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Okay,
so it’s been a solid few months since I last posted on this blog, but as of
today – the 17th of June, 2016 – I am completely and utterly free
from the constraints of the dreaded A2 Levels. That leaves a lot of time to catch up, start and rewatch a
number of TV shows. However, I thought I’d begin with writing about one of my
absolute favourite shows of all time: BBC One’s Ashes to Ashes.
First
released back in 2008, Ashes to Ashes is
the sort-of sequel to the incredibly successful Life on Mars, in which a 21st century police officer
(Sam Tyler) is involved in a car crash, goes into a coma and somehow wakes up
in the 1970s. Whilst an inarguably amazing and gripping series and a definite
must-watch, it is not necessary to understand Ashes to Ashes and I, personally, prefer the latter. Whilst on a
similar premise, Ashes explores the
life of Detective Inspector Alex Drake (Sam Tyler’s present day psychologist)
who is shot in the head by a mysterious figure from her past, who then wakes up
in 1981 London. It is there she encounters the people she assumed were just
constructs of Sam Tyler’s subconscious: the ‘bullish’ DCI Gene Hunt, the ‘misogynistic’
DS Ray Carling and the ‘cautious’ DC Chris Skelton.
There
are a number of reasons why I love this TV show. As an admirer of the police
procedural drama as well as the sci-fi genre, Ashes manages to mix both effortlessly, providing a new slant on
the crime format we know and love as well as the time-travel related
complexities we see mostly only in the likes of Doctor Who. There’s horrendous perms, ridiculous sexist attitudes,
barbaric police intimidation – yet you find yourself falling in love with at
all and wanting to be part of Fenchurch East CID. Each of the three series brings bigger and
bolder storylines, with the audience seeing this vision of 1980s London through
Alex Drake’s eyes, and discovering the truth as she does. And the truth,
inevitably, is completely and utterly heartbreaking.
Although,
perhaps the most enjoyable part of Ashes are
the characters themselves. Alex Drake (played by the flawless Keeley Hawes) is
beautiful, mouthy, bossy, intelligent, feisty – she, as the other female lead
WPC Shaz Granger says, turns all the jibes she faces into energy, always coming
out on top. Her determination in getting herself out of this world and being
reunited with her daughter carries through all three series, whilst being
admirably stuck to her morals, refusing to sink to corruption and deceit. The
chemistry between her and DCI Gene Hunt is fiery yet palpable, as their personality’s
battle again and again and again – but they’re a team, taking down the scum of
London together. There are so many
scenes where you question just how platonic and professional their relation
happens to be, and you will understand that totally
after seeing episode four and six of series one in particular. Interestingly,
Gene Hunt is so different to Alex but then again so similar – they are both
defiant, stubborn and headstrong, yet Gene is aggressive in his ideas and
unbelievably sexist in his attitudes. A bi-product of a mid-20th
century upbringing, possibly, but that does not stop him putting the others in
their place when they dare to question Alex’s authority. He may appear
unbreakable on the surface, but Gene is so dependent on Alex and clearly will
do anything for her. As Alex puts it, he’s a ‘good, kind, decent man’, despite
the ‘Manc Lion’ façade.
Not
only great characterisation, but literally everything
in Ashes is significant in some
way: every camera angle, prop and flashback is placed there for a reason, and
watching each episode is like a Where’s
Wally as you hunt for clues and answer internal questions. There are
sub-plots, tiny visuals and hints interweaved throughout each series, and we
(through Alex) keep trying to make connections between them all. It all burns
down to one single idea: will Alex ever wake up and get home to her daughter?
And whilst not vocalised through Alex herself, you just know what will happen in the end. But somehow, you manage to ignore
this heartbreaking undertone and immerse yourself in the eighties lifestyle,
with blocky computers and white leather jackets and really, really naff (but
sort of great) music. I now am determined to have a ride in the Quattro, drink
a whole bottle of red wine in Luigi’s and have Gene Hunt smash a window in
order to save me from impending death. This is not an accolade a brandish
around recklessly, but Ashes to Ashes is
honestly the best show that has ever been made.
This
is not a request. It is a demand. Watch this show – watch it all in one day.
There are twenty-four episodes and all are amazingly written, acted and filmed,
and will honestly leave you obsessed and resorting to the darkest depths of
fanfiction.net in reluctance to let the show end for good. You will want to buy
a leather jacket and wear blue eye makeup and listen to David Bowie on repeat.
But
beware. It will also leave you in tears. As all good shows often do.
Unfortunately, whilst both seasons of Life on Mars are available on Netflix, Ashes does not appear to be on any paid streaming services. You can buy the boxsets on Amazon here.
