Euro Cult Movie Forum => British & European TV => Topic started by: Jonny on 20 Jan 2008 - 13:46
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From the BBC press release...
After a gripping finale to the critically-acclaimed and multi award-winning Life On Mars on BBC One, Kudos, Monastic Productions and the BBC are delighted to announce the next chapter – Ashes To Ashes.
DCI Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister) is back but he's no longer the self-styled "Sheriff of Manchester".
Flanked by his faithful sidekicks, Ray Carling (Dean Andrews) and Chris Skelton (Marshall Lancaster), and drawn to the action and intrigue of the London Met, Gene turns his attentions to taking on the "southern nancy" criminal scum.
However, Gene does not expect to be thrown together with sexy, intelligent, DCI Alex Drake.
Single mother to daughter Molly, Alex has rapidly risen through the ranks of the Met and, in the modern world of 2008, skilfully uses psychological profiling to capture suspects. When Alex and her daughter are kidnapped she makes a daring attempt at escape, resulting in a horrific accident.
Alex suddenly finds herself in 1981 interacting with familiar characters, not just from her own life-time, but also from the detailed reports logged by none other than Sam Tyler, which Alex has previously spent months pouring over.
Alex is ripped from her current world of sexual equality and respect in 2008 and finds herself opposite an arrogant fellow DCI in a Two Tone, New Romantic Eighties London with a soundtrack of Adam Ant, Roxy Music and The Human League ringing in her ears.
Alex finds some of Gene's team has dispersed yet others, loyal as ever, are still in tow.
Now a technological whizz-kid in the squad's surveillance team, DC Chris Skelton has clearly moved with the times, along with a tight-permed DS Ray Carling who's keen to experience London's nightlife.
Frustrated by each other's stubbornness, the friction between Alex and Gene heats up. However, as the two titans collide, it becomes apparent there is more than just a professional tension emerging
Full press release here (http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2007/04_april/11/ashes.shtml)
I noticed trailers for this have started to show up on the BBC and it looks fucking wicked! I can't wait to see this.
:P
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Let's hope it lives up to expectations. It would be a shame if it's just a shoddy knock-off.
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Yep, looking forward to this. ::)
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Yeah, I must admit I'm pretty excited by the prospect of Gene and the gang down in London in the early 80's. It was around this time that I first started buying music and thinking about fashion (if you can call the 80's fashionable :-* ) so it'll be a nostalgia trip for me regardless.
There's a clip doing the rounds on TV at the moment that shows the three of them (Hunt, Carling and Skelton) speeding down the Thames in a motor boat all wearing shades and cocking uzi's. Looks spot on.
I really hope they don't mess it up.
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I loved LIFE ON MARS, and I hope this is as good. However, I'm not getting my hopes up too high, as I really don't want to be disappointed by ASHES TO ASHES.
The character of Alex Drake seems a bit of a sop to PC conventions, as if the producers are tying to counter some of the criticisms that were made against LIFE ON MARS, deciding to make the protagonist of the new series a woman so that she'll be able to counterbalance the attitudes of the male characters.
Still, I don't want t pre-judge the show, because it could still prove to be as good as LIFE ON MARS. Fingers crossed, eh :D
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WEhat Kev said. I loved LIFE ON MARS it was the business; the best UK drama in eons, so I really hope ASHES TO ASHES isn't a rushed, bodge-job.
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Not sure it's a 'rush job'... 'Life On Mars' finished in April last year. A year between shows doesn't seem rushed to me, more like exploiting a good thing! ::)
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TV does move a lot faster than film productions and I do hear what you say, but as much as I'm looking forward to seeing the new show, I'm a little apprehensive too.
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BBC1 at 9pm on Thursday Feb 7 2008
(http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/1441/tower300zb4.jpg)
Let's see what the shandy drinking southern poofs make of this then!
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Really can't wait for this...
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This is up to pre-order on Amazon (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ashes-Complete-BBC-1/dp/B001265O6G/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=gateway&qid=1201712359&sr=8-1) with a 12th May release date.
