The “Backstabber Within The Company” Trope Alive and Well in Current J-Drama Land

 I’ve complained ab0ut this trope which seems to be a staple of every J-drama featuring a small group of entrepreneurs starting up a new company, and that is that as SOON as the company begins to get some success, there will be a member of the team who will be a TRAITOR to the team, selling out secrets and sabotaging the product, much to the SHOCK of the employees!

We’ve seen in it shows like SUPER-RICH and RICH MAN, POOR WOMAN, and with the cliche making its appearance in current shows like the recent Mei Nagano computer app startup show UNICORN NI NOTTE, the trope seems to be ALIVE and WELL!

But when I saw it back-to-back in both FIRST PENGUIN and the latest episode of ATOM NO KO, I really had to stop and say, "MAN, this is one of the most BORING and PREDICTABLE twists in  shows like this...how can  a writer in good conscience keep utilizing it?"

For once, it would be nice if, when they caught the culprit, he got fed to the wolves as is deserved. But of course, the turncoat doesn’t have to worry, because ANOTHER trope is that the owner will not only forgive the traitor, but coddle him/her and say there will ALWAYS be a place in the company for them, making the traitor FALL on his KNEES and BREAK DOWN crying!

Heart of gold owner INSISTING he is valuable to the company and wants him BACK!

Can we PLEASE stop using this trope already???!!!