A Televisual Feast

No spoilers, but “Ashes to Ashes” closes in a way quite similar to the first series closer of “Life on Mars.” Enough so, it suggests the co-creators to be one trick ponies.

Most of the episode is bad, bringing out the worst in the series, the constant scenes of Alex’s lunacy, the emphasis on the mother, the frequent comic scenes without Alex present to see events occur. They must have known, writing the episode, they were getting picked up for a second series, as Gene has very little to do this episode.

There’s one really smart bit at the end, full of potential (even if it is a little predictable). It doesn’t go anywhere.

The episode does pull itself around somewhat in the last few minutes, just out of pure effectiveness. The big surprise isn’t even a bad surprise; it’s well handled. Just repetitive.

There are some other scenes, especially when Alex talks to Shaz, it’s obvious how good the series could be, if it weren’t for Matthew Graham’s lack of imagination. Or, more appropriately, lack of narrative understanding.

Most of the episode encourages severe trepidation regarding the promised second series, but at the end, as the idiotic series-long story lines close… there’s a light. Maybe “Ashes to Ashes” will finally get around–like it did for a couple episodes–to be a real show, instead of the creators just proving they can make meta-reference to making a sequel to “Life on Mars.”

But I’m not hopeful.

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