Top 40 TV Characters Part 5

And here is Part 5 to the list. Sorry for the delay, the week's been a bit of a mad one.

16: Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister) - Life On Mars

Boorish, brutish and the epitome of a man who was a product of his time - why the hell do I like this character again? Oh, yes, that's because our Gene-Genie was a bloody force to be reckoned with that two shows had to spend five years explaining to us just how crucial he was to both the Sam Tylers and Alex Drakes of the world.

17: Sharon 'Shaz' Granger (Montserrat Lombard) - Ashes To Ashes

I was tempted to pick Alex as well but I guess over the course of the three years, the character I became a bit more attached to was Shaz. Wasn't she a fun character? Especially in the second season finale where she went all gun toting in a wedding dress. And her relationship with Chris never ceased to be lovely, even if they were rather on-off in the last year.

18: Caroline Forbes (Candace Accola) - The Vampire Diaries

Yes, vampire Barbie has become my favourite character on the bloody show (well, people tend to die a lot here) - something which I didn't expect to happen but seeing as she's kind of the Cordelia Chase, perhaps I should've. Her best moment - probably beating the snot out of Damon this season, though I'm not liking her future plots with Klaus though.

19: Elizabeth 'Liz' Cruz (Roma Maffia) - Nip/Tuck

How much do I love Liz as a character? Probably more than the writers did, considering the amount of crap they subjected her - kidneys being stolen, Alanis Morrissette as a girlfriend, having a baby with Sean and being briefly married to Christian. However, despite some rubbish plots, Liz was one of the few characters to escape the series with her dignity still in tact, a sentiment that couldn't be expressed for every other character on the show.

20: John Watson (Martin Freeman) - Sherlock

Sherlock might be the clever one of the bunch but for me, Watson is the more interesting one of the bunch and his patience with Sherlock's eccentricities at times is astounding. No, really, I do love Sherlock but Watson I guess is just the stronger character and Freeman's portrayal of him has become one of my favourites in a long time.

Part 6 will be up in a couple of days.

Top TV Pairings Part 6

And here's the sixth part of my TV Pairings ...

Ashes To Ashes - Alex Drake/Gene Hunt

Bollyknickers and the Guv to me were something of a sharper pairing than Gene and Sam from time to time and the show wasn't particularly subtle with the brewing attraction between them, it was fantastic to watch.

Torchwood - Captain Jack Harkness/Ianto Jones

While some of the more voracious of Janto fans can actually be off-putting to this ship, like many, I did fall in love with Jack and Ianto's relationship and was saddened to see it end during the events of the third season. Still, it was good while it lasted though.

The Sarah Jane Adventures - Clyde Langer/Rani Chandra

Okay, so these two technically haven't or have yet to become romantically involved but as a pairing, it's hard to deny that Rani and Clyde do have some wonderful potential though and they were seemingly getting closer in the fourth season of the show.

Angel - Angel/Cordelia Chase

The hell with Buffy/Angel or Buffy/Spike. The coolest Whedonverse coupling (of sorts) were Angel and Cordelia. Those two definitely brought something out of each other. Too bad Joss Whedon didn't man up and deliver more on it.

Sherlock - Sherlock Holmes/John Watson

No, I don't believe they're gay for each other but the relationship between Sherlock and Watson has been the most defining and important one, regardless of the various interpretations we've had with them and the newest version with Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman is no different in that regard.

My Review of Ashes To Ashes 3x08: "Episode 24"

Written by Matthew Graham
Directed by David Drury

Gene: “See you around, Bollykecks.”
Alex: “Good luck, guv.”
Gene: “Go.”

Five seasons is a long time to find out the entire mystery of someone as enigmatic as Gene Hunt but after 40 episodes and two shows, this final episode finally revealed everything we needed to know about the guv and then some. And I’m conflicted about things to be honest.

There are a lot things in a show that can polarise viewers and series finales are one of them. Next week, the internet will literally explode on both sides of the pond as people grapple the ending of Lost but this week, it’s closer to home with an ender so damn frustrating and divisive as this one turned out to be.

The scarred copper that Alex had been seeing all season – why didn’t I figure out earlier that it would turn out to be Gene Hunt? I certainly would’ve saved myself some time and it would've made me realise why Gene was so eager to keep Alex out of the loop for as long as he could. Only thanks to Jim, she finally got the courage to go to Farringfield to actually learn the truth.

Gene looked like he was going to kill her when Alex was digging up his corpse but instead it spurred him into telling her the truth, a truth about himself that he had been repressing for so long and while I wasn’t breaking out the tear ducts, I did feel bad for Gene when he asked Alex if he deserved a shallow grave. No Gene, you most definitely did not deserve one.

And then Jim practically appeared out of nowhere to gloat about Gene’s folly, happy to stir any further tension he could between Gene and Alex. While I’ve liked Daniel Mays’s performance in the series, I really thought that he was a bit too over the top in too much of this episode for my liking.

The mad hysterical bouts of glee he exuded as he crashed Gene’s world down, the way he was pummelling the crap out of Gene once they went back to the station, the choice of music in the car on the way to the station and showing everyone stars in the office. Yes, Jim was happy to get a wised up Alex, Ray, Chris and Shaz to pick a side.

I wasn’t too surprised when Alex told Jim to go to hell because that’s exactly where he was trying to lead Ray, Chris and Shaz there. Jim classically played on their insecurities in a bid to get them to come with him but for all his talk of Gene stifling them. Jim didn’t really have a clue towards the end, did he?

All Alex and Gene had to do was give them a sense of importance and soon enough, Jim’s attempts to drag Ray, Chris and Shaz back to hell blew up in his face. I laughed when Shaz made the eerie joke about dressing up as a dead woman being appropriate in the same way I couldn’t help smiling when Chris and Ray showed up to make sure that Eric didn’t get away from the scene of the crime.

I’m not gonna lie and say that I was gripped by the diamond heist subplot because truthfully I lost interest in all the cases this year because I was so impatient for genuine answers for the series but it was used effectively to show furthermore what a cohesive unit Chris, Ray and Shaz can be without Alex and Gene and also because we finally found out what happened to each and every one of them to wind up into Gene’s care.

We already knew what happened to Sam, Gene and Alex and here we learnt about the other three. Ray committing suicide because of his failure to get into the army and the death of a young lad was the most tragic of the bunch. That’s not to say that Chris getting shot and Shaz being stabbed were plain sailing but it was the one I found myself most effected by if that makes sense.

Still for all their deaths, this was the end of the road for them. They chose Gene over Jim and as a result like Sam, they were also effectively done as well. Having the Railway Arms back was a good way of bringing things full circle but it also served to remind Alex that there was no going back for her either.

She might not have chosen to remain in Gene’s world unlike Sam but she was also dead in her own world. It took looking at Jim’s watch to realise this and it also took some encouraging words from Gene for her to go into the Railway Arms as well. And the best part was that Alex and Gene finally got to share a kiss before she was complete.

However, even without the tedious gloating from Jim and the snarling (was that really necessary?) he did, it also reminded us that Gene was alone again. Then again, the arrival of a new copper in his kingdom bitching about his desk also went to prove that Gene Hunt’s work will never be truly done. Unfortunately that also means that he’ll probably have more altercations with more baddies like Jim to come as well.

So, the somewhat religious overtones of this entire arc – Gene the angel, Jim the devil of sorts. Well, it’s reasonably satisfying enough, though it reminds me a lot of Supernatural to be honest. On the plus side, at least this show didn’t end the same way that Life On Mars US ended. Now that truly would’ve sucked beyond belief.

But at the same time, there were some problems with it as well. I’m going to mention not seeing Sam because although I liked the Nelson cameo in this episode, I think it should’ve been Sam that everyone saw coming out of the Railway Arms instead; especially given all the teasing we had about him in this season particularly.

Plus I think the BBC should’ve made an exception and extended the episode’s running. If they could give “The End Of Time Part 2” a whopping 72 minutes to see out David Tennant from Doctor Who, then surely this episode deserved a similar length of time? Not seeing Sam in this episode disappointed me more than it probably should’ve done but at least Alex’s story ended on a believable note. I won’t fault that.

Also in “Episode 24”

There were no opening credits in this episode but they did show us the main cast at the end of the episode.

Alex (in her dream): “I have to know the truth. The truth will set me free.”
The puppets of Alex and Gene in the former’s dream were freaky enough. And I knew that Jim would use Molly’s scarf to try and tempt Alex.

Shaz (on Alex/Gene): “Those two should either get a room or kill each other.”

Jim (to Alex): “You and Sam ain’t different. You both challenge this world Gene has carefully built for himself. That makes you dangerous.”

I can’t tell when Chris and Ray died but Shaz seemed to have died in the 1990s thanks to a certain Oasis song I can’t stand being played in the background during her death. And nice that Chris and Shaz got back together as well.

Alex: “I didn’t take this world seriously. I do now.”
Gene: “And me?”
Alex: “I take you very seriously, guv.”

Gene: “He didn’t deserve a shallow grave, did he Alex? Did he?”
Alex: “No, you didn’t.”

In lieu of an actual appearance from John Simm in this episode, we did see a shadowy figure that we were supposed to take as Sam Tyler.

Alex: “You helped Sam. Do I mean nothing to you, Gene? I only wanted to get back to my little girl, that’s all.”

