Serangoon Road

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 I personally love its historical references of my home country and the appearances a local cast of actors makes it that little more intrinsic.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.

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!

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!

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!

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.