As the 5th episode begins, we see more archive footage about the war. After that, Abdul (Muhammad Harminder) delivers food to Solomon (Julian Wadham) only to discover that he is dead. Vera Chiang (Elizabeth Tan) reads to Matthew Webb (Luke Treadaway) while he gets dressed. Matthew reminds her what he said about getting out of Singapore but she suggests she might want to stay and fight. Nigel Langfeld (Nicholas Agnew) meets with Walter Blackett (David Morrissey) to see what he wanted. Walter apologizes for his loss and offers him a drink which is promptly turned down. Major Brendan Archer (Colm Meaney) meets up with Matthew and Jim Ehrendorf (Bart Edwards). Jim tells him about falling from his motorcycle and getting injured.

Meanwhile, Matthew tries to work his magic on Nigel and convince him to hook up with Joan (Georgia Blizzard). Nigel expresses some doubt before Joan enters and interrupts that conversation. She sits down with Nigel and tries to comfort him while her father steps out of the room. Jim tells Matthew and Brendan they need to start thinking about how they’re going to get out of there as well. Jim believes they have a couple of weeks before things get really bad. They decide to let Jim become a fireman. When Brendan steps away to look for a helmet, Jim learns that Mrs. Blackett and Kate left for Australia but Joan stayed behind. Walter steps outside and notices something is wrong so he tells Abdul to order everyone to rush to the shelter.

They run toward the shelter as planes fly overhead. After the bombing stops, Francois (Christophe Guybet), Jim, and Matthew help put out the fires. When they take a break, Jim tells Matthew that things tend to go wrong all the time when it comes to human affairs. Matthew doesn’t want to believe that but Jim says it is true and things are getting worse. Francois’s hair catches on fire so Brendan throws water on him. Matthew runs into Robin Turner (Bradley Hall) and finds out that his wife didn’t want to come down because the people in Singapore haven’t been especially kind to her. She would rather take her chances with the Japanese. Later that night, Matthew tells Vera that they need to start making serious arrangements for her to leave Singapore.

She isn’t sure she wants to leave but Matthew says she must and it isn’t something they should question. Matthew believes Walter can help him get Vera out of Singapore. Solomon’s body is prepared for embalming while Joan hangs out with Nigel. Dr. Brownley (Stuart McQuarrie) tells Walter it is awful because they have to wash the entire body in embalming fluid. Matthew shows up and tells Walter that he needs help getting Vera out of Singapore. Walter isn’t sure he’ll be able to help so Matthew suggests Vera should travel with Joan. Walter tells him he’ll have to speak to Joan about that because it has nothing to do with him. Walter complains to Brownley who asks Walter for help. Matthew goes to Joan and asks her to help. He promises that Vera won’t be any trouble. Joan decides to ask Nigel if they should take the Chinese girl with them as a servant.

Nigel isn’t sure there is anything they can do and Joan says Vera should’ve thought about all of this a bit earlier in the day. Matthew gives her a piece of his mind and curses at her before leaving. He returns to Vera to tell her what happened but Vera says he shouldn’t be unfair to her. Vera reveals she has made an appointment at the Australia Office tomorrow to ask about an entry permit. She admits her Chinese doctor friend has told her that she shouldn’t stay around. The following day, Matthew goes to the Chinese Protectorate and is asked if he has photos. Seconds later, General Percival (Richard Lumsden) visits Sir Shenton Thomas (Martin Wenner) to tell him they’re facing unexpected opposition from the Chinese Protectorate. He says a few officials there are obsessed with the idea that half of the Chinese in Singapore are Communists.

As a result, they’re refusing to issue exit permits. The General admits they want to limit the number of non-combatants getting under their feet. He wants to have them expelled if they do not agree to leave. Next, Vera meets with Matthew and claims that the man in the Australia Office was plain racist. She went to the India Office and they were polite but still wouldn’t give her an entry permit unless she can prove she can support herself. Matthew doesn’t think that’ll be a problem because they can open a bank account for her in a couple of days. He recommends moving to Mayfair for the time being but Vera says she’ll be fine. When they return to Vera’s room, she admits they will never let her leave Singapore but Matthew is confident he’ll be able to find a way to her passport photographs and open a bank account for her.

Vera doesn’t want to go without him but he tells her she’ll need to. Then, the General talks to Jack about the Japanese attacking in the Northwest. He believes they’re going to attack from the East thought. He explains he is going to put Gordon Bennett and his Australians up to defend the Northwest coast because he is completely useless. He’ll put his best men in the East. Matthew tells Brendan about the Chinese Protectorate refusing to give them an exit permit. Brendan encourages Matthew to leave it with him because he knows someone at the Protectorate. Brendan visits the office and speaks with Mr. Smith. Seconds later, Smith sits down with the paperwork and asks Brendan why he is involved in the case.

Smith says she is a troublemaker but Brendan explains her life is in danger and should be given an exit permit. Brendan learns that she had connections with the General Labor Union which is a Communist front organization but Brendan reminds him that the Chinese are not the enemy. Smith says the Chinese aren’t on their side and it isn’t that simple. Nevertheless, Brendan doesn’t intend to leave unless he has a permit for Vera. Planes begin flying overhead so Smith says they should leave but Brendan isn’t going anywhere until he has the permit. Brendan takes off his coat and challenges Smith to a fight. That convinces Smith to give Vera a permit. He stamps it and signs it. Then, Brendan returns to Matthew and tells him he has the exit permit as well as a curfew pass for them.