Jim (to Alex/Chris/Shaz/Ray): “Oh come on! You didn’t really think this was a police station?”

What actually happened to Annie? Alex asked about her but I don’t seem to remember Gene answering that particular one.

Jim: “It’s done, Alex.”
Alex: “Then go to hell.”
Jim: “Alright.”

Gene: “You looked good though.”
Alex: “I was dressed as a prostitute.”
Gene: “My point.”

Standout music: Erm, a lot here. Wham’s “Club Tropicana”, Madonna’s “Holiday”, Marc Almond’s “Tainted Love” and Phil Collins “In The Air Tonight”.

Alex: “You’re Gene Hunt, you’re their guv. That’s why I’m here for, nothing else.”
Gene: “Thank you.”

Gene: “Beer still the same, Nelson?”
Nelson: “Of course it is.”
Gene: “Never mind then.”

Alex died at 9.06pm, which was something that also has been shown enough times this season as well.

Alex: “I can’t go in there.”
Gene: “Yes, you can. They’ve got a saloon bar.”

Jim: “All alone, Gene. See ya, wouldn’t wanna be ya!”

Chronology: For the new recruit that Gene is going to have to deal with, it looks like he’s from the 2000s at least.

There’s a chance that I’ll edit this review somewhere down the line and add more to it. As series enders go, I’ve seen better and I’ve seen worse. The episode tied up a five year mystery better than other shows would’ve done and love him or loathe him, I don’t think anyone can deny the unbridled genius that was Gene Hunt. And never mind everyone else passing on, R.I.P. the poor Quattro instead.

Rating: 9 out of 10.

My Review of Ashes To Ashes 3x07: "Episode 23"

Written by Ashley Pharaoh
Directed by David Drury

Jim: “Have you any idea how serious this is?”
Gene: “Yes I do. It’s going to one hell of a last chapter, eh Jim?”

Here’s bloody hoping so because next week will finally to rest the five year enigma that has been Gene Hunt. Who and what the hell he really is has generated enough debates and whether or not, Alex really is in a real world or not also needs to be answered as satisfyingly as possible as well.

Taking the direct approach is probably something that Alex should’ve done ages ago but in this episode, she finally did it. She finally asked Gene directly to his face if he killed Sam and she got an answer of sorts. Gene certainly had more to say about Sam than he has in any other episode of the season.

I was hoping that Sam had faked his death and I could believe in him and Gene developing a trust over the course of time. A trust that would result in Sam asking Gene to help him with faking his death. Gene obviously believed in Sam enough to go along with this, despite the repercussions that it’s beginning to have for him.

The other thing that Gene also talked about was faith. Alex doesn’t have enough of it and I think that was supposed to mean that she didn’t trust in him enough. She was coming pretty close to doing that in this episode, only for Keats to throw her off course as much as he could.

Jim’s been gunning for Gene all season and was relying heavily on Alex extracting a confession of murder from the brute DCI (at least he didn’t ask Tracy Barlow) and didn’t hold back when Alex told him that she believed that Gene didn’t murder Sam. In fact, he was downright patronising and left her reeling with his own evidence.

If those damning photos are anything to go by, then Gene really did murder Sam and Alex has every reason in the world to be worried for her life. After all, another thing that Gene casually mentioned in this episode was the fact that he didn’t want Sam to leave. What happens when he decides a similar fate for Alex?

And then there was the other issue – the sexual tension. I might like my slash but I never once got that off Sam and Gene whereas with Alex and Gene, it’s been too overt for its own good. If Jim hadn’t actually called on Alex towards the end of this episode, then she and Gene would’ve done the deed. I can envision a million fans out there wanting to give Jim a right boot up the arse for his intervention.

Sexual tension aside, the hostility between Jim and Gene was a bit tedious in this episode. I should’ve played a drinking game every time Jim kept talking about finishing his report (he has worse procrastination than I do) or for every time Gene bared his animosity for the annoying little pencil pusher.

More interesting than Gene and Jim’s ongoing pissing contest happened to involve those neat little videos that Jim had of Chris, Shaz and Ray. Now what possibly could those tapes reveal about the three that we don’t already know anyways?

Speaking of the trio, Chris finally got it. Not necessarily stars (by himself, he did see them later with Shaz and Ray, my bad for not getting that first round) but the Life On Mars music and Nelson’s voice and it was something that he, Ray and Shaz could bond over. It’s funny given that over the course of the episode there was way too much talk of things coming down and even Chris was yammering on about nothing ever being the same again.

But it’s also making me wonder if Matthew Graham is going to end this show the same way the American version of his original creation. Why are we getting all these stars and why hasn’t Gene seen any of them? Only one more episode to go for everything to be revealed.

As for the main case of the week, I’m not sure how Chris freeing volatile ANC man Joshua was the best thing to do. He’s killed police officers in the past and was responsible for the special branch’s undercover man’s death. Granted the death he would’ve gotten in his own country would’ve been horrific but was it a wise thing to do on Chris’s part?

Something that was wise on Chris’s part was standing up to Gene. I loved that Chris ripped him a new one over Joshua and despite the fists flying with the pair of them, it made sense that Gene would end up having a great respect for Chris, even if him being a bastard to the lad felt a bit tacked on.

Also in “Episode 23”

The episode opened up with Viv’s funeral where the coffin refused to be burned at one point to Gene’s frustration.

Jim: “We’re the same, you and me.”
Alex: “Except I don’t want it to be true.”

Alex got Ray to look into the ID of the dead copper she’s been seeing and he was unable to find any files, given that they were burnt.

Gene: “Bugger off, I’m grieving.”
Alex: “How are you doing, guv?”
Gene: “I miss my pal.”

Shaz: “You need to stand up for yourself, Chris.”
Ray: “Oh yeah and police officers fly.”

Chris mistook Shaz’s embrace with Ray for something more when they were getting freaked out by weird noises in the station.

Shaz: “They’re illegal.”
Ray: “Are they? Maybe someone should tell the police.”

Gene: “This is the final chapter, Bolls in case you haven’t noticed. We’re fighting for our lives.”

Ray might be a racist, sexist guy but I noticed that he was egging Shaz’s policing on when they investigated the ANC drinking den even if it was him who found the murder weapon.

Gene: “You scrub up well Bolls.”
Alex: “Thank you. You don’t look so bad yourself.”

Alex (to Gene): “Did you or did you not kill Sam Tyler?”

Actually Alex was wearing an outfit rather similar to the first time that she met Gene, even if the dress here was cream rather than red.

Gene (to Alex, re Sam): “I wasn’t happy for him to go. I wanted him to stay. I didn’t want to lose him.”

Gene: “You’re the feminist, you can pay half.”
Alex: “Grab your coat, you’ve pulled.”

When Joshua was asking Chris about how come Alex knew of Nelson Mandela being president in years to come, Chris wasn’t that fazed of her knowledge.

Alex: “I don’t believe Gene Hunt killed Sam Tyler.”
Jim: “And how did you come to that conclusion?”
Alex: “I asked him.”

Gene (to Alex): “I don’t care what Jim Keats thinks, I care what you think and if you don’t believe me, what’s the point?”

It seems in the final episode; Alex is going to have to head to Lancashire in order to find out the truth about Sam.

Jim: “Be careful, Alex, be very careful.”

Standout music: Spandau Ballet’s “True”. Like Jim, I do like that song myself.

It wasn’t as good as last week’s episode but it was certainly a terrific episode and hopefully after all this teasing about, well, everything, we will get a finale justifies the show’s running and is true to character. Here’s hoping.

Rating: 8 out of 10.

My Review of Ashes To Ashes 3x06: "Episode 22"

Written And Directed by Jamie Payne

Paul: “Don’t mock me. You forget, Alex. That’s what happens to you here, Alex, you forget.”

Ignoring the leaked spoiler that this episode was going to kill off a regular character, can I just say how fantastic this episode was in general? This season has been slow moving in places and now it’s really cranking up the heat in a big way.

As characters went, I assumed that it was going to be Viv. I didn’t even consider the idea that it could’ve been someone else, even Keats for that matter. It was just always Viv who I expected to die in this one and he did, afraid and regretful of his actions. And I liked Viv, even though it took this episode to give him any development whatsoever.

Viv getting involved in a prison riot on the hopes of freeing a member of his family made sense. I don’t think I could’ve bought Viv becoming corrupted, so him being driven in doing something so desperate made a lot more sense to me. It also made a lot of sense that he’d be sorry as a result.

I don’t just mean Chris figuring out that Viv gave Jason his gun to kick off the raid but more the point of Jason turning around and killing Viv in the process. Jason had a reputation to keep up with and Viv basically got caught in the crossfire when Jason had no other way out of the raid that Gene managed to outsmart with Alex’s help.

Viv might have betrayed his friends and colleagues but I did love the fact that Gene put that aside and reminded everyone of Viv’s good side. It’s a pity that he didn’t get there a minute earlier when Jim was all over Viv. What the hell was Jim trying to do? I thought he was going to snap Viv’s neck but Viv freaked out for a good bit with Jim before dying.

This raises a lot of questions about Jim. If Jim is supposed to be some kind of guardian angel, then he’s a really terrible one. Viv was more freaked out than reassured to see him and Alex was openly resentful with him constantly telling her to help unearth Gene as well. Still, there are only two episodes left and we’re nearing to answers as well.

