“Three Kingdoms RPG” Under Fire for Raunchy Gay Context
TVB drama, Three Kingdoms RPG <回到三国> is under fire again! Initial criticisms were aired over its poor script, visual effects and cast selection. Now, the series is blasted for its disturbing homosexual context, and even mocked that the drama’s title should be revised to Return to Gay Kingdom! Viewers complained about the affection scenes between the male characters: hands holding, face caressing, chest touching and even back rubbing all appear in the series! Viewers felt disgusted and found it totally unacceptable that their epic heroes from the Three Kingdoms era behave in such lewd manners!
Kenneth Ma and Raymond Lam Have a Gay Affair?
Netizens were quick to point out the scenes in Three Kingdoms RPG that reeked of gay elements. In the series, Kenneth Ma (马国明) plays time-traveler Sima Shun who overly idolizes and has great admiration for Raymond Lam’s (林峰) Zhuge Liang. On the wedding night of Zhuge Liang and his wife, played by Kaki Leung (梁嘉淇), Sima Shun grabbed onto the pillar, weeping and screeching, “You are my idol! Do not consummate with this ugly woman!”
When Liu Bei, played by Joseph Lee (李國麟) made Zhuge Liang his strategist, Sima Shun was heartbroken that Zhuge Liang did not select him as an advisor. Shun cried and lashed out at Zhuge Liang, “I regard you as a friend, and you treated me as your one night stand!”
In another bickering scene with Zhuge Liang, Sima Shun also described himself like a woman who had been dumped. Viewers sneered at the pair’s relationship akin to the cowboys in Brokeback Mountain!
Steamy Bath Scenes Shock Viewers
The bath scene of Liu Bei, Guan Yu (played by Jimmy Au 欧瑞伟) and Zhang Fei (played by Savio Tsang曾伟权) in episode 5 was heavily condemned. One netizen described the scene as atrocious, “The spring fountain appears with the sound of streaming water and soothing background music. I thought it is going to be a steamy bath scene of beautiful women….. and yes, there are three “beautiful women”! I was shocked and left speechless!”
The statement by Zhang Fei also left many viewers baffled and amused, “Although we are not born on the same date, I hope we can bathe together on the same date!” The statement became a laughing stock! The “oath at the peach garden” has turned into the “oath at the steamy bath”!
Even Zhuge Liang joined in their steamy bath in episode 8! He used a towel to cover his chest, and Liu Bei even scrubbed his back for him. The scene appeared to be provocative and left viewers imagining a an erotic, homosexual bathing scene!
TVB Producers Enjoy Making Bath Scenes?
This is not the first time TVB featured scenes of men bathing together. Such suggestive scenes had appeared in Relic of an Emissary <洪武三十二> and Twin of Brothers <大唐双龙传>.Viewers criticized these scenes as setting poor examples to children and indirectly suggesting homosexual context.
Many viewers were disgusted by the over exposure of bath scenes in Three Kingdoms RPG. One netizen even commented, “Why are the three epic heroes, Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei always taking steamy baths together?”
Source: 21CN.com
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“The statement by Zhang Fei also left many viewers baffled and amused, “Although we are not born on the same date, I hope we can bathe together on the same date!”
Did the 3 heroes snicker and laugh at each other afterward? This sounds like a humorous scene, but also very intentional for TVB to poke fun at their comraderie in a modern manner.
Like I said in my thoughts, yes they did. They even teased him that he is talking more and more like Shun. It is a joke. You know the original saying, he was making a rather witty joke by changing to the last words as bathing together.
And I agree on what TVB did.
This article is the height of ridiculousness. If that is the case, all the cast in 1 Night 2 Days are gay because they even bath IN THE SAME BATHTUB and fully naked with total strangers and they wash each other’s hair (on the head, no elsewhere) so is that gay?
“disturbing homosexual context”
What is disturbing is HK people does not know their history and the times at which this series is depicting. The bath thing must be deliberate. I have already stated in my episodic thoughts some might go “oh so gay” for those scenes simply because to modern people it is that way but to those back in those times, the book itself has the men crying at every single good byes to show them as sentimental brotherhood. So what is wrong with scrubbing backs? What about women combing hair for women? Is that lesbian?
What Shun says may sound weird but what he meant by one night stand is.. well I don’t need to explain. People in Jaynestars are smarter I hope. Surely not every line has to be dissected and explained.
