DB7

No, it's dying on its bum. The last two or three episodes have just washed over me with total indifference. As someone said earlier, whilst Glenister is a big character and anti-hero, Simm was the emotional soul of the show and without him it's dreadfully shallow. There's also not the same thread of Drake's reason for being there running through each episode.

I've been watching the LoM reruns on Bravo and they painfully expose the gulf in quality. Ashes could have worked but maybe they were too quick to put it into production; no doubt to cash-in the success of LoM.

batman

Cheers DB7. I think you are probably right about the rush to get it on screen. Shame.

I wish I had claws.

Moor Larkin

I only made it as far as about episode 4 of the first series of Life on Mars, then got bored with the whole idea. I tuned in to Ashes to Ashes because the one thing I had enjoyed was Gene Hunt. I'm still watching, although my attention did wander in the episode before the last one, which was a bit 'preachy'. I'm finding the Alex Drake character very enjoyable, far more so than the original bloke, who I tired of. Gene Hunt has been a bit downplayed in this series so far (but then he is supposed to be ten years older) but he came into the last episode quite strongly.

So far as the 'secret' of the show is concerned, I've got my own theory, but there was a great little exchange at the end of the last episode:

Gene: So, I'm just here as a figment of your imagination?
Alex: Mmm. Yes
Gene: That'll do for me Bolly

(Alex's nickname has been derived from Bollinger champagne and there is simmering chemistry between them)

dremble wedge

It seems to be doing okay in the ratings.

I find it undemanding entertainment much as LoM was.

Miss Guided

Oh Dear...
I wanted to like it.. I still secretly do – but it is no Life on Mars, and it seems to have been written by the same comedy team that wrote ‘Love They Neighbour ‘and ‘My Hero’.

Its accuracy to the era, the social and political climate is as subtle as a brick balloon; whilst Keeley Hawes perm seems to drop and rise as quickly as her heaving chest.

I guess A to A is written by 20 something’s whose only reference to the 80’s was that they were once a twinkle in their fathers eye (who was probably a BBC producer for Songs of Praise).

There’s nearly as many tabs smoked as on The Mad Men. At least I can now sell off my original 80’s clothing on eBay.

For a Sci-Fi drama – I knew I had to suspended belief – but this is talking the garibaldi.
Apart from that. I love it. x

harrypalmer

I think for me the whole show looks too modern. Thinking back to 1981, and looking at period programmes and news footage, that whole period still looked much as it did in the 70s. LOM at least had the kitch feel about it along with a healthy dose of squalour. Of course the whole thing is supposed to be somebody's dream/nightmare....

John Bass

Ashes is growing on me, I struggled at first with the concept but yes I do enjoy the music and am now prepared to ignore Alex reminding me every few minutes that she's not really there. I guess they rushed it as well but it's still enjoyable stuff.

samkydd

The second series of Life on Mars was cashing-in on the first and not as good. This Ashes to Ashes series is even more about cashing-in on the veiwers' love for the pre-PC era and gung-ho police characters like Gene Hunt!

In the absence of anything worth watching that is new and isn't an ancient repeat ofThe Sweeney, The Professionals, Randall and Hopkirk, The Prisoner and Minder, this series is quite a good comedy but fairly predictable in its non-PC humour! If people want to go back to non-PC times then just do it, don't rely on time travel TV drama just to disguise the fact that we all secretly like to have a pop at minorities and women!

"...the chairman of Littlewoods stores made a Keynote speech!"

Steve Crook

But it is set in London. Moving from London to Manchester is like going at least 5 years into the past

More seriously, it was more the case back then that as you travelled further out from London it was like going back in time. That's what I found when I spent a month travelling around the UK in the late 1970s.

Things like the New Romantics and the associated music and fashion started in London and gradually rippled out around the country and abroad. It wasn't until the end of the 1980s that things like the Madchester scene started.

Sure, there are some anachronisms, mainly that Audi. But generally they've got it pretty close.

Steve

samkydd

Sheffield, Birmingham and Manchester had a big influence on the New Romantic fashion and music scene as I recall. Human League came from Sheffield and were massive in 1981, I think Joy Division were Mancs, Duran Duran came from The Rum Runner nightclub in Birmingham and they were New Romantics. I think their first major TV exposure was as guest newcomers at a televised music awards show when they performed Rio back in 1980 or 81.

The Audi on Ashes to Ashes wasn't an anachronism, it was a Quattro! Unfortunately they used a 1983 model rather than the correct 1981 one.

"...the chairman of Littlewoods stores made a Keynote speech!"

Freddy

Philip Glenister on the Andrew Marr Politics Show this morning mentioned that there will be another series of A2A

Freddy

"What I owe you Colonel Lawrence, is beyond evaluation."