Swapping the Ford Cortina for an Audi Quattro, DCI Gene Hunt rolls up his sleeves and embraces the Eighties in the sequel to Life On Mars. ::)
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I'm booking my seat on the sofa for this one...seriously looking forward to it! ::)
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Less than two days to go...
... and I can't bloody wait! ::)
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First thoughts on episode 1?
I was hesitant at first and though it wasn't spot on I did enjoy it a lot, laughed out loud a couple of times...
"You in leather, holding that... gives me the horn"
Thinking about it this morning I'm liking it more and more the Alex Drake character is good, she's warming up to be quite a funny character, I loved the bit where she was rattling on about that drug baron being her 'Destiny' and suddenly realised what an arse she was sounding. Great stuff, hopefully it'll all find it's feet and keep on getting better and better.
Any other thoughts people?
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I enjoyed it, but I sincerely hope it's not just going to be a re-run of LIFE ON MARS. There just has to be some sort of different angle to this one. Is she too in a coma? It's all rather predictable if that's the case. I hope the show goes off on a new tangent and confounds us.
Also, with LIFE ON MARS, that was set way back in the early 70s so memory of then is rather vague (to me anyhow), but I remember the early 80s very well - I was a regular clubber and gig goer then - so it's not so much of a mystery to me. Will it hold up I wonder? Perhaps it's intended for a younger audience?
But saying that, yes I did enjoy the first episode, and as we get more acquainted with DI Alex Drake I'm sure we'll become more engrossed in the series.
I just wish it was all my idea ;) The writers are clearly Bowie fans, and have struck gold, hence the London location and way bigger budget. Let's hope it doesn't get too glossy looking.
By the way, that Luigi's restaurant has me foxed. I used to go to a place just like that with the same mural. But where and when I can't remember.
Was also quite surreal seeing the irritating George and Zippy.
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Well, what did everyone else make of the first episode?
SOME SPOILERS:
Okay, I really wasn't sure what I was going to make of the new series; LIFE ON MARS was a brilliant show but ultimately self-contained and the prospect of a follow-up series really stank of being a cash-in. Knowing that the events of LIFE ON MARS were all but a figment of Sam Tyler's comatose mind didn't lend to the concept of a sequel featuring a new central character, IMHO...
So, ASHES TO ASHES begins with our new point of focus—DI Alex Drake (the gorgeous Keeley Hawes) doing the school run with her daughter when she's called to a hostage situation—which at only three minutes in, invites the audience to suspend its disbelief incredibly: not good—and within minutes is shot, left for dead and before you can hum the opening bars to a Bowie track, Drake awakes in 1981, dressed in an outfit that would do Cleopatra Jones proud. Within seconds, Drake finds herself becoming a hostage once again, though this time Gene Hunt and the boys are on hand to rescue her.
After being mistaken for a prostitute and affectionately named "Bolly Knickers" by hunt, it transpires that Scotland Yard had been expecting Drake and it isn't long before she's joining the boys on a mission to bring down London's biggest supplier of cocaine and heroin.
So, after a somewhat shaky start, ASHES TO ASHES settles into what we have come to expect from LIFE OIN MARS; a fish-out-of-water at odds with Gene Hunt and their new surroundings but the writers haven't been complacent. Rather than rehashing the premise of LIFE ON MARS, they've given an already post-modern concept a post-modern twist: Drake had been investigating Sam Tyler's case back in the present, so she understands the mechanics of her situation and is constantly trying to second-guess what's going to happen, rather than being completely bemused by the situation as Tyler had been. The benefit of hindsight is definitely the key factor of what is going to keep ASHES TO ASHES fresh. That and the fact it's set in the 80s...
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I wrote the above before I read Jonny and Marc's comments; glad you liked it fellas. I have a feeling that the series is going to be great; It became clear pretty early on that there was going to be enough intrigue (who was Layton talking to on the phone in 2008? Who killed Drake's parents in 1981? What's the significance of the Bowie-like clown and the flashbacks to Drake as a child? There are plenty of enigmas to keep us coming back for more.
