An immensely popular television series produced in China about the country’s very first female empress has been pulled off air within a week, with many believing that the scandalously revealing costumes of the show may have offended the censors.
The first episode of The Saga of Wu Zetian was aired on December 21; however, the satellite commercial channel, Hunan TV, stated that its next episode scheduled for Sunday would be canceled due to “technical reasons.”
Many believed that it was due to punishment for the costumes worn by female characters that have already been talked about by viewers. They had nicknamed it as “The Saga of Squeezed Breasts.”
China’s leading censors had put out some guidelines prohibiting portrayals of one-night stands, infidelity, sexual violence, rape, polygamy, necrophilia, prostitution, nudity, masturbation, murder, suicide, drugs, gambling, and even naughty subtitles.
The Saga of Wu Zetian is headlined by Chinese actress Fan Bingbing, who became internationally famous from such movies as Iron Man 3 and X-Men: Days of Future Past, in the role of Empress Wu Zetian of Tang dynasty, a figure widely accused of murdering numerous people during her tyrannical rule.
Indeed, there were accusations that she smothered her baby, killed her brother and sister, ordered dismembering of the rivals, and even took pleasure with a young lover despite her age in the later stage of her life.
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In addition, the reason why it has been cancelled might be linked to the popularity of the series, which is estimated to be worth more than $50 million to produce.
“By halting the show halfway through, they either don’t admit they did an inadequate job before or they have to make way for another show made by CCTV because it’s too successful,” one viewer added.