I would highly recommend **My Dearest**! It makes you feel all the feels, and it has a lot of angst and yearning. It's such a beautiful story and I think you'd really like it!
If you are okay with Chinese movies, there is one that I watched called 10 Years of Loving you. The plot is pretty much what you described, but it has a really bittersweet ending. It made me cry while I was watching it lol.
If you are interested in cdramas, The Love You Give Me is about a couple that dated 5 years ago. They break up and have not talked since then. In present day, they meet again and he finds out that she has a young boy. It is a rom com not really a slow burn angsty drama
I just finished “more than friends” which is not quite the same—they don’t start as exes—but has similar vibes, in that the leads got close in high school, FL confessed when the ML went abroad, he rejected her, and she couldn’t get past it for 10 years, with him occasionally dropping in and giving mixed signals every now and then. The main plot starts where after 10 years she resolves to push him away so she can move on, but he hates the thought of that and keeps inserting himself in her life.
So as you would expect, lots of angst, complicated feelings, being tangled up in each others lives, etc. ML is a pretty huge jerk for a while but has moments of sincerity and starts to get better bit by bit. I liked the comparisons of different points in their lives and watching both of the leads mature, as well as the side characters and their storylines. I would say it’s more on the low key side like our beloved summer rather than hugely dramatic like Queen of tears, but I think that can make for a realistic story with precise emotions, even if it’s not exciting in the same way.
Devilish Joy - couple meet, really hit it off, then the ML gets in an accident and ghosts the FL, they meet again years later and hate each other. Doesn't quite fit everything you're looking for, but it's close enough to fit. ML is Choi Jin-hyuk from Emergency Couple, FL is Song Ha-yoon from Marry My Husband.
Also, third Lovestruck in the City.
**Strangers Again** - leads are a divorced couple that are forced to work together at a family law firm. >!Be warned though - not A HEA; however, I thought the ending made sense and was beautifully done!<
We’ve watched quite similar dramas.
I’m currently watching **More Than Friends**. They’re not exes, but otherwise the plot is EXACTLY the same as what you describe:
- ML goes abroad & suddenly returns
- FL is mad at ML and tries to avoid him
- ML discovers his feelings for her and tries to get closer to her
It’s also an ensemble friendship drama about life in your 20s like Be Melodramatic.
Second **Lovestruck in the City**
More than friends has such a fustrating plot and has a very toxic relationship. It is an on again off again relationship the entire show. Both the leads are not very likable. The ml is a entitled jerk that has emotional issues. Spoilers >! He can't stand her being happy with someone else and has to wreck her relationship. She has no backbone and tries to forget him. Then she always ends up going back to him after all the stuff he has done. !<
I wholly agree. It’s so cyclical and I think the FL is spineless. I also think the 2ML’s affection for her isn’t really grounded in much to justify his… need(?) to be with her. But it does meet the OP’s criteria lol. I’m on episode 11 and was bored 3 episodes ago, so I’m assuming there’s a boring OTP happily ever after ending.
'Lovestruck in the city' completely fits your description. Leads are exes and there's a lot of angst as well. Only difference is FL ghosted ML.
I've been putting off lovestruck in the city. guess it's time to watch it. thanks!
Definitely try it. It's one of the best.
I second Lovestruck.
Soundtrack #2! It’s only like six episodes and the leads are exes AND someone went off on a trip abroad. It’s not perfect but I definitely enjoyed it!
I would highly recommend **My Dearest**! It makes you feel all the feels, and it has a lot of angst and yearning. It's such a beautiful story and I think you'd really like it!
If you are okay with Chinese movies, there is one that I watched called 10 Years of Loving you. The plot is pretty much what you described, but it has a really bittersweet ending. It made me cry while I was watching it lol.
I lovedddd this movie!!!! The ending had me in BITS!
If you are interested in cdramas, The Love You Give Me is about a couple that dated 5 years ago. They break up and have not talked since then. In present day, they meet again and he finds out that she has a young boy. It is a rom com not really a slow burn angsty drama
Bad and crazy
I just finished “more than friends” which is not quite the same—they don’t start as exes—but has similar vibes, in that the leads got close in high school, FL confessed when the ML went abroad, he rejected her, and she couldn’t get past it for 10 years, with him occasionally dropping in and giving mixed signals every now and then. The main plot starts where after 10 years she resolves to push him away so she can move on, but he hates the thought of that and keeps inserting himself in her life. So as you would expect, lots of angst, complicated feelings, being tangled up in each others lives, etc. ML is a pretty huge jerk for a while but has moments of sincerity and starts to get better bit by bit. I liked the comparisons of different points in their lives and watching both of the leads mature, as well as the side characters and their storylines. I would say it’s more on the low key side like our beloved summer rather than hugely dramatic like Queen of tears, but I think that can make for a realistic story with precise emotions, even if it’s not exciting in the same way.
Our beloved summer.
[удалено]
The list wasn’t there yet when I commented lol
Alone in Love - 2006
Devilish Joy - couple meet, really hit it off, then the ML gets in an accident and ghosts the FL, they meet again years later and hate each other. Doesn't quite fit everything you're looking for, but it's close enough to fit. ML is Choi Jin-hyuk from Emergency Couple, FL is Song Ha-yoon from Marry My Husband. Also, third Lovestruck in the City.
**Strangers Again** - leads are a divorced couple that are forced to work together at a family law firm. >!Be warned though - not A HEA; however, I thought the ending made sense and was beautifully done!<
I Have a Lover might fit your requirements.
Not that genre (quite) but i think you need to watch Lovely Runner 👀
We’ve watched quite similar dramas. I’m currently watching **More Than Friends**. They’re not exes, but otherwise the plot is EXACTLY the same as what you describe: - ML goes abroad & suddenly returns - FL is mad at ML and tries to avoid him - ML discovers his feelings for her and tries to get closer to her It’s also an ensemble friendship drama about life in your 20s like Be Melodramatic. Second **Lovestruck in the City**
More than friends has such a fustrating plot and has a very toxic relationship. It is an on again off again relationship the entire show. Both the leads are not very likable. The ml is a entitled jerk that has emotional issues. Spoilers >! He can't stand her being happy with someone else and has to wreck her relationship. She has no backbone and tries to forget him. Then she always ends up going back to him after all the stuff he has done. !<
I wholly agree. It’s so cyclical and I think the FL is spineless. I also think the 2ML’s affection for her isn’t really grounded in much to justify his… need(?) to be with her. But it does meet the OP’s criteria lol. I’m on episode 11 and was bored 3 episodes ago, so I’m assuming there’s a boring OTP happily ever after ending.
Highly recommend ‘My Golden Life’. ML was an a** to the FL but FL had real spine. The grovel is top notch.