''The Life and Times of a Sentinel'' (Traditional Chinese:
紫禁驚雷) is a 2011
Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...
historical-fiction television drama produced by
Television Broadcasts Limited
Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) is a television broadcasting company based in Hong Kong SAR. The Company operates five free-to-air terrestrial television channels in Hong Kong, with TVB Jade as its main Cantonese language service, and TVB ...
(TVB), starring
Steven Ma
Steven Ma Chun-wai (born 26 October 1971) is a Hong Kong actor and singer. In 1993, Ma won a record deal after winning first place at an annual singing contest in Hong Kong, later releasing his debut album, ''Lucky for Meeting You'' (幸運就 ...
and
Kenneth Ma
Kenneth Ma Kwok-ming (born 13 February 1974) is a Hong Kong actor contracted to TVB.
Ma had won the Most Popular Male Character award at the TVB Anniversary Awards for four times in 2012, 2017, 2018 and 2021 respectively, becoming the TVB act ...
as the main leads, with Leung Choi-yuen serving as the executive producer.
Set in the late 17th century, during the early years of the
Kangxi Emperor
The Kangxi Emperor (4 May 1654– 20 December 1722), also known by his temple name Emperor Shengzu of Qing, born Xuanye, was the third emperor of the Qing dynasty, and the second Qing emperor to rule over China proper, reigning from 1661 to 1 ...
's reign over
Qing China
The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing,, was a Manchu people, Manchu-led Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China and the last orthodox dynasty in Chinese history. It emerged from the Later Jin (1616–1636), La ...
, the drama stars Nip Dor-po (
Steven Ma
Steven Ma Chun-wai (born 26 October 1971) is a Hong Kong actor and singer. In 1993, Ma won a record deal after winning first place at an annual singing contest in Hong Kong, later releasing his debut album, ''Lucky for Meeting You'' (幸運就 ...
), a third-grade imperial bodyguard. He is used by both the Kangxi Emperor (
Power Chan
Power Chan Kwok-pong is an actor in Hong Kong. He has appeared in numerous TVB drama series as well as films. He dated cantopop
Cantopop (a contraction of "Cantonese pop music") or HK-pop (short for "Hong Kong pop music") is a genre of pop ...
) and Prince Yu (
Kenneth Ma
Kenneth Ma Kwok-ming (born 13 February 1974) is a Hong Kong actor contracted to TVB.
Ma had won the Most Popular Male Character award at the TVB Anniversary Awards for four times in 2012, 2017, 2018 and 2021 respectively, becoming the TVB act ...
) to pit against each other, conflicting Dor-po's loyalty for both.
Plot
The sudden death of the young
Shun-chi Emperor (Shunzhi) shocked the whole empire. The second prince Fuk-tsuen, was originally the successor for the throne, but
Empress Dowager Hao-chong (Xiaozhuang) changed the successor to the third prince Yuen-yip, who subsequently becomes the
Hong-hei Emperor (Kangxi). Angry with this, Fuk-tsuen dispatches a spy, Nip Dor-po, and instructs him to gain Hong-hei's trust.
Cast and Characters
Main Characters
: ''Note: Some of the characters' names are in Cantonese romanisation.''
*
Steven Ma
Steven Ma Chun-wai (born 26 October 1971) is a Hong Kong actor and singer. In 1993, Ma won a record deal after winning first place at an annual singing contest in Hong Kong, later releasing his debut album, ''Lucky for Meeting You'' (幸運就 ...
as Nip Dor-po (聶多寶) — an imperial bodyguard. He is sent by Fuk-tsuen to spy on Hong-hei, becoming the emperor's personal bodyguard. As Dor-po spends more time with the emperor, he learns to appreciate the emperor's intelligence and his love for the country. Dor-po ultimately decides to help Hong-hei rebel against Fuk-tsuen. Ma says that Dor-po is the most complicated character he has come across. "I have to officially protect the three (Hao-chong, Hong-hei, and Fuk-tsuen), but at the same time, the three are using me to deal with each other
..but Hao-chong wants me to die,
uk-tsuenwants me to die, and how can I find ways to save myself and Hong-hei?"
*
Kenneth Ma
Kenneth Ma Kwok-ming (born 13 February 1974) is a Hong Kong actor contracted to TVB.
