The Hook

The popularity of the telenovela is undeniable. Starting from its origins in the cigar factories of cuba, telenovelas have always been able to grasp the attention of any audience. As a first time telenovela watcher I was skeptical to say the least. The idea that a very melodramatic show in another language would be able to grab my attention seemed unlikely. However, the design of the telenovela grabs its audience's attention from the opening scenes and does not disappoint to continue to captivate viewers. In the first five minutes of my first telenovela La Reina del Sur, I was hooked. Before every commercial break and at the end of every episode, the telenovela uses a cliffhanger to insure it does not loose the attention of its audience and keep them coming back for more. Other factors also server to make the telenovela one of the most watched television genres in the world. The variation of plots and twists make every telenovela unique, even when using recycled story lines. The characters also serve to keep audiences enthralled. The connection created between the audience and the characters is so strong that they can't help but tune in for the next episode. Good or bad, the characters are intriguing to the viewers and keep them coming back to find out what happens to them. The telenovela's popularity definitely stems from its ability to hook the audience and keep them coming back for more.