If you have been following this series you'll know that this is the final installment of the six other short stories featured earlier, all revolving around Taipei's metro train line. It has taken several months for this last couple story to air (I'm not sure why) and it does seem a bit disconnected from the rest. Very clearly you can see the black background of the series title block as compared to the others which were in white.
So, what's this story about?
Set in the Ximending district, it is about a hobo guy named Ximen Qing and a street-wise fashionista girl named Xiao Hu. Ximending is famous for theatres, movies and the street walls are filled with graffiti, neon lighting and such. I am not familiar with west side story but this story does give off similar vibes with street gangsters and the red light district feeling.
The story starts with Xiao Hu meeting the hobo guy on the street. Thinking that he was a flasher and trying to harm a little girl, Xiao Hu attacks the hobo with a broomstick.
She meets the hobo again at the Ximen metro station and finds out that he's a crazy lunatic that is afraid to go into the train station.
Xiao Hu decides to start a small styling kiosk behind her best friend's clothing shop. I do like the chemistry between the two. At first I thought he was a close friend who secretly likes her but apparently he's into guys... oops :D So it's bff mode!
As expected, not long after opening her kiosk the local gangsters came to ask for protection fees... (We usually call that here) but it's re-named "management fees" Hahah! They manage the area and you need to pay them money so they won't disturb/ mess-up your stall. Something like extortion fees... Feisty Xiao Hu refuses to pay them and even made fun of the term management... The head gangster wanted to teach her a lesson when the hobo guy suddenly came and ran off with a t-shirt. Then the street became chaotic when it started to rain... money. Yes, money! Money falling from the sky...
Intrigued by the hobo, Xiao Hu decided to find out more about him. She went around asking the neighbourhood people and everyone seemed to have different conclusions on how he became crazy! Haha!! From a high powered stock broker to an ex-secret agent theory it was really funny...
Xiao Hu decides to follow the hobo, Ximen Qing to find out where exactly he is staying... or hiding... Actually to be honest, in real life this is a very dangerous thing to do... I mean following a hobo and being a female some more...Of course not all are bad people but just saying especially those with mental problems can be dangerous. So I'm taking this as purely a drama, the guy is a nice guy with some mental issues but not dangerous... She finds out that he is staying in an abandoned theatre...
The rest of the story goes on with Xiao Hu dealing with her mum and money... Also the truth behind Ximen Qing's mental illness, fear of the subway and the mysterious money rain.
Overall thoughts?
It was an okay story. After the delay of airing and when it was finally aired it was a bit of a let down. Maybe because I expected something bigger with a wow factor. However, it does have a theatrical feel to it. I enjoyed the cinematography, the graffiti streets, back alleys and the abandoned theatre.
Best parts of the drama?
Like I've mentioned, the graffiti streets, back alleys and the view from the top of the abandoned theatre is really nice...
The part where Xiao Hu tries to give Ximen Qing a makeover... Wow, he seriously does look like a fashion model! :D I don't know about you but I do think that Ximen Qing is somewhat hot... ;P He's got the Japanese badass guy kind of swag... ;D
I particularly enjoyed the ribs/drumstick- eating moment on the staircase... The supporting cast has great chemistry with each other and it makes the show heart-warming...
Xiao Hu decides to follow the hobo, Ximen Qing to find out where exactly he is staying... or hiding... Actually to be honest, in real life this is a very dangerous thing to do... I mean following a hobo and being a female some more...Of course not all are bad people but just saying especially those with mental problems can be dangerous. So I'm taking this as purely a drama, the guy is a nice guy with some mental issues but not dangerous... She finds out that he is staying in an abandoned theatre...
The rest of the story goes on with Xiao Hu dealing with her mum and money... Also the truth behind Ximen Qing's mental illness, fear of the subway and the mysterious money rain.
Overall thoughts?
It was an okay story. After the delay of airing and when it was finally aired it was a bit of a let down. Maybe because I expected something bigger with a wow factor. However, it does have a theatrical feel to it. I enjoyed the cinematography, the graffiti streets, back alleys and the abandoned theatre.
Best parts of the drama?
Like I've mentioned, the graffiti streets, back alleys and the view from the top of the abandoned theatre is really nice...
The part where Xiao Hu tries to give Ximen Qing a makeover... Wow, he seriously does look like a fashion model! :D I don't know about you but I do think that Ximen Qing is somewhat hot... ;P He's got the Japanese badass guy kind of swag... ;D
I particularly enjoyed the ribs/drumstick- eating moment on the staircase... The supporting cast has great chemistry with each other and it makes the show heart-warming...
Some sad but also funny moments when Xiao Hu and her bff were crying... They are both from a single parent family and they miss their mum and dad respectively... I did cry too being able to relate to them but the funny moment when the bff asked if his eyeliner was messed up or not after all that crying! Hahaha!!
Conclusion
So, what actually caused Ximen Qing to be crazy and afraid of the subway? September 21st 1999, there was an earthquake. He was on his way to work or something, he was buried inside the building before being rescued. His wife and daughter died in that earthquake. Ximen Qing was given compensation and also a new house but he refuses to sign the strata title document. He had all the money in the world but he lost everything, his family and home.