Whatever Jim’s motives are with Gene, his general plans are beginning to work. Gene was downright reckless in this episode, especially given that he put both Chris and Ray’s lives in danger with Jason and if it hadn’t been for Alex, both Chris and Ray would’ve been electrocuted. It’s a good job that he did listen to her on that one.

But not only that, there was the issue of Paul Thordy as well. I get that Paul was supposed to be seen as a fantasist, given his insistence that he was Sam Tyler but there was also the indication that there some truth behind a lot of the bullshit that Alex had to wade through with him as well.

Gene has been keeping far too many secrets in regards to Sam and Paul was certainly able to play on that with Alex as well. He also hit something of a nerve with Alex when he mentioned that she could end up forgetting things if she didn’t know the secret. One which he didn’t really share with her besides Jason’s plans to electrocute some coppers.

With Gene’s behaviour the way that it is, Alex did really need to take some more assertive steps into getting proper answers. He won’t tell her a damn thing and the episode did end with her looking at the photo of that scarred constable, which certainly seemed to promise quite a lot for the finale as well.

Also in “Episode 22”

This is the first (and probably) only time in the series that an episode has been written and directed by the same person. And Viv was a big West Ham fan.

Jim: “Perhaps it wasn’t a wise call to take charge of the attack?”
Gene: “Are you saying it’s my fault?”

Paul Thordy was the last person Sam arrested prior to his death, something which Alex questioned when no-one relayed that to her.

Gene: “I’m negotiating.”
Alex: “What, like Hiroshima was negotiated?”

Chris (to Ray after knocking out Paul): “Well, when the sheet hits the man.”

Alex walked in on Ray and Shaz discussing seeing stars. There was a moment in this episode where it looked like Chris was about to see them too.

Jim: “You ever stare at something so long your vision goes black?”
Alex: “What?”

Paul: “I want to float amongst the stars.”
Gene: “The only thing you’ll be floating in is your own shit.”

Did anyone else think for a bit that the mystery copper Alex keeps seeing and Thordy look a little too similar to each other?

Alex: “I hope you got a heart in there.”
Gene: “I’ve got two. Mine and some toe rag’s I ate earlier.”

Alex (to scarred constable): “I don’t want to be here anymore. Please just show me; just show what I’m supposed to do.”

In Alex’s dream, both Chris and Shaz were looking at Gene’s mysterious tin box. Does that mean something else?

Jim (to Gene): “Oh look at you, lost at sea.”

Jason (to Ray): “Old Spice, fags and loneliness. I suppose you could be a journalist.”

I was expecting Ray to come out with something more than wanting Chris’s mug when he thought that he might not make it out of the prison riot alive.

Shaz (to Gene re Chris/Ray): “You sent them in there. The bastard’s right, it’s on your hands.”

Chris (to Ray): “If I don’t make it out of here, can you give Shaz a message? Can you tell her, can you tell her I love her?”

There were two trailers for next week’s episode, both of which having Alex directly ask Gene if he killed Sam Tyler and them nearing to a kiss.

Alex (to Gene): “You are far from perfect, you are rotten.”

Jim: “What are you trying to achieve?”
Gene: “Shut it.”

Standout music: The score music for this one mainly and Sam ‘died’ in 2005? Now that was a good way of proving that Thordy was a fantasist.

Well, this was definitely a riveting episode from start to finish. Prison riot episodes could’ve been a bit dull but this one forwarded some stuff and with two episodes left, it does look like we could see this show end on a great note.

Rating: 10 out of 10.

My Review of Ashes To Ashes 3x05: "Episode 21"

Written by Tom Butterworth And Chris Hurford
Directed by Jamie Payne

Bevan: “The thing about Gene Hunt, it’s not what he did. It’s about what he got other people to do.”
Alex: “And what did he get you to do?”

I complained in my review for the previous episode that we weren’t getting anything with Sam Tyler and here was an episode that teased so much that I’ll be genuinely shocked if John Simm doesn’t appear in the last episode of this series. I mean, we’re three episodes away from the end. Now’s the time for answers, writers.

Bringing back another known Life On Mars character with Litton and his scumbag partner Bevan was certainly a way to throw us more morsels on Sam Tyler than ever before. Litton took an initial similar disdain to Alex that he did with Sam and Bevan certainly knew more than he was letting on.

At one point, Bevan even cornered Alex and promised her that he’d give her information on Gene and Sam if she’d drop Frank Hardwick. Alex didn’t fall for that one but she did get to witness Gene stealing her files and burning them along with Sam’s jacket.

I never get bothered by seeing clothes ruined or destroyed but seeing Gene burning Sam’s jacket for some reason got to me. It was like he was burning away the last trace of Sam, even though I still think he’s alive and it was enough to spark Alex into demanding some straight answers on the issue. So, why doesn’t Gene give her any?

Hasn’t Alex proved enough in over twenty episodes that she’s worth trusting? Or did Gene really did have something to do with Sam’s disappearance? He was desperate enough to silence Bevan and whatever he said to Bevan, it freaked the bent copper out enough to tell Alex to stay away from him.

Gene’s doing himself no favours by not confiding in Alex. Every time he pulls away from her is another chance for Keats to try and widen the gap between the pair of them. Keats can see that and he certainly has taken enough delight in undermining Gene at every turn this season. He even rubbed Gene’s nose in it by suspending Litton.

The idea of Gene actually being bothered that Litton’s career could be in tatters is certainly a change for the books. I used to enjoy Gene and Litton’ rivalry and Litton was largely obnoxious for the best part of this episode but if ever there was an episode to redeem an otherwise unlikeable character, it would be this one.

It would’ve been easy for the writers to have taken Litton down the road of corruption. Like Gene, Litton isn’t down with change and certainly couldn’t stand the more progression stances of either Jim or Alex in this episode. He even made a few sexist comments here and there when Frank Hardwick had originally been let go.

But being a sexist, old fashioned brute are his only flaws. He wasn’t anywhere near as bad as Bevan and actually believed that Frank had been stealing from police widows. The moment he realised that Bevan had been duping him saw a different change in his attitude. He even respected Gene at one point and commented on their glaringly obvious similarities.

More importantly though, he noted that both Sam and Alex have affected Gene and you don’t have to be a genius to agree with that. Now, I wish Gene would just bloody open up to Alex about Sam because there is very little time left and if he doesn’t act soon, Alex will end up being swayed by Jim from the looks of it.

As for other mysteries in this episode, we now have three main characters that have seen stars. I didn’t expect Ray to start seeing them as well and it was interesting that it gave him and Shaz something to discuss, even if he denied seeing them in the end. Is this show going to take a similar route to the US version of its predecessor? Something about those stars are significant.

Speaking of significant. Ray’s loyalties seem to be tested a lot recently. First with the army bloke and now with Litton and Bevan. Bevan had some kind of weird control over Ray and even tried to use that when he was trying to escape from Gene, Alex and Litton. I’m glad that Ray managed to snap the hell out of it though. Having friends like Bevan is definitely not worth the hassle.

Another good thing with Ray in this episode was him and Shaz actually getting along for a bit. Shaz asked him if he was lonely and he admitted that he was. Plus there was more dubious comments made about his sexuality. Whatever could that possibly mean? And I loved him and Shaz singing “Danny Boy” at the cop gala more than Chris’s impressive dance moves and those were bloody impressive.

As for Bevan and Frank, well it was a lot more interesting that some of the main cases this season and it helped that a lot of it tied into or related around the Sam mystery and even the stars. It also helped that Bevan was suitably nasty and that Frank (who’d witnessed him beating a black man to death) was reasonably harmless, even if he wasn’t the best comedian in the world.

Finally with Jim – hats off to Daniel Mays because he’s really doing a great job with showing how much of an odious little pencil pusher he really is. I’ve read theories about him possibly being a guardian angel for Alex and if that’s true, I bet she’d happily trade for Castiel off Supernatural. At least he’s likeable and hot.

Also in “Episode 21”

Those clips of Sam from Life On Mars were fantastic but I want a John Simm appearance on this show now please.

Gene (to Alex): “I’m not having two months hard graft blown by you, Sleeping Beauty.”

Jackie Tyler herself Camille Coduri played a prostitute in this episode. Sadly she wasn’t given much to do in this episode but it was nice to see her on TV.

Alex (to Gene, re Litton/Bevan): “I thought you were a throwback. Compared to those two, you’re practically homo erectus.”

Shaz (re porn): “Who watches this filth?”
Alex (to Gene): “You care to share anything with us, guv?”

There was no scarred copper in this episode and there was nothing further on 6-6-20. Bevan was also the police photographer on the day of Sam’s death.

Litton: “Couldn’t have made something up, you stupid woman.”
Alex: “No, because that would be breaking the law, chief inspector.”

Gene (to Alex): “Look at us; we’re like Sapphire And Steel. I’m like him and you’re like ... her. Team work, cop solidarity.”

I think this was the first episode where we weren’t in Alex’s flat, even if we did have some scenes in Luigi’s for this one.

Bevan (to Alex, re Sam/Gene): “I’ll never tell you what happened. The closer you get to it, the more you’ll never know.”