Poor script? What is good script then? Yes Shun singing was annoying, his hissy fit is boring, but in modern context don’t we go a bit hissy temperamental fit when our idols marry beneath them, men or women?
And all the steamy baths are in olden days, not modern series.
“One netizen even commented, “Why are the three epic heroes, Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei always taking steamy baths together?” ”
What you want them to do? Kill and roll around on dad bodies crying BROTHERS I LOVE YOU!!??? Because bathing time is the time to talk politics and to communicate and converse and know each other. Other time is dinner and I suppose TVB can’t afford the 3 dishes and 1 soup for every episode.
Funn,
“And all the steamy baths are in olden days, not modern series.”
Modern series have the men going to saunas and bath houses, where they soak in the same pool. This seems to be the preferred setting when they stage triad leaders having a serious discussion though and getting massaged after their hot saunas.
So why aren’t they called gay themes? Because they have a towel? Actually when I saw Raymond with the 3 guys I was laughing so hard. The hot spring is getting very crowded! Just imagine Adviser Hon, Shun in there as well. Must be very lively place. My take on the hot spring scene is also about exclusive boys club. Doesn’t it seem that way?
Funn,
“So why aren’t they called gay themes? Because they have a towel”
It depends on what is being said. The director of “Three Kingdoms RPG” is obviously poking fun at the men’s close comraderie, hinting at a more intimate bond. What are viewers supposed to think when Savio goes around saying he wishes that the men can always take a bath together on the same day?
Aside from the bathing scenes, Shun’s comments as a jilted one night stand was obviously written by the scriptwriter to drop a gay joke. It’s intentional so viewers are right in interpreting it as such. Some might not mind the humor.
Back to modern dramas where triad leaders soak in pools together, they usually discuss killings and dirty business. Despite soaking together, the dialogue does not hint of anything intimate, so there were not parodied in the past.
TVB planted homosexual jokes in “Three Kingdoms RPG” but it is a matter of how viewers respond.
I don’t think so. I don’t think there was any intentional thing about gay between the guys or perhaps Shun is in the closet without realising it. Why Savio said they should take baths together because they always tend to chat and are happy chatting. Why think more? I think the writers know how viewers will react even if those scenes are completely innocent. Insinuation is a personal subject to all. You see what you want to see. That is what the writer meant I think.
Funn,
Will disagree. After the very public reaction to “Relic in an Emissary’s” bathing scene featuring Joe Ma and Sammul Chan, the director of “Three Kingdoms RPG” was well aware of potential viewers’ reactions. I believe they intentionally planted such a joke in Savio’s dialogue to poke fun at the situation. Given the rest of Shun’s lines as a fanboy, the scriptwriter is just having fun.
Like you said, it was meant to be tongue in cheek. That doesn’t mean the writer wanted it to be gay scene, but rather perfectly heterosexual men having a bath or the dialogue with such intimate lines just to be tongue in cheek.
” “Relic in an Emissary’s” bathing scene featuring Joe Ma and Sammul Chan”
That does have a tinge of seduction since Joe Ma’s character is rather a sexual being and Sammul is an eunuch but again I sorta dispute that as well. But eunuchs may be lovers of the emperors, I will never know since they’re servants, without any importance attach to them so whatever their roles in the lives of the emperors or dukes can mean nothing much. Much like the romans and their slaves.
I really don’t see anything wrong with Sammuel and Joe Ma bathing scene.
Sometimes HK audience really overthink
Oh, they are only trying to do as the Romans and the Greeks did, but those Ancient societies did subscribe to homoerotism. @@ Don’t know what to think til I find time to actually watch it.
Ancient China also had homosexuality, not only Roman and Greece.
Have you ever heard of “share the peach” and “cut the shirt”? These things are famous homosexual stories in Chinese ancient time. Long Yang Guan, Han Tsi Gao are quite famous homosexual men. Deng Tung, too.
Not only in China but also Japan, Korea have the same. They even accept homosexual more openly than modern time. In Japan, having a beloved guy is normal to a General. Oda Nobunaga has a famous homosexual love story with his assistant.
You forgot one more story: Water Margin. It’s a novel written in 18th century during dynasty Qing. There are homosexual relationships in this novel. Actually, this novel is as famous as Journey to the West, but of course the current Chinese entertainment industry won’t make it into a drama as it’s still unacceptable by the audiences.
