10 GIFs That Prove Telenovelas Are the Most Thrilling Shows on TV

Updated on Feb 11, 2017 at 9:00 PM

Televisa

While The Bachelor and its spin-off Bachelor in Paradise have captivated American TV audiences and seem to now be synonymous with drama, we can't help but feel like telenovelas still reign supreme with their over-the-top and borderline-cheesy plot lines.

Sure, the roses, sexy hookups, and Chris Harrison leave everyone tuning into the long-running ABC show, but our favorite Spanish-language soaps have even more captivating qualities: namely, the drama — hot guys, mean girls, epic staredowns, and total turmoil — Eva Longoria so perfectly re-created for her NBC show, Telenovela. Keep scrolling to discover all the ways novelas make The Bachelor seem arguably tame.

The Intros

Mini-movies worthy of an Oscar for best drama on their own. And the catchy theme songs that, to this day, we still can't forget.

The Storylines

Who? What? When? Where? Why? HOW?! Don't try to guess, because you'll be wrong.

The Gossip

Thanks to those crazy storylines, the chisme is extra juicy.

The Dramatic Moments

*faints*

The Temper Tantrums

So. Many. Slaps.

The Facial Expressions

And subsequent camera zooms.

The (Shirtless) Men

Like Gonzalo García Vivanco . . .

. . . and David Chocarro.

The Romantic Scenes

Hotter than anything you'll see anywhere else, no doubt.

The Staredowns

Who will blink first?

The Mean Girls

No one can compare.