Critique: The Singapore Grip (T.V. Series)

It’s easy to summarise this tv series in one word: brilliant. If two words were required, I’d be tempted to write ‘gripping’. 

People complained that the show was from a colonial perspective, even though the story was about white colonialists. People also complained that the Asian characters were underdeveloped, even though colonialists didn’t view Asians as anything more than a resource to exploit. A story’s perspective has to match the characters, however abhorrent it is: to do anything else wouldn’t be sensible.

*****SPOILERS*****

The main character Matthew Webb is a good soul. For someone who didn’t arrive in time before his father died, some distasteful words/actions would have been acceptable.

He respects all people despite their ethnicity and works for the UN with native peoples. He is constantly annoyed that the business, the government and the Europeans exploit the Asian natives for their own gain.

Walter Blackett’s hedonistic son Monty keeps on encouraging Matthew to go to prostitutes but he always refuses. He never says why but he sees it as taking advantage of the locals, most likely.

 

When Matthew first arrives on a military plane, the pilot warns Matthew of the Singapore grip and the soldiers laugh. I assume this means it’s a sex thing but then the pilot says it’s a fever… a sexy fever? So I’m confused and Matthew’s confused.

Each episode Matthew sees a few things that could be the Singapore grip: the uncertainty is always close at hand. Matthew audibly ponders it to many people, including Francois and Vera.

Francois doesn’t tell him what it is in Episode Two but in Episode Six it’s clear he knows. If he knew, why didn’t he tell him? Or did Francois only find out between Episodes Two and Six? Vera likewise doesn’t tell Matthew but in her defence she does show Matthew in the same episode.

 

Many viewers think Vera Chiang is manipulative. In all honesty I don’t see why. She is nice to Matthew and his father because they gave her a home and sanctuary.

In the second episode, Joan and Vera compete for Matthew’s attention, the former by taking off her bra and the latter by putting his hand to the skin of her breast. Vera just wants to move back into her home, a home she was forced to leave.

Vera takes Matthew to the dying house (he learns how Europeans exploit the natives) and then to her apartment (cramped and dirty compared to Matthew’s massive home for two). People thought she did this to make Matthew feel guilty. Seeing as Matthew’s job (which Vera knew about before meeting him) is about helping native peoples, making him aware of their trouble isn’t manipulative. Even if she didn’t know, wanting to help the exploited isn’t manipulative.

 

The Blacketts annoyed me to no end.

            Mr. Webb, Matthew’s father, has a heart attack at his birthday party, hosted at the Walter’s house with rival Langford in attendance. Naturally I think it’s sabotage. Did Langford do it to get rid of a rival, at Walter’s house to point the blame at him? Did Blackett do it to get full control of the business, with Langford in attendance to point the blame at him? (Why else would he invite someone who mutually despises him?) Nothing’s ever suggested but Walter is ambitious and scheming. Or maybe I just disliked him too much.

            The Blacketts bulldozed Matthew and Joan’s wedding. Even though he never said (or hinted) yes, the Blacketts are still surprised and angry when Matthew says no?

 

The Singapore Grip gave me plenty to laugh at. I was expecting it to be like any other period drama with a few funnies but we were served plenty more. Like every time Vera said, ‘”Kicked the bucket.”’

When Walter Blackett prepares a great display of rubbers, Monty tried to slip condoms in. That gave me a chuckle.

Vera showed Matthew a book of sex positions and his response is ‘Crikey’. That surprised a sizeable laugh out of me!

Vera says her Chinese people think all white people look the same. Considering white people say Asian people all look the same, this was a funny reverse.

Joan wouldn’t help Matt save Vera so Matt calls her ‘a complete bitch’. Then later in that episode, her American ex-dater called her a ‘selfish bitch’. That was satisfying.

 

When they’re captured by Japanese soldiers, Matthew is asked whether he believes all nations can live in peace and harmony. He says “Yes.” Considering our world right now is dividing itself with bricks of hatred and mortar of disgust, this is the message we need right now. Cut to six months later and they’re in a labour camp. We don’t see them get rescued (which is what I expected but was glad to not see) but Vera has sneaks some food and notes to Matthew. This shows that Vera genuinely cares.