User reviews

Ten years on since Ashes to Ashes finished, and I think looking back on it, I've found a new appreciation for the show, that I perhaps lacked a little during its original transmission.

I have to say I prefer Life on Mars, maybe it's the originality of the concept, or the harshness of the era, still Ashes to Ashes has a lot going for it.

Great direction, great stories, great visuals, and some wonderful actors, some very memorable moments, who will ever forget the first meeting, with Vienna blasting out, or that surprising final episode?

It's great from the off, if I'm honest the third series is my personal favourite, I thought the show got better as time went on, climaxing in an incredible last episode.

Gene Hunt, the man who often steals the show, Glenister is wonderful again, almost upstaged by his beautiful Audi Quattro. Hawes, as always can do no wrong, what a talent she is.

It was almost Game Over, but one final roll of the dice awaits, as Life on Mars is set to return for one last run.

Glorious. 9/10.

"Ashes to Ashes" is great entertainment. A lighter, more colourful series than its predecessor, "Ashes" captures perfectly the essence of the early '80s.

The first episode begins on a sombre note but it's only a matter of time 'til the fun kicks in. Philip Glenister's Gene Hunt makes a very welcome return, this time with a bright red Audi Quattro. Car fans will be in seventh heaven watching this series! Keeley Hawes (known to many as the voice of Lara Croft) is perfect in the role of DI Alex Drake. Aware of Sam Tyler's experiences, Drake is a more knowing character and the script is lighter and full of more comic potential. Despite this, it still retains the power to hit hard messages home and there's gritty realism in some scenes.

9 out of 10. This is what you pay the licence fee for.

I agree with those who say that Ashes to Ashes (or A2A as we fans call it) is different from Life on Mars (LOM), but that has several explanations. Firstly, it is set in the 1980s, and it is written in the spirit of 1980s cop shows, with fashion, glamorous shots and set pieces, etc. Secondly, the central hero is female and her perspective on life is different from Sam Tyler's. She also knows more, having read Sam's notes about his time in Gene Hunt's world in 1973.

However, it still has the unexpectedness and the central mystery of its predecessor, so that we are always wanting to know why Alex is stuck in 1981 and how and if she will get back to 2008. And of course, it has the fabulous Gene Hunt who comes into his own in this series. He is still moody and magnificent, and Philip Glenister has created a character with such charisma that I can't stop watching him. All the continuing characters are wonderful, and so are the new ones; Shaz and Viv in particular. Sam Tyler in LOM was intense, driven and edgy, and the darkness and gritty nature of 1970s style cop shows was well represented in LOM. This is equally great, but it's a different animal. I love both shows and I am really looking forward to the next series of A2A. The things that were revealed about Alex's past create new mysteries that need to be solved, so I am hoping that we will find out more. The most original aspect of both LOM and A2A is the central premise that someone can visit another time frame, whether real or imagined, and experience life there, while their body in "real life" is in a coma or near to death. It's a fascinating idea that has a lot of scope, and since it is a fantasy, anything can happen. The identity of Gene Hunt is open to debate - who is he really? I hope that we find out a lot more about this compelling character in the future. British TV at its best. Oh, and I also love 1980s music - really!

The tone is a little more ironic and colourful than Life on Mars, which might upset a few of the predecessor's fans. But those few will always be upset, and this show is incredibly worth it.

Alex, because she knows that she's most likely in a coma (having had Sam's tapes) is herself taking the whole scenario a little less seriously - and so should we. This show is brilliant in the way that it has fun with itself. In the first episode, there is one shot of Ray, Gene and Chris on a speedboat to the sound of No More Heroes, by the Stranglers. Ray has a close up where he is sort of half smiling, and the whole thing is so unapologetically 80's, with the right sense of self awareness. The opening credits, too, let you know that you should be having fun with this show.

As long as you're not looking for the same tone and style as Life on Mars (remember, this is a show about being in an 80s cop show, not a show about being in a 70's cop show), this is a brilliant show.

