Everyone knows that telenovelas all follow certain plot lines and, while they can be crazy, they are an important part of the genre. Check out some of the most commonly used storylines which are never short of dramatic.

1. Poor Woman Marries Rich Guy

A poor woman marrying a rich guy is expected in about 90 percent of telenovelas, especially if it is a Thalía telenovela. From "Rosalinda" to "Marimar" to "Maria la del Barrio," her roles usually included playing a beautiful poor young woman who ends up falling for a wealthy and handsome man.

After overcoming the struggle of coming from different social classes, family disapproval and a few other crazy factors, the lovers can finally be together and get married.

The above clip features Thalía and Fernandeo Carrillo in the final episode of "Rosalinda." The telenovela was a remake of the 1972 Venezuelan original "María Teresa."

2. Babies Seperated at Birth

A lot of telenovelas love to use the "separated at birth" or "switched at birth" theme to give viewers a plot line they are aware of but the characters aren't. This storyline usually causes a lot of drama, usually means one sibling is good, another misunderstood or can also mean one is rich and the other poor.

"Lazos de Amor," which starred Mexican star Lucero as triplets, set the standards for telenovelas about siblings separated at birth.

3. Good And Evil Twins

How can the sweet and innocent protagonist be redeemed for all her bad actions and weird behavior? Or why is the mean girl nice all of a sudden? Well that's because they are not who we think they are. The plot line is commonly used to give us an alternative to our protagonist but has also become predictable.

One of the most famous telenovelas of all time, "La Usurpadora," is popular for it's good twin/bad twin plot.

4. Amnesia


A classic in plenty of movies and telenovelas, amnesia is always a way to thicken the plot. How else can the plot get more interesting once the main character has what she wanted? Well, by falling down the stairs and forgetting who she is and who the man she loves is. This is usually where the villain gets their opportunity to cause more trouble.

In "Volver a Empezar" Yuri, who plays the main character, gets amnesia after an accident that leaves her paralyzed.

5. Acid in The Face

Acid in the face is how villains get what's coming to them or find another reason for revenge. Sometimes, it is also an opportunity for facial reconstruction, which then allows the villain to create a new identity.

This insane incident occurs in a few telenovelas, including "Aurora" and "Amigas y Rivales," which starred some of the most popular telenovela actors including Angélica Vale, Ludwika Paleta, Adamari López and Arath de la Torre.

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