Scriptwriters downplayed the homoerotic overtones of the relationship between the two main characters Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei. Photo: HandoutScriptwriters downplayed the homoerotic overtones of the relationship between the two main characters Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei. Photo: Handout Society Gay-themed drama is latest victim of China’s drive to purge ‘harmful and obscene’ content from web Although the scriptwriters had toned down the romantic nature of the main characters’ relationship, the show that had attracted 1.8bn views has been pulled from a popular video-sharing platform
Topic | China Society Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang
Published: 6:01am, 4 Aug, 2018
A Chinese drama series based on a popular gay-themed sci-fi novel has been pulled from one of the country’s top video-streaming platforms barely two months after its release, sparking fury among its fans. All episodes of Guardian (Zhenhun in Chinese) were completely removed from video-hosting service Youku on Thursday. The show – based on a novel published online by an author using the pen name “Priest” – is the latest in a string of Chinese productions recently pulled or delayed since an official directive was issued last month to “clean up TV programmes of harmful and vulgar content”.