Say what you will about clichés, but plot devices reach cliché status precisely because they work! Teleseryes and Asian dramas use so many of them because the audiences just can't get enough of them and keep coming back for more. They've certainly turned me into a dedicated drama watcher over the years!
Sure, every cliché has a saturation point, but sometimes--admit it--no matter how determined you are to be a discerning drama consumer, you can't help but get drawn into cliché-filled dramas anyway. They're like a happy drug. Too much and you'll start getting bored, but just the right amount will have you excitedly waiting for the drama's next episode. And if the writers happen to know how to twist clichés and turn them into something fresh, you know the drama's going to be on your favorites list.
Take K-drama You're Beautiful for example. In it, heroine Go Mi Nyeo pretends to be a boy and joins a band. It used every cliché in the book (and who in their right mind wouldn't be able to tell Mi Nyeo is a girl?), but the famous Hong Sisters--who also wrote the popular My Girl and Delightful Girl Choon Hyang series--knew exactly how to manipulate these tried (tired?) and true plot devices to delight their audiences. Case in point: When Mi Nyeo got drunk and fell on brooding guy Tae Kyung in one episode, they had The Accidental Kiss--but we later find out that she'd actually thrown up on him instead. Now that's what I call a show-stopper!
Scroll through the gallery below to see 10 of my top cliché picks. Did any of your own choices make it to my list? How about you, FNites? What are your favorite clichés? Tell me about them in a comment!
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