The first time I mentioned that I was 'thinking about [watching] Serangoon Road', someone on twitter replied quickly with something around the lines of 'Eh, this time of night, sure damn crowded.'
I wasn't thinking of chicken rice lah!
ABC1 and HBO Asia have teamed up to create a 1960s somewhat lolsy Noir detective drama. For people wondering why there are 'so many ang mohs' - well, if ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) is in it, then there will be an Aussie main character. You guys just need to live in Australia during the Olympics to understand this. I think if it was just Singaporean ethnic characters all the way, ABC1 wouldn't agree to the partnership. Besides, I kinda like Hany's character.
IDK if an Australian audience would really enjoy the show, though - I heard it hasn't been doing well, ratings wise. I mean, like that part where Su Ling calls Harrison a 'buaya'... my mum and I loled, but I don't think a non-Singaporean/Malaysian would laugh...?
Some further background: my mum is visiting me in Melbourne, so I decided to watch the show with her for the luls. She has a Peranakan Chinese heritage, she lived through the time period in the show, -and- she's in the shipping business so that throwaway comment Frank made in s01e05 amused her. The entire show amuses her. I think she's gotten addicted to it... she wants me to dl the show and bring it home during Christmas... D: I did raise the 'There seems to be a lot of ang mohs in this show?' point with her and she just shrugged. 'That time also like that.'
Having MI6 AND the CIA around might be really stretching artistic license, but hey, it's a Noir show... and besides, I appreciate the effort, because I'm a shallow person with a short attention span, TV-wise, and semi-spy elements are good for said shallow attention spans.
As to my dad, his only comments through his attempt to watch s01e04 were: "Eh, last time where got wear so much make up?" and then when the title sequence started, "Wah, finish already?" and when it was explained that it was a title sequence, "Why so long one?" He then dozed off after the riot scenes and woke up in time to laugh at Hany's Mandarin. :( Eh... it's pretty good lah...
There are some parts in the show where the writing and the characters kinda make me cringe (I really, really dislike Claire) but on the whole, it has been hilarious so far, whether intentionally or not. Joan Chen is awesome. Alaric Tay is hilarious, Chin Han is great, as well as Sinister Red Dragon Grandfather... I love Pamelyn and Hany's character is slowly growing on me. The CIA character is amusing, if only because I still know a parental unit who strongly disapproved of their daughter getting married to an 'ang moh', even up to the week before the marriage.
Final side note: My uncle was in the police during the gang/bus riot era, and his police stories are great. Real life is always stranger than fiction. (I got him to watch the trailer and he called me from Singapore: "Eh... they always make things more dramatic lah!" No, uncle, your stories are even more dramatic ok).
Unpopular opinion: I ship Harrison and Su Ling (lol). All the Peranakan Inappropriate Partner drama, imo. Other than said friend with Disapproving Parents, I also had a cousin on that side of the family who was disowned for marrying a British man. Serious business.