Ray (to Chris): “I just saw stars, like the edge of the world. Can’t you see them?”

Standout music: The Cure’s “Love Cats” won for me.

Chris: “Shaz, I’m cacking it.”
Shaz: “You’ll be fine. Now go break a leg.”
Chris: “That’s not very supportive.”

Gene: “Not many of us left, Litton, good old day. Now bugger off back to Manchester.”

Chronology: Still in 1983, though nothing further on that.

While there’s a lot of teasing in this episode, at least we’re back to things getting exciting. Now with three episodes left, let’s just hope the answers will be worth it because we’ve waited long enough.

Rating: 8 out of 10.

My Review of Ashes To Ashes 3x04: "Episode 20"

Written by Jack Lothian
Directed by Alrick Riley

Shorty: “You belong here. You look like you’re visiting but you’re staying.”
Alex: “What did you say?”

As much as I love that little moment in this episode, it’s another case of some cryptic moments that don’t really advance Alex’s story. She might be getting messages on walls, having druggies making the above comment and dreaming of scarred coppers but it’s not actually leading anywhere fast enough. And we’ve got four episodes left as well.

Even when Alex tried to gauge Shaz into spilling more about the stars that she’s been drawing, we still didn’t get anything new. What is the significance of these stars? Should Alex be looking for a police box with a young man dressed in tweed? I’d pay to see that crossover.

This isn’t a bad episode in case the two paragraphs above sound like I didn’t enjoy this one but I guess I’m at a point where I want more attention on these lingering mysteries and almost less on the cases, especially given that they all seem to be mostly straightforward enough this season and don’t really need to take up that much screen time.

Still, this one had some stuff to aspire to. Alex clearly revels in being a mentor to any female officer she can stumble across. You just have to look at the way she interacts with Shaz to have that point drilled home and then there was Louise Gardner.

An undercover copper from a rival station trying to undo a drugs bust on the Guv’s patch. I can see how that would’ve rubbed Gene up the wrong way and with a superior as phenomenally useless as Wilson, a lot of sympathy was heading in Louise’s general direction.

Gene certainly had to go and make things bad for Louise when he and Alex talked to her during her undercover stint at the Stafford’s mannequin place. I don’t like siding with Keats but damn it, Gene, just once you should’ve done it by the book. Even Alex warned you enough times that talking to Louise so directly would’ve had consequences.

There was no surprise when she showed up at HQ battered by the rather vicious looking Daniel in the same way that it would also turn out unsurprising that Daniel would realise that Louise had grassed him up for the heroin in his car. Daniel might not be the most interesting thug of the week but he’s certainly nasty enough.

Louise played on that when she told Chris that Daniel had raped her and while Alex was right to castigate Chris, there are not many people who would actually blame Chris for beating the living daylights out of Daniel in his cells when the coast was clear. It’s only a pity that Daniel would end up escaping afterwards.

Another thing that became clear as the episode progressed was that Alex’s faith in Louise was going to be misplaced as well. Alex was right to sympathise with Louise because wrong turns or not, Louise was failed by her superiors. Wilson had struck a deal with Daniel and had basically left Louise to hang.

Weirdly enough, it was Daniel’s kingpin father who actually cared about Louise, even though he knew that she was undercover. Louise’s death was one of those occasions where I did care about the guest star dying, mainly because she had to have Keats of all people do the comforting as she died.

Then again, Keats did manage to make himself look pretty good by offering to take a bullet for Chris and he certainly must have generated some satisfaction when Alex forced Gene into thanking him. Of course the smile soon got wiped off his face when Gene gave the least sincere (and hilarious) apology to the smug git.

I like Daniel Mays as an actor and I know that Keats has a purpose to this season but like a lot of other things right now, I just wish he would get on with it. He talks about wanting to unearth Gene. Four episodes in, he hasn’t done enough to turn Gene’s team against. Even with Alex he seemed to be taking his precious time in turning her against Gene.

Also I was hoping that this episode might give us something a little further with the Sam stuff but that was another dead end as well. Thankfully though the trailer from next week does seem to indicate that some progress might be made there. Hurry up, writers, there’s not much episodes left to go through at this point.

Also in “Episode 20”

Alex tried to give Gene a lecture on driving while he was under the influence. Naturally, he told her where to go. And guess who wrecked the Blue Peter garden?

Gene: “Take note, she’ll be giving you advice soon.”
Shaz: “Not soon enough, guv.”

There was a nice reminder with a lot of Shaz’s scenes in this episode about Gene’s promise of promoting her. I hope he does actually follow through with that one.

Gene (to Wilson, re Louise): “So you put a woman in there to do your dirty work while you sit on your fat arse twiddling your thumbs?”

Wilson: “Nice tits.”
Alex: “Did he just say?”
Gene: “He’s a cripple, Bolly, have a heart.”

Bryan Dick who played the odious Daniel has also appeared in episodes of Torchwood and Being Human, TV fans.

Gene: “Just routine enquiries, Terrence.”
Terry: “Nothing is routine with you, Hunt.”

Gene: “Looks like Danny Boy’s going down faster than a five pound prossie.”

Alex took down a few notes this week, notably about Sam, Gene, Shaz, stars and the 6-6-20 that we’ve seen in the last two episodes.

Alex: “I think I’m being haunted.”
Jim: “Metaphorically?”
Alex: “No, literally.”
Jim: “Odd is underselling it.”

Gene: “Do I look like a slice of toast?”
Alex: “No!”
Gene: “Then stop buttering me up like a demented housewife.”

Alex dreamed of being buried here while Gene was trying to wake her up. Jim also talked about not believing in ghosts.

Daniel (to Alex): “I tried prison. I didn’t like it very much. I don’t plan to go back, so yeah, love, I wanna make a deal.”

Gene (to Louise): “I’ve seen slappers in my time but this is a new low.”

Standout music: Frank Sinatra’s “My Way”.

Gene: “You know you really have to stop with all this psychological bollocks, Bolly.”
Alex: “Good shot.”
Gene: “I was aiming for her leg.”

Chronology: Still 1983 but specific date as to when, though I would say maybe mid to late summer.

Not a bad episode but a bit too routine for my liking. I just think given that we don’t have much time left, there needs to be more advancement on the bigger stories instead of the focus being primarily on the cases which they have been a lot more this season.

Rating: 7 out of 10.

My Review of Ashes To Ashes 3x03: "Episode 19"

Written by Julie Rutherford
Directed by Alrick Riley

Gene (to Alex): “Firemen starting fires, what’s next – doctors killing patients?”

Yeah because such a thing would never, ever really happen in real life. As for arsonist firemen, not entirely the most unrealistic thing that Gene and the gang have ever had to deal with, now is it?

Gene’s guts might be the very thing that Jim Keats may want to serve his superiors on a platter but they’re also the very thing helped him out in this episode. He knew that Andy Smith was guilty of setting fires around polling stations and he was more than happy to maintain that belief when everyone else was happy to disagree with him.

After all, Gene’s never been wrong with such a thing in his life before and it was pretty obvious that as soon as snivelling little brat Barney identified Andy that we had our culprit for this episode. The only problem was convincing everyone else of Andy’s guilt and stopping his next area of attack.

That was hard to do when you had the likes of Jim Keats bleating on about how much of a hero Andy and his superiors nagging Gene to release him from custody. Even Ray was fully convinced that Andy was innocent. After all, Ray had struck up a bond with Andy at the start of this episode.

Andy was the fella who saved Ray from a burning building and Ray certainly admired the fact that Andy was in the Falklands as well. It was obvious from Ray’s admiration that some information on the sexist copper would be unveiled as the episode progressed and it was pretty predictable stuff as well.

Ray nearly joined the army but didn’t because he got scared and it created tension with his father. It made for a powerful moment when Ray was the only person who was able to stop a betrayed Andy from burning up his wife. Ray was the only person who could reach to Andy and afterwards, it also made sense that he would deny everything.

Ray didn’t fool anyone in this episode. Alex gave a fairly obvious insight into the way he was and for a small bit; I think Ray let down his guard, though Alex should probably be careful of her knickers nonetheless. However while Alex’s assessment of Ray were in a more positive and understanding light, the same cannot be said about Jim’s.

Ray might be an independent thinker underneath his desperation to prove something to Gene but it certainly didn’t help that Jim tried to use this to his advantage. Trying to turn Ray against Gene (and that’s definitely what he’s setting out to do) is certainly on the hypocritical side of things, isn’t it?

Jim talks a lot about trying to unearth Gene and revealing secrets but he’s a pretty see through character at the moment. He might give the odd insight into the likes of Chris and Ray but even the two of them aren’t as dim as Jim might like to think they are. Similarly, Alex did seem to be more on Gene’s side during the investigation of the arson attacks than she was with Jim.

Jim tried to create a divide between Alex and Gene by telling the latter of the former’s snooping into Sam Tyler’s files. Gene didn’t seem too pleased but seeing as he already knew that Alex had taken an interest in Sam recently, he wasn’t exactly as shocked as Jim might have hoped he was. As for this episode progressing anything on the Sam front, it actually didn’t in the slightest.

There was very little in the mystery front with this episode. Alex had one trippy moment where she was drawing stars and scribing 6-6-20 but outside of that, nothing. With five episodes left in the series, here’s hoping that things do speed up on the mystery behind that date and Sam.