People will always compare a sequel to its predecessor, sometimes rightly so, but this time they would be wrong. Life on Mars was new and unique. The story of policeman trapped in his own imagination that kept you guessing until the end as to whether this world was real or not. This is a similar idea with a twist. At the start Drake comes across as arrogant and very self assured of her policing and psychological skills but as the series progresses you can see the cracks appearing. Ashes to Ashes isn't so much a sequel as more a clever rewrite. I recommend people ignore the hype and hysteria of the media and judge for yourself.

I was a bit of a newcomer to Life On Mars. I only joined in with the Life on Mars fad halfway through and by the time i finished catching up the spin-off series appeared. But lets face it, it was to be expected.

Ashes To Ashes picks up where Life On Mars left off but this time Sam Tyler is replaced with Alex Drake (Played by the stunning Keeley Hawes) who finds herself shot in the head and in 1981.

Que drumroll for the ALMIGHTY! DCI Gene Hunt. It's the only reason i kept tuning in for the first couple of episodes because of Phillip Glenisters awesome character and his trademark wit.

The show is great but it took me about 3 episodes in to get really into it while some people were hooked on the first episode i lingered in limbo. But have patience with it.

The fact that John Simms male character from Life on Mars has been replaced by an incredibly good looking female brings up plenty of new fresh ideas and story lines. This added a breath of fresh air because it mainly brought up new problems for Gene Hunt being a Mans Man.

The writing and character development was well executed and Gene Hunts comic wit was perfectly written. And Ashes to Ashes knew were to draw the line between comedy and drama. It kept it funny but also very serious.

all round this series is great and i look forward to the next series......even if i have to wait to next year for it.

I find it amazing how Matthew Graham and Ashley Pharoah have managed to pull off this series. After so much scrutiny from the public before it's release, it was sure to have cringworthy moments and scenes that cloned Life on Mars. But instead they adapt characteristics and settings to that of the early 80's (which after all is why we watch the show), with great ease and you really do get the idea that time has carried on in the years between the two series, rather than it just being a clone of the previous.

The main differences are of course in the settings, the town and decade, but also in the character progression of Gene, Ray and Chris and the introduction of Alex Drake, the tormented but very different and witty, sophisticated main character. Keeley Hawes creates a sarcastic reaction to Alex's new surroundings which is almost a refreshing change from the intense nature of Sam Tyler. Once again, Phillip Glenister begins the series with a bang: "Tonight, my friend, your diary entry will read, 'Took a prozzie hostage and was shot by three armed bast***s." Welcome back everyone.

Ashes to Ashes has proved that it is an original and well written TV series. All of the characters in the show are fantastic and you instantly fall in love with them. Gene Hunt is a god as far as I am concerned! Although he may be slightly caustic, his character develops before your very eyes. The relationship between him and Alex has been very intense from day 1, his team are all so different and diverse yet normal if that makes sense?! The final series has been a real eye opener. You find out the truth about Gene's world, who he really is and why Alex was there. I wont give the ending away in case some people haven't seen it yet but I thought it was incredible. No-one I know could guess the ending. Ashes to ashes is a classic and will be for many years to come!

I admit to really enjoying both programmes and I think that some fans of Life on Mars are being a bit silly.

I never really liked Ray in Life on Mars as I found him too officious. He mellows wonderfully in Ashes to Ashes.

I confess to being a big fan of Keely Hawes so I was always going to love Alex Drake. It's a wonderful cast and a most satisfactory ending which answers all questions.

We now also now why it's set in the 70's and 80's. It follows Gene Hunt as he ages. He was a young PC in 1953 and a DCI in the 70's and 80's I guess that's he now a very old Superintendent.

I was a huge fan of Life on Mars so was expecting big things with Ashes to Ashes. However, I couldn't help feeling disappointed. It doesn't feel the same without John Simm. While Keeley Hawes adds a bit of glamour, I find her character slightly irritating. It seems less gritty and more reliant on humour. Philip Glenister is, as always, superb as Gene Hunt and Marshall Lancaster and Dean Andrews are like a modern day Laurel and Hardy and play their parts to perfection. I'm sure this series will be a huge hit and as I've only watched one episode, maybe I am expecting too much too soon. I hope I grow to love Ashes to Ashes as much as I loved Life on Mars. (I still miss John Simm though!)

