The previous Monday was the last episode of The Little Nyonya (小娘惹). I was watching it with my mom. I watch about 30% of the whole series, I either overslept, too tired, too busy or too pek chek. (“Pek chek” is the feeling of frustration, typically arising from the fact that there isn’t much that can be done to alleviate a problem.)
(The Little Nyonya by Mediacorp.)
The Little Nyonya is the most pek chek series I ever watch. Right next to Lost which is really pek chek ’cause I have to wait months for the next season. I often bring my netbook and sit on the sofa to watch with her when I have the time. And when things get a little too pek chek, I enjoy some juice from my fridge while someone’s crying on television.
The series tells of Peranakan culture which is quite refreshing. A good detour from the typical Mediacorp Singapore dramas that involves a bunch of crazy folks and neighbors, a cute (in a smart-ass way) but helpless kid and some references to national education. What happen to the Mediacorp stock characters? Oh oh, I know the answer to this one – they’re all compacted in the next drama of Reunion Dinner (团圆饭). I yawned twice on the first day. The second day I yawned before the show starts and went to bed.
Just today my mom was saying the finale was terrible. “Thought you say nice?” Mom: “Bad ending.”
{[Yue Niang (Ou Xuan) and Chen Xi (Qi Yi Wu) together.] * 1}
Huh? I thought the ending was a good one? Well it wasn’t fantastically beautiful I guess but it was still a good ending, no? My mom wants to see Chen Xi (Qi Yi Wu) and Yue Niang (Ou Xuan) together and at the last few episodes she still wants to see them together. I keep telling her if they get together, I’d fire the scriptwriter.
If you ask me at the middle of the drama, I would say it would be great to see them together but as it reaches to the end and with all the plot unfolding, the chance of Yue Niang becoming the wife of Chen Xi is almost negligible. In fact, it would be rather uncharacteristic of Yue Niang to be with Chen Xi as it would be snatching her sister’s husband (even though they probably divorce or something). Yue Niang’s character has always been consistently self-sacrificial (which is why I say it’s really pek chek) and at the end of the series it would be likely that she would sacrifice again and again. I am so prepared for the additional sacrifice I stock up my fridge with apple juice. Furthermore, putting them together would be like watching a Disney-style ending, it’s like watching Cinderella with Peranakan seasoning.
(Disney Cinderella style ending for The Little Nyonya?)
I looked at the ending as a good one, probably because I did not view The Little Nyonya as a love story. I view it as a story of a person. After all, it’s The Little Nyonya and not The Adorable Nyonya Couple. May I also add that mid-series I actually thought The Pek Chek Show would’ve been a much apt title. I think ultimately, The Little Nyonya delivered. Whether it is the desired ending or not isn’t much of an issue. It’s the story of her, as the scriptwriter portrays. I think he or she did a good job.
However I am disappointed that The Little Nyonya felt a little rush with several unaddressed plot developments such as:
- What happen during the fire? How did Yue Niang escape?
- What happen to Liu Yi Dao? (By the way, that’s one of my favorite characters, hahaa…)
- What happen to Yue Niang’s husband? I know he wasn’t shown because they couldn’t find an old caucasian dude who resembles the younger actor but still…
- What happen to Yue Niang’s family? I know they moved into the house and then? (Oh by the way, seeing a bunch of old folks looking at the house like it’s heaven is really funny. I laughed, sorry.)
- What happen to Chen Xi and Libby? Perhaps more coverage would be good after all much of the series focuses on developing Chen Xi’s character.
I don’t think there would be a next season, they practically killed of all characters to begin a new season. A parallel plot is possible but it’s untested in Singapore dramas (correct me if I’m wrong). Perhaps a single hour sub plot would be good to revisit the familiar characters and address some of the questions above. A spring festival special perhaps?