That's why he's afraid to enter the subway station and lives in a semi-open theatre. He would also go into a shock mode whenever there is an earthquake. He loathed the compensated money and what he does with it is to drop it from the building to make it rain money. Yes, he's the rich guy who is making money rain from the sky!!
The little girl from earlier is his accomplice. She would load up the money into a leaf blower and the money will fall onto the ground below. Ximen Qing will be standing at the bottom with his arms stretched out like a lunatic, laughing while watching his money rain down. I know!! He is really crazy! Hahah!!
Now, the street gangster found out about this... Oh noes! Omo! He wants the money but Ximen Qing refuses to give him a single cent. The gangster decides to kidnap Xiao Hu, as he realised she is an important person to Ximen Qing. Ximen Qing had rescued her many times from the gangster when he was trying to extort money from her.
Xiao Hu managed to escape the first time but then the gangster cornered her again in front of the metro station. Ximen Qing was there and tried to follow them but then he stopped right at the entrance because of his fear of the subway.
The gangster caught up with Xiao Hu in the subway staircase area... Meanwhile, Ximen Qing was struggling to overcome his fear of entering the subway. In true drama style the hero bursts in time to save the girl! Hurrah! I really like this part, it's just like the movies when everything is in slow motion.. all the doors were flung open and Ximen Qing came rushing through the doors...
The gangster is arrested but he still attacks Xiao Hu one more time outside the metro station. He grabs her bag and flings it up into the air, causing all the money to rain down. In the end, the gangster became a lunatic himself for wanting money so much...
Did Ximen Qing and Xiao Hu end up together? Alas, no. I was a bit disappointed that they didn't become a couple... but I guess this ending is more believable. After all, she's a lot younger than him and he is still not fully cured from his mental illness. The ending shows that Xiao Hu lives a happy life with her mum, not loving money as much as before. Ximen Qing continues his hobo life with his hallucinations as well... :O
This story features the Ximen station of the metro line. There is also a tie-back to the red haired girl earlier who does the sketches from the earlier episodes.
That's about it. I did enjoy this drama series, it is very different from the usual ones that you might be familiar with. It has a somewhat indie, experimental feel to it. Thanks for reading! Until the next drama review, let's have another look at the crazy money rainmaker Ximen Qing! ;D
Conclusion
So, what actually caused Ximen Qing to be crazy and afraid of the subway? September 21st 1999, there was an earthquake. He was on his way to work or something, he was buried inside the building before being rescued. His wife and daughter died in that earthquake. Ximen Qing was given compensation and also a new house but he refuses to sign the strata title document. He had all the money in the world but he lost everything, his family and home.
That's why he's afraid to enter the subway station and lives in a semi-open theatre. He would also go into a shock mode whenever there is an earthquake. He loathed the compensated money and what he does with it is to drop it from the building to make it rain money. Yes, he's the rich guy who is making money rain from the sky!!
The little girl from earlier is his accomplice. She would load up the money into a leaf blower and the money will fall onto the ground below. Ximen Qing will be standing at the bottom with his arms stretched out like a lunatic, laughing while watching his money rain down. I know!! He is really crazy! Hahah!!
Now, the street gangster found out about this... Oh noes! Omo! He wants the money but Ximen Qing refuses to give him a single cent. The gangster decides to kidnap Xiao Hu, as he realised she is an important person to Ximen Qing. Ximen Qing had rescued her many times from the gangster when he was trying to extort money from her.
Xiao Hu managed to escape the first time but then the gangster cornered her again in front of the metro station. Ximen Qing was there and tried to follow them but then he stopped right at the entrance because of his fear of the subway.
The gangster caught up with Xiao Hu in the subway staircase area... Meanwhile, Ximen Qing was struggling to overcome his fear of entering the subway. In true drama style the hero bursts in time to save the girl! Hurrah! I really like this part, it's just like the movies when everything is in slow motion.. all the doors were flung open and Ximen Qing came rushing through the doors...
The gangster is arrested but he still attacks Xiao Hu one more time outside the metro station. He grabs her bag and flings it up into the air, causing all the money to rain down. In the end, the gangster became a lunatic himself for wanting money so much...
Did Ximen Qing and Xiao Hu end up together? Alas, no. I was a bit disappointed that they didn't become a couple... but I guess this ending is more believable. After all, she's a lot younger than him and he is still not fully cured from his mental illness. The ending shows that Xiao Hu lives a happy life with her mum, not loving money as much as before. Ximen Qing continues his hobo life with his hallucinations as well... :O
This story features the Ximen station of the metro line. There is also a tie-back to the red haired girl earlier who does the sketches from the earlier episodes.
That's about it. I did enjoy this drama series, it is very different from the usual ones that you might be familiar with. It has a somewhat indie, experimental feel to it. Thanks for reading! Until the next drama review, let's have another look at the crazy money rainmaker Ximen Qing! ;D
