Kevin's Watch

My first visit back to KW in God knows how long...

So, I did some excavation and only found a couple of threads on Life On Mars, the original couple of series, but none on the follow-up three series of Ashes To Ashes - hence this post correcting this frankly shameful omission.

Despite being a UK native and resident, I'd not seen A2A until just recently. Caught a re-transmission of the first series and instantly went out and splurged on the complete boxed set. Finished watching that last night.

Bloody hell - definitely NOT a mistake. It's simply fabulous TV. Okay sure, it's not entirely flawless, but taken as a whole, it's an absolute gem.

I don't know whether you guys on the other side of the pond have any access to this (or Life On Mars, which you really need to watch first), but if you do, I literally cannot commend it to you highly enough.

It's well worth comparing and contrasting the ending of A2A with that of Lost (coincidentally, both finales were screened within a few days of each other back in May 2010) - sorry Lost fans, but the emotional wringer that A2A puts you through and the tight way that the threads are all drawn together and you realise how the clues were mounting up from the get-go... A2A just makes the Lost finale look like a not particularly cohesive and long drawn-out deliberately abstruse intellectualised/spiritualised piece of puff and nonsense.

I'm not going to say more... no spoilers here. But if you can catch Life On Mars and Ashes To Ashes, absolutely do not fail to do so.

(Oh and please don't get mixed up with the abomination that was the US remake... completely different and completely dumbed-down).

I can't seem to find it Stateside. Loved Life on Mars (the UK version).

Hey there Cail. LTNS.

God's honest truth - when I posted my original post along with that meme, I was thinking "Damn but I bet Cail would appreciate Detective Inspector Gene Hunt".

A2A is not quite as cohesive or tight as LOM - but on balance and as a whole, I think it edges it - and especially as a culmination of both series. I can't say more.

Plus, if you were as irritated by all the puff and fluff at the end of Lost as I was, I am sure that A2A would be a jaw-droppingly good antidote.

Do what you can to find it. It takes a little while to get into its stride, but the tonal shift and evolution from Episode 1, Series One to the finale in Episode 8, Series Three is brilliantly and beautifully handled.

I'm still feeling emotionally wrung out actually... but as Gene would say "For christ's sakes, that's bordering on a bit poofy".

mmm.. sounds intriguing.. I will see if I can find both

TheFallen wrote:Hey there Cail. LTNS.

God's honest truth - when I posted my original post along with that meme, I was thinking "Damn but I bet Cail would appreciate Detective Inspector Gene Hunt".

A2A is not quite as cohesive or tight as LOM - but on balance and as a whole, I think it edges it - and especially as a culmination of both series. I can't say more.

Plus, if you were as irritated by all the puff and fluff at the end of Lost as I was, I am sure that A2A would be a jaw-droppingly good antidote.

Do what you can to find it. It takes a little while to get into its stride, but the tonal shift and evolution from Episode 1, Series One to the finale in Episode 8, Series Three is brilliantly and beautifully handled.

I'm still feeling emotionally wrung out actually... but as Gene would say "For christ's sakes, that's bordering on a bit poofy".

Good to see you too.

I'm sure I can stream it from somewhere.


Did you see the American version of LoM? I'd love to hear your take on that, particularly the ending.

I haven't seen the US LoM actually, but have seen it reviewed and its denouement compared and contrasted.

You're right though... I should make my own judgement calls on such things. There's nothing so potentially dangerous as received wisdom - so let me see if I can locate it.

Nice to see you around TF. Visit more. Post more. Join in everywhere.

Don't think I've seen these, although LoM sounds familiar, think the GF watched it. Will recommend this to her.

--A

I loved Life on Mars. I was not quite as taken with Ashes to Ashes - I actually did not finish it but I think that was when you had to wait a week for each episode. Might try it again if I can find it on Netflix or something similar.