Jacky Chu’s role in Liu Mang Xiao Zhang

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What was his role exactly? The typical bad guy role. No, I was not hinting at his usual villain roles or on the border of annoying ones. I was hinting at how this role was paved out to be this time and the outcome since episode 11 of the drama. Near the middle of the episode, we saw a very out of control Wen Xiong, in an attempt to prove his love, advanced on Qing Mei (portrayed by Joanne Tseng). What brought this on? Well…a lot of overlooked details in the past few episodes. Only obvious hints were shown in episode 11 that led to the scene. But more on that later.

First of all, what qualifies as the typical bad guy character?

• The world owes him/her. This is a major cliche clue. I swear! At least I’ve seen it in most HK series about some people ranting on and on about how no one appreciates him/her for what he/she had done. No one knows or cares about what he/she wants but just expects.
• I did it because of you. Another one. It doesn’t get anymore cliche than this. This reason gets the other party on a major guilt trip. But once it is said, you’ll know right away that the person doesn’t mean it. It’s just an excuse to blame it on the other party because that person doesn’t want to admit wrong and is trying to justify his/her behaviors.
• The beyond patient dude. Come on now. Everyone has their breaking point or the limit. He just seems too patient at times. Though we could see him in comedic moments, he’s just too composed, too into his work. Short version: too good to be true.

I listed it based upon Wen Xiong’s angry words to Qing Mei in episode 11. SO don’t say that I made it up.

While I went back and did caps, I started to look for more hints that would jump out within those random, comedic moments to see what had led Wen Xiong to such. I was surprised that I missed so much while I was drawn into the ‘comedic’ element of it all. One of the hints about Wen Xiong’s personality or his true character lied in what his interests were and what he was knowledgeable about. Yeah, typical, but I wasn’t paying attention before.

In the scene above, which could be found in episode 3 like about halfway through, Wen Xiong was seen explaining some of the concepts in the book his brother, Wu Xiong, was reading. He also went into a bit of detail regarding a historical figure, Li Mi (李密) who served in the Kingdom of Shu during the Three Kingdoms period. Anyway, Wu Xiong commented immediately after learning of Li Mi’s tragic past that Li Mi was like them (aka him and Wen Xiong), losing their family since little and suffering through so many hardships. In a way, was Wen Xiong like Li Mi? I would believe that he was smart and could remember really well of what he learned ages ago in school but I have a feeling it was hinting at something. The way he talked about Li Mi was almost like he was talking about himself. There was this injustice feeling like he was being wronged, etc.

Another hint that could threaten to tell a different story and a different side to his character were during a conversation between him and his brother by the pool in episode 1. His brother reminded him of what Jiang Hu Piao had done for them both and how he shouldn’t forget it. To which he replied that he won’t. (SO MUCH FOR IT!) It didn’t just give us more information about the brothers’ background. It was telling us to watch out for him, he was not just a typical silent, obedient guy. He was the typical silent, patient slash someone who had an alternative motive guy.

Oh yeah, what about his pretentious acts of being clueless? This was shown during episode 2 when Wu Xiong was commenting about there were ‘tao hua’ flowing around within the house, etc. Wen Xiong was totally clueless and asking his brother what in the world was he talking about and Wu Xiong immediately replied about Qing Mei and their boss’ strange behaviors and how both were in love. Yeah, Wen Xiong, you were so clueless. (RIIIGGGHHHTTT…)

Wen Xiong was seen since episode 1 as a very patient person. I thought his contrast to his brother’s rash, impatient behaviors was a part of the comedic picture. But he was just patient because he had been waiting for the right moment. For the day until he got his chance. (Yeah, it was obvious that he said it in episode 11.) It was not just a chance to confess to Qing Mei or a chance for both of them, but a chance to truly shine and be a person of importance. He was already important as Jiang Hu Piao’s advisor and was treated as a family member in the Jiang family. But it was more of his greed that stopped him from being satisfied with his current position.

