The 15 Romantic Dramas Clichés: When Ideas Run Out, it’s Best to Play it Safe

A New Section for Reviews

It’s well known that romantic dramas, especially period dramas, are often riddled with clichés that lazy and unimaginative writers insist on feeding us in an attempt to win the hearts of nostalgic viewers and stretch out the narrative to meet the production’s required episode count.

A while back I had fun compiling a list of the 15 most recurring romantic dramas clichés, and as I continued watching the series, I discovered that they appear more frequently than I thought.

After the huge success of the recent drama A Dream Within a Dream, which exposed and mocked some of these clichés, I decided to revisit my list and transform it into a new section of the reviews: the “Respected Clichés” section.

In this new section, I’ll list which of the 15 romantic dramas clichés were included in the series, so as to give you a better idea of what you’re about to see and how stereotypical the plots of the stories offered to us by various platforms really are.

The Role of the Drama A Dream Within a Dream

I must admit that, when it comes to clichés, A Dream Within a Dream was truly a pleasant and surprising revelation.

What thrilled me about this drama wasn’t so much the list of clichés, but the way they were dismantled, reinterpreted, and ridiculed.

Some were barely hinted at, others represented genuine narrative turning points, but it’s clear that the screenwriters decided to play with audience expectations, offering the genre’s typical elements (the forced relationship, the misunderstandings that separate the protagonists, the seemingly cold character who melts like snow in the sun) but presented with a writing style that borders on parody without ever falling into banality. Everything was crafted with such meticulousness and skill that it makes the viewing experience surprisingly engaging.

The “Respected Clichés” section was born precisely from my desire to enhance this subtle balance between homage and mockery. It’s a kind of game between you and me, a way to share knowing smiles and resigned snorts every time we recognize, for the umpteenth time, the same “last-minute rescue from torture” or “fall off the cliff without consequences.” But it’s also a useful tool for those who want to understand what they’re getting into when watching a drama: because yes, clichés can be enjoyable (if artfully inserted, they can make the viewing experience more intriguing), but it’s important to know whether you’re about to watch an innovative story or a well-crafted collage of familiar elements.

Ultimately, this new section isn’t intended to be an exercise in cynicism, but rather an ironic and affectionate take on a genre we love precisely because we know what to expect. After all, clichés exist because they work. The key is how they’re used, with what awareness, and, above all, with what respect for the viewer’s intelligence.

I therefore invite you to follow me in my upcoming reviews, where I’ll highlight the (more or less wise) presence of these fifteen narrative tropes. And if you can think of a cliché I forgot to include in the list, let me know: it might end up in the next review of my 15 romantic dramas clichés.

After all, in the great collective dream that is drama, even acknowledging the obvious can become a source of amusement and entertainment.

The 15 Romantic Drama Clichés: the List

Here’s a list of 15 romantic dramas clichés I’ve identified, and you can help fill them in any time by letting me know what’s missing in the comments:

Conclusion

I hope you enjoy this new section and that it helps you decide if the dramas I review are right for you.

In any case, I’ll leave it up to you to decide whether or not to consult it: in the review, only the number corresponding to the entry in the list will appear, along with the link to this page, which will serve as a legend. You can decide whether you want to delve deeper into the drama by consulting my list.