SHENZHEN, China – A press conference for the upcoming TVB drama “The Game of Couples” in Shenzhen on Wednesday drew a star-studded cast, including Kenneth Ma, Elena Kong, and others, who swiftly dismissed accusations that the show copies the popular South Korean series “Marry My Husband.”
The drama, which premiered earlier in mainland China and will air on TVB Jade next month, has faced online comparisons to the Korean hit. Lead actors Kenneth Ma and Elena Kong addressed the allegations head-on, arguing that the premise of “The Game of Couples” — centered on prophetic dreams — sets it apart.
“I’ve watched that Korean drama,” Ma said. “Our story is about precognitive dreams, which is a completely different concept. Audiences might see some superficial similarities in plot points, but cheating husbands are a common trope in many dramas. It really depends on how you look at it.”
Kong added a lighter note, noting that manga adaptations often spawn multiple versions across different countries. “There are Korean and Japanese versions of similar stories,” she said. “And honestly, many women encounter a few bad men in their lives.”
Emotional Toll and Family Reactions
Kong described one of her most challenging scenes — a confrontation with her on-screen husband, played by Jonathan Cheung, where she discovers his infidelity. The crying sequence was so intense that she said it left her “half-dead” afterward.
“I had to sit on the floor, cry it all out, and calm down before I could shoot the slap scene that followed,” Kong recalled. Though she insisted she has no lingering trauma from a previous role where she was slapped so hard her face was swollen, her mother couldn’t hold back tears while watching the scene.
Ma, who plays a nearly perfect husband in the drama, was praised by Kong as a “guardian angel” character. But he laughed off the comparison. “I’m not that flawless. Ask my wife — she’ll tell you I’m nowhere near that good.”
Off-Screen Romance Rumors and Wedding Plans
The event also provided a platform to address persistent rumors. Kong denied speculation that actors Ron Ng and Kelly Cheung are dating, saying they simply play a married couple in another drama and maintain a normal professional relationship, including group dinners.
Kong recently returned from a trip to the United States, where she watched two World Cup matches with female friends. She admitted she wouldn’t mind a romantic encounter.
Ma, meanwhile, refuted pregnancy rumors about his wife, Tavia Yeung. “She likes wearing loose dresses. If she were pregnant, we’d tell everyone. We’re trying, but it’s a matter of fate.”
Casting Challenges and Upcoming Wedding
Actress Kiki Kwok revealed that a scene where Kong’s character slaps her head left her with a headache requiring medication. She described her role as the “most villainous” she has ever played. The frequent crying scenes also took a toll, leaving her emotionally drained. “I cried so much I ran out of tears,” Kwok said.
Actor Matthew Ho, who proposed to his non-showbiz girlfriend Sarah last year, announced that their wedding will take place in Hong Kong this December. The couple already completed a pre-wedding photoshoot in the UK. Ho’s groomsmen will include Oscar Tak and Chun Tin, along with an unusual addition: actress Katy Chan. “She’ll give a speech,” Ho joked. “We’ve given her a stage — we hope she behaves herself.”
Broader Implications
The controversy over plagiarism highlights the increasingly competitive landscape of Asian television, where local productions often face scrutiny against well-known Korean counterparts. TVB’s decision to release the drama in mainland China first suggests a strategic push to capture a wider audience beyond Hong Kong. With strong initial reactions, including a trending topic on Chinese social media, the network may be banking on the show’s unique supernatural twist to differentiate itself in a crowded market.
