I was a big fan of the original Life on Mars, but so far, the sequel Ashes to Ashes hasn't quite lived up to the original. Kind of hard to discuss without spoilers, so please be careful when you post.
Yeah i absolutely loved Life on Mars, John Simm was brilliant in it as was Phillip Glennister, and i liked how they captured the whole 70s thing in it.
I agree about Ashes to Ashes as well, hasn't really lived up to Life on Mars yet, it has potential though, and Keeley Hawes is proper fit, loved the first episode were she was dressed in that short little red skirt and stockings.
I agree it hasn't quite fallen into it's stride as quickly as life on mars but I think because the final ep of life on mars tried to explain everything this one has a harder job of creating suspense. One thing I didn't like about LoM was the final episode. I think this one could do well if they don't focus so much on the story of her getting back and do some stand alone eps. Also I keep missing it.
I think it would even out if Alex would stop trying to be such a smug knowitall. Sam was easy to cheer for, he had no clue what was going on, so you could really understand his bewilderment at times. Alex needs a major slap in the face from reality to knock her off her high horse. Perhaps she really manages to change time or something.
Or, truth be told, you could just dump the time travel bits altogether and simply make an 80s retro police show about Gene Hunt and crew. Phillip Glenister is the real star of the show.
Well, Ashes to Ashes finished Season 1 last night, and Season 2 has been announced as coming in 2009. I have to say, the show got better as it went along, and the resolution to Season 1 was mostly satisfying, although not what I predicted, and the explanation didn't really tie in too well with what happened in Episode 1 before Layton shot her. Still, I'll be waiting for Season 2 eagerly, as long as it isn't a rehash of S2 of Life on Mars. Geoffrey Palmer's character seems to foreshadow dire consequences for Hunt's crew...
Watched the American premiere of LoM last night, and frankly, it sucked. I don't really know why. Harvey Keitel should have made a convincing Gene Hunt, but he didn't. Jason O'Mara was pretty much pantomiming John Simm the entire time, but his performance fell flat. And Gretchen Mol as a blonde Annie? Oh, come on!
I realize that they had to make a few minor changes to the script to Americanize it, but the dialogue came off as stilted and unconvincing. The previews for next week look like they're going to follow the original series fairly closely, but unless they start making it their own show, I'm afraid it won't last. The American version of The Office managed to diverge from the BBC version successfully after a poor copycat-start like this one, so maybe there's hope.
I watched alst night as well. I didn't realize it was a BBC remake. Very odd show, I am interested to see where it goes. I guess you all probably have a good idea though.
I should mention that BBC America is replaying the original, so if you have access to that channel, I highly recommend watching the UK version first... :)
Never mind I'm an idiot, just found out it was, and i guess now it makes sense why it was so weird at the end, seeing as apparently they were cancelled and had to end it there, aparrently that wasn't where they wanted to end it originally :S
