Reshaping Suspense Web Dramas: A Study of Nonlinear Narrative Strategies and Audience Feedback in Tencent Video’s 2022 Suspense Series

In recent years, China's streaming platforms have increasingly invested in the production of original suspense web dramas, making suspense dramas a popular genre that frequently sparks social discussions and crosses audience boundaries. In 2022, Tencent Video released six major suspense series, including Under the Skin, Are You Safe?, Talking Bones 2, The Neuron Doctors, The Fight, and Reset. This study delves into the programming strategies and audience feedback of these series, analyzing their unique narrative structures, script content creation, and their alignment with real-world social issues. Additionally, the paper examines audience reviews on platforms such as Weibo, Douban, and Tencent Video, revealing how these phenomenon-level suspense dramas successfully captivate viewers through their realistic themes and innovative nonlinear storytelling methods, showcasing their strong appeal and market competitiveness.