Ma had won the Most Popular Male Character award at the TVB Anniversary Awards for four times in 2012, 2017, 2018 and 2021 respectively, becoming the TVB act ...
as
Fuk-tsuen, the Second Imperial Prince (二皇爺福全) — officially Prince Yu (裕親王), Fuk-tsuen is the Shun-chi Emperor's second son. For many years, Fuk-tsuen has been plotting to usurp the throne from Hong-hei as he believes that the throne was rightfully his. He sends Dor-po to spy on Hong-hei, which subsequently leads to Fuk-tsuen's downfall. According to Ma, Fuk-tsuen isn't a villain but a tragic figure.
Supporting Characters
*
Sunny Chan makes a two-episode guest starring appearance as the
Shun-chi Emperor (順治帝), Kangxi's father and predecessor.
Océane Zhu
Océane Zhu Xuan (born on April 4, 1987) is a Chinese model, former beauty queen, and actress based in Hong Kong. She joined TVB in 2009 and left in 2015 to explore a career in China.
Life and career Early life
Océane was born and raised in Be ...
stars as
Consort Tung-ngok (董鄂妃), Shunzhi's favourite consort. Upset with his reign and devastated by the death of Tung-ngok, Shunzhi decided to become a
Buddhist monk.
*
Power Chan
Power Chan Kwok-pong is an actor in Hong Kong. He has appeared in numerous TVB drama series as well as films. He dated cantopop
Cantopop (a contraction of "Cantonese pop music") or HK-pop (short for "Hong Kong pop music") is a genre of pop ...
as the
Hong-hei Emperor (康熙帝) — The Shun-chi Emperor's third son. He ascends the throne with the help of his grandmother, angering Fuk-tsuen, who was originally the successor to the throne.
*
Selena Lee as Cheuk Chi-ying / Princess Duen-man (卓紫凝 / 端敏格格) — adopted daughter of Cheuk Shu-tong and Dor-po's primary romantic interest.
*
Natalie Tong
Natalie Tong Sze-wing (born 3 May 1981) is a Hong Kong actress and model previously contracted to TVB.
Career
Before becoming an actress, Natalie Tong was a full-time model. She once studied in Methodist College. Tong gained popularity after ...
as Kwai-lun (桂倫), Second Princess Consort (二福晉) — Fuk-tsuen's wife. He marries her for her father's great military power.
*
Elaine Yiu
Elaine Yiu (born 21 November, 1980 in British Hong Kong) is a Hong Kong actress and television host contracted to TVB.
Career
Elaine Yiu entered the entertainment industry after winning the TVB8 Presentator Contest in 2002, subsequently signing ...
as
Man-kwan (曼筠), the Imperial Noble Consort (皇貴妃) — Hong-hei's consort and Fuk-tsuen's true love.
*
Mak Cheung-ching
Evergreen Mak Cheung-ching (, born 18 December 1968), better known as Makbau (麥包), is a Hong Kong actor. He had been an actor with TVB for more than 30 years.
Early life
Mak was born in Shunde District, Foshan, China, and his ancestral ho ...
as Po-chai (布齊) — Dor-po's superior.
*
Ben Wong
Ben Wong Chi-yin (born 20 October 1967) is a Hong Kong actor best known for his roles as Yung Heung-hoi in the long-running drama series '' A Kindred Spirit'' and Spicy Ginger in the crime drama ''Lives of Omission'', the latter garnering him ...
stars as Kei To-ting (祈道廷) — Shunzhi's personal bodyguard.
*Ching Hor-wai as
Grand Empress Dowager Hao-chong (孝莊太皇太后) — Hong-hei and Fuk-tsuen's grandmother, who helps Hong-hei ascend the throne.
*
Grace Wong
Grace Wong Kwan-hing (born 5 May 1986) is a Hong Kong television actress and singer formerly contracted to TVB. She is best known for her role as Fa Man in the martial arts television drama ''A Fist Within Four Walls''.
Early life
Grace Wong ...
as Ngan Yeung-suet (顔映雪), officially Consort Wai (惠妃) — Hong-hei's consort.
*
Christine Kuo
Christine Kuo (; born 11 July 1983) is a Taiwanese-Canadian actress based in Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR) ...
as Kin-ching (建澄), Fifth Princess Consort (五福晉) — Sheung-ning's wife.
*
Katy Kung
Katy Kung (born 5 December 1989) is a Hong Kong actress under the contract of TVB.
