What I'm Watching: Ashes to Ashes
A twist on the usual cop show, but it works, and the writing/casting are outstanding.
I have a confession. I am addicted to British police procedural shows. I am constantly on the hunt for new shows. I have been through Vera, Hinterland, The Unforgotten, Line of Duty, and literally tons more.
Alas, unlike in the US, the UK TV market is more refined. Mainly, this is because they know when an arc is over and then they retire the show, unlike, oh, say NCIS that really should’ve ended after 5 or so seasons.
Yet, my love of their police procedurals is more because due to the culture, there are far less temptations to just pull out their binkies (guns) and engage in insane battles every fucking week.
Anyhow, because of the stories and the terminal arc of the genre, I am frequently on the hunt for fresh shows1. That gets me to the topic of this post “Ashes to Ashes”2.
The top stars are Keely Hawes and Phillip Glenister, and the theme is that at the beginning of the pilot of this show, in 2006, DI Alex Drake, an officer in the Metropolitan Police is grabbed in a hostage situation, and she is shot by the abductor. Next we see the same Alex Drake is in a dream sequence that has her living in the early 1980’s, assigned to Manchester CID, under the DCI Gene Hunt (played by Phillip Glenister) who is what you would expect a masculine borderline line-crossing officer of that era, where defendant’s rights are on paper existing, but a lot of the classic bad behavior happens. Beatings, coerced confessions, but closing cases3.
There is a lot of swearing, chain smoking (everybody smokes, man I think my clothes reeked of tobacco smoke when I finished an episode), and — akin to all British Police procedurals — there is copious amounts of alcohol being spilled down gullets.
All through the first season, you get to see the dichotomy of DI Drake who gets snippets that she’s in a coma, with vignettes of connection with the 2006 world, her daughter, and her desire to come out of the coma and rejoin her tidy life in the ‘aughts.
The show runs to three seasons, and it is quite well done. The first season she works to undo the tragedy of her parent’s being blown up in a car bomb. The second season’s arc is solving a police corruption incident from a mysterious outsider (Adrian Dunbar is classic in this role - Love him).
The last season? Well, I am not going to mess that up for you, but it is a complete mindfuck when you realize what all the breadcrumbs from the “future” hold.
But, what about the prequel?
Truth is, you can enjoy these separately and you will not be too lost - or more so than the script intends. If you fail to make the connection twixt the two, it is not going to reduce your enjoyment. That said, if you do embark on this journey, I recommend watching Life on Mars first, and then Ashes to Ashes.
Props
There are two props that have to be discussed, the car, and the gun.
First, the car. The principal character Gene Hunt, drives a fugly4 early 1980’s Audi Quatro in orange. It skids around corners, it is raced, it is in yhour face, and it is an ostentatious icon of the era. Audi’s were famous as formidable rally cars, where their all-wheel drive was an asset on the course, and that translates to the show. Hunt’s aggressive driving is the perfect reflection of this car.
The second prop is this ridiculous 8” barrel revolver, presumably like the Dirty Harry gun. That is so out of character for police use that it is just ridiculous. Still, DCI Hunt waves that phallic extension around like a maniac.
Again, perfect 1980’s vibe.
Oh, I missed one. DI Drake wears this white leather jacket almost exclusively throughout the series. It is an over-the-top reminder of the aesthetic of the era, especially coupled with her skirts, and pumps.
The real joy: The Music
In both shows, the soundtrack is cribbed from the era. In Ashes to Ashes, it is a slice through the modern rock of the 1980’s and this sets the vibe well.
For Life on Mars, after DI Sam Tyler’s awakening in 1973, the music is just chocked full of early 1970’s classic rock. Stones, Deep Purple, Hendrix, Cream and much more.
Seriously, the budget for licensing music for this pair of shows must have been off the charts.
Last word
I really enjoyed these shows. The 5 seasons between the two really flowed, the character development and in-situ casting of the roles within the norms of the periods is spot on, and fun.
Alas, now that we have completed both, I need to go find something to switch on tonight.
If you have a favorite, please drop it in the comments here, as I am always looking
nota bene: Ashes to Ashes is a loose sequel to the earlier show “Life on Mars” that has a similar theme, but it is not really essential to watch them in order. We didn’t and while if we had watched Life on Mars first, it would have slightly helped the narrative of Ashes to Ashes.
Now, if you watch Life on Mars first, you will connect the dots, as DI Hawes is reviewing the record of DI Sam Tyler from LoM, and it is he that grabs and shoots her
Fucking Ugly
Oh my. I thought I was unique in terms of love for these shows. Thanks for the recommendation. You must have already seen my all time favorite, New Tricks. Also, Shetland is perfection as well.
Spot on, Mr. Anderson! I did watch the 2 shows "in order", but had no idea they were in any way related until well into Ashes to Ashes. They were 2 of my favorite British cop procedurals. Like you, I've run through many of the choices available. I think it's hilarious that every time a police officer shows up at your door, it seems it's compulsory to "put the kettle on."