This series is meant to entertain. It doesn't claim to be a documentary or factual history or personal experience. It's just entertainment - don't expect it to be anything else. Of course there are character stereotypes standard dialogue and familiar plot lines - after more than 100 years of filming, what movie doesn't contain those things? The actors are good and the scenery and background activity appear very authentic. I've spent considerable time in Singapore (in recent years of course!), and the backdrops look real enough to me, even given that the series is set in 1964. Chill out and be entertained for a while - or watch something else.
22 Reviews
Visually appealing, but lifeless.
nom_de_plume-815-46499813 October 2013
I know virtually nothing about postwar Singapore, so I find the story and setting of ABC/HBO Asias 'Serangoon Road' quite convincing. As a noir drama in a steamy tropical locale at a turbulent point in history, it's appealing viewing and beautifully shot. Serangoon Road itself is vividly recreated, and the trappings of British colonialism juxtaposed with Singaporean culture make for lavish sets.
The detective agency is the catalyst for some compelling stories that play off the political tumult of the era and the mounting racial tensions. Joan Chen is as beautiful, elegant and interesting as usual and Pamelyn Chee is a quaint, witty and clever as detective Su Ling. Her carefully cultivated accent is lyrical, and she lends the script some light moments as she fends off the advances of the persistent (but gentlemanly) CIA agent Conrad Harrison. I kind of adore her, I think she's a really fun character, and it's nice to have sympathetic and intelligent female leads in a period drama.
Don Hany really carries the show as the protagonist, Australian ex-pat Sam Callaghan. His rugged good looks and complicated past (in Changi and later the military) make him an engaging character, and Hany has the acting chops to pull this off. He's appropriately brooding and intense and, let's be honest, kind of gorgeous. Alaric Tay is great as his hapless colleague Kang, too.
Sadly Maeve Dermody, playing Callaghan's married love interest, isn't very good, and her lacklustre performance undermines the show. She seems too young and inexperienced to be convincing, and delivers most of her lines in a flat monotone without subtlety. It's difficult to understand what Callaghan sees in her. She's pretty, but awkward and hesitant. I think she's punching above her weight with this production. It's a shame they couldn't find someone with the skills to make her scenes with Hany really shine. Jeremy Lindsay Taylor is similarly unimpressive as her husband, but they haven't given him much to work with.
I enjoy this show chiefly for it's visual beauty and the period details (regardless of their historical authenticity) and for the performances of Joan Chen and Don Hany. If you're looking for something more than this, you may be disappointed, but it's worth watching.
The detective agency is the catalyst for some compelling stories that play off the political tumult of the era and the mounting racial tensions. Joan Chen is as beautiful, elegant and interesting as usual and Pamelyn Chee is a quaint, witty and clever as detective Su Ling. Her carefully cultivated accent is lyrical, and she lends the script some light moments as she fends off the advances of the persistent (but gentlemanly) CIA agent Conrad Harrison. I kind of adore her, I think she's a really fun character, and it's nice to have sympathetic and intelligent female leads in a period drama.
Don Hany really carries the show as the protagonist, Australian ex-pat Sam Callaghan. His rugged good looks and complicated past (in Changi and later the military) make him an engaging character, and Hany has the acting chops to pull this off. He's appropriately brooding and intense and, let's be honest, kind of gorgeous. Alaric Tay is great as his hapless colleague Kang, too.
Sadly Maeve Dermody, playing Callaghan's married love interest, isn't very good, and her lacklustre performance undermines the show. She seems too young and inexperienced to be convincing, and delivers most of her lines in a flat monotone without subtlety. It's difficult to understand what Callaghan sees in her. She's pretty, but awkward and hesitant. I think she's punching above her weight with this production. It's a shame they couldn't find someone with the skills to make her scenes with Hany really shine. Jeremy Lindsay Taylor is similarly unimpressive as her husband, but they haven't given him much to work with.
I enjoy this show chiefly for it's visual beauty and the period details (regardless of their historical authenticity) and for the performances of Joan Chen and Don Hany. If you're looking for something more than this, you may be disappointed, but it's worth watching.