He has also secured a reservation on the free French Ship Felix Roussel leaving for Bombay. Nigel visits the Blackett family and they cater to him. Walter reminds Nigel that the two love birds are heading off to Bombay today. He’d like to make a sign of progress such as a letter of intent or something. He begins talking about the merger of the two companies while Nigel fills his plate with food. After that, Matthew asks Vera if she is worried about going to Bombay alone but she says she isn’t. Matthew agrees to write to her because Vera has to leave. Meanwhile, Nigel asks Walter about Matthew. Walter says he isn’t interested and they’ll present him with a fait accompli. He says they’ll be able to outvote him 3 to 1 and 4 to 1 when Joan becomes a director of the company.

Nigel says he may have to meet Joan at the boat if he has to attend the meeting as well. Walter doesn’t believe that will be an issue. Meanwhile, Walter hangs out with Vera, Robin, and Brendan. Francois says he believes he is going to stay a bit longer before Brendan tells Vera that Joan and Nigel will be on the boat with her. They are worried about the dog so Brendan says he is going to take him to the vet this evening. He worries it might be time for the dog to be put to sleep. Walter goes to Shenton to complain about the jubilee being canceled and everything else but Shenton tells him that it has to be tonight. All of Walter’s stock is going to be destroyed because they can’t risk all of that rubber being taken by the enemy.

Shenton tells him that he doesn’t have to be involved but Walter wants to do it himself. He immediately goes to the warehouse and picks up the phone to call someone. During this time, Jim goes for a swim only to find Joan looking at him from above. She tells him that she needs to get to the plane and she can’t find anyone to take her there. She wants Jim to help her but he calls her selfish and can’t understand why he would help her. When he climbs from the pool, he agrees to help her. Brendan, Vera, and Matthew get stuck in traffic so he suggests going to the vessel on the way back. A bit later, they return and Matthew agrees to get out and get the ticket.

When he steps inside, she finds himself stuck in a long line. Finally, he gets the ticket and is told that the ships will be boarded in alphabetical groups to avoid overcrowding. Matthew returns and tells the others he believes they can make it since the boat doesn’t leave until 1. Since the traffic is still bad, Matthew suggests walking the rest of the way. Along the way, they cross the Da Sousa Sisters and Monty (Luke Newberry). Monty wants Matthew to help him with his luggage. He says they can take the luggage on board and say they’re just helping with the bags. Then, they can stay and hide in the cabin. Monty warns him that Singapore is done for. Monty tries his best but Matthew refuses to help him. Joan and Jim get stuck in traffic as well.

He suggests getting out and walking but Joan doesn’t want to leave her luggage and wedding presents behind. She spots a carriage nearby and wants to use it. Meanwhile, Matthew and Vera get out and decide to walk too. Brendan tells them he’ll ditch the car and catch up with them later. The dog escapes the car before Jim begins transporting Joan with the carriage. He gets tired and stops for a cigarette before continuing onward. Nigel is glad to see Joan since he didn’t think she would make it in time. When Jim tries to leave, Nigel questions if he is going to stay and help with the rest of the luggage. Jim tells Joan it is a mystery to him what a woman would see in a stiff like Nigel. He tells her good night and good luck before walking away.

Walter tries to get in touch with Sir Shenton Thomas. When using the phone, he hears someone saying “every man must die” but he doesn’t understand that. Monty manages to get the singing sisters to the boat and their vehicle is loaded onto it. Brendan catches up with Matthew and Vera as they wait to get on the boat. Brendan believes he can help by taking drastic action. He watches as his dog, the human condition, rushes onto the boat. There is a mistake with Vera’s paper since they’ve used Vera as her last name and that means she’ll have to wait much longer to get on the boat. Matthew pleads with the man to stamp it and tells him it is a life or death situation but the boat prepares to leave without them. Matthew tries to get Vera onto the boat but it is too late.

She gets hurt during the chaos so Matthew carries her to safety. She tells him she is fine but would like to go to sleep. Walter finally gets in touch with the governor’s office but he isn’t allowed to talk to Shenton. He tells them he has a proposition that he wants to put forward. He explains he has strong connections with the people at Mitsubishi and he would like to arrange through them permission to export his rubber to a non-belligerent nation. He suggests Mexico or Portugal. He is shocked to learn that the line has been disconnected. He gets angry and struggles to get in touch with the governor. Then, he hears something outside and looks through the door as the episode ends.

 

The Singapore Grip Review

I really wish The Singapore Grip had been better and I think it could’ve been. Sadly, I never could get into this show and I normally love period dramas like this. This one just never could hold my attention or get me to sympathize with the main characters. I can’t say that I care anything about any of the main characters and truly care more about Brendan’s dog.

The show tried too hard to be humorous and that sadly took away from the seriousness of the situation the main characters faced. It really didn’t help that they decided to create some very obnoxious characters. I find it very difficult to like any of them although Matthew and Vera aren’t horrible.

Unfortunately, I think this is going to be one of the most forgettable shows of 2020. Give it a few months and nobody will remember this one and that might be a good thing for everyone involved. This episode was all for naught considering nobody got on the boat despite trying all episode. It scores a 6 out of 10. Previous recaps of The Singapore Grip are available on Reel Mockery.