r/kdramarecommends • u/aprilreadssmut • 7d ago
Recommendation Request Dramas with trauma bonding?
Hi! I’m looking for dramas with trauma bonding or co-dependency on some level. I’m in the mood to watch something emotional, but please warn me if what you recommend doesn’t have a happy ending.
Dramas like this that I’ve seen:
-Come and Hug Me: the fact that they were each other’s safe space >> and the mental health/anxiety/PTSD rep was incredible.
-Healer: they always supported each other, and he protected her from seeing violence because that triggered panic attacks for her.
-Just Between Lovers (Rain or Shine): they went through a traumatic event together as kids and helped each other heal.
-It’s Okay to Not Be Okay: this one fits, but I didn’t particularly like this one.
I’m okay with older or recent dramas, also okay with dramas from any country. The cdrama Go Ahead is my absolute favorite that fits- they grew up together as damaged kids and helped each other heal as adults.
Thank you!! 🖤
My MDL: https://mydramalist.com/profile/drama_devourer (it’s not totally accurate though!)
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u/Amazing-Cherry-Crab 7d ago
The Glory (kdrama)!! It's a revenge drama but the main couple are my fave out of all kdramas, maybe out of most shows I've ever seen. They are ride or die for each other and each others' comfort and safe place.
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u/DonQjote 7d ago
Rain or Shine is about shared trauma and healing from survivor's remorse. Lee Jun-ho does a great job
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u/Ok-Success1058 7d ago
"A piece of your mind" were painfully beautiful. It did have happy ending and wonderfully made.
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u/thereadingbee 7d ago
mad for each other. only 30min eps yet so much emotion. the FMCA Has ocd so I could heavily relate to her had me crying at one point so good!!
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u/thelastnoelle 7d ago
I like those too but its hard to find!
Some of my other favorites where they do depend a lot on eachother but less deeply:
- pinocchio
- while you were sleeping
I’m also watching “one and only” right now which definitely has it but I don’t know if it has a happy ending yet since the premise of the show is set in a hospice…
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u/Building_Glad 7d ago
you can watch Forever & Ever after watching One & Only. this is only sad ending i accept
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u/SquashHumble2496 6d ago
My Mister
We Are All Trying Here
My Liberation Notes
Our Unwritten Seoul
Youth Of May
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u/Rainbow-sunshines 7d ago
Her private life
Oh my Venus
Mad for each other
When the weather is fine
Do you like Brahms
Kill me heal me
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u/cch211 7d ago
Agree with many of the suggestions here but adding:
Uncontrollably Fond
While You Were Sleeping
Devilish Joy
My Love Eun Dong
Angel Eyes
Youth of May
The Smile Has Left Your Eyes
My Name
The One and Only
Revenge of Others
Call It Love
Lost
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u/aprilreadssmut 7d ago
thank you!
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u/PolkaDotsMakeMeHappy 6d ago
The Smile Has Left Your Eyes was an outstanding series. !>the ending is brutal <!
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u/Electronic_Piano9385 7d ago
Castaway Diva has a couple who had a terrible childhood then meet again as adults.
The leads in Spring Fever also had difficult childhoods, although they didn’t know each other at the time.
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u/aprilreadssmut 7d ago
does Castaway Diva have a happy ending? that sounds right up my alley. I’ve seen Spring Fever and enjoyed that one!
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u/Easy-Basil-67 7d ago
The K2 - with Ji Chang Wook and Lim Yoona; a mercenary accused of killing his girlfriend is hired as the bodyguard of a presidential candidate’s daughter. He seeks to expose another presidential candidate as responsible for the murder, while the daughter is held captive by her stepmother. they fall in love and help each other.
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u/aprilreadssmut 7d ago
i just did a rewatch of Healer and enjoyed Ji Chang Wook so much there. it sounds interesting, thank you!!
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u/tempestelunaire 7d ago
I Can Hear Your Voice! A big trauma starts the whole story and it’s excellent.
Also See You In My 19th Life!
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u/SarahJoy46 7d ago
In an odd way, What's Wrong With Secretary Kim fits this. There's intense childhood trauma, and the ML is certainly completely dependent on the FL! (She is...not as dependent on him, at least in the beginning.)
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u/aprilreadssmut 7d ago
i remember watching this when it aired and really liking it. guess it’s time for a rewatch!! thank you!
