At the beginning of the 6th and final episode, we watch archival footage. The British are ordered to destroy anything that could be beneficial to the enemy. Major Brendan Archer (Colm Meaney), Francois (Christophe Guybet), Matthew (Luke Treadaway), and others sit around and look for something to drink. Francois explains they needed to raid Walter’s wine cellar to prevent the wine from falling into Japanese hands. Brendan and Matthew agree that the display at the docks was disgusting. Then, Brendan theorizes that the Singapore Grip might be the West’s grip on the culture and economy of the East. He believes that grip is about to be pried loose but Francois says the Grip is an ability that some of the Singapore ladies possess. Their conversation turns to Walter Blackett (David Morrissey) who hasn’t been seen for several days.

Walter steps out of his warehouse and tells Mohammed that they need to go to the liquor warehouse because they’ve been ordered to destroy the entire liquor stock. The Straits Time will be sending a photographer so they can get a picture of him smashing the first bottle. He arrives and angrily breaks the bottles before falling to the ground and cutting his hand. Seconds later, Mohammed reminds Walter that he has an emergency board meeting with Langfeld & Bowser. We jump over to the Alexandra Hospital which is 8.5 miles from Singapore City. We see that Vera (Elizabeth Tan) has started working at the hospital. The Japanese arrive. Vera steps outside and watches as the Japanese kill the man waving the white flag. She runs with the other British soldiers as the Japanese kill as many as they can.

Bowser Barrington (John Bowe) can’t understand what Nigel had in mind. He tells the others that he’ll give them a few minutes and call it off if they don’t show up. Walter storms into the room seconds later. Walter sits down and begins laying out his strategy but Bowser writes a note suggesting Blackett has been on a drinking binge. Bowser things their energies would be better spent exerting pressure on the appropriate parties back in London. Walter asks about Solomon before Bowser reveals Walter has his feet on the man’s casket. Bowser tells Walter where he is going and he recommends coming with them but Walter leaves in a hurry. Seconds later, Matthew joins Brendan and Robin Turner (Bradley Hall) for a drink. Matthew asks if they have seen Vera. She is gone but Robin has a note from her.

Matthew is frightened to learn Vera went to visit her doctor friend at Alexandra Hospital. He realizes that the hospital is in Bukit Timah and it is the way the Japanese are expected to come through. Matthew freaks out and says he needs to find Vera. Since the roads are blocked, Robin agrees to let him drive his motorbike. Matthew isn’t a pro but he manages to drive the bike. He nearly gets into an accident because he can’t figure out how to stop. He eventually stops, reminds himself of the controls, and continues. Seconds later, General Percival (Richard Lumsden) talks to General Wavell (Mark Tandy) who can’t why the Northwest was defended so poorly. Then, Wavell reveals he has received a cable from the Prime Minister.

The PM says there should be no thought of saving the troops or the population and the battle should be fought to the end at all costs. Commanders and senior officers will likely die with their troops. Then, Wavell tells him he’ll go and see how they’re getting on with the boat. He steps out of the vehicle and crashes to the ground below. Matthew makes it to the hospital and finds the chaos left behind by the Japanese troops. He walks among the dead before the doctor shows up and confirms he is looking for Vera as well. He explains she isn’t here and he hopes she got away. He tells Matthew about the Japanese killing hundreds and taking many prisoners. Matthew offers to take the man to the city and the doctor accepts that offer.

The following day, Matthew makes it back to the city and begins looking around for Vera everywhere but doesn’t have any look. Seconds later, Sir Shenton Thomas (Martin Wenner) sits down with General Percival. They agree they’re in a bad spot right now. Shenton tells him that everyone has done their best so it might be time to surrender but the General can’t do that since he has received direct orders from the Prime Minister. Shenton reminds him that they’re on the ground and the PM is not. Later that night, Walter goes to his warehouse and looks around with a flashlight. Mohammed follows him and brings egg and whiskey.

Walter tells him he won’t be needing him for some time. He gives him money and tells him to take the car and hide it. Then, he should go to Kampong until he hears from him. Walter goes into his office and tells Mohammed goodbye. He begins drinking and looking at the chaos through his window. Meanwhile, Matthew joins the other firefighters. They sing and dance until they realize something is wrong. The building blows. Matthew tries to get the hose but gets hit in the face and knocked to the ground before they finally get it. They tend to his hands in the morning. Brendan sits down with Matthew and tells him that the fire is getting closer and Walter isn’t willing to leave. He wonders if Matthew could convince Walter to leave before it is too late.