Enjoyable show
jacksonwheeler31 October 2013
I don't tend to watch a lot of Asian cinema or TV but Serangoon Road may change that. I am finding the show really enjoyable. Perhaps the characters and story lines are a little stereotypical but the writing is strong, the atmosphere emotive and Don Hany and Joan Chen are never less than brilliant. I am captivated week in and week out with the story so far. I hadn't actually noticed any difficulty with sound as mentioned by other reviewers - although as I have been overseas for a few weeks I have watched the majority of the episodes on line (wearing earphones) so perhaps that had a bearing. The fashion and hairstyles of the era have been an interesting side issue for me ... as a Gen X I can barely remember how truly awful some of the fabrics were back on those days but Serangoon Road has definitely remained on the side of authenticity as the clothing looks really uncomfortable!
surprisingly addictive
peterg1117 May 2015
This series strongly reminds me of the Singapore I grew up in and it it great for setting and atmosphere. The stories are interesting and wide ranging which keeps the attention. The lead male is a kind of D'Arcy figure with 60s hippy flaws. Too many long languid looks to be snappy and sharp so loses a star for that alone. Very good acting from everyone and surprisingly addictive.
Where is Season 2 - it deserves it!
As is common these days, there are some ongoing stories that run through the whole series and only conclude in the last episode, but while this provides great continuity each episode also has an independent story which concludes during the episode. My recollection of Expat life in South East Asia at this time tells me this is very well represented, in terms of style, contrast with the local community, and attitudes of the time between the Brits and Americans, Chinese and Brits, Aussies and Brits, Police and population, etc. The lead male appears to speak the local languages well despite being Australian, so all credit to Don Hany for pulling that off!
Where is Season 2 - it deserves it!
As is common these days, there are some ongoing stories that run through the whole series and only conclude in the last episode, but while this provides great continuity each episode also has an independent story which concludes during the episode. My recollection of Expat life in South East Asia at this time tells me this is very well represented, in terms of style, contrast with the local community, and attitudes of the time between the Brits and Americans, Chinese and Brits, Aussies and Brits, Police and population, etc. The lead male appears to speak the local languages well despite being Australian, so all credit to Don Hany for pulling that off!
One or two Singapore Slings too many.
factgasm16 February 2014
Given that the series is a co-production between HBO Asia and others, what a shame that HBO Asia's very own synopsis writer clearly needs some lessons in history: "The world is changing, the global balance of power is shifting . . ." This ignores the fact that the early to mid-sixties was the height of the Cold War - a tense stand off between the West and the Communist Bloc. Only one year before this series is set the world had been taken to the brink of global nuclear warfare in the Cuban Missile Crisis. Power wasn't shifting, rather an irresistible force had gone up against an immovable object.
"The colonial rule of the British has finally come to an end and independence is on the horizon." Actually, Singaporean independence wasn't on the horizon - quite the opposite. Starting as early as 1955, as a result of post war austerity the British had been handing over power to Singapore in an orderly and gradual withdrawal. Far from seeking independence, by 1964, when the series is set, Singapore, fearing the loss of British protection, had become firmly entrenched as part of the Malaysian Federation.
"It's an exciting time where the island state can finally forge its own identity." Again, untrue. In 1965 Singapore was, very much against its wishes, expelled from the Malaysian Federation. Singapore had independence thrust upon it, independence it had not sought. Singaporeans had not led some brave freedom fighting campaign in a bid to rid itself of evil oppressors, it had been stood up - twice.
Perhaps it might be more prudent in future for HBO Asia to employ an historian to write its historical synopses rather than a Stepford Wife.
"The colonial rule of the British has finally come to an end and independence is on the horizon." Actually, Singaporean independence wasn't on the horizon - quite the opposite. Starting as early as 1955, as a result of post war austerity the British had been handing over power to Singapore in an orderly and gradual withdrawal. Far from seeking independence, by 1964, when the series is set, Singapore, fearing the loss of British protection, had become firmly entrenched as part of the Malaysian Federation.
"It's an exciting time where the island state can finally forge its own identity." Again, untrue. In 1965 Singapore was, very much against its wishes, expelled from the Malaysian Federation. Singapore had independence thrust upon it, independence it had not sought. Singaporeans had not led some brave freedom fighting campaign in a bid to rid itself of evil oppressors, it had been stood up - twice.
Perhaps it might be more prudent in future for HBO Asia to employ an historian to write its historical synopses rather than a Stepford Wife.
