History Series / ThreeKingdoms

** Finally, Liu Bei's vengeful crusade against Wu with hundreds of thousands of soldiers was ended by a 'mere bookworm', Lu Xun, at the Battle of Yiling.

* GenericDoomsdayVillain: Lu Bu. Everyone fears him as an undefeatable warrior in melee combat, yet he doesn't seem to have any ambitions or motivations aside from his love for Diaochan, and his would-be conquering is mainly thanks to Chen Gong's direction; Lu Bu's actor Peter Ho confirmed in an interview that this was the director's intent.

* HonorBeforeReason: Most of Liu Bei's problems are caused by his being unable to overcome personal honor for a greater goal, whether by refusing to wrong his "''relatives''" by conquering their lands, refusing to abandon peasants while fleeing from a larger force, or refusing to accept Wu's peace terms without fully avenging his brothers.
* HopeSpot: After five Northern Expeditions, Zhuge Liang has finally trapped Sima Yi in an inescapable firestorm and eliminated his last barrier to reconquering the Central Plains... and then it rains. Notably, this is portrayed from both sides, with the scene from the Sima side essentially treating the rain like a case of BigDamnHeroes.

** In asking Wang Yun for Diaochan's hand, even Lu Bu outright admits that he's only with Dong Zhuo for political expediency, and for the sake of Diaochan's hand he'll consider Wang Yun his ''real'' adoptive father. (Unfortunately for him [[spoiler:after his capture at Xiapi, Liu Bei implicitly points out to Cao Cao how temporary Lu Bu's loyalties were by naming both Dong Zhuo and Wang Yun, and Ding Yuan before them, culminating in Liu Bei sarcastically asking Cao Cao to be the ''fourth'' adoptive father]].)

* TookALevelInBadass: Despite being 'absolutely terrible at swordsmanship' in his father's own words, Cao Pi managed to hold his own alongside his more martial brother, Cao Zhang, while defending Cao Cao from rebels at Wufeng Tower. This (as a clear show of loyalty to boot) impressed Cao Cao enough to make Cao Pi his heir.

** During Guan Yu and Zhang Fei's near-coup in Jingzhou in Liu Bei's absence, Zhuge Liang states his willingness to die if it would prove his loyalty to his lord. This is averted by Liu Bei's timely return, but later fulfilled ''anyway'' as Zhuge Liang devotes the rest of his life to carrying out Liu Bei's last wishes of reviving the Han.

* AlasPoorVillain: In a carryover from ''Romance of the Three Kingdoms'', the episode centred on Cao Cao's death is one of the most sombre in the series, with the 'Hero of Chaos' spending his last moments as a [[HowTheMightyHaveFallen tired, ill old man]] [[DespairEventHorizon depressed]] [[AllForNothing at how all his schemes to unite the realm have come to naught]], and finally [[FaceDeathWithDignity facing his death with calm dignity]] and naming Cao Pi his heir.

* AmbitionIsEvil: ''Discussed'' heavily by several characters, and played straight by Cao Cao. Ambition is considered to be an evil, but necessary ingredient or "spark" to leadership, changing the status quo and becoming a true "hero" of the realm. Lü Bu is considered to be a man of great power but little ambition, holding him back from greatness. Liu Bei is idealistic, but that idealism is, by the end, considered to be secondary to his ambition. [[spoiler: In the end, Cao Cao's heirs lose their entire kingdom by underestimating Sima Yi's ambition.]]

* RevengeBeforeReason: While Liu Bei was still mostly reasonable after Guan Yu's death from Wu's conquest of Jingzhou, Zhang Fei's death finally pushes him completely over the edge. He tries to execute an official who warns him against the invasion, discards the advice of Zhao Yun and Zhuge Liang (who he had formerly trusted greatly), and even rejects a plea for peace from Wu which would have returned Jingzhou ''and'' his wife to him.

* AffablyEvil: If you consider Cao Cao evil, he's this. He laughs and executes people in the same breath, then tells them he'll provide for their families - and means it too. He also holds ''tea parties'' to discuss the state of the world with his main rivals, Liu Bei and Yuan Shao, in both cases soon before he curbstomps them in battle.
He often comes across as a genial, yet huge {{Troll}}, with Lü Bu, Yuan Shao, Xu Shu, and even Sima Yi not exempt from his antics.

* AmbitionIsEvil: ''Discussed'' heavily by several characters, and played straight by Cao Cao. Ambition is considered to be an evil, but necessary ingredient or "spark" to leadership, changing the status quo and becoming a true "hero" of the realm. Lu Bu is considered to be a man of great power but little ambition, holding him back from greatness. Liu Bei's idealism is considered to be secondary to his ambition. [[spoiler: Cao Cao loses his entire kingdom by underestimating Sima Yi's ambition.]]

** Cao Cao is a huge {{Troll}}. Lü Bu, Yuan Shao, Xu Shu, and even Sima Yi are not exempt from his antics.

* BadassGrandpa: Han Dang, Huang Gai and Cheng Pu for Wu, Zhang He and Xu Huang for Wei, and Huang Zhong and Zhao Yun (later) for Shu. All were white-haired by the time of their last onscreen battles, and at least three [[DoNotGoGentle went out fighting]].

