We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again – there are no exceptions to the binge-worthy-ness of romance shows. And this includes Netflix original series. We could go on and on about why they are truly amazing, but we’ll spare you of that and get straight to the point. So, check out the best original series on Netflix. Romance edition!
My First First Love (2019)
Starring: Tae-oh Kang, Ji Soo and Chae-Yeon Jung
Yun TAe-o is a college student whose friends – a college drop-out, a runaway family friends, and his long-time childhood friend – decide to unexpectedly move in to his house. Each of them have their own individual reasons for moving, but now they must all learn to live together.
Fun Fact: This series is a reboot of the 2015 drama My First Time, which was produced by the same production company.
Lovestruck in the City (2020)
Starring: Ji Chang-wook, Kim Ji-won, Kim Min-seok, Choi Min-ho from SHINee
This K-drama is in the format of interviews following the stories of six people and their dating lives. Park Jae-won is not able to forget the woman who stole his heart and disappeared. Lee Eun-o meets Jae-won under a fake name and falls in love with him. Choi Kyeong-jun and Seo Rin-i appear to be in a stable relationship. Kang Geon has not had a relationship for 2 years and his ex-girlfriend, Oh Seon-yeong, is a ‘serial dater’.
Nevertheless (2021)
Starring: So-hee Han, Song Kang, Han Eu-Ddeum, Lee Ho-jung
A heartbroken woman who no longer believes in love and a flirtatious man who does not want to commit to a relationship – a pairing destined to fail. Or not. It turns out that they both actually love each other, so are they actually a perfect match? As well as these two leads, there are many secondary couples for you to fall in love with, making this a must-watch romance show on Netflix.
Fun Fact: Nevertheless is based on the webtoon “I Know But” by Jung Seo.
Vagabond (2019)
Starring: Lee Seung-gi, Bae Suzy from miss A, Shin Sung-rok, Moon Jeong-hee
Cha Dal-gun works as a stuntman, looking after his orphaned nephew. When a plane crash kills his nephew, Dal-gun finds evidence that a plane crash was not due to structural failure, as was claimed. He needs to work with Go Hae-ri to reveal the truth whilst trying to avoid danger.
Mr Sunshine (2018)
Starring: Lee Byung-hun, Kim Tae-ri, Yoo Yeon-seok, Byun Yo-han
Eugene Choi was born into slavery in Joseon, but managed to escape to the United States. He returns back to Joseon on a mission for the United States Marine Corps, but ends up falling in love with an aristocrat’s grand-daughter, Go Ae-shin. However, their love is challenged by their different social classes and Kim Hee-sung, who has been Ae-shin’s betrothed since childhood.
Click here to watch on Netflix >>
Image credit: Netflix
Virgin River (2019-)
Starring: Alexandra Breckenridge, Martin Henderson, Colin Lawrence, Tim Matheson
Virgin River follows Melinda ‘Mel’ Monroe, the protagonist of the first book. She answers an ad to work as a nurse practitioner and midwife in the remote Virgin River town, thinking it will be the chance of a fresh start and the opportunity to leave her painful memories behind. But it’s not quite what she expected.
Fun Fact: Despite Virgin River being set in California, the seasons were filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada. Mel’s cabin is actually the former caretaker’s house in Vancouver’s Murdo Frazer Park. And the doctor’s surgery where Mel works is also a real place in Vancouver. Meanwhile, Jack’s bar is Watershed Grill in Branckendale by the Squamish River, to the North of Vancouver.
Click here to watch on Netflix >>
Image credit: Netflix
Mystic Pop-up Bar (2020)
Starring: Hwang Jung-eum, Yook Sungjae from BtoB, Choi Won-young, Park Si-eun from STAYC
This K-drama tells the story of a mysterious outdoor drinking establishment run by the illtempered Weol-ju, an innocent part-timer Han Kang-bae and former afterlife detective Chief Gwi who visits customers in their dreams to help resolve their problems. Kang-bae has an ability that with a touch, he can make people tell their troubles. This is useful to Weol-ju who needs to settle the grudges of 100,000 souls.