Career
Katy Kung's career began at the age of 16, when she became a model for a magazine introduced to her by a friend. She later worked as a television present ...
as Fung Sheung-hei (馮雙喜) — Dor-po's younger cousin.
*KK Cheung as Cheuk Shu-tong (卓樹棠) — secretly part of a group anti-Qing rebels, he owns a large medicine company in the capital city.
*
Jack Wu
Jack Wu Lok Yin (born 23 August 1977) is a television actor and host from Hong Kong, working for TVB. Jack debuted as a singer by joining singing competition and released two albums in 1997 before joining TVB as an artist.
Personal life
Jack ...
as Ha-seen (哈善) — Kwai-lun's older cousin who is also an imperial bodyguard. He personally works for Fuk-tsuen.
*
Tsui Wing
Tsui Wing (born August 7, 1974) is a Hong Kong actor contracted to TVB.
Tsui is best known for his roles as Kau Chun in the 2007-2008 sitcom ''Best Selling Secrets
''Best Selling Secrets'' (Traditional Chinese: 同事三分親) is a TVB mo ...
as
Sheung-ning, the Fifth Imperial Prince (五皇爺常寧) — officially Prince Kung (恭親王), Sheung-ning is Shun-chi's fifth son.
*
Stephen Wong as
Nap-lan Sing-tak (納蘭性德) — Hong-hei's personal adviser and bodyguard.
*
Fred Cheng
Frederick "Fred" Cheng (; born 10 November 1983) is a Canadian-born Hong Kong musician and actor. He rose to fame after competing and winning the 2013 Hong Kong singing competition, Voice of the Stars''.'' He is currently signed to TVB manag ...
as Yan-chak (恩澤) — an imperial bodyguard and Dor-po's good friend.
*Rosanne Lui as Consort Sau (秀妃) — Shun-chi's consort and mother of Sheung-ning.
**Yvonne Ho portrays young Consort Sau.
*
Kwok Fung
Kwok Fung (born 27 October 1951 in Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative reg ...
and Helen Ma as Nip Koon-yat (聶貫一) and Ko Choi-king (高彩瓊) respectively, Dor-po's foster parents.
*
Felix Lok
Felix Lok Ying-kwan is a Hong Kong actor. His television appearances include roles in ''Looking Back in Anger'', '' The Drive of Life'' and '' The Academy''.
Filmography
Television series
Films
*''Heroes of the Underground'' (1976)
*''The Hap ...
stars as Kei Man-cheong (祈萬昌) — Dor-po's father.
Lai Lok-yi
Chris Lai Lok-yi (born 15 June 1980) is a Hong Kong actor and host contracted to TVB.
Lai is best known for playing John Ma in the TVB sitcom ''Come Home Love'' from 2012 to 2015. In 2018, he was nominated for TVB Anniversary Award for Best A ...
makes a one episode guest starring appearance as the young Kei Man-cheong.
Awards and nominations
45th TVB Anniversary Awards 2011
* Nominated: Best Drama
* Nominated: Best Actor (Steven Ma)
* Nominated: Best Actor (Kenneth Ma)
* Nominated: Best Actress (Selena Lee)
* Nominated: Best Supporting Actor (Kwok-keung Cheung)
* Nominated: Best Supporting Actress (Hor-wai Ching)
* Nominated: My Favourite Male Character (Steven Ma)
* Nominated: Most Improved Female Artiste (Katy Kung)
Viewership ratings
The following is a table that includes a list of the total ratings points based on
television viewership. "Viewers in millions" refers to the number of people, derived from
TVB Jade
TVB Jade (), or simply Jade, is a Hong Kong Cantonese-language free-to-air television channel owned and operated by Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) as its flagship service, alongside its sister network, the English-language TVB Pearl. Bro ...
ratings (not including TVB HD Jade), in Hong Kong who watched the episode live. The peak number of viewers are in brackets.
*The highest rating per minute.
International Broadcast
* -
8TV (Malaysia)
8TV () is a Malaysian Chinese-language free-to-air television (formerly both English and Chinese-language free-to-air television) network focused on the Chinese community of Malaysia. Its programming consists of mostly dramas, sitcoms, and re ...
References
External links
Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Life And Times Of A Sentinel, The
TVB dramas
2011 Hong Kong television series debuts
2011 Hong Kong television series endings
Costume drama television series
Period television series
Television series set in the Qing dynasty