CPE script soap operas

get hooked on

to become addicted to or very enthusiastic about something, especially TV, games, or habits (informal)
SYN: get addicted to, become obsessed with
OPP: lose interest in, get bored of

• I ~ this new series after just one episode.

• She quickly ~ the game and played for hours.

• He ~ watching cooking videos on YouTube

take it or leave it

used to say that something is not negotiable or particularly appealing, and one can accept it or reject it (spoken/informal)
SYN: non-negotiable, up to you
OPP: open to negotiation

• This is the final offer—~, no more changes.

• It’s just a salad bar—~.

• The film was okay. I’d say it’s a ~ situation.

the gritty realism

a style in art, film, or literature that presents raw, unfiltered, often harsh or unpleasant aspects of reality (neutral/literary)
SYN: raw depiction, unflinching portrayal
OPP: romanticized version, sugarcoated

• The movie’s ~ gave it emotional impact.

• I admire the ~ in her novels about urban life.

• Some viewers are uncomfortable with the ~ of poverty.

reinforce negative stereotypes in our society

to support or strengthen biased or harmful beliefs about groups of people through media, speech, or behavior (formal/critical)
SYN: perpetuate prejudice, validate harmful views
OPP: challenge stereotypes, break down bias

• That sitcom tends to ~ about gender roles.

• Such ads ~ without offering balance.

• Critics say the show ~.

way off the mark

completely inaccurate or incorrect (informal)
SYN: mistaken, far from the truth
OPP: spot on, accurate

• His prediction about the outcome was ~.

• Your guess was ~—it's twice that size.

• The review was ~ in judging the movie's message.

downright unbelievable

completely or extremely hard to believe, often because it's exaggerated or unrealistic (spoken/informal)
SYN: absurd, far-fetched
OPP: believable, plausible

• That plot twist was ~.

• Her excuse sounded ~.

• The acting was fine, but the ending was ~.

an easy way to switch off

a simple activity that helps you relax or escape mentally (informal/neutral)
SYN: unwind, zone out
OPP: stay alert, stay mentally engaged

• Watching sitcoms is ~ after work.

• Reading fiction is ~ for me.

• I play puzzle games as ~.

an excuse to have a good moan about

a reason or opportunity to complain, often for emotional relief (British informal)
SYN: vent, rant
OPP: praise, compliment

• That plot hole gave fans ~ the writers.

• People use the finale as ~.

• The glitch was ~ online.

two-dimensional /ˌtu dɪˈmɛnʃənəl/

lacking depth, complexity, or realism—often used to describe characters in fiction or media (neutral to negative)
SYN: flat, shallow, underdeveloped
OPP: nuanced, multi-layered

• The villain was completely ~.

• I wish the protagonist weren’t so ~.

• Critics said the characters were ~ and unrelatable.