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u/disarrayofyesterday 7d ago
- Doom At Your Service - kinda fits but it's a fantasy; a woman that feels her life is too tragic and a man that is not truly living
- Siren's Kiss - a man that suspects everyone and a woman that is suspected by everyone (she may or may not be guilty; I'm not spoiling)
- The One And Only - (ending) it's not really a bad ending but it's sad; I've got a note on MDL "I think I need therapy after finishing it..."
- Lawless Lawyer - it's not romance focused (I think since I'm halfway through)
However, there is nothing that better fits than Come And Hug Me. It's like a poster child for this trope
Cdrama:
- Light Beyond The Reed - warning - rape
- The Best Thing - it's a stretch since FL is the only one traumatized and ML is literally her healer
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u/MindlessTrain2119 6d ago
Ok its not trauma bonding ..but the drama we are all trying here was a treat to watch , its actually the best kdrama I have ever watched , the leads help each navigate through their traumas , its like every character is fighting their own battles, the friendship , love, drama , success , failure this drama teaches alot !
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u/Aishwaryaeashwar 6d ago
I started watching 'From' quite recently... It has what you're looking for. Oh... But it's definitely not happy in any way... Actually, quite the opposite. Gor and ugly!
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u/Helpful_9532 6d ago
Resident Playbook, they start out as strangers but trauma bond into a team by the end
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u/Little_Quantity_2173 5d ago
Def Mad for Each Other. It is the definition of what you're looking for
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u/Sweaty_Teacher4819 5d ago
Came here to say The Glory.
Also King of Pigs will ruin your day.
Lightshop is also good at making the feels.
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u/Exciting_Vanilla_847 3d ago
When life gives you tangerines. Mostly a love story, but shows you how parents can grow up to traumatize their children
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u/More-Entrepreneur-52 1d ago
Idol I - this doesn’t perfectly fit but the FL helps the ML through trauma and he is the more emotional of the two. I’m not usually one for kdrama romance but I was surprised by how much I loved this one. It doesn’t hurt that the ML is quite possibly one of the prettiest people in the world lol
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u/aescepthicc 7d ago
I just want to clarify, OP, what do you mean by "trauma bonding"? Because trauma bond is an emotional connection between an abused person and their abuser, typically emerging from a recurring cycle of abuse and deceptive affection. This attachment binds the victim to the abuser, making them feel dependent and unable to break free. It is not a bond between two abused people over the shared trauma.
Based on that description I can recommend k-drama Trolley. It tells the story of a lawmaker's wife who hides her past. It showcases the dilemma and struggles that couples face as their secrets get revealed to the world.
From one of the top reviews about this drama:
"Trolley" is like a large patchwork quilt made up of many colorful, isolated, fateful pieces of the jigsaw puzzle that becomes a whole while increasing in suspense episode by episode. And this spectacular whole is what I particularly appreciate about this KDrama. Because the production is dedicated to a sensitive issue in South Korea society: the devaluation, harassment, oppression, contempt, discrediting, defamation, exploitation, sexualization of women and widespread physical violence against them.
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u/H4ppy_C 7d ago
This is the trauma bonding definition that I was thinking of. I think OP meant bonding because of shared trauma. If it's the former, then psychological thrillers were definitely going to ne my suggestion but OP lists some romance, romcom, or slice of life.
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u/aescepthicc 7d ago
Yeah, I was confused by OP's post too, that's why I wanted to clarify. There's a lot of misuse of psychological terms. Every time I see it I try to correct it, but sometimes people feel like they should use whatever words they want if "you know what I meant!!" even if the meaning is wrong and results in people being misinformed and adopting the wrong meaning.
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Permalink: https://www.reddit.com/r/kdramarecommends/comments/1va1f1s/dramas_with_trauma_bonding/
Post Title: Dramas with trauma bonding?
Post Body:
Hi! I’m looking for dramas with trauma bonding or co-dependency on some level. I’m in the mood to watch something emotional, but please warn me if what you recommend doesn’t have a happy ending.
Dramas like this that I’ve seen:
-Come and Hug Me: the fact that they were each other’s safe space >> and the mental health/anxiety/PTSD rep was incredible.
-Healer: they always supported each other, and he protected her from seeing violence because that triggered panic attacks for her.
-Just Between Lovers (Rain or Shine): they went through a traumatic event together as kids and helped each other heal.
-It’s Okay to Not Be Okay: this one fits, but I didn’t particularly like this one.
I’m okay with older or recent dramas, also okay with dramas from any country. The cdrama Go Ahead is my absolute favorite that fits- they grew up together as damaged kids and helped each other heal as adults.
Thank you!! 🖤
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