Just In Singapore

Fiona Xie & Chen Liping

Just in Singapore 一房半厅一水缸. Well, the title did not really attract me at first. After about 3 episodes, however, I was hooked. This drama is really quite enjoyable.

This drama focuses on 8 families who live in rented one-room flats in the poorest area in Singapore.

There is a treasure in the midst of the squalid surroundings, and this treasure is in the form of a large antique water vat. This vat is reputedly to be worth US$5,000,000. However, all are ignorant of this fact. Hence, it is really amusing to see the vat being passed from one household to another. So ironical. Lol.

Of course, when all realised the value of the vat, all try to outwit each other to search for the it. Each and every character is motivated by their own selfish puposes.

My favourite character in this drama is Xiuming (Fiona Xie). Xiuming is tomboyish, loud and brash. But she is honest and straightforward. She is also kind-hearted and generous, and helpful to all those around her.

Xiuming runs a stall at the night market, selling fried food. Her business is not doing very well, and her mother often compares her to her more intelligent elder sister, Xiuzhen (Paige Chua). Her mother also often chides her for not being as smart and capable as her Xiuzhen. Xiuming always gives in to her sister.

I am interested in the love story between Xiuming and Su Dingyi (Kang Chengxi). Actually, their story is not so developed, as the whole drama focuses more on the water vat. Nevertheless, I feel that their love story is rather sweet.

Su Dingyi is a film lecturer at a university who aspires to direct movies. He chanced upon Xiuming when he films at the night market. She mistakes him to be a pervert, but he is attracted by her open nature and intends to woo her.

Dingyi is such a sweet guy, who is attracted to Xiuming like bees to honey. He helps her in her business by recommending that she learns from notable fried chicken stalls all over the country. He sends her to the hospital when she falls ill and pays for her medical bills. He pays for her rental for her stall. He is not ashamed of who Xiuming is, and even helps those around her, namely Grandma Ma.

I'm glad that Xiuming and Dingyi got together at the end of the drama.

Well, I think Xiuzhen is terribly manipulative. She is after Dingyi, not because she loves him. She is after his money. And because of her overriding ambition, she schemes and manipulates all around her. There's no limit to what she might do. She is such as scary character. I wonder what Dingyi's mother sees in her. If she only knows how manipulative Xiuzhen is, I'm sure she will not want her for daughter-in-law.

Another character I cannot stand is the cheapskate Aunt Auto. She is so really miserly that she tries to take advantage of all those around her. Plus, she ill-treats her daughter-in-law. On the other hand, Mom watched the drama a bit, and she can't stand Mary and Robert. I'm just glad that they turn over a new leaf at the end of the drama, even though it cost them their eldest son's right leg.

Overall, a really heartwarming drama. Plus, good performance from the casts, notably Chen Liping, Huang Wenyong, Fiona Xie, Li Yinzhu, Adam Chen, Pat Mok, Nelson Chia, and Apple Hong. A must-watch.