I could talk also talk a bit more about the arson plot of this episode but the truth was that it wasn’t very interesting. Andy’s shellshock triggered him burning up polling stations, attacking a journalist and if it hadn’t been for him discovering about his wife and brother sleeping together, he would’ve attacked Margaret Thatcher but outside of that, it was pretty formulaic to be honest.

The connection with Ray and Andy probably helped the plot and there’s a wonderful scene where both Ray and Shaz go head to toe on their political viewpoints with Alex trying to keep schtum on future events but this episode just didn’t really offer anything new really. Even the obnoxious Barney being thrown into a cell wasn’t as funny as it should’ve been and he was twelve for crying out loud.

Also in “Episode 19”

If Daniel Mays’s name wasn’t in the opening credits, I might have actually been shocked when Jim announced that he was going nowhere at the start of the episode.

Alex: “Are you sure you haven’t left anyone out?”
Chris: “Vanessa Redgrave.”

Shaz mentioned that she was dating a posh bloke called Julian and Alex suggested dumping him because he liked Jazz music. Bit harsh, don’t you think?

Gene: “If you shove your nose further up Newman’s arse it’ll be browner than Ghandi.”
Jim: “Don’t shoot the messenger.”

Gene (re Alex/Shaz): “What is it with women and firemen, its pathetic? You’ll be wanting to go down his pole next.”

Shaz mentioned to Alex in this episode that she was seeing stars. What is the significance of them both seeing/drawing them? And who is that scarred constable?

Jim (to Ray): “Gene Hunt is an amazing fella, amazing but you don’t need him. You won’t be letting him down.”

Chris (re Andy): “How did you know he was gonna give you the lighter?”
Ray: “I didn’t.”

Standout music: Apart from some score music, nothing really jumped out for me. Plus this episode did seem low on music as well.

Shaz (re Julian): “He likes Jazz.”
Alex: “Dump him.”

Chronology: A couple of days/weeks since the previous episode.

Not necessarily a terrible episode but insight into Ray’s family background aside, I didn’t really enjoy this one. There were some nice characters moments and I could certainly get used to Alex and Shaz’s girly moments but this felt a little filler in places for me.

Rating: 6 out of 10.

My Review of Ashes To Ashes 3x02: "Episode 18"

Written by Ashley Pharoah

Directed by David Drury

Ray: “What’s the most unusual place a bloke’s ever made love to you?”
Woman: “Probably my bottom.”

And as questions go, this is definitely one not to ask on a bout of speed dating. Yes, to solve a case, Alex introduced the concept to her colleagues in a bid to catch a killer. I can’t wait to see if she gets around to introducing them to social networking sites next. Still, it obviously did do the trick in the end.

You’ve got a bunch of freshly divorced brunette women who are being killed, branded and even having body parts severed and the only thing they seemed to have in common been that they used a speed dating company that Alex and Gene both decided to investigate in the obvious of ways.

Not a case of asking simple questions but more pretending to be lonely singletons looking for love. Except both of them actually are, so there’s a bit of an irony there, wouldn’t you say? I loved the scene where they were sitting around comparing notes about the different ways in which they answered their questions.

Of course Gene would have to go for a crude-ish answer when asked about what he was looking for in a woman and Alex was never gonna be able to resist referencing post-1983 stuff in her answers either. The shipper in me would say they’re perfect for each other in that opposite attract sense of things but this wasn’t about them in that way – not by a mile.

Nope, it was about catching a woman hating scumbag named McClean and while he had all the problems in the world – wife left him for another man, he’s got terminal cancer, and he was still a vicious bastard who nearly killed Shaz upon twigging that she was posing undercover to nab him.

I was actually hoping that Shaz had killed him when she stabbed him but it made sense for the story that he lived to confess and die of cancer whilst in jail. But in its own way, the confrontation scene with McClean and Shaz was from the view point of the latter in the end and rightfully so.

Shaz went from being nervous and wanting to catch McClean out to rightful anger as he went on his sexist rant. In a way, this was a huge episode for Shaz, whose experiences with catching McClean shaped the decisions she made about her career at the end of the episode.

Throughout the entire episode she was depressed, cranky, even defeated as she came to the conclusion that she didn’t belong in the police force. Even Alex’s little pep talk did naff all to actually get Shaz to change her mind. Unlike Keats, who somewhat encouraged her to actually hand in her notice.

The only person who effectively changed Shaz’s mind was Gene, which to be fair was not exactly that surprising when you think about it. He might loathe the touchy feely stuff but he certainly knows that she’s a good, loyal cop and her dealing with McClean was enough for Gene to tempt her into staying with a promotion. It looks like he’s not as regressive as Keats would like to think after all.

Speaking of Keats, his contribution to this episode wasn’t as interesting as his previous episode. I just don’t know how or why he wants to help Alex so much. It is genuinely altruistic because the way in which he interacts the male colleagues wouldn’t suggest that to me or does he just want to stick it to Gene that badly?

He certainly had no problem in telling Alex that he believed that Gene was responsible for Sam’s death. I know Gene’s being incredibly secretive about that but I just don’t believe that he killed Sam, even if Alex did go behind his back and dig up some files and seemed to considered Jim’s hunch about Sam’s death.

I guess with so few episodes left before the entire series comes to an end, the positives also mean that things don’t get dragged out. Gene knew about Alex’s snooping and confronted her head on and asked her not to help Keats. For the time being, I hope Alex respects that because it reminds me of Sam choosing Frank Morgan over Gene and that blowing up in his face. Just trust the Gene Genie, Alex.

As for Chris in this episode, not much to do other than being worried for Shaz, avoiding copping off with twins and sniping with Ray. He also seemed unwilling to talk about Sam as much as Gene did as well, which could suggest anything really. Like maybe Chris knowing more than he was letting on, perhaps?

Also in “Episode 18”

The intro of “Uptown Girl” for this episode was absolutely brilliant. I know what I’ll be looking for on YouTube a few hours after this episode aired. And what does 6-6-20 mean?

Chris: “I don’t want a hand job.”
Ray: “What do you want?”
Chris: “Love. Look it up.”

The credits were different for this episode again, with Alex talking about time running out on her and solving the mystery. Hers or Sam’s? Both probably.

Gene: “Speak up please, Sharon!”
Shaz: “Murder! Murder!”

Gene: “When are we most vulnerable?”
Ray: “I’m never vulnerable, guv.”
Alex: “When we’re in love.”

Beth Goddard who played Elaine in this episode (the woman who ran the dating agency McClean was using to get his victims) is Philip Glenister’s wife.

Gene: “And I have told you more than once, Bolly, Nelson Mandela is a terrorist.”

Jim: “Why did you join the police force, Sharon?”
Shaz: “To make a difference.”

Alex cited her favourite movie as Thelma And Louise in contrast to Gene’s High Noon. Chris and Ray also had different opinions on The Hunger and Return Of The Jedi.

Gene (to Alex): “Well that went well. I spent the evening with a bunch of sluts and losers.”

Shaz (re undercover): “Please don’t ask me.”
Gene: “I wouldn’t ask you if I didn’t think you could do it.”
Shaz: “And then no more.”
Gene: “Then no more, I give you my word.”

Standout music: Well, definitely the use of Billy Joel’s “Uptown Girl” and David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance”.

Ray: “It’s not my fault I’ve got an illness with a posh name. What is it?”
Alex: “Misogyny.”

Jim (re Gene/Sam): “You think he killed him, don’t you?”
Alex: “I think who killed him? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Jim: “I think he did too.”

Chronology: Judging by the dates for The Hunger and Return Of The Jedi, May 1983.

Not as good as the previous episode but definitely insightful and I’m beginning to wonder how connected that scarred policeman is to all of this as well. Judging by next week though, it seems there more Gene vs. Jim to contend with as well.

Rating: 8 out of 10.

My Review of Ashes To Ashes 3x01: "Episode 17"

Written by Matthew Graham
Directed by David Drury

Alex (to Gene): “Sometimes in life, you can’t help which way you fall.”

And other times, you can never expect which way you’re gonna way up from a coma. I don’t think there was ever going to be a satisfying way in which Alex would wake from her coma in 1983 but I did think that it might take more than Gene Hunt’s slapping her to do the trick, I really did.

I guess I should be glad that Alex did wake up both reasonably quickly within the episode and also unlike Sam; she didn’t get a sudden urge to throw herself off a building in order to get to a world that she now accepts as real. This is the biggest breakthrough with Alex – her acceptable that Gene’s world is rooted in reality.

It’s a point she discussed with her therapist in 2008/2009 (what year is it that she woke up in her own time?) when she went into detail about how she couldn’t escape the sounds of Gene, Ray, Chris and Shaz all trying to communicate with her. It also made sense that the therapist in question scoffed the claims made by Alex.

But enough of modern times, Alex and Gene both had their own problems to deal with in 1983. First off all, the awkwardness of Gene landing Alex into her previous state had some obvious consequences that weren’t helped by Gene previous skipping the country and trying to reclaim authority when going back to HQ.

I really could see Ray’s point in all this. Yes he was miffed that Gene was practically clipping his wings again but for once, Gene might have done himself a favour by playing ball. As soon as Jim entered the scene, I knew there was going to be trouble between him and Gene. You didn’t preview trailers and internet spoilers to detect that.

