(no subject)

[listersgirl]

Is anyone else watching Ashes to Ashes? I loved Life on Mars so much, and I had high hopes for this, but I'm not entirely convinced. It seems somehow...fake, more cartoonish, like an exaggerated picture of the 80s instead of the real thing. I feel like, despite the fact that Alex believes it's all part of her imagination (and in fact *because* Alex feels it's all part of her imagination), she wouldn't have jumped into the over-the-top outfits (and the eyeshadow, my god). Plus she seems kind of incompetent. I suppose it's not a requirement that she be good at her job, though. It's just, if she's not, I don't see why Hunt puts up with her, considering she must come off as completely crazy to him.

Also, he's been through this before. Wouldn't he have noticed that some of the things she's saying sound suspiciously similar to things Sam said at the beginning?

I am enjoying it, despite all that. I'm just not as invested as I was the first time round.

Comments

[glitterboy1.livejournal.com]

I'm watching - but only just! Both of the first two episodes have had moments that have almost had me switching off. The first episode was dreadful; the second less so, so I'm going to keep watching, in case it gets better.

The way that they're deliberately portraying her as incompetent is seriously annoying me. She's a relatively high-ranking officer! There's no way she's got there without being good at what she does - and without being professional, too. I don't want to put any spoilers in here, so I'll just say that her behaviour in the second episode seems incredibly unlikely.

And I agree about the 80s thing. They seem to be putting the period in the foreground, whereas, in LoM, it was just the backdrop - a lovely, detailed one if you cared to look, but this is in your face all the time.

[glitterboy1.livejournal.com]

Ahem, sorry for ranting. This is only a tiny version of my full rant, but I'll spare you the rest!

[majea.livejournal.com]

Hee! I just posted a slightly more flattering review on PV, but you should definitely bring your rant to the comments! I'm trying so hard to like the show, cause it give me more Gene Hunt, but you make some excellent points I missed.

I'm willing to overlook her incompetence, as if this is really a coma dream, she's under no obligation to take her job seriously. Still, I miss Sam Tyler.

[listersgirl]

I can accept her not taking things seriously, and not really putting any effort into policing, because like you said, it's her coma dream. But the times where she actually pulls out her skills - it feels like the writers are really making a joke out of her. I never felt that with Sam, even when his methods failed completely.

I'm still watching, because parts of it are highly entertaining, but I'm...concerned.

[glitterboy1.livejournal.com]

it feels like the writers are really making a joke out of her

Yes, that's exactly how I've felt! As you say, Sam got things wrong, too, but he was doing things correctly by 'our' standards. They're just making Alex look silly.

Anyway, it's on in about 50 minutes. Fingers crossed!

[listersgirl]

Oh, the first episode, I know! It was almost like a parody of the first season, and what was up with all the slo-mo shots of Gene Hunt?

I'm really hoping it gets better.