Marc; I really liked the inclusion of Zippy and George. Usually, the site of them evokes some childhood feeling of contentment and safety but the characters were used in such a sinister way.
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Well, what did everyone else make of the first episode?
I was hesitant at first and though it wasn't spot on I did enjoy it a lot, laughed out loud a couple of times...
"You in leather, holding that... gives me the horn"
Thinking about it this morning I'm liking it more and more the Alex Drake character is good, she's warming up to be quite a funny character, I loved the bit where she was rattling on about that drug baron being her 'Destiny' and suddenly realised what an arse she was sounding. Great stuff, hopefully it'll all find it's feet and keep on getting better and better.
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I was a bit concerned about how Keeley Hawes would be playing Drake after seeing the trailer – the scene that had stuck in my mind from that was the one in which she recants the names of Hunt and his men before fainting and it looked terrible. I must say, she was great though... and really rather lovely.
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I thought she was really nice too. The scene where she walks into Luigi's and Roxy Music is playing was just great!
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She doesn't really do it for me - sorry chaps. Must be that dodgy barnet.
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If she overdosed on eye-liner and had a funny hair cut, you'd fucking love her, Marc. :-\
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I enjoyed it. Though I weren't too sure at first as the new woman grated on me a bit but as soon as Gene and the gang turned up in the Quattro I was happy. :-\
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I probably gonna get rinsed for this but i haven't even seen LIFE ON MARS (Well i did see one random episode once from the second series).
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You'd love it. Gene Hunt is like an Anglicised Maurizio Merli. Only more sexist and homophobic.
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So how's this one going so far for anyone who's been following it?
Not outstanding like 'Life On Mars' was so far for me... Entertaining? Yes. I like watching it.
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So how's this one going so far for anyone who's been following it?
Not outstanding like 'Life On Mars' was so far for me... Entertaining? Yes. I like watching it.
That's exactly how I feel, mate. It's enjoyable but not great. Would be a damn site worse without Glenister in it though.
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Yeah same for me. I'm enjoying it but it doesn't touch LIFE ON MARS.
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Last nights show was the best of the series without a doubt in my mind. It was funny seeing Ray pretending to be a bear!!!!!!!
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Only missed one episode of the series and liked what I saw though I didn't feel a whole hearted love for the show like I did with 'Life On Mars' - damn I LOVED that show!!!
You know what? After tonight's final episode of 'Ashes To Ashes' I actually felt some love, not the same love I felt for 'Life On Mars' but love all the same... Something gelled after seeing tonight's final episode.
I can't wait for the DVD boxset of series 1 of 'Ashes To Ashes'...
Damn, another year to wait for series 2...
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Last night's episode was definitely the best of the bunch, had a very intriguing storyline and was the first time I was actually moved by the show. When you saw Gene march over to the young Alex and pick her up, I was really overcome with emotion! Hahaha.
I thought the series on the whole was a little choppy in the beginning, and would go as far as to say that if it hadn't been for Hunt, Ray and Chris, it wouldn't have been very good at all, aside from the novelty value of the 80s setting. That said, it did get better as it progressed, and while never as good as LIFE ON MARS, it certainly became a worthy sequel. Bring on the second series. :P
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I'm with you guys. It started off a bit uneven and there was the odd duff episode but I can't say I didn't enjoy it. The last few episodes have been quite good, I thought, and the twist as to who was the car bomber was well done.
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It's just been announced that Harvey Keitel has been cast as Gene Hunt in the American remake series of LIFE ON MARS. Suddenly I'm actually interested in seeing this... or at least giving it a chance. The always reliable Michael Imperioli (Christopher in THE SOPRANOS) also stars.
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Did you never see the trailer for the US series Paul?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GBHvkoDnOE
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No, that's the first time I've seen it. It's funny because I read Colm Meaney was to play Hunt and he obviously did the pilot. Wonder why he was replaced?