Then, we see Vera working in another hospital before Matthew goes to Walter’s warehouse. Matthew does his best to try to convince Walter to leave. They argue about who is responsible for destroying Walter’s investment before Matthew looks outside and sees how terrible the whole thing is. Walter tells Matthew about working all night with his father because they knew what they owed the firm’s shareholders. Matthew promises that they’re not stopping but need to get out of there before it is too late. The building catches on fire while Walter continues reminiscing about the past. Matthew tells him it is on fire and they need to get out. Walter says they should go and he has a way to get out. He tells Matthew about the boat leaving from Telok Ayer Basin at 8 this evening. Matthew isn’t ready to go yet since he still needs to find Vera.

He sits down to check his hand before soldiers stop and give him water. Matthew tells him how he got hurt before the man offers help. Matthew isn’t willing to accept it yet because he needs to find his girl. However, he eventually agrees to go with them. He learns that the soldiers have hidden a boat near the beach. They’re going to try to leave on the boat around 9 and they won’t be able to wait for Matthew. He is convinced he’ll be able to find Vera before then. The General meets with his men to tell them he has received a cable from General Wavell telling him he can cease resistance at his discretion. Meanwhile, Matthew notices Japanese planes flying above them. One of them begins firing at their vehicle. The driver stops and Matthew gets out to make a run for it.

He checks the car and finds out that the driver has been shot. He puts Bruce’s body in the car before continuing. Meanwhile, the General contemplates his options. Matthew takes Bruce to the nearby hospital. Matthew goes inside of the makeshift hospital and finds Vera there. He confirms he isn’t hurt and that the blood belongs to someone else before she tells him how she survived the earlier attack by the Japanese. He tells her about the boat and encourages her to come back with him. He tells her he’ll come back to get her at 7 and she agrees. After that, Matthew goes home to collect his belongings. Francois and Brendan interrupt to let him know they’ll drive him to the boat. Brendan has decided to stay and Francois is going to stick around to keep his friend company.

Matthew goes to the makeshift hospital to collect Vera and she joins him a few moments later. They try to make it to the boat and luckily catch up with the others. They say quick goodbyes so they can board the boat as quickly as possible. However, they’re soon approached by soldiers who want the boat. Francois is shot as he tried to take care of the anchor. They leave the boat before the group’s leader curses them and prepares to leave with the boat. Walter runs across Bowser who wants help dealing with the body. Walter refuses to help and approaches the boat. Meanwhile, Vera and Matthew return to her room after being left behind. Matthew asks Vera why she won’t marry him and says he would like to marry her.

She says being his wife won’t deter the Japanese for a minute. She suggests they’ll be better off on their own. She believes she will be okay because people will think she is a prostitute. Matthew leaves her a stack of money that should keep her going for a while. They hug before Matthew Vera tells him he should go with Francois and Major and hand himself in. She knows how to survive but doesn’t think Matthew does. He believes they’ll see one another again and Vera says they will. Then, we see the General and his men walking with a British flag and a white flag. Matthew joins Brendan and Francois for a drink until the Japanese soldiers arrive and Brendan waves the white flag. The three men are taken are prisoners and led through the streets with others.

As they march, they sing a song about England. Then, we jump six months ahead and see Matthew working alongside Brendan and Francois as prisoners. Matthew receives something from the guard and he quickly puts it into his pocket before returning to work. After work, Matthew checks the item and finds it is something from Vera. He tells the others it is one of her specialties cooked white mice. He agrees to share them although Brendan isn’t sure about that. Matthew also finds messages. One says tomorrow is another day and the other says my silkworms are hungry.

 

The Singapore Grip Review

Perhaps my expectations for The Singapore Grip were too high to begin with? Either way, I can sadly say that this show never lived up to those expectations and I am sure others were disappointed with the show as well. I was hoping for more emotional impact and historical accuracy. Really though, the series didn’t achieve a lot.

The finale wasn’t much either. We mostly got the runaround during the finale since nothing happened. Matthew and Vera tried numerous times to escape during the season but never did. Midway through the series, most of the show was focusing on Matthew trying to get Vera away from Singapore and to a safe location. The fact this didn’t happen feels like a letdown since the hard work never paid off.

In addition to this, there were too many questions left behind. We’ll never know what happened to any of the characters. It is really hard to fathom that the British leaders were so incompetent and silly. I rolled my eyes when the general stepped out of the car and got hurt after falling down to the surface below.

I also thought it was odd that Vera became a nurse overnight. There was no mention of her working at a hospital until this episode started but I guess this isn’t a major issue. The show just didn’t hit home for me. The finale scores a 5.5 out of 10. Previous recaps of The Singapore Grip are available on Reel Mockery.