On a Cloud

One of my recent guilty pleasures has been watching short dramas. The kind that often appears on my social media. I used to watch the ads and follow the story through clips. I later discovered a place where I could watch the full episodes for free. I later found that there was a place where I could watch the whole thing in full (and for free). Since then, I’ve spent hours watching these shows whenever I need to pass the time.

I’m not sure what it is about these dramas that makes them so entertaining—not just for me, but for many others as well. The acting is cheesy at best, and most of the plots are repetitive. the only difference is the actors or swapped genders. The storylines are predictable, and the characters can be frustratingly annoying. Despite that, I still end up watching them from start to finish. 

I’ve seen so many variations of the same tropes. There’s the protagonist who doesn’t know their family is crazy rich. The adopted child finds out she has a rich family after her adoptive family throws her out. The girl caught between two guys, only for another girl to swoop in and steal their attention. The rich heir pretends to be poor. All while secretly supporting their partner. Then that partner strays, convinced they deserve someone better.

Then there are the more dramatic plots: someone forced into marriage in place of a sibling for money. A character being reborn to change their fate after betrayal. The marriage of convenience where the couple reunites years later—only to divorce.

One thing I’ve noticed in almost all of these dramas is that women dominate the narrative. They are often the leads AND the main villains. It is the men who are supporting characters or love interests. And more often than not, these men are easily manipulated by the women. I can’t remember a single drama where the male lead is a true knight in shining armor. It’s usually the women who save themselves.

It makes me wonder if these shows were made specifically for women. Given the way that it is always the women who are the focus of these dramas, I think that it is. Either that or these stories are made by women. I can't help but assume that since these feature women as the smarter and stronger characters.

Surprisingly, I have encountered men who are hooked on these dramas. It makes me wonder what they think about the male characters in them being such pushovers. The guys often choose to think with a body part that is not the heart or brain. That and their growing (and often delusional) ego. I would love to know what they think, but I’m too embarrassed to ask. 

I keep thinking about what it is with these dramas that make me watch them. Is it the fact that they don’t take themselves too seriously that makes it an easy watch? Or is it the fact that women are the main characters of the story? Or is it because they are so predictable I don’t have to focus on it too much to understand what’s going on?

Maybe the appealing factor for me is that it was never meant to be as polished as typical TV shows or movies. They don’t aim to be groundbreaking or thought-provoking. They are simple and entertaining without making the sets, plots, and acting complicated. The over-the-top storylines, acting, predictable plots, and completely absurd characters don't matter. They are still a good escape for people like me who want to be entertained, but not too invested in each story. I guess that’s exactly why I keep coming back for more. Why? Because sometimes after a long day, mindless entertainment is exactly what I need.