Audio comment
ahghirst19 October 2013
I think 'vapid' was a bit harsh; it's a little messy and yes, a bit predictable, but I like it! What I do NOT like is the fact I can't hear half the dialogue for the blasted background noise! It might be really clever, and well thought-out, but if it were more important than the actual actors' speech, you may as well call it 'foreground noise' and tell us all to turn on the subtitles. It's extremely annoying -please adjust the levels, and I'll continue to watch. Thank-you. Addendum, following an online message from you: 1) I've said what I wanted to say -why should it be a minimum of ten lines?! 2) Please don't tell me how to spell -I AM an Englishman, writing CORRECTLY IN English, and that is how the word 'dialogue' IS spelt! If you've set your stupid system to that thing which is ridiculously called 'American English', just because some cretin decided that he would change the future spelling of MY native language, which had been richly composed of words from many cultures, over several hundred years, then that's your stupid choice. And now it's well over ten lines, I'm pretty annoyed, and will probably not be able to watch your show in future without becoming annoyed again, so thanks for that, too!
Excellent casting and very entertaining - loved it!
narde-858-56976430 November 2013
I absolutely loved it. Couldn't get enough of it. Great cast and crew. Great collaboration efforts by Singapore and Australia. Great choice of cast. Don Hany did so well and I'm now his fan. I wish Russell Wong was featured more. He's a great actor and will watch more of him. Authentic settings and enjoyed the Aussie presence. Well done ABC!!! Don't worry about the ratings. The average Aussies aren't discerning. I hope they bring out another series. I think all the Aussie actors did extremely well in keeping the authenticity of the settings. Nice work too with bringing the honorable Joan Chen into the cast. Hany mastered the local languages and the culture very well indeed and looked very comfortable working with the Asian actors/actresses. He is indeed a very versatile actor. Please bring on more. I can't understand why ABC thinks this is a flop because it is so not!
Not Bad
philjquitt3 December 2013
Worth watching but will need rejuvenating to be worth a second series. As a version of a detective series, not bad at all. Don Hany seems to carry the show as the suitably stubbled cool expat Australian ex-military man. At least that's what I thought until in one episode he is seen as a client in an opium den. Then I thought... "so he's not so much meant to be cool, as much as being a sort of deadbeat who gets the job done", like many central characters in detective novels. Would be good if he could be seen looking roughly normal and shaved for say 5 minutes in one or two episodes. Some value for it's portrayal of colonial Singapore in transition, but perhaps not trying to be authentic. Joan Chen is beautiful when smiling, but has a profoundly down-turned mouth often which makes her look strange rather than composed - is this too much surgery? Pamelyn Chee is a novel character with her ??English accent. The bad guy dragon gang leader who looks like Bruce Lee is very good.
Borders on brilliance
Tarracone21 October 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Even though somewhat limited in the street scenes etc. probably as a result of budget constraints, this series attempts to focus on the tragedy of decisions that have to be made by individuals facing momentous change. The series is therefore relevant to multicultural Singapore 1964 with the surrounding Malaya/Borneo and Vietnam wars and the pull out of the British as it is today with 9/11 and the Asia century. Caught in this is the Don Hany character who tries valiantly to right wrongs while only sensing right intuitively from a broken multi cultural upbringing. The tragedy of these less than perfect decisions is crystallized in the shock felt by the otherwise bored Maeve Darmody character at the death of a young boy as a result of business and authorities looking the other way (I am only up to episode 5). Darmody pulls this off brilliantly as the quintessential Australian female with Don Hany in support almost out of his shell in feeling guilt for his vacuity in being of not much help to his girlfriend for whom he senses fearfully purpose and grand love. Though both the personal and national tragic themes are vast, good on you HBO and the production team for attempting them.
