Ashes to Ashes: The finale

[KayHarker]

Mark your places ladies, for the final leg of the journey!

I think Gene knew what he was there to do and what his role was, but he had forgotten who he had been and how he got there.

I was comparing a picture of my Grandad in his fireman's uniform that was taken in the early 1970s and its very similar to the uniform that Chris is wearing, its the same sort of style and it has the same belt. Sam was using a radio in life on Mars so I think Chris must have died at some point in the 60s depending on how often uniforms are changed!

Not sure it was the 60s... it looked more modern than that....

Sam came to terms with his father being a bad man, I think- a fact he had long repressed.

I don't remember the father being a bad man, explain!!

Sam's dad was behind some gangland killings.

The vision Sam kept on seeing of a woman running in the woods in a red dress was actually Annie chasing Vic who brutally beaten her up when she caught up with him.

need to watch it again!

I think it was in the final episode of LoM, Sam is trying to persuade his father not to run away from his family, as he is a criminal who ends up assaulting Annie and (perhaps?) killing her, though she is saved by the Sam from the future. Or something like that. I can't quite remember, I'll have to re-watch it. But he was a bad 'un.

Apparently they stopped using whistles around 69/70

Gene was dead- shot in his first week on the job as a young copper who had dreams of being a sheriff-type like Gary Cooper. His soul is in purgatory, where he lives out his fantasies of living out his career. He draws other troubled souls to him by his charisma and fundamental goodness, and helps them work through what they need to before they can pass on to Heaven or Hell. He is still stuck there himself because he is not quite ready to give up his unfulfilled ambitions.

Am a little bit disappointed that Alex didn't stay as she knew by then to stay away from Keats. They were both dead what did she have to lose. Made me sad that they didn't end up together but inevitable really. I am a soppy romantic though and don't like sad endings.
Also how was it that it was Gene who was with her as a child when her parents died if he was already dead?

Wow!!!
Phil Genister's acting esp when Alex was digging and then in the farmhouse was just superb! When he turned to her and said,
'Did he, Alex?' -Stunning!
Even though I was so wrapped up in the storyline, it still occurred to me how utterly brilliant his acting was.

The last time I was blown away by acting was Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain so doesn't happen often.

Anyway, I loved the ending, very simple if that makes sense. My only disappointment was the kiss. The sexual chemistry had been electric and I thought the kiss could have been more tinged with emotion, more fraught and it could have lingered a bit.

Superb telly!

I think that Alex couldn't stay once she had developed in her awareness of what was really going on- surely she would be no use to other dead coppers if she prevented them realising things for themselves?

Gene seems to slip into forgetfulness more easily, perhaps because he hasn't yet reached the same level of perspicacity of Alex?

that, BOF, was a fantastic summary

But his acting was superb, wasn't it? It's not just me, is it?

It was marvellous, I agree.

So...one thing I need clearing up. When Ray et al joined Gene, did they remember and those memories slowly fade? Ray didn't seem to be watching the video thinking what on Earth is this? Or was it just Sam and Alex who remembered. Maybe neither were dead at first?!?

I was wondering if perhaps Alex died when Gene shot her ie that was her dying in the hospital. But then why did she continue to remember?

myredquattro, my understanding (and it's discussed further up the thread I think) is that their memories faded quite quickly, perhaps because they were dead, whereas sam and alex were in comas at first.

After Alex died in the hospital her attachment to the 'real' world is reduced - we hardly see her daughter at all for example. The indication seems to be taht if there wasn;t the threat from Keats then Alex would have forgotten completely in time

so if Alex and Sam were in a coma to start with - how come they were in purgatory at all?

I think Sam stayed in the 1970's for 7 years because he thought that was "heaven", but realised eventually it wasn't, and as Gene said he wanted him to stay so didn't mind that he stayed.

Then when Sam realised he was actually in an in between world, he asked Gene to help him and Annie pass on, so Gene did

Just a theory obviously

I think when Alexs parents died it was another policeman who was with her, but when she got to Genes world and the events played out there Gene took his place.

A question I have is Gene talks about a wife, was that his wife before he died? It wouldn't have been unusual to be married in 1953 at 19 would it?

Philip Glenister was superb but I think a lot of credit has to go to Daniel Mays as well - that was a terrifying portrayal - so easy to go too far but I think he pitched it just right.