This is one K-drama that you need to watch ASAP!
Bridgerton (2020-)
Starring: Phoebe Dynevor, Regé-Jean Page, Jonathan Bailey, Claudia Jessie
Simon Basset is on the verge of proposing to his best friend’s sister – the lovely and almost-on-the-shelf Daphne Bridgerton. But the two of them know the truth – it’s all an elaborate ruse to keep Simon free from marriage-minded society mothers. And as for Daphne, surely she will attract some worthy suitors now that it seems the duke has declared her desirable. And yet, despite their courtship being a sham, somehow Daphne is falling for the dashing duke.
Fun Fact: The Bridgerton family children are named A-H in birth order: Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory, and Hyacinth.
Click here to watch on Netflix >>
Image credit: Netflix
It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (2020)
Starring: Kim Soo-hyun, Seo Yea-ji, Kwak Dong-yeon, Park Gyu-young, Jang Gyu-ri from fromis_9
Moon Gang-tae lives with his older brother Moon Sang-tae. They have been constantly moving from place to place after Sang-tae witnessed the death of their mother. Gang-tae starts working in a psychiatric ward, where he meets the famous children’s book author, Ko Moon-young. She develops a romantic attraction for Gang-tae and goes to extreme lengths to get his attention.
Firefly Lane (2021)
Starring: Katherine Heigl, Sarah Chalke, Ben Lawson, Beau Garrett
It’s 1974 and the summer of love is drawing to a close. Kate Mularkey has accepted her place at the bottom of the secondary school social food chain. Then Tully Hart, the girl all the boys want to know, moves in across the street and wants to be her best friend. They become inseparable and they vow that their friendship will last forever. For thirty years, they have stayed true to that vow. But when tragedy strikes, their relationship is tested.
Fun Fact: Firefly Lane is based on a book written by Kristin Hannah.
Click here to watch on Netflix >>
Image credit: Netflix
Start-Up (2020)
Starring: Bae Suzy, Kim Seon-ho, Nam Joo-hyuk, Kang Han Na
Set in the fictional Sandbox, this K-drama tells the story of those in the world of startup companies. Seo Dal-mi is a bright and ambitious woman who dreams of becoming Korea’s Steve Jobs. Nam Do-san was once the pride of his family being a math genuis, but his investments have been going nowhere. He meets Dal-mi, who misremembers him as her first love, and begins a startup, determined to make her misunderstanding a reality.
Love Alarm
Starring: Song Kang, Kim So-hyun, Jung Ga-ram, Go Min-si
An app that notifies you when someone within a 10-meter radius has romantic feelings for you? Kim Jo-jo is not interested. She’s pretty, smart and cheerful. Meanwhile, Hwang Sun-oh is extremely popular, but both he and his best friend, Lee Hye-young, fall for Jo-jo.
Fun Fact: The Love Alarm app actually exists. Click here to download it now and see who loves you! Sorry Apple users, it’s Android only.
Click here to watch on Netflix >>
Image credit: Netflix
Sex/Life (2021)
Starring: Sarah Shahi, Mike Vogel, Adam Demos, Margaret Odette
A suburban mother of two takes a fantasy-charged trip down memory lane that sets her very married present on a collision course with her wild-child past.
Fun Fact: It is inspired by the book 44 Chapters About 4 Men by BB Easton.
Click here to watch on Netflix >>
Image credit: Netflix
Sweet Magnolias (2020)
Starring: JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Brooke Elliott, Heather Headley and Jamie Lynn Spears
Three South Carolina women, who have been best friends since childhood, shepherd each other through the complexities of romance, career, and family. There’s: Maddie Townsend, a recently separated woman with three children; Dana Sue Sullivan, a chef and owner of a restaurant called Sullivan’s; and Helen Decatur, an accomplished attorney.
Fun Fact: It is based on the novel by Sherryl Woods, who wrote the much-loved Chesapeake Shores series. Unfortunately, Chesapeake Shores isn’t on Netflix right now.