Not the Singapore I remember
chopendoz9 November 2013
I was looking forward to this series as I was living in Singapore round about the time the series was set. Not only that, I was living quite close to Serangoon Road so (ike reviewer 'pgmucha') I viewed the series with a hopeful sense of nostalgia. Why is the series called Serangoon Road? It is nothing like it. In reality it was/is a straight, wide street not a narrow winding lane, as depicted. One reviewer stated that it is 'not a documentary' but they should have tried to get the backdrop right at least. This was not the Serangoon Road I remember. The average temperature in Singapore is 25C with 70% humidity. However, our hero runs around and fights – but never raises a sweat . Just walking around in a climate where it is hot and humid all the time, has one dripping with sweat. People walked in the shade, not in the sun. Where are the Indians? Quite close to Serangoon Road is Little India but I could not see any Indians wandering about in this series. Geographical locations have been telescoped it seems. Bugis St is not just round the corner but a kilometer away. (I lived in a rooming house on the same floor as 4 of the 'boys' from Bugis St). Chinatown is at least 3 kilometers away. The acting is not Emmy (or even Logie) material. Joan Chen tries her best to be inscrutable. Her young female sidekick has a somewhat incongruous Oxbridge accent. The hero is suitably heroic, designer stubble and all. Does he ever change his shirt? His romantic interest however, is insipid and the epitome of 'wooden' - hardly the stuff of a a passionate love affair. The other characters are two dimensional at best. The bad guys are very bad. I don't think that in 1964 phrases such as 'pissed me off'and 'forensic accounting' were used. Overall, it was a very average production that barely held my interest A pity that it was not better researched. Yes, I know 'it was not a documentary' but it WAS a 'Hollywood generic' scenario aimed at viewers who have no idea what Singapore was/is like.
Good solid period piece. Tender and touching. We need more like this.
face-819-93372621 November 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Find a way to watch this one if you can. If you are tired of the ordinary, then this is a great start. With the Australian Broadcasting Company, and HBO Asia together they have a chance to bring together some of the worlds greatest talents for western audiences to finally see, or see more of. The great Joan Chen still looking as regal as she did playing cyborgs in the 90's, and Don Hany as the only man who is aloud to go into the darker places along Serangoon Rd. is a good strong lead that I hope we see more of. The main feeling of the show is a lot like many of today's period pieces, but with a bit tamer less American ham fistedness about it. If you remember Tropical Heat (Sweating Bullets) this feels a lot like that, only on a set much like the China as represented in Smallville. The episodes have been aired out of sequence somewhat , as something has subtly changed from the 5th, to the 7th episodes that is not there in episode 1. If you are looking for something new, and you like to imagine life in other times worlds away, then you will Enjoy this show a lot. I'll keep with it as long as they keep making them.
Playing up the stereotypes
pkloeden7 November 2013
Watching this series as a Singaporean was a cringe-worthy experience for me - it seemed like it was made for the Western audience, with all the accompanying stereotypes of the "mysterious East": Bugis Street transvestites, prostitutes, American sailors, Chinese triad gangsters.
Little attention was paid to the details: Malay women were shown wearing the "hijab", which did not appear till the 80s, as the lacy "selendang" were worn in the 60s setting of this series. The Chinese were shown speaking Mandarin to each other, whereas it's the Hokkien or Teochew dialects that were commonly spoken then.
The only redeeming feature was the elegant Joan Chen, though her character was also a caricature of the exotic Oriental lady: always clad in the high-necked, form fitting Chinese "cheongsam" and carrying a bamboo parasol when she's outdoors. And she inexplicably speaks with an American accent.
The biggest surprise to me was the fact that the Media Development Authority of Singapore actually has a hand in producing this series!
Little attention was paid to the details: Malay women were shown wearing the "hijab", which did not appear till the 80s, as the lacy "selendang" were worn in the 60s setting of this series. The Chinese were shown speaking Mandarin to each other, whereas it's the Hokkien or Teochew dialects that were commonly spoken then.
The only redeeming feature was the elegant Joan Chen, though her character was also a caricature of the exotic Oriental lady: always clad in the high-necked, form fitting Chinese "cheongsam" and carrying a bamboo parasol when she's outdoors. And she inexplicably speaks with an American accent.
The biggest surprise to me was the fact that the Media Development Authority of Singapore actually has a hand in producing this series!
Good show
Shizuka20089 November 2013
Warning: Spoilers
I really like this show.
Good actors, setting and good stories.
It mainly takes place in a district in Singapore in the 60s where crime poverty and gangs are rampant and people struggle to get by day by day.
I like the slow pace of the show which doesn't make it less engaging and suspenseful.
If you like good drama a new setting and diving into a fascinating world you didn't know before give this show a try.
It stand apart very positively from all the soulless vampire, sci-fi and fantasy shows which swamp TV land nowadays where some miscast teen models run around CGI environments in search of a decent and interesting story.
Good actors, setting and good stories.
