The gripping police procedural drama, The Protectors (守誠者), continued its broadcast run on TVB Jade last night (October 18), delivering a blend of high-stakes action and profound personal sacrifice. The latest episode focused on the aftermath of a perilous mission that placed the leadership of Sergeant Ho Ho-chun (played by Jordan Chan) under intense scrutiny following a butane canister explosion that injured a member of the Car 3 emergency unit. As the team faces individual scrutiny from high command—leading to palpable anxiety among the ranks—the narrative pivots to the stabilizing presence of veteran officer Chiu Siu-tong (Simon Yam), whose quiet strength and mentorship proved essential in restoring team morale and unity.
The series, which boasts an ensemble cast including Him Law, Cherie Chan, Li Zhiting, Ady An, and Kenix Kwok, has garnered attention for its complex portrayal of frontline policing. Last night’s events highlighted the severe pressure officers face when critical operations go awry, questioning Ho’s command decisions and forcing the team to reflect on the importance of collegiality during internal investigations.
Simon Yam’s ‘Pillar of Warmth’ Character Resonates
Simon Yam’s performance as Chiu Siu-tong, the most senior officer in Car 3, continues to draw high praise for its nuanced depiction of a compassionate yet highly capable leader. Often serving as the peacemaker within the unit, Chiu actively works to mend internal rifts, including tension between the newly appointed Sergeant Ho and Constable Siu Chi-chun (Aarif Rahman).
Beyond his exemplary professional competence, the character’s profound humanity is revealed through his personal life. Chiu is shown as a devoted husband, meticulously caring for his wife, Hung Jie (Loletta Lee), who is grappling with Alzheimer’s disease. The episode movingly portrays his selfless efforts to alleviate his wife’s distress and self-reproach stemming from her memory loss, even shouldering blame for her mistakes to spare her humiliation.
This portrayal also marks a significant on-screen reunion for Yam and Lee, who are cast as husband and wife 25 years after their last collaboration. Yam recently expressed his delight at working with Lee again, noting her enduring beauty and their long-standing professional connection. He described their renewed partnership: “It’s been over 20 years since my last collaboration with Loletta, and in that project, she was also my beautiful wife.”
Unraveling the Mysteries Behind A Legend
While Chiu Siu-tong projects a calm, unremarkable dependability, the latest plot developments hint at a substantial, intriguing past. The episode confirmed that Chiu was once a highly successful, renowned race car driver who inexplicably abandoned a high-profile career to take on the seemingly modest role of a patrol unit driver. The motivation behind this significant life change remains a closely guarded secret within the show’s unfolding mythology.
Furthermore, a significant emotional undercurrent involves the cryptic mention of a deceased daughter, referred to by Chiu as having “already passed away.” The circumstances of her premature death, and whether it connects to his career shift or his wife’s current health struggles, remains one of the drama’s most compelling unresolved mysteries, promising intense future episodes.
The series also delivered a memorable cameo with actress Joyce Tang, who famously played the iconic female police officer Chan Sam-yuen in the classic series Arm of the Law (陀槍師姐). Tang appears in the current episode as the worried mother of aspiring female officer Leung Wan-ting. In a resonant parallel to Arm of the Law, where her character was once urged by her own mother to switch to safer desk duty, Tang now finds herself playing the parental role, desperately trying to persuade her daughter to leave the dangers of the Emergency Unit—a poignant moment that stirred nostalgia among dedicated TVB viewers. The Protectors expertly merges nostalgic casting with modern, high-stakes storytelling, positioning it as a standout drama this season.
