(no subject)

[kirsteena]

Well, I have just watched (finally) the second episode of Ashes to Ashes, and I guess it is time to put some of my thoughts down onto virtual paper.



I have had quite conflicting thoughts about these two episodes. Even leading up to it starting, I was worried. I adore Phil Glenister, and am very glad he is getting his own vehicle.

I just don't think this was the right one.

I think most of my dissatisfaction comes with the character of Alex Drake. She irritates. Completely. I was talking about things with elfbert, and possible reasons why I don't like her. Elf suggested the possibility that it was because she wasn't taking any responsibility for her actions - which could be it. Hopefully, after the bomb blast at the end of ep 2, she will wake up and take responsiblity. It also could just be the way she is written. Honestly, that scene with her and her mother out for dinner - I just didn't care. My finger was hovering over the FFWD button on the hard drive.

I miss Sam. The chemistry between Gene and Sam (or Phil and John if you like) was amazing from the word go. There was a huge delight in their interactions. If anything, A2A has made me look back and see just how good a job John did of LOM, and how much he ruddy well deserved that best actor BAFTA he didn't get. I'm missing that. And, in a way, it's helping me write LOM fic =).

I will keep watching it, because Phil, Dean, Marshall are there, great as ever, and I love Monserrat as Shaz. But I'm struggling, and it is because of Alex.

Comments

[clarey-h.livejournal.com]

I found Alex quite annoying this week. I'm enjoying the story lines though so I'm going to keep watching, but it's no way as good as LoM Series One and in some ways I'm quite relieved about that.

I'm of the belief that a certain magic like that (the right cast, the right scripts, the right directors etc), only happens once in a blue moon. It makes LoM very special in the fact that it can't be reproduced.

This is the way I'm now thinking about the whole thing and so I can enjoy A2A for what it is. It's still a good drama compared to a lot of dross we get on telly and I can't wait to find out what going on with the characters, but not in the way I felt about LoM, but in the way I feel about other series I watch and enjoy (Primeval, Torchwood, Doctor Who and so on).

If that makes any sense at all?

[kirsteena.livejournal.com]

No, I know what you mean. Yes, it is far better than a lot of crap on TV, but LOM will always hold a special place in my heart, and A2A isn't going to even come close it seems.

It's kind of like Dr Who/Torchwood, but with less of the same characters!

[loz]

You have no idea how happy I am that I'm not the only one who doesn't like Alex. Like you said, the fact she doesn't take responsibility for her actions really riles me. There's no emotion there.

[kirsteena.livejournal.com]

I know. I hate to keep comparing it to Sam, but by this time he had tried to throw himself off of the policestation to get back to the present, and had cried at least 3 times (though that is starting to come). But he was a police officer first and foremost, and was doing his damnest to solve the crimes in front of him. Alex seems to just accidentally solving them... if that makes any sense.

Anyway, I'm glad I'm not the only one who doesn't really like her.

[shishmish.livejournal.com]

As I discussed with someone else, it appears Alex isn't struggling; she doesn't appear to be utterly heartbroken about being separated from her daughter and is just swanning around the place like she know's everything.

And what gets me is that Gene isn't smacking her around like he did with Sam; I hope it's not all 'can't hit a woman' because good God, she's his DI and should be showing his troops the way to go, and not acting like a spoilt brat who thinks she knows what's going on.

And on the Gene/Sam front - saw an advert on Bravo about them running the two series and my heart just yearned for more screen time with them. My DVDs are going to get so fricken worn out D:

[kirsteena.livejournal.com]

I know, I think I'm going to be rewatching my DVDs a lot over the next few weeks...

[shishmish.livejournal.com]

First on my list is going to be Episode 7, Series 2 ♥ - you can't get any more Gene/Sam if you tried :D

[kirsteena.livejournal.com]

2.02 - me alltime favourite episode.

[shishmish.livejournal.com]

Funny you should mention that - I'm about half way through it XD

[sytaxia.livejournal.com]

May I just say one thing: word.

Seriously, I think that they're writing Alex from a "I know it's not real and therefore I will do whatever I want" perspective, and I hate that. Part of the attraction of Sam was that he would always take some responsibility for his actions, because part of him was still unsure about whether or not he was crazy and he really was in 1973... At least in my view... And the episode with June getting shot sort of helped to cement the whole, "even if they aren't real, they feel" thing for him - nothing like that has happened to Alex, and instead of being pissed off at the world around her, like Sam, she's also taken to comforting herself by being a horrible, condescending bitch to the "constructs."

But yeah - I have to agree with everything you said, and I'm sorry if this was a bit rambling.