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Ashes to Ashes
So. I watched A2A s1 back when it came out, but wasn't overly impressed, so I didn't watch s2 or 3. Until last week, when I had some downtime and decided I wanted some mindless television to keep me entertained. So, I marathoned s2 and most of s3, up until 3x07--and I just saw the finale.
. . . sorry. I cannot quite take it seriously. So . . . Gene Hunt's Charon, guiding dead cops across the river
That said, they did do a good job of not being ashamed of their crack. The worst thing about shows is when they're afraid to go for the full-blown crack or cheese because they're worried they won't look high-brow anymore. House does this, never commits to anything, and it's not good. A2A didn't do that. Once they knew what they wanted, they went for it, and I have to count that in their favor.
Nice things:
- Gene Hunt and gang pulling up to the high noon confrontation to Michael Jackson's Beat it.
- Shaz and Chris getting back together. Yes, I ship it. They're cute together.
- Gene Hunt shopping around for a Mercedes. Oh Gene, you have no taste.
- NELSON. Omg I've missed Nelson.
Not-so-nice things:
- they did make Nelson into a "magical n*gro" character. So he's the pub owner of the afterworld heaven pub? Well, that's not stereotypical at all. I mean, in Life on Mars, I could see him as a self-created character--someone who plays towards a stereotype for his own protection. But like this, that explanation's out the window. Which did irk me.
- . . . that's it, really. That's the only thing that really bothered me. Apart from the fact, of course, that I still don't want this canon to have anything to do with Life on Mars. But hey, that's me personally, that's no critique of the show itself.
I did never manage to warm to Alex. Sorry, Alex. You're not my type. And I think if they wanted Keats as the persuasive devil figure, they should have cast someone who has a bit more appeal than that. Make the audience like him, make the audience actually question Gene Hunt. I mean, who actually liked Keats? He wasn't a character made out to like. He should have been. It would have made the story arc more interesting.
Ahaha the dude stumbling into the office at the end of the finale. That was a nice touch. I mean, I think they did do a good job of pulling it all together in the end, but of course there are still giant, gaping holes, because this finale is not what they set out to do when they started A2A. But, you know. Considering that, it worked quite well.
And now I think I will go and rewatch LoM. Because LoM is awesome.
comment on LJ
no subject
I particularly liked that Gene was unaware of his role/purpose and, indeed, of his death. I also liked that Alex had to face the loss of Molly (as well as of Gene) at the end.
Sure, there were plenty of plot holes, and it would have been great if both series had been planned as a whole rather than made up as they went, but I think the writers managed to make something worth watching. Series 1 of A2A was pretty much a waste of time—a repeat of LoM but with a female lead. Series 2 and 3, on the other hand, were darker and much more compelling. I really cared about the characters, particularly Gene, and found watching those videos with them devastating.
no subject
Yes, this. I can still keep it that way in my head, but I agree, they didn't do too badly with wrapping up the loose ends in the actual show.
I also liked that Alex had to face the loss of Molly (as well as of Gene) at the end.
Yep, that made the ending, while still cheesy, a bit classier than it would have been without.
I really started to warm up to Chris and Ray. They were always little more than set dressing to me, but in A2A s2 and 3, they kind of stepped up and became their own characters. I really liked that. Same with Shaz, if you want to compare her to Annie--she actually developed a personality in the end.