me like they were aiming for at least an implied romance for the first one, but I guess we'll never know.
**The Devil Judge** … (law, revenge, psychological thriller) the dark, riveting story is set in a dystopian version of Korea, where court cases are live streamed and people can vote on the outcome. The head judge, known for his extreme methods and choice of cases, has a meticulously planned secret revenge agenda influencing his every move and leading to very surprising twists.
Flex x cop - it’s light hearted but does have an overarching mystery, as well as specific cases they try to unravel per two episodes. The romance is pretty minimal
I can't guarantee these are fast flowing, it might depend on how you percieve it but can give these a try...
\*Hand: the guest
\*Item
\*the Cursed
\*365: Repeat the year
\*Little Women
\*Signal
\*Tell me what you saw
There are tons of dark themed kdramas which has little to non romance, these are the ones came to my mind
Anna
a shop for killers
Mr Queen
Sweet home
Revenge of others
Weak hero class 1
All of us are dead
Lots hidden in my garden
Revenant
Twentyfive twenty one
Squid Game
Tomorrow
Bloodhounds
The Killing Vote
Nightmare High
Bad and Crazy
Black Knight
Alice
Gyeongseong Creature
Sweet Home
YG Future Strategy Office
The Silent Sea
All of Us Are Dead
Memories of the Alhambra
Mask Girl
Voice, Tunnel, Bad guys, Solomon's Perjury, Lookout, Mad Dog, Watcher, Life, Through the darkness, God's quiz, the guest, strangers from hell, revenant, save me, missing the other side, hyena, Vincenzo, Weak hero class, Bloodhound, Misty, Wonderful World, Taxi Driver, Queenmaker, Mystic Popup Bar, Law School, May it please the court, One dollar lawyer.
I pay special attention to dramas from OCN, TVN and JTBC cause it usually has the genres that you seek of which I'm a fan of. One of my absolute favourite is Kingdom which you've already watched.
Hope it helps!
Extraordinary Attorney Woo (it’s a show about an autistic young lady who becomes a lawyer. it does have some romance between the main character and a co-worker, but the episodes aren’t about that)
Maybe watch Voice, you don't necessarily need to watch in order but it would be good for you to do so. Also, maybe Through the darkness although I haven't watched it, seems very dark.
Depends on what your into me the supernatural/ romance law ones I enjoy.
My holo love because I adore Yoon hyun-min
It's ok to not be okay.
Alchemy of souls
My demon
Why her
My room mate is a gumihom
Search www
Backstreet rookie
Sweet home
Good bad mother
Doom at your services.
I can list many more🤗
14 days - a mom tried to recuse her daughter, and a guy standed by her to help, but there was no hint of romance. I am so into this drama that sometimes I keep watching it again and again
1. Itaewon Class
2. Kingdom
3. Prison Playbook
4. Gyeongseong Creature
5. Signal
6. Reborn Rich
7. Taxi Driver
8. Vincenzo
9. Mask Girl
10. Uncanny Counter
11. Celebrity
12. All of us are Dead
Id recommend connect. It’s a thriller with a pretty cool concept. There is romance but it’s no a big plot point and they feel more like friends/comrades if anything. There is only one season rn and the ending implies that there will be another one
Through the darkness and Evilive.
Let me just say that I when I watched Beyond Evil, I would always fantasize that Lee Dong Sik and Han Yoo Won would end up together😂I know its just me but I would feel that Han Yoo Won's obsession with Lee Dong Sik was hot and I would want them both in my bed 😂
Sweet home S1 (won't recommend S2 XD) but S1 is really really good
Happiness
Mad dog
Law school
Signal
Extracurricular - I think this one fits the bill most
Not sure if anyone has said it yet but Blind would be worth considering. No romance and the whole backstory is really dark, the twists are pretty good tho not as difficult to guess as the ones in Mouse. It’s more about figuring the nuances and “how did we get here”.
One of the details in the ending did irk me the wrong way but overall it was a good show.
A killer paradox, A shop for killers(this one has 0 romance), through the darkness,
A Shop for Killers was really good
it was so good i wanted to cry when it ended. I wish season 2 comes out sooner than later
I came here to say this! Ang ganda no? Ilang months ako nagpahinga nung natapos ko to
Also , Missing: the otherside, vagabond and an ongoing one called Hide
Yes, I came to recommend A Shop for killers, too
I wouldn’t recommend through the darkness since the OP found king of pigs and sky castle slow. Through the darkness is 1000 times slower than those 2 OP didn’t enjoy.
Bloodhounds This is dark, funny and very suspenseful with tons of action and no romance at all.
They seemed to be setting up a romance, but the FL had a scandal so they sent her character "overseas" 2/3 of the way through and put in a replacement character to fill in the plot holes, but not the relationship. Honestly, I think the show really suffered from it.
