Hit series sheds light on police efforts to combat train theft

For playwright Wang Xiaoqiang, creating the TV series Watch Your Back was a refreshing chapter in his literary career spanning over two decades.

After deciding to write a story about police officers specializing in theft investigations, the Shanxi native immersed himself in their world. He lived alongside officers from a criminal police brigade of the Shenyang Public Security Bureau, shadowing their daily routines to observe firsthand how they apprehend thieves.

At a recent seminar in Beijing discussing the 24-episode series, Wang — a winner of multiple accolades, including Best Screenplay at the 32nd China TV Golden Eagle Awards — reflected on his creative journey of the series, which also marks his first tale about police work.

Starring Guo Jingfei as a veteran police officer, the story follows his mission to crack down on a gang of thieves in a remote city while also searching for his missing fiancee. As he delves deeper into the complex cases, he uncovers a criminal network targeting passengers on trains.

One of the script's highlights is its dual narrative structure, unfolding across two timelines. Each episode opens with a segment set between 1984 and 2000, revealing the experiences of every character, Wang said during the seminar.

"By spanning across decades, the story seeks to explore the complexity of human nature, portraying the struggle between good and evil," he added.

Wang Yichuan, vice-chairman of the China Literature and Art Critics Association, commented that the show exemplifies the advancement of storytelling techniques in domestic television series, following the success of previous hits like Day and Night, Reset, and The Long Season.

He added that through its use of flashbacks shifting narrative from the early 2000s back to the 1980s, the show also reflects the societal transformations brought about by China's rapid development.

The show has attracted over 135 million viewers, making it one of the most popular crime suspense series last month, according to the producers.