Aerial Talk: Protecting damsel in distress

By Loong Wai Ting | loongwaiting@nstp.com.my

ADMIT it. You watch Witness Insecurity because of Bosco Wong (Wars Of In-laws, Lives Of Omission), who plays Hui Wai Sam, a dashing and oh-so-charming young senior police inspector; and because it’s a story of prince charming rescuing a pretty damsel-in-distress.

But TVB (Television Broadcasts Limited) doesn’t come up with a perfect series. The flaw (usually) lies in the character development. For example, Linda Chung (Moonlight Resonance, Yes, Sir, Sorry, Sir!), who plays Kiu Chi Lam, starts as one of “the most hated characters” in the show.

She’s vain and depends on her wealthy father, Kiu Kong San (played by Paul Chun) to support her.

But as the story develops, the audience is shown a different side to her character. Her repetitive actions (of tucking a strand of hair behind her ears, lip-biting and darting glances) are due to her suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder — she had witnessed the death of her brother in an accident at a young age, for which she blames herself.

Then, Hui steps in. It is by chance that the WPU (Witness Protection Unit) team led by Hui, switches from protecting her uncle, Kong Ho (Ram Tseung) from an attempted assassination, to protecting her. Along the way, she harbours some feelings for Hui, but the latter seems not to notice. (There we go again.)

How can that be? A senior police inspector should be perceptive of his surroundings. Then, there’s the cringe-worthy plot. For serious viewers, Witness Insecurity has many loopholes. For example, when Chi Lam goes hiking on her own. In a typical turn-of-events, a drizzle (although the background seems sunny and bright) turns into a No. 8 typhoon (Hong Kong’s typhoon warning system).

In the next scene, she is lost and Hui leads a search party to find her. Three days later she is found, after having fallen off a cliff and landing on a big rock. With only minor scratches on the forehead and a broken wrist, she seems to be unscathed.

Acting is commendable though. Chung gives a wonderful performance as a person who has gone through a traumatic past. Her character here is similar to that in Yes, Sir, Sorry, Sir! (as Miss Koo), — the darting glances and refusing to look people in the eye.

Halfway through the series, there will be twists in the plot. Despite reports that the series is under-promoted by TVB (to make way for Kevin Cheng’s highly anticipated sequel to Ghetto Justice), Witness Insecurity deserves recognition for featuring a well-loved cast as well as an easy-going plot, to offer pure entertainment at its best.

The story

HUI Wai Sam (Bosco Wong), a senior inspector in the Witness Protection Unit, leads his team to protect wealthy businessman Kiu Kong San’s (Paul Chun) younger brother, Kong Ho (Ram Tseung) after an attempted assassination.
Kong San’s daughter, Chi Lam (Linda Chung), is a witness to the assassination, so fearing for her safety, Kong San wants Hui and his team to protect her too.
Witness Insecurity is airing on Astro On Demand (channel 921) from Monday to Friday at 9.30pm.

Wong (left) plays a senior inspector with the WPU while Chung is rich girl Chi Lam

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Aerial Talk: Protecting damsel in distress

ADMIT it. You watch Witness Insecurity because of Bosco Wong (Wars Of In-laws, Lives Of Omission), who plays Hui Wai Sam, a dashing and oh-so-charming young senior police inspector; and because it’s a story of prince charming rescuing a pretty damsel-in-distress.

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