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Tenko

1981

Seasons & Episodes

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EP1 Go Down Fighting Oct 07, 1984

1 JULY 1945: Two years have passed and the women are in another camp, this one in the site of a former prison. Times have been hard and many have died - including Blanche, Verna, Daisy and even little Suzy. New faces include brassy, tough Maggie Thorpe and 16 year old Alice Courtenay, who lost her mother in the camp. The war has turned and the Allies are finally defeating the Japanese. Christina sees a document in Yamauchi's office, giving orders for the women to be executed, so they all gather weapons to defend themselves with should the guards try it. When a surprise Tenko is called, the women fear the worst and prepare to fight: to their shock, Yamauchi announces that the war is over and that they are now free women. He says that they will, however, remain under Japanese control until the allies get there. Meanwhile, Maggie and a mob prepare to attack Sato.

EP2 Wealth of Stores Oct 14, 1984

20 AUGUST 1945: Marion stops Maggie and her mob from attacking Sato and stops Kate taking down the Japanese flag. She explains to the women how things will work now. Yamauchi reveals the wealth of stores hidden away from the women, to their horror. Kate, with Maggie in tow, goes AWOL for a few hours to see Tom at the men's camp but they are stopped en route and warned not to continue by a male POW, who tells them it is too dangerous just yet. Maggie and the POW have sex in a truck. But next day, Yamauchi arranges for the women to visit the men's camp. 19 SEPTEMBER 1945: A bunch of Australian soldiers finally arrive at the camp and are horrified by what they find. The women are told they will be leaving for Singapore next day. Alice is mistaken for a boy by the soldiers. Sato kills himself, watched by Dorothy and Joss. The next morning, Yamauchi bids Marion farewell and apologises for everything. Watched by Yamauchi, the women leave the camp for freedom.

EP3 Acclimatization Oct 21, 1984

The women are met in Singapore by RAPWI officer Phyllis Bristow, who take their details, She wants to transfer Kate and Mrs Van Meyer to other groups, but they refuse and are left where they are. Alice learns that her father is still alive. They are all taken to their new quarters, at Raffles. The luxury of the hotel and the richness of the food stuns the women, as it has been some years since they have had it so good. Marion is approached by a colonel who is gathering evidence on war criminals and Kate hands Dr Trier's notes over to the medical corps. A party is held at Raffles to welcome them all back to the land of the living, where Mrs Van Meyer flirts with a colonel. Marion awaits news about Clifford and Bea runs out of the party in tears, unable to cope with everything.

EP4 Marion is Wanted Oct 28, 1984

Still looking for Clifford, Marion is asked to give evidence against Yamauchi. Joss meets up with Stephen Wentworth, an old friend of Monica's (the women she spent most of the series looking for), who has opened a center to help the natives. Kate learns Tom is in hospital and has TB. Marion returns home to her house, and finds it in perfect order, having been taken over by the Japs for most of the war. Dorothy's house, meanwhile, has been trashed by the locals. Stephen wants Joss to help him at the center. Dorothy and Maggie are befriended by Jake Haulter, who seems to have an uncanny (and probably black-market) knack for procuring things. Marion gets an urgent message to go back to the hotel, and fears the worst about Clifford.

EP5 Scars Nov 05, 1984

Marion is reunited with Clifford, who is at the hotel waiting for her, and tells her Ben is okay. Clifford reveals he is in charge of leading the hunt for war criminals, and intends to start by tracking down and hanging Yamauchi. Bea, still furious about Yamauchi withholding medicines, agrees to testify against him. She also learns that she is slowly going blind. Meanwhile, Marion is annoyed as Clifford tries to wrap her up in cotton wool and keep her away from the others. More internees arrive at Raffles and reveal that Nellie died just a few months from the end of the war. Mrs Van Meyer gossips about Dorothy's involvement with Shinya. Some of the new arrivals at Raffles bully Dorothy for being a collaborator; they chase her down a corridor and she runs right into Sister Ulrica.

EP6 Diary Nov 12, 1984

Sister Ulrica catches up with the other women and counsels Dorothy, who finds out her mother is dead and leaves to go back to England. Clifford and Marion have drifted apart badly: he doesn't want to hear about the camps, which is all she wants to talk about. Mrs Van Meyer learns Mr Van Meyer is presumed dead and she cannot get to any of his money, leaving her penniless. Marion is furious at Clifford for reading her diary and he realises the other internees know her better now than he ever could. Jake offers Maggie a place to stay. Bea tells Marion that she is going blind and is conned into helping out at the center by Joss. Jake gets Joss free medicine for the center.

EP7 Evidence Nov 19, 1984

The women start being questioned by the military to give evidence against Yamauchi and co for war crimes: Bea flips out, Mrs Van Meyer tells lots of lies and Maggie gives emotional testimony about Blanche's death. Joss is arrested by the police for being with Christina's uncle. Clifford tells Marion that Yamauchi is in Singapore. Stephen announces he is staying in Singapore to run a center; he wants Joss to come back and help him run it. Marion refuses to testify against Yamauchi; so do Christina, who goes to visit him, and Sister Ulrica. Everyone begins doubting things they said and did in the camps, including Sister Ulrica and Mrs Van Meyer.

