Tenko (TV Series) - Third Series

Third Series

Between the second and third series, a year passed. The controller of BBC1 decided to axe Tenko at the height of its popularity at the end of the second series (it was the BBC's then-highest rated drama programme). This was believed to be due to the fact that women were engines of the story with no aspect of men represented. Michael Grade then assumed the role of controller and immediately re-instated the programme which led to there being a third series.

The third series opens with the liberation of the prisoners-of-war, amidst the end of the war and the return of Singapore to British control. All of the returning POWs make a difficult adjustment to civilian life, showing the mostly ill, emaciated women receiving comparatively little counselling, returning and essentially being expected to carry on with life as normal, while their deceased comrades largely remain buried in the camps deep in the Sumatran jungle.

The first episode starts with a shot of the graveyard in the new camp, displaying the grave markers for Verna Johnson, Daisy Robertson and Blanche Simmons, who has just died of beri-beri (in real life Louise Jameson was appearing in Bergerac and could not appear in the show and the character Maggie Thorpe was created as a carbon copy of Blanche Simmons). No details were provided as to the deaths of Verna Johnson or Daisy Robertson. Maggie Thorpe (Elizabeth Mickery) and Alice Courtenay (Cindy Shelley) are prisoners who had already been imprisoned in the new camp and befriended the existing prisoners.

The women have been in their new camp, a former prison, for close to two years. Christina Campbell still works for Major Yamauchi and Captain Sato is in charge of the camp. Beatrice Mason's eyesight is now much worse and Kate Norris is, in effect, performing nearly all of the hospital duties. The camp is buzzed by Allied planes. Christina sees an order ordering the execution of all prisoners when the Allies' final push comes and the women plan resistance, stating they have nothing left to lose. Fighting teams are armed with stones, and the women are nervous about their future. When Tenko is called, the women are lined up, with all the soldiers in front of them instead of scattered about as normal. The women are ready to fight. The initial part of Yamauchi's announcement makes them think they are about to be shot, but he announces Japan's surrender instead.

Upon liberation the store cupboard is opened by Major Yamauchi to the women, revealing food, clothing, blankets, sheets, butter, vitamins and most importantly medicines that had been held back and had cost many women their lives. Yamauchi explains that they weren't sure how long things would need to last, which is why the contents of the storeroom were withheld. While the vitamins and medicines help some of the sick, some still remain ill or die.

When the British soldiers arrive in the women's camp, they find the women's history appalling. The Japanese records are somewhat confusing, due to the moves and number of deaths. Women come back from the men's camp that they have been allowed to visit with news that twice as many have died. Before the women leave for Singapore, Maggie and Joss witness Sato commit seppuku.

By episode three the women have returned to Singapore and later are joined by Sister Ulrica.

Dorothy and Maggie befriend local businessman Jake Haulter (Damien Thomas), Joss is re-acquainted with an old friend, Stephen Wentworth (Preston Lockwood,) and Marion's marriage to Clifford (Jonathan Newth) — now a brigadier — suffers because of his expectation that she would return to the life of a docile army wife.

The viewers also learn that Lillian Cartland and Bobby survived and were sent to England immediately to avoid any trouble with the other women, and that Nellie Keane died three months before liberation.

The third series follows Clifford's work in bringing war crimes charges against the Japanese, including a personal vendetta to indict Yamauchi for his role in imprisoning Marion and the others. Because of her unique relationship with Yamauchi, Marion and the commandant came to a grudging respect for one another through the turbulent events of the first two series; Marion (as well as Christina and Ulrica) refuses to testify against him, further estranging Clifford. The women also suffer one final loss, as Joss Holbrook dies after being attacked. The series ends with the leave-taking of the friends who have been through so much together, with a promise that 'no matter where they are in the world' they will meet up again in five years' time.