The Black Moment in a story.Dun. Dun. Dun.This is the moment where the conflicts your protaganists have struggled with since the beginning of the story come to a head and all hope seems lost. Maybe the leads thought they could get past their issues, but a setback has happened to make them realize they were capital W wrong. The strongest black moments feed on the characters’ weaknesses and make them think those conflicts truly are insurmountable. This is the time for the writer to be as mean as possible. Take characters to the places where they feel hopeless about a possible bright future. In a romance, when writing a strong black moment, the leads subsequent happily ever after will feel more deserved. TL;DR: the darker the black moment, the happier the HEA feels.Book reference: Gwen Hayes's Romancing the BeatOrder of Dramas Discussed (in order): SPOILER CITY YA'LL BEEN WARNEDBlack Moments That Made Us Cry:Bad and Crazy (Amy)Happiness (Megan)Mr. Queen (Lia)Love Between Fairy and Devil (Megan's honorable mention)Black Moment You Didn't See Coming:Bloodhounds (Megan)Little Women (Amy)Strangers from Hell (Lia)A Romance K-Drama with a Well-Plotted Black Moment:Eighth Sense (Lia)Mad for Each Other (Megan)Crash Landing on You (Amy)What's a Drama With A Black Moment So Dark You Didn't Think Happiness Could Ever Come:Flower of Evil (Amy)All of Us Our Dead (Megan)Squid Games (Lia)Grey Moment That Worked For You Or Not:Hit The Spot (Amy)Business Proposal (Megan)Additional:Spoiler for I Am Not a RobotA discussion of Mr. Sunshine's ending A Black Moment Where We Thought It Would End Well But Then Oops...Tragedy:CLOY (Amy)Moon Lovers (Lia)Sign Up for Our Newsletter!Want our thoughts on why everyone should watch I'm Not a Robot in a 500-word essay? More thinky and/or thirsty writer takes on your favorite shows? This is the place to get it. Sign up HERE! Ready to download your first audiobook? Don't forget to click here for your free Audible trial: http://www.audibletrial.com/afternoona*Audible is a sponsor of Afternoona Delight Podcast*Are your family and friends sick of you talking about K-drama? We get it...and have an answer. Join our AfterNoona Delight Patreon and find community among folks who get your obsession. And check out www.afternoonadelight.com for more episodes, book recs and social media goodness.Love BTS? Or curious what all the fuss is about? Check out our sister pod Afternoona Army for "thinky, thirsty and over thirty" takes on Bangtan life.

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