MAKE UP YOUR OWN MIND: Don't let those who judge Dramatic FICTION...

...by their individual morals make your choices for you.

Dramas are all works of fiction that are meant to be dramatic.

- [ ] We suspend our disbelief every time we watch a series with impossible storylines, cliched tropes and unrealistic romances.
- [ ] We overlook some of the more egregious plots because the MC are good looking and the chemistry between them is palatable.
- [ ] We will slog through episodes that are nothing more than recycled scenes under the guise of flashbacks just for those moments that make us tense with anticipation, laugh out loud, and our hearts flutter.
- [ ] We ignore narrative devices such as the plot armor that protects protagonists from certain death over and over because we like the character.
- [ ] We suspend our disbelief at yet another 2nd Lead who stalks the Lead , laying claim and demanding reciprocation of a one-sided love based on the fact that they grew up together.
- [ ] We happily pretend that silly interns enter into glamorous marriage contracts with rich CEOs in the 20th century and it ends up in life long love.
- [ ] We snicker at the thought of a cold landing you in the hospital.
- [ ] We play along with grown adults pretending to be 30 year old virgins.
- [ ] We shake our heads at the notion of wearing tiny jean shorts, a blazer, sneakers and hair in pig-tails is completely acceptable in a corporate office.
- [ ] We roll our eyes when females trip on air only to have the male catch them and spin a full 360 circle in the middle of the street.

Yet when any gray area, no matter ridiculously over-the-top it is presented, causes some offense great or small to some viewers, suddenly the fiction in the drama becomes real. The fantasy bubble is popped for them and now they must pop it for everyone else who still understands that it is still just fiction. It is like watching a cartoon and freaking out when dogs start speaking. "Dogs can't talk!" but it was fine when the hero flew the spaceship?

The controversial and polarizing plot has many people unable to separate their personal biases, from the other viewer's biases, and those of the show's creators. But it is still fiction, it didn't really happen. It was a twist designed to stoke moral outrage, as most are crafted to do. This one just happened to be more controversial than the norm, but more importantly, it is original and unexpected. It respects your maturity and intelligence. The plot choices caught us off guard while we were pacified in a fugue of romantic stereotypes. You may not agree with how they got you, but they did, and as long as you keep it within the confines of the dramatic fantasy, enjoy the ride. It is okay to scream, holler, cry, clutch your pearls and wag your judgmental finger at the CHARACTER within the confines of the in the DRAMA! And try to appreciate the fact that it made you think and feel some type of way in a way you never have before, and rejoice that you got more than you bargained for. How often can you say that these days?

Please don't take the magic of storytelling away from others because it doesn't follow your moral playbook.
That's not fair. Every time a few create an unnecessary moral frenzy over a fictional story, more and more productions are afraid to take chances on fresh and original material. Then we all have to suffer endless, boring repetitions of 'safe' and predictable series, books, films, all of which are art, and art is not supposed to be 'safe' and predictable.

The reviews for the Chinese series’ "Well Intended Love", "Circle of Love", and the Taiwanese series,
"Before We Get Married", has suffered unfairly at the hands of armchair, self-appointed moralists who have ceased thinking for themselves, but want to think for you, don't let them. Protect Asian Media, Protect Art! We need to encourage writers, directors and actors to continue to create original takes on familiar themes even if you don't agree with them. I think we can all agree that the Nazis are reprehensible, but the movie "Schindler's List" resplendent. I am morally opposed to war, all wars, and I adore "The English Patient." I don't agree with adult females acting like school girls, it affects my moral feminism, but I will never dismiss a series for it, I will suspend my disbelief because that is part of the viewing contract. The dynamic and exciting relationship between the ‘observed’ and the ‘observer’ is one to cherish, not admonish.

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MAKE UP YOUR OWN MIND: Don't let those who judge Dramatic FICTION..

..by their individual morals make your choices for you. Dramas are all works of fiction that are meant to be dramatic.

- [ ] We suspend our disbelief every time we watch a series with impossible storylines, cliched tropes and unrealistic romances.
- [ ] We overlook some of the more egregious plots because the MC are good looking and the chemistry between them is palatable.
- [ ] We will slog through episodes that are nothing more than recycled scenes under the guise of flashbacks just for those moments that make us tense with anticipation, laugh out loud, and our hearts flutter.
- [ ] We ignore narrative devices such as the plot armor that protects protagonists from certain death over and over because we like the character.
- [ ] We suspend our disbelief at yet another 2nd Lead who stalks the Lead , laying claim and demanding reciprocation of a one-sided love based on the fact that they grew up together.
- [ ] We happily pretend that silly interns enter into glamorous marriage contracts with rich CEOs in the 20th century and it ends up in life long love.
- [ ] We snicker at the thought of a cold landing you in the hospital.
- [ ] We play along with grown adults pretending to be 30 year old virgins.
- [ ] We shake our heads at the notion of wearing tiny jean shorts, a blazer, sneakers and hair in pig-tails is completely acceptable in a corporate office.
- [ ] We roll our eyes when females trip on air only to have the male catch them and spin a full 360 circle in the middle of the street.

Yet when any gray area, no matter ridiculously over-the-top it is presented, causes some offense great or small to some viewers, suddenly the fiction in the drama becomes real. The fantasy bubble is popped for them and now they must pop it for everyone else who still understands that it is still just fiction. It is like watching a cartoon and freaking out when dogs start speaking. "Dogs can't talk!" but it was fine when the hero flew the spaceship?

The dark and unexpected ploy twist here caught me off guard, and it was a very f*uck@d up thing to do, no argument there. But it is still fiction, it didn't really happen. It was a twist designed to stoke moral outrage, as most are crafted to do. This one just happened to be a little darker, but importantly original and unexpected. They got us!
They caught us while we were pacified in a fugue of romance stereotypes. You may not agree with how they got you,
but they did, and as long as you keep it within the confines of the dramatic fantasy, enjoy the ride.
Scream, holler, cry, clutch your pearls and wag your judgmental finger at the CHARACTER within the confines of the in the DRAMA! Rather, try to appreciate the fact that it made you think and feel some type of way in a way you never have before, and rejoice that you got more than you bargained for. How often can you say that these days?

Please don't take the magic of storytelling away from others because it doesn't follow your moral playbook.
That's not fair. Every time a few create an unnecessary moral frenzy over a fictional story, more and more productions are afraid to take chances on fresh and original material. Then we all have to suffer endless, boring repetitions of 'safe' and predictable series, books, films, all of which are art, and art is not supposed to be 'safe' and predictable.

The reviews for the Chinese series’ Well Intended Love, Circle of Love, and the Taiwanese series, Before We Get Married, has suffered unfairly at the hands of armchair, self-appointed moralists who have ceased thinking for themselves, but want to think for you, don't let them. Protect Asian Media, Protect Art! We need to encourage writers, directors and actors to continue to create original takes on familiar themes even if you don't agree with them. I think we can all agree that the Nazis are reprehensible, but the movie Schindler's List resplendent. I am morally opposed to war, all wars, and I adore The English Patient. I don't agree with adult females acting like school girls, it affects my moral feminism, but I will never dismiss a series for it, I will suspend my disbelief because that is part of the viewing contract. The dynamic and exciting relationship between the ‘observed’ and the ‘observer’ is one to cherish, not admonish.

Read More