Saturday, February 09, 2008

Ashes to Ashes - the verdict

From the BBC website:
Seven million viewers tuned in to watch the first episode of Ashes to Ashes, the sequel to BBC drama Life on Mars.

Set in 1981, the series sees DCI Gene Hunt, played by Philip Glenister, join forces with female time-traveller Alex Drake, played by Keeley Hawes.

Like Life on Mars, the show takes its title from a David Bowie song.

It impressed most TV critics, with The Independent saying it was "the mixture as before - a bit of pop culture, a bit of sci-fi [and] a bit of weirdness".

"Much of the humour and charm of the original series remains," agreed the Mirror's Jane Simon.

The Sun's Ally Ross described it as "a television programme to treasure", while the Telegraph said the show's 1980s setting "opened up a cornucopia of new possibilities".

The Guardian's reviewer was less welcoming, however, describing the show as "a big mess" with a "muddled" plot and a premise that "is now stretched to breaking point".
The Digital Spy interview with Philip Glenister and Keeley Hawes, reveals their hopes for a second series:
Are there plans for a second series of Ashes To Ashes?

P: "We hope so."

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the round-up. I've taped it but haven't got round to watching it yet (of course).

Anonymous said...

I've now caught up on the first two episodes and it isn't a patch on Life on Mars.
Got to agree with The Guardian reviewer. A big mess.
The premise from the first series where everything is strange to Sam Tyler is negated by Alex Drake who "Knows it all". It just doesn't come off.