It's the final episode of this current series of Ashes To Ashes. Yes, that's right, a second series is being considered, despite all the criticism that the show has garnered.
To put it politely, the critics and the public haven't been overly enthralled with the Life On Mars spin-off. The show started reasonably, but quickly veered into OTT pastiche, with DCI Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister) becoming a cartoon parody of his former self. Every week we had some sort of issue - women's rights, rape, prostitutes' rights, Aids, gay rights, ageism... the list seemed never-ending and it began to feel like the programme was simply preaching. And frankly those constant 1980s references - Timothy White's, the Breville toasted sandwich maker, the music and so on - over-hammered the point home that we were in the decade between the 70s and the 90s. It was unnecessary; we got the message in the first episode.
And as the carping continued, Glenister even had to go on the defensive, speaking up for his co-star Keeley Hawes, who had been criticised for her poor acting as DI Alex Drake. She's certainly been rather wooden in the series, although thankfully in the last few episodes she's stopped flaunting those off-the-shoulder numbers, somewhat inappropriate attire for a police officer of her standing.
In tonight's season finale, things crack on at a pace as the murder of Alex's parents in a car bomb draws near. It's an event that changed Alex's life, and she believes that if she can save her parents, she'll get home to her daughter in 2008. Or, possibly not, knowing the twists and turns that the series has taken.
On a more amusing note, Hunt is in great form. Lord Scarman (Geoffrey Palmer) is due to visit the station, and the self-proclaimed Gene Genie will stop at nothing to give a good impression... Paul Strange
Unfortunately Ashes To Ashes isn't on the air any time soon.
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February 21st - 11:27amLawrence Harris said...
The original series ended with Sam discovering that he was actually conscious in the 1970s and that the 2006 was his coma period. This was an excellent twist although it left more questions unanswered. Why does the Radio Tiimes say that he 'killed himself' when in fact he did not!
Is there a soundtrack to the series please let me know.
February 9th - 1:40pmdavid jones said...
I did mail before but got no reply; not to worry. Loved the first episode- I was only really confused once, when Layton appeared just the same in 1981 as he did in 2008. Am I missing something? I wish I had aged this way!!!
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