by Arsheen Kaur SahniBuzzFeedBuzzFeed StaffI work as a Writer at BuzzFeed, creating and curating quizzes, listicles, and articles that cover everything from pop culture chaos to food trends I immediately want to try and fashion moments I can’t stop talking about.

A while back, I started getting the feeling that something was not quite right with mainstream media — the storylines became boring, and so did the characters. The inclusivity just wasn’t there; you get what I’m saying? That was until I saw Heated Rivalry, cause oooh mama, that was something, and it really got me. It was so refreshing to see new storylines on screen, and with characters and protagonists that aren’t your usual type.

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While on the hunt for newer and more inclusive representation on my screens, I came across a whole new format: vertical dramas, or as the larger population calls it, micro dramas. What are they, you might ask? These dramas are basically built to hijack your attention. Shot in that full-screen 9:16 format, they pack in wild plot twists, over-the-top emotions, and just enough chaos to keep you tapping “next” without thinking twice.

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Originally from China (where they’re called duanju), these bite-sized series thrive on high-stakes storylines, with the wildest tropes we’ve ever seen, like revenge arcs, messy love triangles, secret billionaires, and dramatic reveals every few seconds. And just when you think you can stop? They hit you with a cliffhanger that makes it PHYSICALLY impossible to.

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So, picture this: I went in looking for inclusive plots and stumbled onto this new format. Something even better happened: I found INCLUSIVE VERTICAL SERIES, with the kind of representation we rarely get to see. Here are eight of them, and dear mainstream media, PLEASE take notes.

Sneak Me in Your Closet, My Prince (72 episodes)

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📺: GoodShort

Gabriel is literally about to get married when Sebastian, a mafia heir running from assassins, hides in his closet. Yes, actually. From there, everything spirals — and I mean everything. Old feelings resurface, his bride-to-be turns out to be a whole situation, and somehow, in the middle of all this, Gabriel impulsively marries Sebastian instead to secure his inheritance. And obviously, it doesn’t get any calmer.

Tutoring My Rival Boy (72 episodes)

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📺: ReelShort

If you’re into enemies-to-something-else, this one’s hard to ignore. It follows Chris, a top student barely holding it together at an elite school, who ends up tutoring Lucien, the rich guy he cannot stand, his rival, so to speak. There’s blackmail, tension, and wayyyy too many moments where things could go very wrong. It leans fully into the drama and that “why are they like this” energy that keeps you hooked.

Roomies, Roomies, Roomies (21 episodes)

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📺: Instagram

This one follows Ellie, who’s just moved to New York and very quickly realizes it’s not the dreamy version she had in her head. She ends up sharing an apartment with three other people, and one of them, Rain, has a disabled brother. There’s a scene where she meets him and his partner, and she gets clearly annoyed when the partner starts treating him like he can’t do things on his own. It’s simple, but it really gets the point across without overdoing it, which I'm a big fan of, btw. Also, they’re back with season two, and it has eight episodes so far.

Chained by Her Love (62 episodes)

My Drama / Via my-drama.com

📺: YouTube and My Drama

This one is a little darker than the rest. Leslie is just trying to save her mother and ends up taking a job as an assistant to this powerful lingerie CEO, who very clearly has her own rules and secrets. What starts off as just a job quickly turns into something way more complicated. There’s this constant push and pull between fear and attraction, and you’re kind of watching Leslie get pulled deeper into a situation she doesn’t fully understand.

My Secret Agent Husband (57 episodes)

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📺: Dramabox

This one starts off wild with Lucas Walton, a rich heir trying to dodge an arranged marriage, who pretends to be gay and ends up engaged to his company’s new executive. Simple enough, right? Except his “fiancée” is actually an undercover agent investigating his family. So now it’s a fake relationship meets a secret investigation, with lots of lies and feelings sneaking in where they shouldn’t. And if this is your cup of tea, don’t get sad that you only get to watch 57 episodes, because My Secret Agent Husband 2 is out too, with 57 more episodes!

Wrestling With Love (69 episodes)

My Drama / Via my-drama.com

📺: My Drama

This one really starts off as a hate situation, cause why no

8 Must-Watch Micro Dramas With Inclusive Representation