Jim was amiable enough around the first half of the episode and even held back on his hostility when Gene was making hospital visits but the end scenes in the office were great stuff. Jim didn’t hold back on his abhorrence of Gene there and there was some insight into his animosity of the Gene Genie.

The episode went to lengths to talk about Gene being at the heart of everything, which at this point in the series was something that most viewers would’ve naturally assumed anyways. There have been too many coincidences with Gene and Jim certainly hit a nerve by talking about his past.

Whatever it is that Gene has done that will make everyone turn on him has to be connected with Sam. Come on, they didn’t even try to be subtle about it as Alex found that file on Sam around the same time Jim was going into detail about destroying Gene’s little kingdom all around him.

In some ways, Jim has a point about Gene’s abilities as the guv but at the same time, we’ve seen Gene’s impulsiveness and maverick behaviour generate results that even Alex might have difficulty disagreeing with. Did Gene have something to do with Sam’s disappearance or death? With seven episodes left, it looks like we might finally get some proper answers on that one.

As for Jim – he visited Alex in the hospital, warned her about history repeating itself and seemed to generally know what she was going through exactly. Now this could also tie into the whole Sam debacle as well and while he may share a disdain for everyone else in HQ, he’s certainly interested in her. Alex, I’d watch myself if I were you.

As for the case of the week story, I wasn’t as drawn to it as I was with previous ones. It was made obvious halfway through it that David’s new wife Marjorie was responsible for Dotty’s kidnapping as well and there was never a real threat that the baddies were actually going to kill the girl, even when Ray fluffed up the sting itself.

Still, I did like some of the cryptic comments that Marjorie made to Alex about Gene as well as a certain line uttered earlier in the episode by Alex was also said by Marjorie when she was explaining her love for dodgy criminal Gary Sopher but other than that, the main case wasn’t the most compelling of ones that the show has done.

That being said, apart from Gene’s refusal to back off, there were some other highlights with the case – Ray’s grudging respect of Alex’s authority/instincts, Chris getting a clue about the codes and computer chips and even Shaz getting to do a bit of surveillance. It’s also however a little sad that Chris and Shaz broke up between seasons but hats off to Chris for trying to keep things as cordial as possible.

Also in “Episode 17”

Apart from adding Daniel Mays name to the opening credits, I have to admit that I’m a little disappointed with them this year.

Alex: “My name is Alex Drake and quite frankly, your guess is as good as mine.”

I see that the BBC are still gonna use the ident for introducing each episode but why did they have to move this to bloody Friday?

Chris: “We didn’t think you were coming back.”
Gene: “Nor did I after the report you gave me.”

Ray: “Guv, you’re a wanted man.”
Gene: “Don’t you know it’s nice to be wanted?”

No Bowie clowns or cryptic talk of Operation Rose for Alex. This season she gets to see a scarred copper. Like that henchmen of Gary’s.

Ray (to Chris/Shaz): “You two aren’t even together and she’s got you reading lesbian poetry.”

Gene (to Alex): “You know I missed you but now that you’re back, I’m getting all annoyed again?”

Keeley Hawes has got a different hairstyle for Alex this season and Marshall Lancaster is still wearing blond streaks in his hair as well.

Jim: “You asked about handcuffs, I could use them on you now.”
Gene: “Try it, Jim.”

Alex (to Gene): “I’m glad I came back. This place needs me, it’s crying out for me.”

Alex sent Molly away to her father after she woke up. I wonder what Evan had to say about it.

Gene: “What is it?”
Alex: “A please wouldn’t kill you.”

Standout music: Kings Of Leon’s “Sex On Fire”, Queen And David Bowie’s “Under Pressure” and Eurythemics “Sweet Dreams” to name the obvious ones.

Jim (to Gene): “I know what you did three years ago. I know.”

Chronology: Three months since the second season finale.

As opening episodes go, it’s not the strongest one that the show has done but in it’s final year, it’s still an intriguing start to the chain of events that will ultimately bring this whole five year saga to an end, though hopefully a satisfying one.

Rating: 8 out of 10.

Ashes To Ashes - Sports Relief/Season 3 Preview - Spoilers

April 2010 - Not one but two time travelling dramas. TARDIS travels are fun but so is watching a certain someone being stuck in 1983.

First off all, last week's Sport Relief segment to contend with ....

Not a huge fan of canned laughter and it certainly didn't help with the sketch, which was otherwise amusing. Spot all the cameos if you can and see how appreciative of a sporting figure Ray really is as well.

Sports Relief: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StjLCN9arCg

Gene (to Alex): Do you know I missed you but now that you're back, I'm getting all annoyed again?

The trailer for the new season aired last Friday and all the TV Guides this week have been plastering both Philip Glenister and Keeley Hawes all over the covers. Not that I'm complaining. Nice to see quality TV being pimped instead of the usual overflated drivel. And Glenister's comments on Simon Cowell are a little too spot on but that's a seperate issue.

Gene Hunt with Jim Keats (Daniel Mays). The latter is a prominent character in the third season and seems hell bent on putting Gene in his place. He's gonna need a lot of luck to pull that one off. I sense a bruise free groin slap coming his direction.

Chris Skelton (Marshall Lancaster) poses for a shot. I'm not too sure what's gonna happen with him this year. Do him and Shaz tie the knot? Here's hoping.

Shaz Granger (Montesserat Lombard) - Her hair seems to keep growing every season and there's the hint that her, Chris and Ray will discover some truths about themselves along with Alex and Gene.
Ray Carling (Dean Andrews) has gone from a character I previously couldn't stand to being quite sympathetic and endearing in this series.

And with the trailer, we saw Sam's file. Is it too much to even fanwank that John Simm could pop in the series? Should he? After all, while it would be nice to have real closure on Sam, this is Alex's story and she has to be of more importance than Sam to be fair. Matthew Graham said a lot of the loose ends will be resolved but not everything will be neatly resolved. Season 3 starts April 2nd 9pm on BBC1.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QElmmrc_iP0

My Review of Ashes To Ashes 2x08: "Episode 16"

Written by Matthew Graham
Directed by Catherine Morshead

Gene: “You talk to me, Alex. If I mean anything at all.”
Alex: “I’m from the future. I was shot and I woke up here like with you, just like Sam Tyler, only this is my reality. And I'm fighting not to die because if I die, I will never get home and it's insane but there it is. And I'm trusting you, which is why I'm telling you the truth.”

Eight weeks of mostly quality drama and the second season of the popular spin-off ends on one hell of a high note. For those who thought Ashes To Ashes was below par on Life On Mars, I think this season has proved otherwise. If not, the finale certainly has.

Operation Rose has been lingering around like a dangerous threat all season long and now was the time to finally uncover it. With Martin Summers constantly goading Alex about her losing her life, now was certainly the time for her to act on things.

One thing that Summers picked up on was that Alex was beginning to see Gene as a constant in her 1982 world. I thought because of this for a brief second that Martin might actually pull the trigger on Gene in order to get his own way but putting up a divide between Alex and Gene was a better way of achieving his goals.

The problem with Alex recording her thoughts and feelings about 1982 and previously in 1981, was that anyone could’ve uncovered the tapes and listened to them. Gene had to listen to them when Summers left them on his desk and it shattered his faith in Alex.

Given that only the previous episode had Gene uncover Chris as a mole, now wasn’t the best time for Alex’s real feelings to be made known. The confrontation that took place as a result had some powerful moments for the both of them. Alex finally told Gene that she was from the future and he didn’t believe her.

It was believable that he wouldn’t believer her. To anyone else, Alex does seem mad in the same way that Sam did. Even Annie, who was seemingly more open minded than Gene didn’t believe that Sam was from the future. I think it would’ve taken a lot for us to believe that Gene would believe Alex.

The only problems with confrontations as heated as Alex and Gene’s is that some lines are crossed. Gene crossed a massive line by doubting Molly’s existence and Alex gave him some slap for it. It also didn’t help that a pretty woman named Jenette had latched herself onto Gene as well.

The sister of thug Tiny Tim, Jenette played up to the vulnerable damsel in distress role and Gene bought into it and this was after she told him that she was told him that she could do it. In some ways it’s nice to see Gene have some flirtatious moments with another woman. Too bad that Jenette so obviously spelt out trouble.

Alex could sort of see it as well and she was even more hostile with Jenette than she was with Jackie, though obviously she had good reason to. At the time though, Gene was too mad at Alex to listen to her about anything at all.

It was Alex who managed to use her brand of psychology to get Tiny Tim to reveal that Operation Rose was going to be a group of bent cops stealing gold, something which Chris was also coerced into getting involved with, due to his ties with the bent cops as well.

Alex also knew that the hit was going to take place on the King Douglas Road and it was nearly too late before Gene actually realised that she was right. The extent of their tiff also had him suspend her but such a thing was never going to stop Alex from pursuing Martin Summers and stopping Operation Rose from happening.

As a revelation about Operation Rose, it’s not the most compelling of things but it’s decent enough. Martin told Chris that his involvement with helping bent coppers pull off a gold heist will eat away at his conscience because it’s exactly the same thing he did in 1982 and bizarre enough, he set the whole thing up with the intention of getting caught.

