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.