Click here to watch on Netflix >>
Image credit: Netflix
Crash Landing on You (2019)
Starring: Hyun Bin, Son Ye-jin, Kim Soo-hyun, Seo Ji-hye
Yoon Se-ri is a South Korean chaebol heiress to the Queen’s Group. Se-ri’s father, who can no longer run business, wants Se-ri to take over in place of her brothers. However, when she is out paragliding, she gets caught in a sudden tornado and blown into North Korea. Its there that she meets Captain Ri Jeong-hyeok.
Fun Fact: Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin are currently dating, so its no wonder that these two had such great chemistry in this K-drama!
Ginny & Georgia (2021)
Starring: Brianne Howey, Antonia Gentry, Felix Mallard, Sara Waisglass
Ginny Miller is a 15-year-old girl who is more mature than her 30-year-old mother Georgia. In a New England town, Georgia decides to settle down with Ginny and her son Austin to give them a better life than she had.
Fun Fact: Antonia Gentry, who plays Ginny, is actually 23; Brianna Howey, who plays Georgia, is actually 32.
Click here to watch on Netflix >>
Image credit: Netflix
Romance is a Bonus Book (2019)
Starring: Lee Jong-suk, Lee Na-young, Wi Ha-joon, Jung Yoo-jin
Cha Eun-ho is the youngest ever chief editor at his publishing company. Kang Dan-yi used to be a famous copywriter. She’s divorced and a single mother, who is struggling to find a job. Eventually, she gets a job Eun-ho’s company, after lying about her background. As they become more involved with each other, love begins to bloom.
Too Hot To Handle (2020-)
Starring: Desiree Burch (narrator)
Too Hot To Handle is a reality TV dating game show. 10 adults – all of whom primarily engage in meaningless flings and are unable to form long-lasting relationships – are placed together in a house for four weeks. They are bound by a set of rules – for example no kissing. The contestants start with a $100,000 grand prize that gets reduced any time a rule is broken.
Fun Fact: The Seinfeld episode, “The Contest”, served as inspiration for this show.
Click here to watch on Netflix >>
Image credit: Netflix
The King: Eternal Monarch (2020)
Starring: Lee Min-ho, Kim Go-eun, Woo Do-hwan, Jung Eun-chae
Emperor Lee Gon of Kingdom of Corea travels to an alternative reality after crossing the mythical border his half-uncle created. He meets detective Jung Tae-eul, who he recognises from ID he found in his world at the time of his father’s assassination. He falls for her at first sight and stays in her world to get to know her to find out the truth of what happened to his father.
Easy (2016-2019)
Starring: Michael Chernus, Jane Adams, Elizabeth Reaser
Easy follows several individuals living in Chicago who are trying to navigate issues such as love, relationships and general knowledge. Each episode can be watched as a standalone, but there are some recurring narratives throughout. So it’s probably best enjoyed as a series.
Fun Fact: Some characters are based on the real-life personas, personalities and jobs of the individuals cast in the roles.
When the Camellia Blooms (2019)
Starring: Kang Ha-neul, Gong Hyo-jin, Kim Ji-seok, Son Dam-bi
Oh Dong-baek is a single mother running a bar called Camellia. Six years later, she meets Yong-sik, who is madly in love with her despite her rejections. Although, the more time she spends with him, the more her feelings begin to grow. But a notorious killer sets out to take Dong-baek as their next victim, Yong-sik needs to use his police officer skills to find the killer before he gets to Dong-baek.
Dash & Lily (2020)
Starring: Austin Abrams, Midori Francis, Dante Brown
During the Christmas holiday season, two teenagers – Dash and Lily – living in New York City develop mutual romantic feelings as they open up to each other by trading messages as well as dares in a notebook around a multitude of locations.
Fun Fact: Fun Fact: The series is based on Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan.
