近年中國大陸網路劇中，「誇張劇情」成為短劇的主要特色之一，特別集中在「霸道總裁」、「重生」及「復仇」等題材，透過極端的設定與強烈的情感衝突，快速抓住追求刺激與情感補償的觀眾群。這類短劇通常篇幅短小，但劇情誇張、節奏緊湊，常以「一胎99子」、「萬億總裁扮保安」甚至「人獸戀」等離奇橋段作為噱頭，利用觀眾對極端事件的好奇與情緒共鳴，達到高討論度與觀看量。

典型案例中，《麒麟送子天降喜福》講述女主角懷上「龍種」一胎生下99個兒子，甚至出現寶寶疊羅漢進宮的荒誕橋段，最終因劇情過於離譜而遭下架。《雙向欲臣》則描寫雙向躁鬱症患者的禁忌戀情，包含「當姐姐的狗」等病態虐戀元素，情節極具爭議與刺激性。《萬億總裁扮保安》講述富可敵國的總裁為了體驗平凡生活而假扮保安的故事，強烈的反差設定引起大量話題討論。《虛顏》則涉及換臉、醫美及懸浮設定，劇情反轉頻繁，使觀眾難以預測下一步發展。

這類誇張劇情的興起，背後有幾個主要原因。首先是短劇為在短時間內吸引眼球，劇情刻意誇張甚至內卷化，以滿足觀眾的獵奇心理。其次，這些劇情提供情感補償，讓生活壓力大的觀眾在幾分鐘內獲得情緒宣洩與爽感。再者，許多短劇改編自網路小說，保留小說中誇張、爽文的特點，使劇情張力十足。最後，豎屏短劇模式普遍為1至3分鐘一集，強調快速反轉和記憶點，使觀眾容易沉浸並快速分享。

觀影時的重點在於理解這些短劇的節奏與平台屬性。大多誇張劇情集中於抖音、快手等短視頻平台，並非傳統長篇陸劇，因此故事節奏短促、衝擊力強。「霸總」和「重生」主題是短劇中最常見的套路，如《招惹》、《執筆》等作品延續此類設定。部分短劇甚至借鑑周星馳式的無厘頭幽默，例如《金豬玉葉》，透過荒誕情節和喜劇化的表演風格增加娛樂性，但也因此引發觀眾對品質與粗糙度的討論。整體而言，這些誇張短劇以極端設定和快節奏反轉為特色，形成一種針對特定觀眾群的情感與娛樂模式，成為大陸網劇中獨特的文化現象。

In recent years, exaggerated storylines have become a defining feature of short-form web dramas in mainland China, especially those focusing on themes like "domineering CEOs," "rebirth," and "revenge." These dramas use extreme setups and intense emotional conflicts to quickly captivate audiences seeking stimulation and emotional compensation. Typically, these short dramas are brief but feature over-the-top plots and fast pacing, often employing absurd hooks such as “giving birth to 99 children at once,” “a billionaire CEO disguised as a security guard,” or even “human-animal romance.” These outlandish elements exploit viewers’ curiosity for extreme situations and their emotional resonance, generating high discussion and viewership.

Notable examples include Kirin Brings Blessings from Heaven, where the female protagonist conceives a "dragon seed" and gives birth to 99 sons, with babies stacking like a pyramid to enter the palace—a plot so absurd that the drama was eventually taken down. Bidirectional Desire Minister portrays a taboo romance between bipolar characters, featuring disturbing elements like “being the older sister’s dog,” creating intense controversy. A Billionaire CEO as a Security Guard tells the story of a wealthy CEO pretending to be a security guard to experience ordinary life, generating attention due to the stark contrast in the premise. Virtual Face involves face-swapping, cosmetic procedures, and other fantastical elements, with constant plot twists that keep viewers guessing.

The rise of such exaggerated storylines can be attributed to several factors. First, short dramas aim to capture attention quickly, intentionally exaggerating plots to stand out, resulting in a form of narrative “involution.” Second, these exaggerated plots provide emotional compensation, allowing stressed viewers to experience rapid emotional release and satisfaction within minutes. Third, many of these short dramas are adapted from online novels, retaining the original’s extreme, fast-paced, “爽文” (feel-good, over-the-top) characteristics, which intensifies the plot’s tension. Finally, the vertical short-form format, typically 1–3 minutes per episode, emphasizes rapid twists and memorable beats, making it easy for viewers to stay immersed and share content.

When watching, it is important to understand the pacing and platform context. Most exaggerated plots are concentrated on platforms like Douyin and Kuaishou, rather than traditional long-form Chinese dramas, resulting in short, high-impact storytelling. Common tropes include "domineering CEOs" and "rebirth," as seen in dramas like Entanglement and The Pen. Some short dramas even borrow Stephen Chow-style absurd humor, such as Golden Pig Jade Leaf, using ridiculous scenarios and comedic performances to enhance entertainment value, though this has sparked debates about production quality and roughness. Overall, these exaggerated short dramas are characterized by extreme setups and fast-paced plot twists, forming a distinct cultural phenomenon in mainland Chinese web dramas that caters to a specific audience’s desire for both emotional release and entertainment.