Ashes To Ashes

But as something that is basically exploring the same sort of initial idea as LoM, how could it ever achieve that same shock. To me, that would have felt much more forced than Alex Drake's approach (which still reeks of Sam's denial, but with a different take on it).

Agreed.

However, I didn't think the writing was great nor the characterisations of Gene Hunt and Alex Drake. I'm not sure this will reach a second series.

I think that's because we knew the score, so the shock value wasn't as great-- less of a mystery as it were.

As for ballsiness, policing had changed since 1973; Gene Hunt et al couldn't get away with as much: "As much as it pains me to say this, we might actually need some evidence here". As Hunt admitted, his style of policing was on the way out, hence his more melancholic tone this time round I felt

Still doesn't stop him from being brilliantly blunt though

I thought it was excellent, couldn't fault it at all, interesting that Sam survived seven years between hitting the ground & dying

It's taken 38 days but after all the seemingly worse then usual dross that has been churned out so far this year there's finally something decent on TV. The first episode might not have been completely perfect -but thank God for 'Ashes To Ashes'!.

Where did you hear that from - did they say that in last nights episode?

Yes. After he "returned" he worked with them for 7 years and "died" during a jewelry raid. His car went into the river but they never found his body.

I thought it was interesting too and set it up nicely for the concept of this series - ie the one second between life and death can last an eternity in the mind (or 7 years in Sam's case)

Ah that'll teach me for not paying attention.

George and Zippy were too fluffy which ruined the whole thing for me. If you look at Rainbow from around 1981 (its not difficult to do, the Nick JR episodes are from 1981) then you will see that George and Zippy have pink and yellow skin but the modern George and Zippy (the ones on Ashes to Ashes) have pink and yellow fur.

Terrible!

Really ?! I enjoyed it, but there were serious flaws in it for me.

I could type them all out, but the contributor 'Froot Bat' sums it up nicely with his/her postings in this Usenet thread:-

http://groups.google.co.uk/group/uk.media.tv.misc/browse_frm/thread/7cbe92304a260ad9/4e2da02870663c7d#4e2da02870663c7d

I thought it was excellent, and I liked all the little touches in there. The music was great (very early 1980s) and I also liked the way the clown hijacked the closedown (well, at least it stood to attention during the national anthem...)