Huh? Homosexual in Water Margin? Between who and who? Why I dont rmb?
TWC: One of the most popular TV series recently broadcast in China was a new version of Water Margin
Sorry, it should be ‘Dream of the Red Chamber’ instead of ‘Water Margin’. I typed the title wrongly because both are China’s Four Great Classical Novels, which made me a little bit confused.
Another homosexual story is The Tale of Genji from Japan.
In relation to the article above, it’s become Hong Kong audiences’ habit to complain everything. Sometimes I wonder, how come Brokeback Mountain can be famous in Hong Kong till they use the term ‘brokeback’ to refer to gay people?
Yup, brokeback influenced Hk, China and everywhere. The great movie leaves an impact on the mind of ppl. But in HK and China, share the peach, cut the clothes or Long Yang friends are also used to refer to gay relationship.
They had a new version of all of four great novels in china within the past 2-3 years. Its all on youku.
nonsense.. some ppl has no sense of humour. some r just nt comfortable wth their sexuality tht even a bath scene wth men.. thy think its gay.. utter crap
I know! Imagine that korean series, modern time, reality show and they all bath together. Some are married men with children and their saying to new recruits is “Come, let’s bath together, we can bond that way once we each other naked” which is true.
i def agree… we girls go to sauna tgether.. i guess tht makes me a lesbian. do open our minds ppl.. dont be narrowminded
Why do viewers over analyze these scenes as well as the speech spoken by the characters? It’s a comedy series for crying out loud and nothing else!! As for the bathing scenes, I’m sure many men have bathed together in the olden days as this was just part of everyday living to clean themselves. If the spring is big enough to accommodate more people then why not take the opportunity to take a bath comfortably rather than in the olden shacks where there is no designated stalls (as seen in episode 2 where Ma Ming bathes out in the open) I take no offense to the scenes and like Wong Cho Lam often says, “Lay Lum Daw Chaw La”! – meaning “You’re thinking too much” in Cantonese.
Also in the past water is scarce. Has to share water.
Ok this time how many filed complain?
Lol. They consider that gay subtext? Shun is just a fanboy fawning over his idol. They gotta get their heads out of the gutter.
I like how older HK dramas touched upon of the theme of brotherhood. It makes me sick when I read films reviews or hear comments that claims that there’s some sort of erotic gay subtext implied in something as touching and classic (like John Woo’s A Better Tomorrow). I don’t mind films that do have gay content but I don’t like it when people twist out something that doesn’t even exist.
Can’t two guys just be close friends? I would like to see more dramas that emphasize brotherhood (especially in a modern day setting) but times are changing.
I suppose we are so cynical now we do not believe there can be purely platonic relationship. I am sometimes one of those. But for this series, I feel the subtext is non existent and is meant to be tongue in cheek for those who chose to see it that way.
some ppl seems to have a problem wth everythng.. if theres a serial murder thy think its too gruesome aka moses latest drama cant remember name for the life of me. theres just always somethng..
sigh, the see lais only like the family dramas where everything is fine and dandy. anything that’s not perfect, complain!
Bunch of idiotic viewers.
These viewers that complain are probably the ones that never liked the series to start off with so they’re just using any excuse they can think of to bring down the series.
One word, bromance. I see nothing wrong with that. It’s kinda cute actually. I haven’t personally seen the series myself, but the Hong Kong audience is really picky.
Plus, what is so wrong about these “gay” scenes? Hello, 21st century.
Seriously right? Complains are made about the lamest stuff. I guess the historic figures are supposed to bond over tea and biscuits or over fishing.
sensitive, sensitive people. maybe we can all get together and complain about all these stupid complaints! actually, i get a good laugh from the things ppl complain about.
and what’s wrong with homosexuality? i don’t like how it says it sets a bad example for children. children should actually be tuaght about homosexuality to stop this homophobia trend.
in agreement gold4canada.
Yes, we need to teach our children that it is indeed alright and is one’s own choice in order to stop the ignorance. Society needs to evolve and not be stuck in the ideologies of centuries or decades ago.
Urgh. That line made me sick. At first, I thought the audience were simply blowing things out of proportion, but turns out it’s just outright homophobia.
I’m of the younger generation and I’m aware we have different upbringings and attitudes. My parents can be rather discriminatory, but I’m glad they never tried to impose their values on me. I wish the HK audience would become more open-minded – or at the very least, give their children the freedom to choose.