Martin’s death was fairly dramatic but namely for the moment where Gene talked to him about remembering that he was a good copper. Adrian Dunbar is good in this episode but Martin’s storyline does feel like it’s been quickly skimmed over to deal with the rest of the episode’s fallout.

Jenette revealed her true colours very quickly when she pulled a gun on Alex and demanded her gold. As female baddies go, this one has a lot to learn but in the line of trying to save Alex, Gene actually ended up shooting her as well. Needless to say that wasn’t the best thing he could’ve done.

On one hand, Gene’s little trigger happy moment actually sent Alex back to 2008. I didn’t know whether I wanted to cry or not because of a part of me thought this would be a very unsatisfying way for Alex to return but then I realised that all wasn’t going to be as it seemed.

Alex might be back in 2008, Molly might be delighted to have her mother back but the reveal of Alex being in a coma in 1982 with Gene trying to communicate with her blew my mind. Isn’t Lost supposed to be the only show every season that ends on a huge what the frak type of cliff hanger? This is an absolutely audacious way to end the second season. It also makes you more than glad for a third season as well.

When we weren’t getting the mind blowing moment to defy all of them, there were other parts of this episode that genuinely sparkled for me. Chris had to deal with the mistrust of others, following his own betrayal but by the end of the episode, he managed to win everyone around, including Shaz. Some people might complain that that might have come across as a bit too easy but I can live with it.

It was interesting that due Gene’s feud with Alex, it was Ray all of people that actually defended the latter. I have noticed in recent episodes that Ray has been a lot more civil with Alex and though he’s still a Neanderthal at the best of times, he has still improved as a character. As for the thing with the battered sausage, I was just grateful that I wasn’t eating at the time.

Also in “Episode 16”

I absolutely loved the opening scene with Gene in storyteller mode and Alex moaning that he was ruining her childhood memories.

Gene: “Shut your gobs or I’ll come round to your houses and stamp on all your toys.”

This week we also a got a piece of Jackanory as well, which is yet another TV series I never watched as a child.

Martin: “You think I’m the rot, that’s ironic.”
Alex: “And then I’m going home.”
Martin: "If you're strong enough."

Gene: “You are pulling my todger.”
Carly (re Doyle): “Well, he’s not pulling his.”

As far as we know, Ray actually did eat a battered sausage and not a certain part of Doyle’s anatomy.

Alex (re the shoes to Tiny Tim): “These are very clean. They just been scrubbed?”
Gene: “That’s very good. I thought she was gonna bake a cake.”

Tiny Tim: “I should tell you Mr Hunt, I’m into bondage and you’re giving me a stiffy.”
Alex: “Just give us some bloody names.”

Tiny Tim was the latest in a line of petty criminals to mysteriously die in the cells. In his case, he was poisoned.

Jenette: “You kissed me. Said it was the only way to shut me up.”
Gene: “Did it work?”
Jenette: "No. Maybe you didn't kiss me for long enough."

Shaz: “It was a horrible shock but I’m not ashamed of you. I’m proud of you.”
Chris: “How could you possibly be proud of me?”
Shaz: "Because you care when you get it wrong. It matters to you and that takes something special. I love you for that. Do you hear me, I love you?"

For me, Shaz in a wedding dress all gun happy and the like was a beautifully iconic moment of sorts.

Ray: “Sulk over then?”
Chris: “As long as this shit stops now.”
Ray: "Fair enough."

Gene (to Alex): “First Sam Tyler, now you. Why do I always attract the liars and the weirdoes?”

Throughout the episode, Alex kept reading that her ml was going beyond 15 on different things. It went as far as 50 before she was shot by Gene.

Martin: “Ah, yes this brings me back.”
Police Officer: “Who are you?”
Martin: “Police.”

Shaz: “How are you doing, baby?”
Chris: “Not too bad lover.”

Standout music: OMD’s “Joan Of Arc (Maid Of Orleans)” during Alex’s moment of heading back into her own time.

Alex: “I’m in a coma in 82. No, no, no, I'm not.”
Gene: "Bolly, Bolly."

Chronology: November 1982, so sixteen months from when Alex first arrived in Gene’s world.

What madness for a finale! Utterly brilliant, engrossing and shocking, I’m not sure how the third and last season is going to be able to bring this show to a conclusion but I certainly cannot wait to see how after this.

Rating: 10 out of 10.

My Review of Ashes To Ashes 2x07: "Episode 15"

Written by Mark Greig
Directed by Catherine Morshead

Alex: “X marks the spot.”
Gene: “Why not? Keep it simple. No need to overcomplicate things.”

Yeah but isn’t half the fun when things happen to get complicated, regardless of how arguably contrived that may or may not be. Every time Alex thinks she’s figured out something in 1982, she’s usually wrong.

So, getting home has to be the same thing as well. Yes the bullet’s out of her in the world but why hasn’t she gone home? Why hasn’t she really properly questioned that as well? More importantly, why hasn’t she been more worried about Martin Summers lingering threat surrounding Operation Rose?

Maybe it was because by not giving in to his demands of corruption, she thought she beat the beast. Yeah, it’s as likely as Ray going through an episode where he doesn’t make an offensive or stupid comment but, hey swings and roundabouts.

Luckily for us, the advancement of Martin Summers takes a brilliant turnaround in this episode when he enters the police station. The brilliant part is that it’s a much younger version of him, bent on stopping corruption so therefore invariably oblivious to having any prior knowledge of Alex.

However when Alex sees him stride into the station, she does seem pretty infuriated but strangely managed to keep her cool around. Less surprising was that when she had the first opportunity to confront Martin alone, she took it. Martin protesting that he knew nothing about her though didn’t seem to convince Alex either.

She was also pretty adamant in trying to turn Gene against the lad either. For all their increasing closeness this season, there are still times when Gene is sceptical of Alex’s opinions. He seemed adamant himself that he knew a good copper when he saw one. Gene, you have been wrong on more than one occasion with that theory.

It also didn’t help Martin when Alex discovered that the younger was taking backhanders as well. Of course what could be worse than a young copper bent on wiping out corruption taking backhanders? How about a very fatal meeting with his older, more ruthless self.

Alex made the conscious effort to seek out the older Martin Summers she met two episodes ago by sending out her number on flyers. It wasn’t exactly the smartest of things to do given the amount of fake replies she had to sift through as well but in the end, it did get her a result.

There should be a glaring expectation that when two versions of the same person meet each other, something bad has to happen. Older Martin meeting his younger self certainly maintained that train of thought when he happily shot his younger self, technically committing suicide but also proving that he’s still a ruthless bastard to the very end.

The worse part was the predicament it left Alex in. In a lot of ways she played into Martin’s hands big time by touching the gun and burying the younger version in the cement. Alex dug herself a massive hole by doing that in more ways than one. She really is gonna have to come up with one hell of an explanation when Gene gets winds of this.

The best thing she should’ve done was to have contacted Gene and told him everything first. Gene’s really on edge right about now on the issue of loyalty and even though Alex is someone he clearly trusts more than his other colleagues, she still should’ve told him about it.

Trust is the biggest issue in this episode and due to the fallout of this week’s main case, it’s the very thing that Gene tests out on Chris, Ray and Shaz by giving them a test to see if they are worthy of the Gene Genie’s trust. Surely none of them would dare betray Gene of all people?

Well, stranger things have happened and if I had to pick someone I would think capable of corruption, I would have gone for Ray. The only reason because he is in my opinion the most susceptible to corruption but that may not have the big dramatic moment of the episode.

We know that Chris is desperate to marry Shaz and even though she told him not to go to extremes, Chris didn’t pay much attention to that. Seeing as Alex wasn’t roped into corruption, poor Chris fell hook, line and sinker into the seedy world and the reveal was brilliant.

Without a doubt in the four years we’ve seen him play the character, I think Marshall Lancaster absolutely nailed his scenes with Philip Glenister in this episode. While Chris’s actions were inexcusable and Gene’s hurt was saddening to watch, both actors played an utter blinder.

It would’ve been easy to have written Gene as going absolutely berserk and sacking Chris (or even to beat the living daylights out of him) but I think his moments of quiet, his utter disbelief and then gently forcing Chris to admit to his co-workers what he had done was more effective. In a weird way, Chris’s guilt is punishment enough. Even Shaz couldn’t bear to look at him.

With all this brilliant stuff going on in the episode, the one thing that isn’t so great in the main case. So, we have Michael Lafferty running a construction site and moonlighting it as a drugs place as well. Not particularly inventive or insightful or even really resolved.

There was also a bit of a commentary on how foreign workers are repeatedly mistreated. The main murder victim in this episode was Polish and he seemed to have died because he was about to blackmail his boss for better working treatment. I suppose I shouldn’t really gripe all that much but the plot didn’t sparkle as much as the other stuff in this episode.

Also in “Episode 15”

I suppose I should’ve seen Chris being revealed as a mole coming when he appeared in Alex’s dream at the start of the episode.

Alex: “I’m gonna wake up.”
Gene: “Well, it’s about bloody time.”
Alex: “Yeah, if there are no complications.”

Some interesting bear nicknames with Gene as Daddy, Alex as Mummy (very couply), Ray as Big and Chris as Baby. Does that make Shaz Cute Bear?

