British Comedy Guide

Ashes To Ashes Page 10

I loved Life on Mars and I thought season 2 of Ashes To Ashes, though not as good, showed great potential. In my opinion, this season has been really poor though. The fact that they wouldn't have followed Chaz when she left the pub is just one of several plot holes, and then when searching for her they didn't even bother splitting up. And what the hell is with Ray? Episode 1 he has changed and shown real character development, then episode 2 he's back to his idiotic and bigoted self, in fact worse than ever before. The end was intriguing though, I too noticed the Life on Mars music, and with the Chaz shouting murder sequence and the investigating officer seeming happy that she was leaving only adds to the intrigue. And who is that bloody dead policeman? I will keep watching, but I'm hoping for a vast improvement, and if it turns out that Hunt killed Tyler I'll be more than a tad miffed. On the positive side, Gene saying "Go back to fluffy land, woman" had me in absolute stitches, the way he said it was brilliant, too few lines like this though, Life on Mars was full of 'em.

I can only say you must have watched a different two episdoes to me!

Quote: Mickeza @ April 10 2010, 3:00 PM BST

The fact that they wouldn't have followed Chaz when she left the pub is just one of several plot holes, and then when searching for her they didn't even bother splitting up.

I thought it was unrealistic too, but for all we know, Alex will look back on these very inconsistencies in order to prove that none of these events are real.

The suspension of disbelief becomes more complicated in such drama, where there is effectively a story within a story. If it all takes place in Alex's mind, then why don't we accept that anything goes? But we don't, we want it to have some sort of a logic.

And what about when she is imagining that she is asleep? Should we accept her imaginary dreams any differently to her imagined reality?

One thing that is clear, is that the whole production is a triumph of imaginative thinking, in these days where so much TV is bland and formulaic. We are witnessing a classic unfolding.

You never saw characters away from Sam in the superior LOM as it allowed the idea that they were figments of his imagination who couldn't exist apart from him. In addition this one was a clear copy of the way superior Swingers episode from LOM.

No Sam inferior show.

Quote: sootyj @ April 10 2010, 5:07 PM BST

You never saw characters away from Sam in the superior LOM as it allowed the idea that they were figments of his imagination who couldn't exist apart from him. In addition this one was a clear copy of the way superior Swingers episode from LOM.

No Sam inferior show.

It's not the 100% classic Life On Mars was, but it's a great show. Actually, if the first series hadn't been a touch ropey at times, maybe it would in fact be thought of as highly. Series two, and three so far, have been brilliant.

No they weren't.

Quote: sootyj @ April 10 2010, 5:40 PM BST

No they weren't.

My mistake.

"Where's the most unusual place that a man has ever made love to you?"
"Erm ... " (long pause) " ... probably my bottom."

Laughing out loud

Well I don't know about everyone else, but that was the best hour of television I've seen on British telly for quite some time. That scene in the house toward the end was acted brilliantly by Ray (Dean Andrews?) and some of Gene's lines were back to their original Life on Mars brilliance. Plus the use of music was brilliant. And they returned to the Ray characterization that they started with in episode 1. The only thing which is bugging me slightly is the way Gene isn't exploding Gene Genie style on Jim, but I suspect we'll see that at some stage.

Yes, very good again; though from the moment you saw that firemans face, and it was him off Eastenders, it was obvious he was going to be the culprit!

Seems it was Ray's turn this time to hear the Life On Mars music! I wonder where all that's heading . . ?

Keats is wonderfully malevolent.

Quote: Matthew Stott @ April 16 2010, 10:47 PM BST

Keats is wonderfully malevolent.

Agreed, Daniel Mays has really done well in the roll. He's really quite scary in a understated way. Excellent.

He was good in Hustle recently too. One to watch in the future.

He was great in Funland too.

Don't know that.

Quote: Nil Putters @ April 16 2010, 11:00 PM BST

Don't know that.

Image

From a few years back, Co-written by The League Of Gents Jeremy Dyson.

Hmm, I may seek this out.

Thanks.

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