Melodrama

A melodrama is a dramatic work in which plot, typically sensationalized for strong emotional appeal, takes precedence over detailed characterization, an exaggerated version of drama whose dialogue is often bombastic or extremely sentimental rather than action-driven. Its characters are often flat, written to fulfill established archetypes, and its stories are typically set in the private sphere of the home, focused on morality, family, love and marriage, often challenged by an outside figure such as a temptress, a scoundrel or an aristocratic villain; on stage, film or television a melodrama is usually accompanied by dramatic, suggestive music that cues the audience to its emotional beats.