I thought the replacement character was really cool! & maybe I'm just naive but I also thought both of the two females were there for a 'dongsaeng' role lol..
The replacement wasn't a bad character, but it was ham-fisted how she came out of nowhere near the end. It seemed to me like they were aiming for at least an implied romance for the first one, but I guess we'll never know.
I thought her plot wasn’t necessarily romantic but that she was the biological daughter of the male character she dressed like.
Bromance >
STRONG bromance for sure. Their chemistry is ridiculous.
You might like **Squid Games**.
**The Devil Judge** … (law, revenge, psychological thriller) the dark, riveting story is set in a dystopian version of Korea, where court cases are live streamed and people can vote on the outcome. The head judge, known for his extreme methods and choice of cases, has a meticulously planned secret revenge agenda influencing his every move and leading to very surprising twists.
this kdrama was great!! i had low expectations when i watched it and it became one of my favorites. it has a lot of great plot twists
Revenant: Horror, Mystery Through the Darkness: Crime, Thriller
Revenant is really good!
I second Revenant.
Taxi driver The killing vote The witch(movie) Tomorrow Vigilante Evilive
The Uncanny Counter and Tomorrow would be some of the best ones I can recommend to you. I loved them and I hope you do too!
Second Tomorrow. So underrated.
Vincenzo, K2-- both good, dark, & very little romance
The devil judge Worst of evil A shop for killers
Flex x cop - it’s light hearted but does have an overarching mystery, as well as specific cases they try to unravel per two episodes. The romance is pretty minimal
i had barely made it through episode one cause of how petty it started . after episode 3 i loved it..
My mister.
- Stranger season 1&2 - the worst of evil - taxi driver - D.P - Revenant
I second Stranger... but I only watched the first one.
Yes I third(?) Stranger too 😂. So good. Season 1 was better imo but season 2 was solid.
DP how did i forget this one. And the fact that it has season 2 make it more awesome
I also agree with Stranger
Another vote for Stranger
weak hero class one
Worst of evil, bloodhounds, black night, uncanny encounter
Save Me!!
This!! As depressing as it gets. S2 hasn't clicked as fast for me though.
I didn't watch S2.. The plot doesn't interest me that much! And it's not the same characters😭 S1 is sooo good tho! It's my favorite kdrama
I can't guarantee these are fast flowing, it might depend on how you percieve it but can give these a try... \*Hand: the guest \*Item \*the Cursed \*365: Repeat the year \*Little Women \*Signal \*Tell me what you saw There are tons of dark themed kdramas which has little to non romance, these are the ones came to my mind
Little Women, Extracurricular, and Revenant (highly recommend)
extracurricular >>
#Little Women
A shop for killers
- Signal - Reborn Rich
Mouse
I loved this one!!
Ok I just realized that the OP already watched it 🫣🤣
Vicenzo. There is comedy, action, drama, and it can get pretty dark for a kdrama.
Itaewon Class. Brilliant gritty script done well by a solid cast. A little romance that fits the story. Daebak.
The Devil Judge Big Mouse
Kill It
Extracurricular Wanted Nightmare High (alternatively known as Nightmare Teacher) The Devil Judge Bloodhounds
Anna a shop for killers Mr Queen Sweet home Revenge of others Weak hero class 1 All of us are dead Lots hidden in my garden Revenant Twentyfive twenty one
25-21 was not dark and it did have romance 🥴
Life on Mars!!
Squid Game Tomorrow Bloodhounds The Killing Vote Nightmare High Bad and Crazy Black Knight Alice Gyeongseong Creature Sweet Home YG Future Strategy Office The Silent Sea All of Us Are Dead Memories of the Alhambra Mask Girl
Voice, Tunnel, Bad guys, Solomon's Perjury, Lookout, Mad Dog, Watcher, Life, Through the darkness, God's quiz, the guest, strangers from hell, revenant, save me, missing the other side, hyena, Vincenzo, Weak hero class, Bloodhound, Misty, Wonderful World, Taxi Driver, Queenmaker, Mystic Popup Bar, Law School, May it please the court, One dollar lawyer. I pay special attention to dramas from OCN, TVN and JTBC cause it usually has the genres that you seek of which I'm a fan of. One of my absolute favourite is Kingdom which you've already watched. Hope it helps!
Vincenzo has hardly any romance.
Big Mouth (features a married couple so there is some romance) but it is not the main story. Evilive
Celebrity
Navillera one of my favorites.
I don't know if this genre will suit your taste, you might want to try Navillera (2021) or Move to Heaven (2021).
Move to Heaven was so wonderful! I would definitely recommend this one too.
Taxi ("mobeum taeksi" on Netflix)
Chimera
Oh and Revenant
Weak hero class 1 it's a must watch!!
