Ingot - The Cutest McGuffin Ever

Without any doubt, the cutest character of Legend of Fu Yao is Ingot — the loyal pet of Wu Ji. Maybe some of you found it extremely cute, and the same watchers asked themselves what is the purpose of this hamster besides being cute? Where did it come from and why is it serving Wu Ji?

CAUTION: Tiny spoilers ahead

The disappointing part first. There is no story behind this figure. Ingot has no past, no characteristics,  desires, or goals of its own. This hamster is a (beloved) McGuffin.

This term was created by the English film writer Alfred Hitchcock. He borrowed it from an old shaggy-dog story in which some passengers on a train interrogate a fellow passenger carrying a large, strange-looking package. The fellow says the package contains a "McGuffin," which, he explains, is used to catch tigers in the Scottish Highlands. When the group protests that there are no tigers in the Highlands, the passenger replies, "Well, then, this must not be a McGuffin." [phrases.org.uk]

That means a McGuffin is an object, event or character that has no specific meaning or purpose other than to advance the story. It is a tool to arrange a situation the author wants to create while avoiding developing an elaborate storyline which leads to the occasion. Moreover, the McGuffin does not even have to be something logical because itself it does not matter.

But that does not mean Ingot is useless! It embodies so much.

Spy

In the beginning, Ingot is Wu Ji's spy. It is everywhere its master cannot go and finds out all the secret plans of the opponents. If it hadn't been like that, how would Wu Ji get to know the strategies of his enemies beforehand and act preventively and genius?

Saviour

If someone is endangered, Ingot heads out to find and rescue the person if it was ordered to. Ingot only once uses magic, without anyone mentioning it and without an explanation of what the magical skill does. The little hamster just used it in order to save someone.

An author could develop a very complex storyline to rescue a character in danger or simply use a McGuffin (which contains all needed skills) who finds and rescues the person. In this case, it is not even necessary that the rescue is logical anyway. It just has to be done.

Messenger

If a person is needed at a certain spot, Ingot even travels through the five kingdoms within less than 24 hours and brings them there. It is not of interest how the person got there, and it does not even necessarily make sense that the person appears in this spot, but the presence of the character is beneficial for the dramatics of the scene. So the McGuffin is simply used to arrange the situation without telling a big story about it.

Cutie

Whoever watches the drama realizes quickly that Ingot has a key role. The reason why the drama doesn't use a magical amulet, a witch with visions, or the supernatural capabilities of Wu Ji are simple: nothing would be as cute as the chubby little hamster with the black beady eyes and the little bell on the collar!

So, in fact, a McGuffin has no own story, only purposes. But even if Ingot is an empty figure it conquered my heart with its cuteness and loyalty.

Did you know what a McGuffin is?

Do you have other examples of McGuffins in Asian dramas?

Did you love Ingot as well?