When I was watching it, it never once crossed my mind that there was anything gay about he characters. Kenneth is just a fanboy. I don’t see how anyone can deduct a sexual context in that. As for the bathing, I find it completely normal. Is it really that shocking people in ancient times bathe together? It’s quite normal. People should pick up a book and stop being so homophobic.
I think these are remarks are meant for comedy purposes. Although I think that the bath scenes were a bit awkward, I actually did not catch the “gay content” of the lines and the actions in the series. I actually find it funny, hahaha.
How about the cute relationship btwn shun and gan? When shun couldn’t find a date for the lantern festival, gan was like “how about considering me?” Gan gives such an innocent look even when shun shoots him down. Don’t tell me that’s not love!
Haha, that scene was funny and get all the BL fans antenna up. And the good bye meeting where Kan fall into the embrace of Shun is also funny.
The BL hints are a subtle in Txb series. Nothing to do with that. The audience may enjoy these hints heartly when complaining (for why no more).
The bath scenes were my fave.
I enjoyed the romance btwn Kenneth and LF very much. I just don’t like it when old guys try to get in on the action.
*spoiler*
Too bad shun accidentally torched the hot springs place. Now we will never get a bath scene w/ LF and Kenneth and water splashing and playing “Marco polo”. Too bad. 🙁
Josie, sorry for scratching your childhood dream but I support Liu Bei and Ah Leung :p.
“Liu Bei even scrubbed his back for him”
Liu Bei wanted to, but, Zhuge Liang declined.
No, he did. He came up behind chukot leung… and there was a lot of steamy mist… let’s just say I couldn’t see where lau bei’s hands were at all times! 😮
But he still did.
The article writer only show one side of the situation. He/she only write how disgusted viewers are. But, there are some viewers who find the bromance scenes amusing and love it. They talked about the gayness of the series, but, in a good-natured way.
Many actions of olden days people might make modern days people cry ‘gay!’, but, they were perfectly normal in the olden days. But, I’m very sure that the scriptwriters know how modern viewers think. Some of the scenes are way too bromance that it’s hard to believe the scriptwriters don’t know what they are doing. For example, the lovers quarrel scenes between 2 guys. These scenes did not only happen in one series.
I guess Im one of the admirers :D. But it would be better (in look) if it was 2R.
What does ‘2R’ mean?
Raymond Lam + Ron Ng. Each contributes 1 R from their English name
“, “Although we are not born on the same date, I hope we can bathe together on the same date!” “
I agree with Funn on this though. There is nothing gay or sexual about this comment. Zhang Fei just change one word in that famous saying as a joke since they are indeed bathing together.
Wow, so much homophobia amongst the audiences..
Only got an “obsessed fan” vibe between Kenneth and Raymond’s character.. nothing else.
…Hong Kong viewers need to sit back and CHILL. Every single week there is something to complain about. This is a comedy, obviously making fun of historical characters would be a given. As kenneth said in an interview…this is meant to be a light-hearted series, and not to be taken seriously…
By the looks of it, most audiences didn’t even catch the ‘gay’context, because it wasn’t even intented -.- complainers will always try to find something to criticise…’moh lei’ ppl.
This drama is comedy ,why complain too much ,in ancient time human also have homosexual sex ,no big deal and nothing wrong ?
Kenneth is travel to other dimension or other universe ,ok .
now aday society is so tainted that you can’t be close with same gender, if you did then you are either gay or lesbian?. I think ppl just run their imagination too wild. I saw the bath scenes. Nothing so steamy about it. Blame it to brokeback mountain , haha, i notice in HK drama nowaday always refer to someone gay as tunpui( brokeback??)
hahahah yes blame it on brokeback hahahah
Viewers are still conservative and can’t take a joke light heartedly.
homophobic much?
Character relationship chart. LOL
http://ww4.sinaimg.cn/large/6482e5f1gw1dv4598t1zvg.gif
I wonder if the chart will expand when Sun Quan and Zhou Yu appear. 😀
After 5 weeks we will have full and real map.
I think ppl are just thinking too much!
First up, I don’t think there’s any gay subtext at the moment in TK RPG. Second up, if some people (the complainers) had read up on their history, homosexuality was actually a much more open and commonly accepted in the past than it is now. It was prevalent in ancient Greece and Rome as well as in ancient China. Many Chinese emperors actually had male lovers along with their countless female concubines. I remember reading somewhere (most likely on Wikipedia) that during the end of the Qing dynasty when the Christian missionaries started arriving in China, they were actually shocked at how rampant homosexuality was and tried to change the social setting at the time to make it more towards the Western beliefs of the time.