Was it Love? (2020)
Starring: Song Ji-hyo, Son Ho-jun, Koo Ja-sung, Kim Min-jun, Kim Da-som from Sistar, and a special appearance from SF9
Noh Ae-jung is a single mother with a strong survival instinct who has been single for 14 years. Suddenly, four men appear in her life. They are all very different: one is bad, but attractive; another is pathetic, but rich and handsome; the third is scary, yet sexy; and the last is a flirty younger man.
Violet Evergarden (2018)
Caught up in the Great War and raised for the sole purpose of decriminating enemy lines, Violet Evergarden finds herself maimed and injured in a hospital left with only words from the person she held dearest, but no understanding of the true meaning. Recovering from her wounds, Violet begins working at a postal services, becoming an ‘Auto Memory Doll’, transcribing people’s thoughts and feelings into words, in the hope that she can one day understand what it means when someone says ‘I love you’.
Fun Fact: In the Language of Flowers, the Blue Violets that Violet is named after means Faithfulness or to always be True.
One Spring Night (2019)
Starring: Jung Hae-in, Han Ji-min, Kim Jun-han, Lee Sang-hee
Lee Jeong-in is a librarian who is in a 4 year relationship with a banker, Kwon Gi-seok. When she visits a pharmacy for a hangover remedy, she meets pharmacist Yoo Ji-ho, who kindly pays for her because she left her wallet somewhere else. As they spend more time with each other, Jeong-in realises that Ji-ho might be the one she loves. And despite everyone else frowning on him, Jeong-in doesn’t even mind that Ji-ho is a single father.
Emily In Paris (2020)
Starring: Lily Collins, Ashley Park, Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, Lucas Bravo
Emily is a driven 20-something American from Chicago who moves to Paris for an unexpected job opportunity. She is tasked with bringing an American point of view to a venerable French marketing firm. However, her life isn’t easy as cultures clash and she adjusts to the challenges of life in Paris. As well as juggling her career, new friendships and love life.
Fun Fact: Emily in Paris was Netflix’s most-watched show in 2020, although it was quickly surpassed by Bridgerton in 2021.
Click here to watch on Netflix >>
Image credit: Netflix
Oh My Ghost (2015)
Starring: Park Bo-young, Jo Jung-suk, Kim Seul-gi, Lim Ju-hwan
Na Bong-sun is timid and has very few friends. She gets reprimanded a lot at work too. But she can talk to ghosts and just so happens to get possessed by a lustful virgin ghost, Shin Soon-ae, who wants to seduce as many men as possible. Soon-ae sets her eyes on Bong-sun’s boss, Kang Sun-woo. Sun-woo never paid any attention to Bong-sun before, but now that she is confident, she finally catches his eye.
My Holo Love (2020)
Starring: Yoon Hyun-min, Ko Sung-hee, Choi Yeo-jin, Chansung of 2PM
Due to her face blindness disorder, Han So-yeon made the decision to live a reclusive life. But when she starts using the AI program Holo whose appearance is like that of his creator, Go Nan-do, she begins to change. The real Nan-do begins to fall in love with So-yeon, but his contrasting personality to the Holo is not in his favor.
Click here to watch on Netflix >>
Image credit: Netflix
The Hook-Up Plan (2020-)
Starring: Joséphine Draï, Zita Hanrot, Sabrina Ouazani
Elsa is on the verge of turning thirty, she’s stuck in an uninspiring job and finds herself still hung up on her ex-boyfriend two years after their breakup. Hoping to help improve her confidence, her friends decide to hire a male escort to take her on a few dates.
Fun Fact: A special episode about the COVID-19 pandemic was added to Netflix in August 2020 in France.
Memories of the Alhambra (2018)
Starring: Hyun Bin, Park Shin-hye, Chanyeol from EXO, Kim Yong-rim
After receiving an email regarding a groundbreaking AR game about medieval battles in the Alhambra, Yoo Jin-woo, CEO of an investment company, travels to Spain to meet the creator, Jung Se-joo. However, Se-joo has gone missing and instead Jin-woo meets Se-joo’s older sister, Hee-joo. She owns the hotel at which Jin-woo is staying. As the border between the AR game and reality begins to blur, mysterious incidents start happening.