It mainly takes place in a district in Singapore in the 60s where crime poverty and gangs are rampant and people struggle to get by day by day.
I like the slow pace of the show which doesn't make it less engaging and suspenseful.
If you like good drama a new setting and diving into a fascinating world you didn't know before give this show a try.
It stand apart very positively from all the soulless vampire, sci-fi and fantasy shows which swamp TV land nowadays where some miscast teen models run around CGI environments in search of a decent and interesting story.
Intriguing, great story lines
sarabeth_george25 February 2019
Was extremely disappointed that there was only 1 season. This show had so much potential. Great actors, great stories.. leaves you wanting more. So tired of main stream shows and this is nothing like that! Creative.. feels real.. Please bring it back or create more like it?
An initial review
bugsy007200322 September 2013
As a Singaporean, coming across an English drama series that defines an era of change is hard to come by both in terms of depth and originality. My review may seem biased as i've only watched an episode (half an episode to be honest) but unlike those slapstick nonsensical series which have plague local airwaves with their superficial story lines and amateurish acting, this is something entirely different. It is a mind boggling piece of art that has long been overdue. I personally love its historical references of my home country and the appearances a local cast of actors makes it that little more intrinsic. The settings and environments bring a sense of nostalgia with props and costumes of that era. I would recommended it to anyone.
Don Hany should be on U.S. TV
thack57-441-24815114 November 2021
Not a lot of action and I don't expect a lot of Americans to flock to it but I find it captivating. Maybe if you lived there in the '60s like another poster claimed it's not authentic but I didn't live there and I quite enjoy show.
Vapid pablum ... an embarrassment.
cheeftanz25 September 2013
Warning: Spoilers
I live in Asia and was looking forward to this Singapore drama by HBO for months. Many of the finest programs come from HBO, expectations were high. The cast is good, the Asia backdrop inviting, and the premise engaging.
Embarrassingly, this series could have been set in Saskatoon and named Saskatchewan road - there is none of the rich history of British colonization, no remnants of Japan's extreme brutalization are evident, no Indian element (though a major Singaporean class). Nothing for us Asian fans at all (except old radios and period dresses).
Still, the idea of entire episodes being formulaic, predictable and riddled with bizarre and exasperating moral preachiness left everyone in our house deeply troubled... this is NOT daring work, not in any way insightful, the plots never bite into real issues. We have an absence of exhilaration or even titillation.
Smoky bars and prostitutes galore (with transvestite darlings who get their testicles fondled as pivotal part of plot development?), check. Ridiculous fist fights from deeply into middle-age Sam who gleefully dives headfirst into rooms full of actively fit muscular young men serves only to prove that our protagonist is unable to think through even the most simplistic of predicaments - decidedly sloppy for a character who is purported to be wise. Bar brawls sprinkled in every 20 minutes is in all absolutes not an Asian cultural reality, quite specifically this must be a 'Western adaptation' as any Asians would label this behavior dense and unrefined at best. Forlorn broody looks from love interests that go nowhere, yep. And of course, all Americans and America are always evil, all Australians saints? Ahh yes, this is clever award winning stuff .... And the ONLY black person in the series is an innocent - falsely accused by the Evil Empire, check. Zero humor, zero twists, zero tension, zero...
How, how did this ever get past quality control? HBO should be ashamed.. . Rrrrr, such hope...
Embarrassingly, this series could have been set in Saskatoon and named Saskatchewan road - there is none of the rich history of British colonization, no remnants of Japan's extreme brutalization are evident, no Indian element (though a major Singaporean class). Nothing for us Asian fans at all (except old radios and period dresses).
Still, the idea of entire episodes being formulaic, predictable and riddled with bizarre and exasperating moral preachiness left everyone in our house deeply troubled... this is NOT daring work, not in any way insightful, the plots never bite into real issues. We have an absence of exhilaration or even titillation.
Smoky bars and prostitutes galore (with transvestite darlings who get their testicles fondled as pivotal part of plot development?), check. Ridiculous fist fights from deeply into middle-age Sam who gleefully dives headfirst into rooms full of actively fit muscular young men serves only to prove that our protagonist is unable to think through even the most simplistic of predicaments - decidedly sloppy for a character who is purported to be wise. Bar brawls sprinkled in every 20 minutes is in all absolutes not an Asian cultural reality, quite specifically this must be a 'Western adaptation' as any Asians would label this behavior dense and unrefined at best. Forlorn broody looks from love interests that go nowhere, yep. And of course, all Americans and America are always evil, all Australians saints? Ahh yes, this is clever award winning stuff .... And the ONLY black person in the series is an innocent - falsely accused by the Evil Empire, check. Zero humor, zero twists, zero tension, zero...