The whole thing with Shun and the friend/one night stand remark is just tongue in cheek humour and it kinda rhymes.
As for the back scrubbing, my take on it is that it is more of a subservient gesture rather than gay. Back in the day, people didn’t have soap, so to say clean you basically had to scrub yourself with water and doing it in a hot spring seems like a pretty good place, there’s already a lot of water there, don’t have to go to the river and get it yourself. Also the water is already naturally hot, so don’t have to waste wood to boil it. Makes sense for the bunch of guys to bathe there. As for the back scrubbing, let’s face it, one can’t really reach their back when bathing so it makes sense to get someone else to do it for you and that most likely would fall to a servant. That’s why when Lui Bei was scrubbing Guan Yu and Zhang Fei’s backs, they were saying that they cannot accept such a honour because he is their big brother and not their servant. Therefore I dont’t think there anything gay about this series to date.
Some religions still consider homosexual as a crime or illness. It affected the view of many modern ppl.
Then it’s more open of the ppl in ancient time.
Love between same gender or 2 genders or intergender, is still love. As long as it is a healthy love, should give them their rights. The prejudice of ppl should be changed.
But I have to say that in recent years, the view is getting more possitive among the youngster. A very good sign.
CY: “homosexuality was actually a much more open and commonly accepted in the past than it is now.”
The point is that many chinese people don’t really care about history, and therefore, I guess majority don’t realize the existence of homosexuality in the past. All the Chinese know about China’s history is from what they see in tv like TVB ancient drama or mainland ancient drama instead of reading historical books.
@ Name
“The point is that many chinese people don’t really care about history, and therefore, I guess majority don’t realize the existence of homosexuality in the past. All the Chinese know about China’s history is from what they see in tv like TVB ancient drama or mainland ancient drama instead of reading historical books.”
I agree. It’s really sad because the ‘history’ as it is portrayed by tv, especially TVB is horribly inaccurate and has set the tone for how people nowadays view history.
As far as I can remember, one of the christian missionaries is called Jesuit Matthew Ricci or Jesuit Matteo Ricci or something like that.
Name,
When the west started adopting christianity, they also had gay people such as Karl Heinrich Ulrichs. But of course there was death penalty for them because it’s opposed to their belief. And like CY said, homosexuality was prevalent in ancient times too; for example, Hadrian and Antinous.
By the way, I think Hong Kong audiences were thinking too far already about the drama.
These complainers are noisy. What gay?
These complainers are actually housewives with majority having very reserved/village-type if minds.
Tvb is just doing its job to ensure this ancient production gets as close proximity to the “reality” of those ancient times. Even if Kenneth Ma’s character was asked/required to kiss and play with Zhuge Liang’s backside, I don’t see there anything wrong with it and it should not be subject to condemnation by all means!
tony got to agree wth u on ths one.. yes most housewives have a narrow view of life.. thy find it hard to accept a lot of thngs..
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-18920096
Considering the article states that homosexuality was illegal until 1997, and then considered a “mental illness” for a period after that, I think it shouldn’t be surprising to see some react as they have to the bath scene…
I’m lolling so hard at this ridiculous article XD ARE YOU FREAKIN’ SERIOUS?! People have obviously never been to a public bath before…people does that there (especially friends) to show closeness between friendship not some homo intention that you deluded people think of. EVEN women does that! Some people need to explore/ go out more.
i knw.. i n my gf go to the hot bath alot.. if u were ever in korea u wll know.. its a norm to go for sauna .. thy even hve places to sleep overnite there… damn i must be a closeted lesbian . hahahahah
my girlfriends
Da hella & ma man not gay!!! Hemsem man can not gay!!?
bloody hk viewer truely has no sense of humor.
I dont see anything gay here, you are just too much! I find this drama interesting and funny. Remember Shima Shun doesnt have a high educational background, all he did back in HK was just playing game, how you expect him to talk properly? He has a characteristic of a gamer initially. Those bathing scene may spoil your traditional concept but this is not a historical drama, that’s why you are too serious and not supportive at all! I mean, come on.. you are not an Academic Movie criticizer
This show too slow and boring