When Bullying Becomes Repetitive: A Vertical Drama FanTalk on Why “More = Less”

🚨 New FanTalk: Let’s Talk About Bullying in VertiLand

There’s a trend in some vertical series that’s been bothering me: endless bullying scenes that drag the story down instead of lifting it up. Yes, conflict is needed—but does the humiliation need to be on loop?

😖 When You Start Excited, But End Up Exhausted

You hear everyone hyping up a new show, so you dive in—cozy blanket and all. The story is engaging, cast is top-tier… but then comes episode after episode of our lead getting bullied. And not just once—it’s the same cycle of humiliation. Even if you stick around for the “revenge” ending, it still leaves a bad taste.

🚫 The Line Between Drama and Redundancy

I’m not saying bullying scenes never work. Sometimes they help us understand characters or set the stakes. But when it’s just repeated torment to prove someone’s a villain? We got that after the first slap, thanks.

🔍 Example 1: The Virgin Stripper and the Hockey Star

I love an underdog story. And this one had everything going for it—until it leaned way too hard on the bullying. Serena and her squad humiliate Jenna constantly. Once or twice, fine—it sets the tone. But every other scene? It stopped adding value and just became frustrating. Even Casper coming to her rescue felt repetitive after a while. Cute couple, rough ride.

🔍 Example 2: Never Underestimate Girl Math

This one broke my heart. I was so hyped for a smart, female-led story. Zosha is mocked for being an orphan, for being a girl, for daring to do math. She proves herself not once, but twice—only to be called a cheat again. At episode 27, I had to stop. I felt like I was watching a loop of misogyny, not a plot.

💡 Where “Less = More”: Catch Me If You Can

No unnecessary bullying, just a sprinkle of teasing and plenty of plot. The drama comes from the leads and their own actions—not repetitive attacks from outside characters. And guess what? It still has high stakes, tension, and laughs. Proof that less can absolutely be more.

🧠 Final Thoughts: My New VertiMath Equation

Maybe it’s an unpopular opinion, but I’m tired of stopping series because the bullying never ends. Great acting and strong visuals can’t make up for poor pacing or empty cruelty. Here’s my theory:

More bullying = Less quality.

What do you think? Drop your thoughts below and let’s chat—respectfully, of course!