I think everything can be attributed to normie NPC stupidity because they don't think and only react to external stimuli.
Brainwashing can occur through other media, like books (50 Shades of Grey, for example) and even the spoken word - look at how wildly successful religion is.
Real humans have no problem separating fiction from reality.
Btw, for me, it's Eunchae, Hanni and chimp.