Alex (re Michael Lafferty): “What have you got against him?”
Martin: “Just that he’s the kind of villain I joined up to put away.”

Thomash: “Why should I tell the police?”
Gene: “Because if you don’t start talking, you won’t see daylight, let alone bloody Poland.”

Thomash read a note that was a Polish poem. It also turned out to be pretty vital to the case as well.

Shaz: “Several people were looking for a Mr. Hugh Jarse. And it turned out Mike Rotch was quite popular too.”
Alex: “Right.”
Shaz: “Five or six had chronic asthma and one man had some very imaginative suggestions. He did want them word for word.”

Martin (to Alex): “What, you expected us to disappear in a puff of smoke? Matter meets anti-matter. Time imploding on itself, that sort of thing.”

I did wonder if by killing one Martin if the other would die but seemingly that is not the case in this universe.

Martin: “Surely, you don’t believe that you’re going to wake up just because they managed to get the bullet out?”
Alex: “How could you possibly know about that? This is my world, this is my life. Who are you?”
Martin: “The only one who really understands, Alex.”

Caroline: “You’ll find a way to get home.”
Alex: “Will I?”
Caroline: “Because you have to. Because you’re a mother too.”

It was nice to see Caroline in this episode. I nearly jumped out of my seat when we saw her, I wasn’t expecting it.

Gene: “Go home and get changed. I need you at your best.”
Alex: “Something skimpy?”

Chris (re Shaz’s relative): “Yeah, she’s great, Karen. Dead funny. Nice personality.”
Ray: “Oh I like that in my women. A good personality.”

Because virtually everyone seemingly has asked this but how come Gene didn’t give Alex a loyalty test? Would he have done the same if it had been Sam as well?

Alex: “What are we doing?”
Gene: “Waiting.”
Alex: “What for?”
Gene: “A traitor.”

Gene (to Chris): “Tell me you didn’t do it. Look me in the eyes and tell me you didn’t do it and I’ll believe you. Then we can forget about if you can tell me you didn’t do it.”

Standout music: The Cure’s “All Cat Are Grey” and Tears For Fears “Ideas And Opiates”.

Gene: “Jail isn’t your sentence, Chris. I am.”

Chronology: A couple of weeks since Mackintosh blew his brains out.

As episodes go, this is certainly one of the most intense the series has done. Some viewers have griped of the lack of consequence since Mackintosh’s death but this episode certainly addressed that thorny issue. Can’t wait to see what the finale is going pull out.

Rating: 9 out of 10.

My Review of Ashes To Ashes 2x06: "Episode 14"

Written by Jack Lothian
Directed by Philip John

Stanley: “It’s not what it looks like.”
Gene: “Never is. Flash of anger, lifetime of regret, still murder.”

Yeah, there are plenty of things to regret. Things you wished you’d never said or done or perhaps things you wish you had said or done. Regret can certainly eat away at you and in this episode; it really had to have done it with Stanley Mitchell.

You live in a neighbourhood where scumbags like Trevor Riley can do serious damage for the hell of it, that’s bad enough but when your own son is stupid enough to get involved with such a dangerous man, it’s got to be enough to anger you.

I don’t think I could blame Stanley for disowning Colin under the circumstances. There are plenty of people out there stuck in a rut, desperate to get away from the confines that they’re under but only a foolish person would go to a man like Trevor Riley for help.

Riley’s the sort of fellow who’d happily get his minions to bash in your kneecaps if you so much as looked at him funny. It’s easy to see why so many people fear and loathe him in equal measures. It still didn’t stop Colin and his dopey wife Donna from getting sucked into his world.

Gene made a comment about scum being scum, which raises a certain point. No-one can resent the likes of Colin and Donna for wanting to do better for themselves. There’s not a single person who doesn’t feel that way but it’s how you improved yourself that’s the issue.

Colin and Donna chose to go the wrong way about it, to the extent that Donna was even strong armed into having sex with Riley in order to protect her husband. You don’t have to have Alex’s brand of sympathy to be disgusted by that, even if Ray mistook it for something consensual. The look on Donna’s face obviously meant that she wasn’t enjoying the experience.

I had sort of thought around the second half of the episode that she was the one who had killed Colin or had been involved in his death with Trevor. Gene did throw the accusation of her and Trevor being in cahoots with each other.

The interesting part was not only was I wrong about Donna but it also turned out that Colin’s killer was his father. While Stanley was pleased that Colin was trying to escape from Riley’s hold on him, he was pretty disgusted with the method that him and Donna had planned to use to fund their new life away from Riley’s grip.

It was plausible enough to get Stanley to snap and kill his own child and it certainly added a better twist to the story. Even when Gene became privy to Stanley being the killer, he seemed more compassionate with the man than usual. One could almost say too compassionate but maybe the situation called for or maybe bits of Alex are rubbing off him.

Bits of Alex do seem to have that effect as even Ray was somewhat influenced by her this week. His usual disdain for her psychological profiling got put to one side when he embraced the idea of patterns in people’s behaviour. Ray figured out the bloodied blankets in the car that was left unlocked so hats off to him in that respect.

Also this week, there were some pointed comments about Ray’s lack of girlfriends. It’s something that’s always been hinted at, no matter how Ray tends to brag about his prowess, we’ve never actually seen him with a woman. Even Chris was able to point it out this when Ray was teasing him about Shaz turning into Bridezilla.

Chris and Shaz’s pre-wedding jitters did make for a good side plot in this episode. It was obvious that Shaz wasn’t going to demand anything too big but that Chris would inadvertently put his foot into it somehow. It was also obvious that by the end of the episode Chris and Shaz would somehow resolve their differences and carry on full steam ahead. That being said, just because it was obvious, doesn’t mean it wasn’t enjoyable.

Also enjoyable was the closeness that a beating Gene received as well from Riley’s henchmen. Jokes about him and breakdowns aside, I loved that him and Alex connected on a few things. More importantly, I also had utter love for the comeuppance that Riley got as well.

Getting nearly crushed to death in a car by a furious Gene was one thing but having Ray and Chris nail Riley for outstanding parking tickets worked a treat for me, only because while Riley might be dangerous scum, the actor who played him didn’t really pull the role off as well as he could’ve done.

As for Alex, we’re at that time in the series where she’s hearing more stuff about her condition back in 2008 and believed that she was on the way home. Nice that she wrote each of them letters but did she really think that they were going to wait until she had left to read them? I’m not even sure if Gene was being honest when he said he didn’t read his, though it’s likely.

In terms of the Martin Summers/Operation Rose, this is the episode’s only misstep because nothing is advanced on it. However with the last two episodes around the corner, there’s no doubt that we’ll get enough stuff to keep us sated on that. I just hope the pay off is well worth it.

Also in “Episode 14”

The opening was a bit unusual with Alex and Gene catching suspect during a marathon. The suspect then threw himself over a bridge.

Chris (re victim): “Think he drowned then?”
Gene: “No, Christopher, I think he tried to drink the entire river for a bet and failed.”

Chris assumed that Colin’s marks at first had to do with Satanists. I wonder if that’s something this show would look into in the future.

Alex (to the neighbourhood watch meeting): “You should never take the law into your own hands of course.”
Gene: “Not unless you can handle yourself.”

Ray: “I’m like Liberace.”
Chris: “What, poofter?”
Ray: “No, no, the other one, what’s his name? Valentino. That’s it, I like Valentino.”

If you read Mackintosh’s report on the BBC website, he states Ray’s sexuality as unknown.

Donna (re Colin): “There must be some mistake. He’s not dead, he’s missing.”
Ray: “He definitely looked dead.”

Alex: “I am making a difference.”
Martin: “That’s sweet. Do you really believe that?”

Martin left Alex dried roses this time around. Why hasn’t anyone asked more questions about the continued flowers sent to Alex?

Shaz: “Right, so then marrying me is a circus and a hassle. Cheers, Chris, it’s nice to know how you really feel.”

Gene (to Donna): “Right, you took the word of a loan shark. You know you’re as bright as you look.”

If Gene and Alex were targeted by Riley’s henchmen, how come Chris and Ray weren’t either?

Alex (to Gene): “I feel different. I feel better. I think they’ve done it. You haven’t seen the best of me. Before I go, I think you’re really gonna be surprised because I haven’t felt this good in a long time.”

Gene (to Alex): “Something locked away usually means there’s something in there that you’re not supposed to see.”

In Alex’s letter, she talked about Shaz’s potential and Ray being repressed. Chris couldn’t understand a word of what she wrote about him and one can only imagine what she wrote about Gene.

Ray (re Gene): “He said he wanted to be alone.”
Alex: “Yeah and what people say they want and what they need are two very different things.”

Alex (re Trevor): “You nearly killed him.”
Gene: “Well, better luck next time, eh?”

Standout music: Motorhead’s “Ace Of Spades” (also used in Skins this year), Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and Donna Summers “I Feel Love”. I love the contrasting music here.

Alex: “You’d miss me really.”
Gene: “Yeah, Bolls, I’d miss you. Cheers.”

Chronology: It looks like a few days have passed since Alex’s last meeting with Martin Summers.

Solid episode, quite enjoyable in a lot of places, especially with the reveal of what really happened with the main victim’s death but some more advancement on Martin Summers/Operation Rose would’ve been nice.

Rating: 8 out of 10.