Ho Yay / Monkie Kid

"I'm your Tangy."

Monkie Kid isn't a show that's preoccupied with romance, but there are a few moments here and there.

• Tang and Pigsy’s relationship is probably the most explicit and obvious example - often being paired together as father figures for MK, their constant bickering, the odd bit of flirty banter and generally shown to be very close and familiar with each other despite their disagreements definitely gives off the vibe of being an old married couple to the fans. This is further backed by some of the writers confirming they deliberately wrote their interactions with an old married couple in mind.
  • The “Embrace Your Destiny” Special has the idea of a relationship between them all but confirmed, as Tang specifies that he’s met Pigsy’s parents before (as you would with someone you’re dating/married to), Pigsy encourages and directly references him in an affectionate manner when standing up to Lady Bone Demon, and there’s even a bit where Tang can be seen sitting on Pigsy’s lap before the final battle commences.
  • It can also be noted that Tang in particular is shown on multiple occasions to be completely indifferent to any woman’s attempts to charm him, such as with Spider Queen in season 1 and Scorpion Queen in season 3.
  • Season 4 Episode 4 seems to be made specifically for the Ship Tease between these two. Tang refers to himself as "Your Tangy" when speaking to Pigsy (currently unable to remember him). He also says that he's devoted his life to Pigsy, that he's the greatest chef in all of China. He also knows Pigsy's recipe by heart and is able to teach it back to him. When Pigsy finally regains his memories, Tang tackles him and nuzzles up to him, giggling softly.
  • At the end of “Better Than We Found It” the two can be seen holding hands as they jump into the water at the beach party.
• Red Son and MK, especially in Season 1, certainly seem a little obsessed with each other. Red Son consistently refers to MK as "Noodle Boy", but the name quickly goes from antagonistic, to exasperated, to affectionate as the two move from enemies to allies to friends. MK is also the first to advocate for Red Son to become an ally, and repeatedly cozies up to or snuggles with him beyond what's strictly platonic.
• Sandy and Pigsy have known each other for a long time. Fans pointed out a lot of fond interactions as shown in pictures on Pigsy’s photo board in "Sweet N’ Sour" — which led to a reply on Twitter where one of the animators working on the show leans into the implication that the two used to date.
• In “To Catch A Leaf”, while trying to pick a fight with him, Huntsman comments on Sandy’s “warrior’s build" a few times more than necessary, and is very vocal about wanting to see the latter “go crazy” on him.
• In the episode "Game On" MK plays a VR game that was created by Monkey King himself, and a close look at some of the abilities offered within the in-game store shows Monkey King appearing to be on a date with someone who looks to be male.
• It didn’t take much for people to start shipping Monkey King and Macaque after the latter’s debut episode. The intensity of their fight and the sheer amount of tension between them implied that the history there is a lot more...personal compared to the rest of Monkey King’s former villains - which ends in them be widely interpreted as bitter exes.
  • Shadow Play confirmed a lot of people’s suspicions about the nature of their relationship, having it be revealed that the two were indeed close once, in a shadow puppet play that the bitter, scorned Macaque created showcasing some very strong feelings over Monkey King(supposedly) leaving him behind. When in disguise speaking to MK later on, he indirectly refers to himself as having been Monkey King's “beloved” friend.
    MK: So, what happened to him? The Warrior?
    Macaque: [chuckles] What would you like to hear? The Hero suddenly remembered his beloved friend, The Warrior? That they lived ''happily ever after?’’
  • The Season 4 special ramps up the implications, showing that Sun Wukong and Macaque were extremely affectionate in the past, and that Wukong promised to get strong enough to protect Macaque and the other monkeys. Their final conversation under the mountain reads heavily as a breakup, with Macaque leaving on the verge of tears.
  • During the argument under the mountain, Wukong hysterically shouts: "Everything I did was for us!" Given everything else, it isn't hard to see the romantic connotations.
  • Macaque's actions are so closely entwined with Wukong's, even after everything he's done, that Peng mockingly calls him out on it during their fight.
    Peng: Is there anything Wukong could do that would break his hold over you?
  • At the end of the special, Macaque calls Wukong cute.
• The Brothers of Camel Ridge are all very close, and given that sworn brotherhood in Chinese culture signifies a bond that goes beyond simple friendship (and in some places is slang for gay relationships), this can be taken in a number of ways.
  • The depth of Azure Lion’s former admiration for Monkey King, and his rather passionate assertion their friendship meant “everything” to him, can certainly allow interpretation of just how deep his feelings for him might have truly been. In the Season 4 special, his violent grudge against Monkey King clashing with his continuing affection for the memories of their friendship causes him to have an outright mental breakdown, and that along with his justifications that he can’t “focus” as long as Monkey King is alive reads a lot like obsessive Yandere behaviour.
  • Peng reserves a lot of outward affection for both Azure and Yellowtusk, such as causally referring to the latter as “darling”.

---