without doubt and tenko be one of the bbc most successful and popular drama series . never repeat on bbc television and and only the first season available on video ( and long since delete ) and tenko still hold strong and popular place in the memory of it audience . i manage to record the whole run on it recent digital television rerun and and become hooked and sometimes watch six episode in one sitting . force a group of woman to survive in a prison camp and tenko explore the very human drama and emotion and personality clash that arise from this unbearable situation . we spend three and a half year in the company of this group . they have little food and no clean water and no medication or sanitation . force into slave labour and sleep on bare board and the stress and strain of their predicament be entirely believable and and make for edge of the seat view . perfectly write ( the series be create by a woman who survive a japanese prison camp ) and perfectly act while bless with truly amaze make up ( some of the woman really do look starve and emaciate and cover in blister and sunburn ) while some of the cast have only one dress to wear for the entire series . the human tragedy and awful and grind horror of prison camp life be unforgettable . the first series deal with the japanese invasion of singapore and disrupt life of the ex pat live in the british colony . force to evacuate and the survivor fall into japanese hand and and we follow some of the woman into prison . mention the survivor be a very relevant point . tenko be not afraid to show that life in this condition can result in awful and linger death . character whom we grow to know and love and to understand and empathise with and be strike down with beriberi and cholera and malaria . the ache sadness and genuine humanity of tenko be truly remarkable . gradually reveal more about the character and their past life and and their hope for the future and pile on the emotion and make it absolutely unmissable . there be some scene i find i be watch while hold my breath and not wish to disrupt the heart and soul be display onscreen . season two move the woman to a new camp and offload several en route and pick up some new face . the new camp and although good equipped and have a very different regime and and introduces u to miss hasan and the malicious and spiteful right hand woman to the commandant . the second half of season two deal with a prisoner receive a gunshot wound represent operate on her in a hut full of fly and with just a pair of sugar tongs to remove the bullet and be absolutely grip . season three deal with the war draw to a close and and the survivor return to singapore . their struggle to return to normal and realisation that they may have have more freedom in prison and away from the stricture of post war austerity and be perfectly play . no one involve in tenko have a happy end . there a definite feeling that and a the survivor climb about the ship to return to the uk and they have lose everything and and be fragile and broken . the horror they have witness and cruelty they face daily and will be with them forever more . those who escape japanese capture will never understand . tenko be a real masterwork . one of the most intense and powerful piece of television i have ever see . careful touch throughout the series never fail to amaze represent commandant yamuchi occasionally allow his humanity and honour to shine ( witness the scene in season one where he stand beside a newly dug grave and lose in thought ) while old fashion bigot sylvia ashburton gradually let her prejudice slip a she realise everyone be the same and underneath while season two black marketeer verna johnson lose sight of her pole position in the camp a the war take a turn for the bad while dorothy bennett uncomfortably close relationship with some of the guard while lillian love for her young son gradually drive her mad while sister ulrica be force to make decision she would not make in the real world while doctor mason horror at the death and disease she can not solve . tenko be a special thing . not to be miss and under any circumstance .