EP8 The Visit Nov 26, 1984

Kate is distraught when Tom dies and seeks comfort from Sister Ulrica, who comes to the funeral even though Tom was a protestant. Kate also decides she definitely wants to become a doctor. Marion visits Yamauci in prison, with Jake's help in pulling strings. He tells her he knew about her diary and let Christina steal the paper for it. She apologises that it will be used to prosecute him. He tells her that he would rather die than go to prison - it is the more honourable way out. Bea has to explain the facts of life to Alice after a boy gets a little too friendly with her. Maggie realises that she is pregnant. Clifford and Marion fight over her visiting Yamauchi and she says she doesn't know if they have a future together.

EP9 On the Rocks Dec 03, 1984

The women all prepare to go home, and say goodbye to Alice as she sets sail for England. The Jeffersons' marriage is clearly in trouble as Clifford sees how much Marion has changed since she has been in the camps. Jake tells Maggie that he knows she is pregnant and she is torn over what to do about the baby. She eventually decides to go back to England as well. Christina decides to stay in Singapore and become a teacher. Mrs Van Meyer learns, to her horror, that Mr Van Meyer is still alive and tells Marion she doesn't know what to do now, that she never loved him. Joss feels under the weather and is admitted to hospital after being mugged.

EP10 Sayonara Dec 10, 1984

The women all prepare to leave Singapore to go back home, agreeing to have a reunion at Raffles in 1950, exactly five years after they separate. Joss dies in hospital. Bea agrees to stay on in Singapore and help Stephen run the centre. Sister Ulrica goes to visit Yamauchi, who tells her he knows he will be hanged. Maggie agrees to go and stay with Dorothy in London. Everyone reminisces about absent friends: Joss, Rose, Blanche and all the others who died, and then say their goodbyes as they all go their separate ways. Marion realises the experience is finally over as she sails for home.
8.5| 0h30m| NR| en
Synopsis

Based on real-life experiences, Tenko remains one of the most fondly remembered and acclaimed BBC dramas of the early 1980s. It follows a group of women, formerly comfortably well-off ex-pats living in Singapore, as they are captured by the Japanese during World War II.

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Reviews

Inclubabu Plot so thin, it passes unnoticed.
Supelice Dreadfully Boring
Neive Bellamy Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.
Phillipa Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.
chrissso Many of the BBC WW2 television series from 1970 to 1990 leave something to be desired. Shows such as Secret Army, Island at War, Wish Me luck or Enemy at the Door certainly illustrate unique historical settings and perpetuate the WW2 narrative, but the way they were produced is a problem. They feel low budget, stagey, over dramatic, slow paced and frequently utilize annoying close up camera shots of character faces. 1981's Tenko is no exception, suffering from all of the aforementioned, but there's something about Tenko that grows on you. Simply put it is the story arc and its resulting character development.The series features a very compelling cast of characters and the journey these women travel is quite remarkable; from the posh life of a British colony … to the fall of Singapore in February 1942 … through four years in Japanese POW camps … to sudden freedom and the effort to fit back into society after the most devastating war of all time … to their reunion five years later … their characters and relationships are developed magnificently.It is not an easy watch. At times it is a full on chick flick filled with dramatics, small talk and female problems. The 30 plus episodes are filled with desperation, suffering and tragedy but the journey and historical context are well worth the effort. Noteworthy is the fact the series illustrates the British colonial system in its fading glory as well as the post war power vacuum that it created (communist power grab). The series shows us an amazing and unpredictable journey of a group randomly thrown together, under the worst possible conditions. It teaches of the cruel mortality of war (note Rose's death). Finally it shows us how such an experience shape characters and friendships and life decisions for generations. It is a remarkable series! 9 of 10 stars!POST: Other films addressing the Japanese POW camps; Changi, Three Came Home, Paradise Road, The Railway Men and Unforgiven
tigress_abr I have been going crazy for the past 5 years while trying to find this older show and I just found it. I watched this show back when I was in high school and became really drawn to the lives of these women trying to survive. I thought I would never remember what the title of this show was but I refused to give up looking. This show left a lasting memory in my mind, just like my memories of watching *M*A*S*H* reruns as a teenager and other great shows. If anyone likes older shows with military and watching people try to survive a living hell, then this show is wonderful to see! I used to have to sneak watching it because of the strong content in it and my parents wanted me raised in a more "sheltered" lifestyle but I am a survivor of tragedy in my own life and could never forget what these women went through just to live through to the next day. I know it's just a show but even a show can remind you to follow your heart, keep a strong will, and overcome anything that is thrown at you and I feel that this was an excellent "foght for survival" story.
suomi_metal Ages ago my mother got me addicted to 'Tenko'-- both of us being fascinated with WWII, and the show being just wonderful, it was easy to regret missing an episode! I've been dying to find it on video or DVD, and though I haven't seen it in years, I remember it vividly.I have nothing bad to say about the program in question, except of course that it is extremely depressing, though of course a show taking place in a prison camp could be nothing less. Beautifully acted and written, 'Tenko' was a sensitive and memorable program. What I loved about 'Tenko' was that it focused not only upon the daily strains and traumas of women in Japanese prison camps, but the writing also delved into their personal lives as well.If you can get your hands on 'Tenko,' don't pass up the chance (and for God's sakes, tell me where to find a copy!).
eb999 I watched this whole series on TV and have most of it on tape and think it's the finest, most realistic and most involving series about prisoners under the Japanese during WWII. I've seen almost every film and tv series made on this subject and TENKO is the best!The actors are consistently wonderful and their circumstances truly harrowing. Anyone who is interested in what prisoners-of-war (and in this case, particularly women) went through will love this show.I just wish it were available on tape in the US. My tapes were made from television and the quality is poor. I would buy this in a minute if it came in the format used here.

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