How, how did this ever get past quality control? HBO should be ashamed.. . Rrrrr, such hope...
Made even more exotic by the setting
jonniecomet-1420921 December 2020
I've been recommending this to everyone. It may be a little violent - and (to spare the spoiler) I'm not completely satisfied with the ending as not enough loose ends are tied off. What's most fascinating - besides the marvellous actresses, experienced Joan Chen and charming Pamlyn Chee - is the time setting, the period between the 1962-63 Malaysian Republic and the 1964-65 departure of Singapore to become its own nation. The British, Chinese, Malaysians, Singaporeans, and Americans were all vying for influence over the same relatively small city-state and the Australians, like Sam, were rather caught-up in it all as well.
The Changi prison that's mentioned was one of the most notorious of Japanese POW camps during WW2 in no small part because they took over an already-good facility from the Singaporeans; so that's a dark cloud hanging over the histories of Sam and others. Why is the CIA involved? The cops probably mean well; but who's directing them and to what ideology do they owe allegiance? And theres a lot of cool old cars (though, perhaps realistically, not too many).
So for nearly everyone who doesn't know much about the political history, the series has a wonderful exotic character that's reminiscent of 'Jake Speed' or even Indiana Jones. At times you don't know whom to trust - really only Sam and Su Ling are always reliable (very small spoiler there). It's made me become a great fan of this now-stable, successful nation that boasts some of the wealthiest citizens in the world - all down to the period of struggle during which this excellent Australian series is set.
The Changi prison that's mentioned was one of the most notorious of Japanese POW camps during WW2 in no small part because they took over an already-good facility from the Singaporeans; so that's a dark cloud hanging over the histories of Sam and others. Why is the CIA involved? The cops probably mean well; but who's directing them and to what ideology do they owe allegiance? And theres a lot of cool old cars (though, perhaps realistically, not too many).
So for nearly everyone who doesn't know much about the political history, the series has a wonderful exotic character that's reminiscent of 'Jake Speed' or even Indiana Jones. At times you don't know whom to trust - really only Sam and Su Ling are always reliable (very small spoiler there). It's made me become a great fan of this now-stable, successful nation that boasts some of the wealthiest citizens in the world - all down to the period of struggle during which this excellent Australian series is set.
Serangoon Road
pgmucha4 November 2013
Warning: Spoilers
HBO got as bad as the BBC on this series. I lived in Singapore ate about the time and it wasn't even anything near as bad. The acting is rubbish, nobody talks or act the way they do.
It reminds me of the BBC series "" ATLANTIS "" same rubbish Was hoping to go down memory lane when this series came up, feeling myself in a new world now.
I knew some of the Dragon members and they never acted like this, as a matter of fact the boss was NEVER seen unless you knew who he was and were his hang out was, and it was for sure NOT in Geyland or Buggie Street.
It reminds me of the BBC series "" ATLANTIS "" same rubbish Was hoping to go down memory lane when this series came up, feeling myself in a new world now.
I knew some of the Dragon members and they never acted like this, as a matter of fact the boss was NEVER seen unless you knew who he was and were his hang out was, and it was for sure NOT in Geyland or Buggie Street.
Entertaining but I wish is were better
cherylwarren272785 December 2014
Don Hany is handsome. And brooding. And broodingly handsome. You can watch with appreciation while he pauses to brood. I really wish there were more to him than that. The show is set in a fascinating location during an important turning point in history and ought to be much better than it is. I am finding it entertaining, but one reason is that I spent a week in Singapore as a tourist in the 1980s so the local color keeps me interested. I really wanted it to be an A+ but will happily settle for a B- while I watch a gorgeous man brood and sweat. Because luckily it is way too hot in tropical Singapore for him to do up the buttons on his shirt.
Flawed, but still deserved a second or third series
emuir-111 August 2019
Warning: Spoilers
I love series set in exotic locations, and having lived in Singapore during the 60's I enjoyed the tightly packed locations of Serangoon Road immensely, although the tightly crooked streets were nothing like the real road, but it had several flaws which a writer/producers? with some knowledge of Singapore's history and customs could have corrected with a little research.