If it was only because of Qing Mei, he would’ve apologized for his rash behaviors (or wouldn’t even do that at all), but he wanted much more than that. Instead, he chose to leave just like that without apologizing or begging. He even clarified that he was just kneeling because of his acknowledgment in Jiang’s care for them all these years. It was just a part of the typical gratitude. It was like the last act he would do to show respect toward Jiang. (A typical gesture in most series but it made sense.) What I found funny about the whole scene was seeing the BTS of episode 7. I don’t know for how long Jacky had to kneel but Li Wang Luo messed up on that one line with telling Wen Xiong to get out of the ‘Jiang’ household that they had to do retakes. The other three cracked up so hard when they realized he said it wrong, even Jacky who was kneeling at that time. It was supposed to be a serious part but after seeing that part of the BTS, it stuck with me.

So, to get back onto the subject, had Wen Xiong ever love Qing Mei before or was that just a ploy to secure his high position under Jiang Hu Piao? I thought he did but it had become so much more than love Qing Mei. It was like saying if he succeeded in marrying Qing Mei, he would eventually take over at the Shang Cheng Financial Company since Qing Mei was the only daughter, right? So someone was really thinking big. (Yeah, alternate motive.) If he was not thriving for more power, why in the world would he switch sides for and trying to bring Jiang Hu Piao down?

Then I wonder if the kid whom Qing Mei wanted Wu Xiong to rescue from some bullies was Wen Xiong, so that was when he started to like her?

Acting? I think I was surprised. Not that much surprised since I already saw the potential in Jacky in the past even if it was just bits and pieces here and there. His close to a major role in the past could be for The Magicians of Love but that was still another idol drama with a typical idol formula. This one? Well, it was a romantic comedy in a sense with touches of the gangster theme here and there. But I thought this character carried even more depth though on the villain side. This was a typical bad guy character but it was still something totally different for him. He also said that in one of the BTS. The most powerful part must be in episode 11 with the turn around of his character and more definite signs were seen with the actions that Wen Xiong did after he left the Jiang household.

I could totally feel Wen Xiong’s frustration and his endurance through all these times, keeping everything inside. It didn’t mean that I would take his side since if he thought about it, he wasn’t the only unfortunate guy in this world. There were lots more people out there who couldn’t even get so many opportunities as him. I thought Jacky did really well in that scene with the whole rant though it sort of killed it saying, “Qing Mei, I love you” the second time around before he advanced toward her. That was a bit not that convincing but that was all right.

That reminded me that, no matter how convincing he was, he was just portraying a role so hopefully he wouldn’t get associated with this type of character or keep being tossed these type of roles. There had been enough variations in his past roles so I hope it won’t become so cliche for the upcoming dramas.

Off-screen, Jacky and Joanne got along really well. They were under the same agency after all. They have collaborated in the past before as Fei Nan Du and Xiao Bei in The Magicians of Love but that time, they weren’t linked romantically. (Though it would’ve been fun to see four guys fighting over her in that one.) Anyway, the above cap was for episode 9’s show with Grandpa Jiang and Grandpa Wang. I thought they were trying to shoot two birds with one stone like incorporating the show into the drama as well (since it seemed to be some promo event at the same time). Because the BTS in episode 3 showed Jacky and Shen Dong Jing coming on the stage to sing also. Of course, that wouldn’t be relevant to the drama so it got cut out. The obvious sign of it was seeing Jacky and SDJ abandoning their roles at that point. I’m so serious here! Because both were singing along with the songs being performed on stage. It was their love for music kicking in and they couldn’t help it. (Can’t blame them too much, LOL!)

Another sign of it was seeing Jacky leaning over to Joanne at one point and whispering something to her and she sort of leaned a bit over to him to hear better. It could count as something Wen Xiong could do because of the opportunity of the show, but Jacky’s side showed too much with his love for music to make sense as his character Wen Xiong. (Who seemed so serious and silent for the most part of the drama.)

So what will Wen Xiong do next? Is he going to back down like some typical formula with him suddenly seeing his wrong? Or is he going to choose to either go to prison or die? (It’s a gangster one, after all, he might get whacked before we know it–IF the show creators are doing that.) I’ll do an update later when the show ends. (Or if something comes up that’s worth discussing.) But I seriously hope for a more different outcome. I meant like there’s some major twist. Unlikely. Still, it’s a bit disappointing to see it so typical. Not too lame, but still too typical.

Read this post for updates on the topic.

*All images were captured by DTLCT

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