Ashes to Ashes

[JHyde]

This is the sort of show that playwrights dream of writing but can't pull off on stage. Every writer wants to write about Heaven, Hell and Purgatory at some point and this was one of the better ones I've ever read or seen.

I was freaked out from the start, thanks to my listening to Tainted Love immediately before watching, which then starts the episode. Music was used really well in this episode, and they ticked off most of the songs I had been hanging out for.

I loved that they re-used the 'pub' bandying cry from the end of LoM series one. Where they all agree that's where they're going afterwards.

I don't think that scene in the hut was very clear. That might have been deliberate though - I don't think they wanted us to be completely clear about what was going on until Ray, Chris and Shaz watched their videos.

I'm mostly confused about why Viv was killed by Keats - I still can't figure out what that was meant to mean. But I think it was a red herring that was mostly there to have us clearly know that Keats was a bad guy and keep us guessing about what his role was in the show.

TL, my theory about Keats is that he was meant to be like the fool in King Lear. And if I know Matthew Graham (who I still think is a bit of a wanker, sorry - listen to any commentary he does) that's probably on the money.

I totally forgot to say that one of the things I love about Phil Glenister is he is such a wonderfully physical actor. He really knows how to inhabit his space and use his body to show what he's feeling. He was wonderfully suited to the character for that reason, I think.

I would like to see him play someone other than a cop though.

[Tea Lady]

(22-05-2010 09:46 AM)picard1109 Wrote:  Well, I managed not to cry but 12 hours later I still feel somewhat shocked and sad. And just a little bit empty inside. A mild form of grief for Gene, perhaps?

I still don't understand the point of the Jim Keats character, though and how he added to the plot. If anyone knows the answer to that one, do tell!!

I totally agree picard1109. I feel kind of sad for Gene. It's odd isnt it as it's a TV program!

The point of Jim Keats I think, was that he was the devil. His job was to interfere with Genes job of getting troubled souls to heaven. He saw an opportunity to get Shaz, Chris, and Ray to Hell as Gene wasn't doing his job correctly and was keeping them in purgatory because he liked them. The more people Jim could keep "bad," the more he could persuade to get on the lift to hell. This is what I think anyway.

So am I right in thinking that Alex died at the start of series 3 but was still in a medical coma? When she asked to stay with Gene and mentioned Molly, and Gene said "go." Was that so Alex could go to heaven and get her out of her coma in real life, allow her to die, and allow Molly to move on, instead of visiting her mum in a coma in hospital for the next 20 years?

[JHyde]

It's funny that you say that about Keats. That bit in front of the lift where Ray, Shaz and Chris are deciding I actually started laughing through my tears and said out loud 'better the devil you know!'.

It could be that about where Alex dies. I read it that she died on the bed in the hospital at the beginning of season 3, she just didn't know it for certain until now. (Which is why the 9:06 thing made it clear to Alex she was dead.)That might also explain why Molly was not featured much in this season until now. (I think that scary sequence at the start was strictly a dream. Hey, what was that referencing guys? I think I'm too young to know )

How cool and fortuitous is it for the guys who own The Railway Arms forum though? That's bloody fantastic for them!

[Tea Lady]

(22-05-2010 10:13 AM)JHyde Wrote:  (I think that scary sequence at the start was strictly a dream. Hey, what was that referencing guys? I think I'm too young to know )

How cool and fortuitous is it for the guys who own The Railway Arms forum though? That's bloody fantastic for them!

What is the railway arms forum?
The opening scene was from "It's a knockout." It was on for years when I was a child. Teams of people (including the Royal Family at one time) had to dress up in funny costumes and run assault courses and do silly challenges while dressed as a chicken.

[JHyde]

Thanks for that - usually I'd try google but I had no idea what I was looking for!

[Nitrus]

Wow.. just wow.. I really really loved this and the whole story. Thanks TL for clearing bits up for me that I didn't quite get. I didn't immediately get that Gene wasn't supposed to let people hang around and therefore not doing his job properly.

I still don't get why Gene hasn't passed on though?

The other thing is that this messes up a lot of Life on Mars.. are we assuming Frank Morgan was playing a similar role to Keats but less prominent? This does explain Sam dying at the end of Series 2 though.

Something else I don't get is that wasn't Alex alive and well living her life at the beginning of this series? Then suddenly she dies again?

Some other questions, what are the rules about this place? Is it for people who are nearly dying as well as dead? Ooo maybe only the nearly dying have the flashbacks and weird moments?

Arrghh.. too many questions.

As much as I hate linking to this website, this article explains things well: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/art...s-bow.html

[JHyde]

I know, the main question lingering for me is what about people in the CID who are still working with Gene? Does that mean they're all at a stage of purgatory, known only to....whoever?

I agree, lots of questions. And how did Gene end up being keeper? I mean, does this make him Virgil to Alex's Dante?

[Nitrus]

I assume they are still trying to deal with their passing. What about the non-coppers of that world? Are they just put their for the coppers?

I was thinking that this world for coppers with issues didn't exist before Gene and was somehow created by him?

This clears up something I was confused about with Viv.... the reason he was so scared of Keats. It's obvious now. Also obvious that Ray, Chris and Shaz all dealt with their issues this series, this finale really makes the previous episodes better and the writers need applauding for that.

[Nitrus]

Not many people know this, but there is a LoM prequel featuring the 50's with a younger Gene Hunt:

[Beatriz]

Oh god! I need to watch it again with subtitles and clear my mind a bit... WOW!!! I'll be back. Sniff!