The series had the usual stock characters of noir thrillers in port cities, the boozy reporter propping up the bar, the renegade European raised in the city and able to mix in both cultures, the deivous US and British intelligence operatives, the married woman love interest, the old market trader, Aunty, who sees all and hears all, the Chinese sidekick forever in gambling debt willing to take a bullet (or not) for his BFF, and best of all by far, the Asian villain, Kay Song, who saved the series for me. I could not take my eyes off him.
* The series was set in 1964 when Singapore was supposedly fighting for Independence, which had actually been forced on them in 1961. Oh well, most viewers were not born then.
* Having been a prisoner of the Japanese as a child, Sam would have been 29 or 30. Don Haney looked to be on the wrong side of 40, and did he ever wash or change his shirt? The biggest goof for me was the 3-day stubble which was never seen other than on bar flies with long neglected hygiene, and most definitely, absolutely not at a black tie embassy function.
* The pathetic romance with a married woman was an attempt at a Casablanca or Pepe le Moko affair, but all they did was woodenly moon like lovesick high schoolers with their first love. A needy, immature, selfish manipulative married woman cheating on her husband, for crying out loud. Give me a break! I would have been able to believe it if he had already been married and divorced in the past, but first love at 30? This 'romance' should have been dropped in favor of the stock bar hostess occasional bedmate character.
One thing they did get right was the absence of airconditioning. Ceiling fans, open windows, and loose sleeveless clothing. When it was hot and humid, you accepted it and adjusted accordingly.
Spoiler ahead: Overall, by comparison with today's detective series, it was very bland and quite chaste, in the manner of 60's TV shows where a detective never lost his hat in a fist fight nor had a cut or scratch. I am not one to advocate the grim Scandinavian and French gore fests, but the series could have had much more life. For example, a few backstories such as episodes recalling Sam's past in Changi captivity and the brutal Japanese occupation, Sam's past activities in the Malay campaign and the widow Chen's history. By far the best actor was the villain and I would have liked to see a lot more of him, especially as the series ended openly with him taking control of his gang and a possibility of another season.
The series had the usual stock characters of noir thrillers in port cities, the boozy reporter propping up the bar, the renegade European raised in the city and able to mix in both cultures, the deivous US and British intelligence operatives, the married woman love interest, the old market trader, Aunty, who sees all and hears all, the Chinese sidekick forever in gambling debt willing to take a bullet (or not) for his BFF, and best of all by far, the Asian villain, Kay Song, who saved the series for me. I could not take my eyes off him.
* The series was set in 1964 when Singapore was supposedly fighting for Independence, which had actually been forced on them in 1961. Oh well, most viewers were not born then.
* Having been a prisoner of the Japanese as a child, Sam would have been 29 or 30. Don Haney looked to be on the wrong side of 40, and did he ever wash or change his shirt? The biggest goof for me was the 3-day stubble which was never seen other than on bar flies with long neglected hygiene, and most definitely, absolutely not at a black tie embassy function.
* The pathetic romance with a married woman was an attempt at a Casablanca or Pepe le Moko affair, but all they did was woodenly moon like lovesick high schoolers with their first love. A needy, immature, selfish manipulative married woman cheating on her husband, for crying out loud. Give me a break! I would have been able to believe it if he had already been married and divorced in the past, but first love at 30? This 'romance' should have been dropped in favor of the stock bar hostess occasional bedmate character.
One thing they did get right was the absence of airconditioning. Ceiling fans, open windows, and loose sleeveless clothing. When it was hot and humid, you accepted it and adjusted accordingly.
Spoiler ahead: Overall, by comparison with today's detective series, it was very bland and quite chaste, in the manner of 60's TV shows where a detective never lost his hat in a fist fight nor had a cut or scratch. I am not one to advocate the grim Scandinavian and French gore fests, but the series could have had much more life. For example, a few backstories such as episodes recalling Sam's past in Changi captivity and the brutal Japanese occupation, Sam's past activities in the Malay campaign and the widow Chen's history. By far the best actor was the villain and I would have liked to see a lot more of him, especially as the series ended openly with him taking control of his gang and a possibility of another season.
Disbelief NOT suspended
hond-9206416 September 2021
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