Having previously awarded its predecessor "Life on Mars" a well deserved 10 rating, I thought it was high time I rewatched "Ashes" a decade after first seeing it. In so doing, I realised that I had previously done it a disservice in 'only' scoring it a 9 - undersold it for sure. This second viewing has clearly confirmed to me that a top of the shop 10 is fully deserved and it not only ranks, but possibly even out-ranks its marvellous precursor. Once again, it is brilliantly written with (thank goodness) a complete lack of political correctness, the acting is superb all-round, with top honours going to the magnificent Keeley Hawes in a series which knocks spots off her later way overrated show "Bodyguard". Good to see here that the co-star characters played by Dean Andrews and Marshall Lancaster are given more air time than they had before so that all-in-all this becomes a tour-de-force and an all-time tv great.

'Life on Mars' was an unexpected hit, the clever story of time-travelling policeman Sam Tyler who finds himself injected into an unreconstructed 1970s police force. 'Ashes to Ashes' is the sequel, although the plot is essentially separate: a different character is returned to a different period (in this case, the early 1980s); what's in common are the people who populate the former landscape, the team of detectives led by Gene Hunt. And at first, it feels like a poor substitute for its predecessor. There's a knowingness to its tone that is could be seen an acknowledgement that some of the freshness is gone; the new protagonist, played by Keely Hawes, is unsympathetic and irritating; and a lot of the early episodes appear to consist of little more than 80s pop music being played over footage of Hunt's Audi Quattro. Additionally, Hunt (played, as previously, by Philip Glenister) no longer seems quite so spectacularly outrageous; there's not the same intensity to his interaction with his new visitor as there was with his last. The series ends strongly, however: the idea of getting Geoffrey Palmer to play Lord Scarman is brilliant; but in spite of some strong moments and funny lines, one senses a formula that's starting to feel stretched. I still enjoyed the series; but I also had the sense that the basic idea has now been done, and might be better left to rest.

I have been having a marathon of great British dramas as of late.

I find this series, in some cases, better than Life on Mars. I do believe a lot of it is likely biased, considering I'm an 80s girl, and love the music of the era, but the story and characters are still strong!

Some of Gene Hunt's one liners goes over my head. Likely due to the fact I'm not British.

Still... Give it a go!

Ashes to Ashes is the sort of series that makes watching TV worthwhile. It is original, cleverly plotted, has excellent script writing, genuine character development, wit, pathos, perfect music, what more can you ask? You have to watch all three series to get the full benefit, safe in the knowledge that the story resolves itself, unlike so many open ended series where the producers run away from a satisfying ending in anticipation of yet another series. I do wonder if the naysayers on IMDb have watched to the end, fair enough if they gave up but I recommend completing. Lots of people compare it to Life on Mars, but I don't think comparison is necessary, they are companion pieces - complete in themselves but the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Every of often TV gets it so right it justifies the amount of time we spend glued to the television, think of the original series of Edge of Darkness as one example of thriller perfection, or The Durrell's as the perfect gentle humourous drama series, and be assured that Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes are right up there with them.

At the time when both of these excellent shows were new and actively watched, I was running a business and didn't have the time to watch.

Then I was given the DVDs of both series and became immediately a fan.

I am one of those who believes Ashes to Ashes, was indeed the better of the two. That said, both were / are so very good! .

Even now, years later, I try my best to see the re-runs on Drama channel, as even now, I Genuinely still enjoy both shows.

I fact, there is good argument to be made that British TV needs the return of the Gene Genie, perhaps with a new crew of cops of the late 1990's - 2000's and the sheriff in charge of course Gene.

We live in hope!.

A truly wonderful instalment in the Life on Mars universe with the kind of powerful ending rarely seen on TV. Gene Hunt lives and he's impressive.

I've never written a review on IMDB before but felt compelled to do so after watching Ashes to Ashes.

Beautifully directed, excellently written and starring characters you root for, sympathise with, and sometimes hate.

This show had suspense in bunches and kept me guessing throughout. Each individual episode had a crime you wanted to see solved and also contained clues as to what was *really* happening which kept me absolutely gripped.

