Why TV dramas love playing the ‘amnesia’ card

SOBERANO. Alternative plot twist.

WITH SO many teleseryes now being unreeled on local TV, scriptwriters are hard pressed to come up with exciting and “eventful” twists and turns to keep viewers avidly watching.

Whenever they find their wellspring of creativity and inventiveness running dry, they resort to “medical” complications to keep their protagonists perpetually tearful, and in a constant state of “delicious” suffering.

Of late, however, so many series have been featuring diseases, illnesses and accidents in such unselective profusion that viewers have been—feeling rather ill themselves!

—Time to take a long break from the ICU and broken bones, therefore! But, what could take their place? An emerging alternative that writers fancy this season is still of a medical coloration, but is less physical and more psychological or mental—the amnesia plot twist.

It’s currently on view and in full melodramatic effect on the concluding series, “Dolce Amore,” with its female protagonist, played by Liza Soberano, “suddenly” blanking out, forgetting most everyone and everything she’s experienced, and picking up the vestiges of her “unremembered” life anew.

Why do TV scriptwriters love playing the “amnesia card” so much? Just watch “Dolce Amore” for proof positive of its unique attractions:

First off, it effectively enables a dramatic series to extend its storytelling into a new “chapter,” with fresh plot inputs and new characters to keep developments interesting.

The fact that the protagonist has forgotten most everything clears the field for a new “context” to kick in. Since Liza’s character has forgotten she’s in love with Enrique Gil, she reverts to “stranger” then “friend” modes—and viewers are on tenterhooks as they wait for her to finally remember who her true love really is.

In addition, it introduces a beguiling sense of irony into its romantic proceedings, with Enrique feeling oh, so frustrated because his heart is back to square one.

But, the biggest beneficiary of the amnesia plot is Liza, because it enables her to demonstrate her versatility as she in effect plays at least two different characters—her character before, and her “forgetful” counterpart now.