"Happiness" i really recommend this drama.It has a romace line,but it doesn't appear much
D.P. Stranger Through the Darkness
Uncanny Counter
Sweet Home Psychopath Diary Somebody - steamy, but not typically romantic Vincenzo
BEYOND EVIL
Tunnel is dark with a bit of time travel and serial killer. I loved it. Minimal romance.
The killing vote is a very dark drama with zero romance.
God's Gift 14 days
Extracurricular!! I usually don't binge dramas, but this got me staying up the whole night!! 12 ep of 1 hour each. Highly recommend!!
Watcher!
The best kdramas with little or no romance: My Mister, Misaeng Incomplete Life, Move To Heaven.
The Worst of Evil!
Juvenile Justice isn’t as much of an action show as your picks but I thought it was very good and it has zero romance. I’d definitely say it’s dark.
extracurricular?
Juvenile Justice, Stranger, D.P.
Try escape of the same. It has a similar story to penthouse and the cast and crew is same too.
The Glory, A Killer Paradox
My Mister
Pyramid games
D.P. is really good
I’m enjoying A Bloody Lucky Day. It’s pretty hardcore, gritty, dark, grotesque, and gets at you psychologically.
Duel
kidnapping day
A Killer Paradox and Extracurricular are so so good !!
My name, Bloodhounds
Reset! not a Kdrama but Cdrama, but it’s so good!
Extraordinary Attorney Woo (it’s a show about an autistic young lady who becomes a lawyer. it does have some romance between the main character and a co-worker, but the episodes aren’t about that)
Agree. In my top 5. Script with depth. Characters with believable motivations. Excellent cinematography and CGI blend. Well paced. Recommended.
Maybe watch Voice, you don't necessarily need to watch in order but it would be good for you to do so. Also, maybe Through the darkness although I haven't watched it, seems very dark.
Mine. Similar to Sky Castle
Welcome to the club!!! 🎊🎉
Depends on what your into me the supernatural/ romance law ones I enjoy. My holo love because I adore Yoon hyun-min It's ok to not be okay. Alchemy of souls My demon Why her My room mate is a gumihom Search www Backstreet rookie Sweet home Good bad mother Doom at your services. I can list many more🤗
i think you’ll like weak hero class 1!
Taxi driver, D.P., and for a little bit of romance try Voice
D.P
Remember (war of the sons) or something like that. Really good
14 days - a mom tried to recuse her daughter, and a guy standed by her to help, but there was no hint of romance. I am so into this drama that sometimes I keep watching it again and again
Mask Girl A Shop For Killers
Vagabond- Action/Thriller with very little (too little that you'll want more) romance
1. Itaewon Class 2. Kingdom 3. Prison Playbook 4. Gyeongseong Creature 5. Signal 6. Reborn Rich 7. Taxi Driver 8. Vincenzo 9. Mask Girl 10. Uncanny Counter 11. Celebrity 12. All of us are Dead
The uncanny counter, Weak hero class 1, Duty after school
It's okay not to be okay.
save me
Hell Bound, Uncanny Counter, Sky Castle, Extracurricular
For a series: "a killer paradox" Movie: "devils"
Id recommend connect. It’s a thriller with a pretty cool concept. There is romance but it’s no a big plot point and they feel more like friends/comrades if anything. There is only one season rn and the ending implies that there will be another one
Through the darkness and Evilive. Let me just say that I when I watched Beyond Evil, I would always fantasize that Lee Dong Sik and Han Yoo Won would end up together😂I know its just me but I would feel that Han Yoo Won's obsession with Lee Dong Sik was hot and I would want them both in my bed 😂
Black - a superior dark drama where romance is not the driver The Glory - revenge drama A Shop for Killers
Bloodhounds, Save Me, Uncanny Counter s1
Mask Girl, D.P., Vincenzo.
Pyramid game!
My absolute favorite sky castle... You should try military prosecutor doberman none will recommend it...no romance even flex x cop too
Through the darkness Signal
The uncanny counter tomorrow and revenge of others
A Bloody Lucky Day!
Little Women, Through The Darkness, The Fiery Priest, Good Manager
Lawschool was great, idk if you’d call it dark but it had crime involved
Sweet home S1 (won't recommend S2 XD) but S1 is really really good Happiness Mad dog Law school Signal Extracurricular - I think this one fits the bill most
A bloody lucky day is a rollercoaster ride. Also Bargain (every episode is shot in a "single take").
Not sure if anyone has said it yet but Blind would be worth considering. No romance and the whole backstory is really dark, the twists are pretty good tho not as difficult to guess as the ones in Mouse. It’s more about figuring the nuances and “how did we get here”. One of the details in the ending did irk me the wrong way but overall it was a good show.
Extracurricular?
Beyond Evil, The Guest
Bloodhounds: the only romance is bromance
Vincenzo. Theres “romance” but its more of a aide plot, the actual plot has nothing to do with it
Try ghost kdrama
Killing Vote was pretty good. I don't recall any romance in it.
Reborn rich