MI6 portrayed in worse light than CIA?
Is there an anti-British sentiment at work here? Or were MI6 likely more scurrilous than the CIA in Malaysia at this time (bearing in mind that Singapore was still part of Malaysia in 1964).
shareI'm not sure I'd say they were being portrayed as more scrupulous then the CIA. I think really the message they were going for was: The old guard (M16), reminding the new comer to the region (CIA), that they are still very much in the game.
As you pointed out it's set in 1964 - Britain has just pulled out of Singapore but clearly wants to maintain some foothold. I think if the series had continued they would have started showing more of the CIA's dark side. Especially as they had set up Conrad to have a Saigon assignment.
Those comments are much appreciated - certainly gives it some further shape in my mind.
I suppose I just found the calculated treachery of Major Miller pretty hard to stomach, and found him easy to dislike intensely - and wondered if there was an anti-British feeling there.
Overall I found it an excellent watch, especially as someone who is quite familar with contemporary Singapore but also spent part of my childhood in Malaysia in the dying days of Britain's presence. Certainly a show I will watch again!