** Wu has Lu Xun, who first escaped the danger of having Sun Quan suspect him after Lü Meng's death [[note]][[spoiler:it is hinted Sun Quan poisoned Lü Meng]][[/note]] [[BatmanGambit by suggesting not to appoint another Grand Commander, as Sun Quan wished to be free from his Grand Commanders' control]], and later acting insane by "prophesizing" Wu's defeat in the war against Shu knowing that sun Sun Quan would name him Grand Commander.

* AmbitionIsEvil: ''Discussed'' heavily by several characters, and played straight by Cao Cao. Ambition is considered to be an evil, but necessary ingredient to leadership, changing the status quo and becoming a true "hero" of the realm. Lu Bu is considered to be a man of great power but little ambition, holding him back from greatness. Liu Bei's idealism is considered to be secondary to his ambition.

* BadassGrandpa: Han Dang, Huang Gai and Cheng Pu for Wu, Zhang He for Wei, and Huang Zhong and Zhao Yun (later) for Shu. All were white-haired by the time of their last onscreen battles, and at least three [[DoNotGoGentle went out fighting]].

* ActingForTwo: The actor of Liu Xian plays at least 27 (and probably more than 30) different minor roles and is known as "the king of minor roles" in China.
** The actor of Sun Qian also plays several minor roles, such as executioner and palace attendant.

* BadAss: Zhao Yun is the most high-profile example, riding headlong into Cao Cao's approaching forces to rescue Liu Bei's wives and son, then piledriving his way back out while carrying the baby in a makeshift sling. He later kung-fus his way through a small horde of spear-wielding guards after his [[AbsurdlySharpBlade sword]] gets stolen.
** The majority of named characters who pick up a weapon get in on this trope, even Cao Pi for ''one'' scene at Wufeng Tower.

''Three Kingdoms'' (Original title "三国", or ''San Guo'') is a Chinese TV series made in 2010 and yet another work based on the ''Literature/RomanceOfTheThreeKingdoms''.

While the story begins with a focus on Cao Cao's ambitions and military rise, the other two factions - the honor-bound Sun family and the idealistic Liu Bei and his followers - are soon introduced, and their sides of the story told as well. The end result is an [=RoTK=] adaptation with a more balanced focus and carefully crafted characters which should appeal to newcomers and old fans alike. Of course, this is still [=RoTK=]; those who want to watch legendary heroes kicking ass DynastyWarriors-style won't be disappointed either.

** Sima Yi, feigning illness before Cao Rui so that they wouldn't think of him as a threat, and showing how much Wei needs him after the Cao commanders turn ineffectual, then killing his maidservant Jingshu to appear griefstricken and on the verge of death... and ambushing Cao Shuang with Emperor Cao Fang days after.

** Lü Meng deserves a special mention, as despite orders not to pursue Guan Yu, he ended up cornering him and having Guan Yu commit suicide. It is hinted in his death scene that [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness the "illness" he succumbed to was due to "the will of Heaven"]]. Thankfully, Lu Xun takes the hint and advises Sun Quan not to appoint another Grand Commander.

** Lü Meng deserves a special mention, as despite orders not to pursue Guan Yu, he ended up cornering him and having Guan Yu commit suicide. It is hinted in his death scene that [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness the "illness" he succumbed to was due to "the will of Heaven". Thankfully, Lu Xun takes the hint and advises Sun Quan not to appoint another Grand Commander.

** Were you looking forward to Dian Wei's HeroicSacrifice for Cao Cao? You'll have to settle for a conversation between Xun Yu and Xu Chu about Cao Cao's fondness with young married wives costing the life of Dian Wei. This happens when discussing Cao Cao's intent to keep Diaochan.

** Liu Bei lampshades this after Lü Bu pleads to him to speak in his favor to Cao Cao: "Lü Bu has called three men his adopted fathers. The first was Ding Yuan. The second was Dong Zhuo. The third was Wang Yun. [[BlatantLies All of them have much to thank Lü Bu for]]. Today I dare, lord Cao Cao, to plead for you to be Lü Bu's fourth adopted father." Cao Cao laughs and pats Liu Bei's shoulder, then sends Lü Bu to die.[[note]]Although in fairness to Lü Bu, Wang Yun's death had nothing to do with him. It was due to Wang Yun's own arrogance making Li Jue and Guo Si desperate after Dong Zhuo's death.[[/note]]

** Liu Bei lampshades this after Lü Bu pleads to him to speak in his favor to Cao Cao: "Lü Bu has called three men his adopted fathers. The first was Ding Yuan. The second was Dong Zhuo. The third was Wang Yun. [[BlatantLies All of them have much to thank Lü Bu for]]. Today I dare, lord Cao Cao, to plead for you to be Lü Bu's fourth adopted father." Cao Cao laughs and pats Liu Bei's shoulder, then sends Lü Bu to die.

** Liu Bei lampshades this after Lü Bu pleads to him to speak in his favor to Cao Cao: "Lü Bu has called three men his adopted fathers. The first was Ding Yuan. The second was Dong Zhuo. The third was Wang Yun. {{BlatantLies All of them have much to thank Lü Bu for}}. Today I dare, lord Cao Cao, to plead for you to be Lü Bu's fourth adopted father." Cao Cao laughs and pats Liu Bei's shoulder, then sends Lü Bu to die.