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Don't know if anyone has been watching the second series of this, but, fuck me, that was a fucking brilliant ending last night. The ending that LIFE ON MARS should have had but copped out on.
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Don't know if anyone has been watching the second series of this, but, fuck me, that was a fucking brilliant ending last night. The ending that LIFE ON MARS should have had but copped out on.
I missed a few episodes so deliberately didn't watch it as I'm going catch up on DVD.
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Make sure you do so at the earliest opportunity. It really was fantastic.
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Don't know if anyone has been watching the second series of this, but, fuck me, that was a fucking brilliant ending last night. The ending that LIFE ON MARS should have had but copped out on.
Both series of ASHES TO ASHES had very shaky starts but soon improved as they picked up momentum. I really liked the ending of the second series too – far better than that of the first. Had they decided to leave the show here it would have been the most ambiguous ending since that of TWIN PEAKS. It's brilliant!
The BBC has commissioned a final series – there was a small press release online the other day – it mentioned that all the loose ends from both ASHES TO ASHES and LIFE ON MARS will be tied up therein and that it's going to end with a bang! Whether or not Sam Tyler's story arc is completed offscreen or they get John Simm to come back for the finale, issues surrounding the character are set to be cleared up in the third series too, according to the press release.
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Good stuff with tonight's episode!
Who's that fucker who's giving Gene grief?
Will Sam Tyler be back?
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A great start to the series. Is it on normal BBC next week? I watched it on BBC HD and the announcer said at the end that it would be back in two weeks time because they would be showing golf next week.
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A great start to the series. Is it on normal BBC next week? I watched it on BBC HD and the announcer said at the end that it would be back in two weeks time because they would be showing golf next week.
Cunts. Adulterers in HiDef - obviously the more popular choice.
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A great start to the series. Is it on normal BBC next week? I watched it on BBC HD and the announcer said at the end that it would be back in two weeks time because they would be showing golf next week.
Cunts. Adulterers in HiDef - obviously the more popular choice.
Apparently it's on Monday instead - so it's not too long a wait.
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Watched the first two episodes of series three last night and have to say, this series is certainly kicking off a lot better than either of the first two did and I’m beginning to think that the show is going to end on the same high that LIFE ON MARS started.
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That were well good. :P
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Indeed. Figured most of it out a couple of episodes back so wasn't too surprised - but wasn't sure if I was right either. Wife is still crying like a big fucking baby.
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Indeed. Figured most of it out a couple of episodes back so wasn't too surprised - but wasn't sure if I was right either. Wife is still crying like a big fucking baby.
I actually didn't really expect it to end like that so it was a very nice surprise. Spot on, makes a change for something on TV to be so good.
I nearly had a tear in my eye too, but managed to restrain myself. :-\
I do wish they'd stop using Bowies HEROES for things like this though as it always reminds me of when they played it at LIVE AID and all I can think about is pot bellied babies with flies crawling on their faces...
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Indeed. Figured most of it out a couple of episodes back so wasn't too surprised - but wasn't sure if I was right either. Wife is still crying like a big fucking baby.
To be fair, I realised quite early on. I was crying ages before you noticed! Liked it a lot, still sniffling now ???
I think most of the sniffling was knowing the truth before Alex did.
Anyway - sad it's all finished :-[
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Interview with the show's co-creator...
HERE (http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2010/may/21/ashes-to-ashes-final-episode) Massive Spoilers for anyone who hasn't seen the last episode so be warned!
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Sorry to be lazy, here's what I wrote on Marc's forum earlier:
What a great ending! I was so worried it would end on a cliffhanger but the writers managed to tie everything up brilliantly. I have to admit that it took me a long time to warm to ASHES TO ASHES, I always thought that it was quite inferior to LIFE ON MARS because it's very existence stretched credability to breaking point. That said, this last series has been excellent on the whole and I truly believe that last night's finale more than justified the show's place as a sequel to LIFE ON MARS.
I think we'll be waiting for a very long time before we see something on TV that's as clever and entertaining as this. I'm absolutely gutted it's over.