If youâre as chronically online as I am, youâve probably seen the newest trend of tiktok videos, vertical Chinese dramas. Vertical short form movies are not a new concept, you mightâve heard of Reelshort and its endless werewolf alphas .While the American vertical films may include werewolves and billionaires, thereâs a whole new world in the C-dramas.Â
What are vertical shorts? Theyâre tropey films cut down to minute each episode filmed in a vertical fashion making it more feasible to watch on phones. While it may be a minute per episode, these films can often add up to 2 to 3 hours. For personal research, (and definitely not because Iâm obsessed) I’ve watched quite a few of these short C-dramas and just like the American ones, thereâs always repetition no matter if in trope, script, characters or even clothes.
CEOâs & Emperorâs:
Rule number one of vertical C-dramas? Thereâs always a CEO or if itâs historical, an Emperor or a duke, or prince. The main female lead is either married to or will marry a CEO. Sometimes her ex and new partner will both be CEOs (donât worry though the male lead will always be the richer one). Rare times her brother will also be a CEO. Canât walk one step without bumping into a CEO.
White Moonlights:
Before K-dramas and vertical C-dramas, I hadnât even considered how important first loves may be. In every modern vertical C-drama thereâs always a first love or a white moonlight. The male lead will always have a white moonlight, either an ex or sometimes even a savior. Nine times out of ten it wasnât even her that saved him. For some reason they always return to China from abroad after the male lead is married.Â
Transmigration into novels:
Before vertical C-dramas I hadnât seen the word transmigration once but now I canât escape it. A woman is transmigrated into the novel they were reading and complaining about. If critiquing a book got me transported into it, I might have to stop reading. Often if theyâre in the novel, theyâre either a cannon fodder or an evil villainess, donât worry though sheâll end up with the rich CEO or emperor because the system doesnât control her.
Transmigration IRL:
If the female lead is not transmigrating into a novel, they may be a magical person who timetraveled and transmigrated into the body of someone being mistreated. Itâs okay though her family and husband can hear her thoughts so sheâs about to fix everything. Her first prediction? There is a black cloud on the forehead of the CEO.
Reincarnation:
If youâre not getting transmigrated into a novel, youâre probably being reborn. This time you can choose not to marry your ex and pick a different route knowing everything thanks to the villain revealing their plan before your demise. Sometimes the personÂ
The country bumpkin & the adopted heiress:
I kid you not, if the female lead was somehow kidnapped and returned to her family after living in the countryside, they will bring that up every 5 seconds. If she does anything or canât do something, itâs either blamed on her being from the countryside. Donât worry though while the female lead was kidnapped her parents replaced her with another daughter who they will love more. Not sure why itâs easier to replace the daughter instead of looking for her? Itâs easy, sheâs clearly in the countryside.
The âschemingâ green tea:
The rule of C-dramas? You have to have a scheming woman or the plot wonât work. She can be a mistress, the adopted sister, the half/step-sister, the white moonlight, an assistant. Sometimes, if youâre really lucky, you can have a few scheming women, and theyâre all out to get the female lead. They’re often acting like a pick me, or as they would say, a green tea, so no one ever suspects them of being evil. One piece of advice? Social distance from them or theyâre about to fall and blame you.
Kidnapping:
Thereâs always someone kidnapping the female lead. Just when you think the film is finally over theyâre kidnapping the female lead. If they kidnap her early into the film, then sheâs gonna get taken again or how else will the film end.
Divorce:
You might have heard divorce is hard. Not in these C-dramas, someoneâs always trying to divorce the other. I don’t know how they keep whipping out the divorce papers this quickly. They mustâve gotten a buy one get 50 free deal.
With more and more C-dramas coming out daily, the tropes are evolving, sometimes you can see the same film with different actors. While they may sound cliche and cheesy, they can be pretty addictive, like how you say youâll only have one or two Oreos and end up eating the whole sleeveâŠor two. There is a benefit though to watching these dramas. Due to its repetitive yet simple dialogue, it can make it easier to learn Chinese, even I’ve picked up a few words of Chinese. Though Iâm not sure where âmy husband is the CEOâ is appropriate to use.