GoT take note. This is how you end a show. So satisfying. 10/10. Watch this show. But make sure you've watched Life On Mars first for the whole experience.

So i wonder that if as a girl I was predisposed to like Ashes to Ashes more than Life on Mars. I will grant that the original, is just that, the original, and so in a way it's the better. More original, more groundbreaking. But personally I love Ashes to Ashes more. Keeley Hawes took an episode or two to really gel with what was going on, but I think it really works now, and I feel for the character. She's trying to get back to her little girl, you know she can't just stay in the past... and to also try and save her parents. It's interesting, I want to know what's going to happen. And then there's Philip Glenister, who is always a good actor, but whose role as DCI Gene Hunt is a role he'll FOREVER be known as... and good reason. He's a man's man, funny, gritty, and in this series, occasionally vulnerable. Some don't like the way he is in this show, but I think it works. And the chemistry between Hunt and Drake really works, and it's interesting. I adore them. Finally maybe I like this because I love 80s music, and if you like that, this is a great series for you. It has a great soundtrack. Add that with the awesome quattro Hunt drives, and some fantastic cheesy, over the top moments (the boat showdown in episode 2 anyone?) and it's a show I find absolutely the best pure entertainment I've seen in years. Now all I need is for LoM to get released to DVD over here, and for this sequel to hit our shores so I can then get THAT on DVD and I'll be happy.

I did t think they could match the quality of Life On Mars but this isn't far behind it. Great storylines and great music from my era. I loved Life On Mars so if took a couple of episodes to get used to a new lead character but Keeley Hawes soon settles in and it feels as though Shaz Granger has always been a character too. A few characters return from the previous show and there are great cameos from some stars of the day. Although 1983 was the year I left school so the music I loved the most, I did feel 2 series were enough. The final episode took a while to digest but then it all sinks in after a while. It's going to take me a while to fill the void now it is over. Pub!

Generally very good, very nostalgic and same concept as 'Life on Mars'.

The disappointing thing is how Alex interacts with some of her closer relationships, like family etc, it makes it a tad tedious to watch at times.

The plot is different but the music from the 80s is really enjoyable. It takes me back to my youth listening to the songs during the episodes. The cast is brilliant I really feel transported back in time.

This particular series is more interesting for someone who hasn't seen "Life on Mars",cause the main idea is repeated less successfully,but nevertheless is fun to watch. I'm a strong supporter of "Life on Mars" and subsequently I do comparisons because 3/5 of its main characters are deployed in "Ashes to Ashes". "Ashes to Ashes" is not a sequel to "Life on Mars", although it refers slightly to "Sam".The new heroin Keeley Hawes is very good and the general feel of sexual attraction between her and "Gene Hunt" is an extra entertaining element in the general plot. By the way Philip Glenister is marvellous once again.To sum up: Pros: -Although there is a plot revealed progressively,almost every episode is self-contained -The main characters' level of acting is high and convincing. -The soundtrack of early 80's hits is excellent and touching for anyone that grew up with that kind of music -The wardrobe hairdo's etc. depicting the 80's is also excellent Cons: -The plot in most of episodes is rather shallow and hasn't enough suspense -The lack of depth and brilliant scenario "Life on Mars" has,is obvious.

Life on Mars was one of the best shows I've seen in ages. Ashes To Ashes has lost the magic of the first series. The lead actress is incredibly annoying, always trying to show how smart she is, smirking, and just generally unlikeable. Instead of getting someone who behaves like a real woman, such as the Annie Cartwright character in the original, they have the stereotypical politically correct "spunky" heroine type that just grates on the nerves, and gets more annoying as the episodes progress.

John Simm was great, if he argued with Gene is was usually for a good reason. This character just argues for the sake of being contrary. The writing was excellent for Life on Mars but bad for this; and at times I feel like propaganda is being shoved down my throat.

1973 had a great feel to it. 1981 . . . they do a terrific job of making it look like this time period, but it lacks that certain something that the 1973 setting had, and the lead character is so annoying I could care less what happens to her.