strange and random happenstance

You can't believe the news today. I'm in Arkansas and haven't seen Ashes to Ashes. You don't know how this is killing me. My loyalties to Gene Hunt are split with my loyalties to my friends. Of course my friends win... but if Gene showed up in the Quatro... I'm just saying, I'll be all gussied up after all! So to hold back the tears and crying and recriminations that I have because this shows mysteries have me in a bind, I will review the previous two episodes, one watched late because of finals (yes, that is cursing under my breath you hear) the other not reviewed on time for sheer laziness (it's vacation! Lay off!)

Episode six showed that they really are willing to kill cast... if somewhat incidental cast at that. But the whole hostage situation/prison riot that isn't all that it seems is nothing in my mind to the few little things that are dropped... the hint of immortality being achievable, I don't think that guy was a psycho, so how does that fit in? Because the more and more I think the only logical conclusion is purgatory... so immortality? Possible. But this then leads me to totally suspect Keats as the devil. The creepy whistling, and now, while I'm not saying he killed anyone... he did just watch. How can Alex trust him at all! Sure Gene hides stuff from her, but not for stupid reasons. Gene is protecting Alex, while Jim, he's just exploiting Alex and her sway over Gene. Alex's outfits did not strike me as good or bad this week, so I'm giving her a 7. Gene... Gene hasn't really been Gene so much these season, but walking into a prison unarmed and ready to kick some ass... a solid 9.

So Alex trusts what Gene tells her and then five seconds later goes back on it!!! This episode was one of the best yet most frustrating of the season! Gene tells Alex what he knows about Sam and a faked disappearance he helped arrange and with a slip of a picture from Jim, pictures that I'm sure Jim concocted, and she leave Gene in her bedroom. That's right!!! We almost had some Gene/Alex action and it all goes to hell! Plus Shaz, Ray and Chris trying to work out what's with the weird noises and stars... I want to know what's what now!!! Plus, the biggest thing in my mind? Nelson. I ALWAYS suspected him on Life on Mars. ALWAYS! Now he is somehow tied up in this. I don't care about these South Africans, who, granted, had a great plot and a great mysterious ending and gave Chris the "power" to be on a level plane with Ray and Shaz... but I want to know. Also those videos? Right, now my theory is that their previous lives are on them, what they were and when they were before they got wherever here is. This is going to be a long wait for me... somebody better get it up on YouTube and not spoil it for me. As for Alex, bitch gets a 1, you don't ditch the Gene Genie! Gene, a solid 9, just for his fixing the curtains at the funeral parlor, funny, yet, poignant.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Alex Drake, Ashes to Ashes, Chris, Gene Hunt, Jim Keats, Nelson, Ray, Sam Tyler, Shaz, The Devil

One year ago to the minute (thanks to handy dandy scheduling) I posted my first post, my alpha if you would.... But a year, now that's a long time to stick with something. I'm not doubting my own staying power but yours! For a year you've all been listening to me ramble and rant from books to the BBC, lately a lot about Gene Hunt and The Doctor, but through it all you've been here. To that I saw huzzah! Followed by, would you like some prizes? It's been such a wonderful time meeting and talking to you all that I feel a reward is in order. So, as the year mark denotes... this is going to be big! It will also be ever expanding... well, I'm sure there's some point I'll prolly cut it off, time will run out, but till that time, oh yes!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 2:16 PM 88 comments  

Labels: Amazon, Beautiful Creatures, Gene Hunt, Giveaway, Mega Horde, Mockingjay, The Doctor, The Princess Bride, The Reckoning, Win

They better not be in outer space! That's all I'm saying about the whole seeing stars thing. I'm hoping it's more a breaking down of their reality, like The Nothing in The Neverending Story versus some lame ass copying of the American version shit. Overall this was a great episode. We saw that Gene might know a lot more than anyone else about what is going on and that the people in this world are getting scared. Two of "Manchester's Finest" came down to London searching for a comedian who they're obviously stitching up for some crime. But that plot is beside the point because it's the highlighting of what Gene was to what Gene has become and also the fact that these cops might know a thing or two about Sam. But as with this show, it's not always the plot that drives it as the characters. Ray and Shazz singing "Oh Danny Boy" was heart wrenching perfection and the beat on "and I am dead, as dead I well may be" leads to a whole slew of interpretations and speculations... Also Alex, her clothes were pretty decent, almost a ten, but the cummerbund takes it down a few, even if it seemed to be a cummerbund episode... but then the dress turtleneck combo brought her down to a seven. Gene... ah perfect ten yet again! This time just for when he leans over and whispers the truth to the evil doer... the fear that gripes that man. Gene knows something about this world. About Sam. And probably about Alex. The next few weeks I will be on the edge of my seat seeing how this plays out! Also, I want a Sam Tyler coat too!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 5:00 PM 0 comments  

Labels: Alex Drake, Ashes to Ashes, Danny Boy, Gene Hunt, Manchester, Ray, Sam Tyler, Sam Tyler Coat, Shazz, The Neverending Story, The Nothing

I must apologize, I meant to get my post up for episode three last Saturday after it aired, and then the dreaded homework did interfere. But at least this means, two for the price of one Saturday! It's like a mega sale at K-Mart! A review of two episodes, versus the paltry one you'd normally get, I say that's a win, and not just me covering my ass. Last week's episode saw what appeared to be politically motivated bomb attacks leading up to the Thatcher general election of 1983. Pretty ho hum episode, nothing really big or revolutionary, except this episode exemplifies a tread I'm hating more and more, the PTSD of soldier's pre PTSD. Now, I'm not saying that they didn't have it, far from it, the shell shock is a horror I can never imagine. My problem is the labeling of it as PTSD pre labeling. I guess it's the whole, I know more than you because I know the name smart aleck from the future Alex, versus just dealing with the horror and helping the person afflicted. Ray had some great moments, as did Shazz the week before. I am intrigued by these episodes apparently each having one of the supporting cast being a focal point, as well as the odd fade to black freeze frames that I feel will somehow tie into the overall mythology of the show and the final solution. Plus, what is the significance of the stars and 6-6-20... is that a future date that something happens on or does it relate to the dead man Alex keeps seeing? Nothing really great stood out on the Gene Hunt front, but just for being Gene he gets a 7 out of 10. Now Alex... ah Alex, you did fail this week. Great hair and red earrings, but that strippy/leopardy shirt!?! Knocks you down to a 5, lowest yet for this season!

Ah, look who we have in episode four! Bryan Dick. Now this boy has become synonymous with cult and sci-fi shows that I just happen to love. From Adam on Torchwood, Sykes on Being Human, to even David Tennant's second in command in Blackpool, it's fun to see Bryan! Basic drug syndicate story with a family creating a monopoly and an undercover cop in the middle. Though there was some nice cryptic graffiti for Alex and I'm thinking Gene's license plate might be important, July 75 I believe it said... Alex wore a really ugly turquoise shirt with a hideous necklace, making it a 7 day. But Gene, oh Gene, a perfect 10! You drove, slightly drunk, cause it was near the dinner hour, smashed a desk with a golf club, but best of all said that a crippled man had the right to compliment Alex on her tits cause he was handicapped after all, but nothing can top your speech at the end, you almost had sunshine coming out of your ass. You go my non-pc Gene. You go!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 1:38 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Alex Drake, Ashes to Ashes, Being Human, Blackpool, Bryan Dick, David Tennant, Gene Genie, Gene Hunt, K-Mart, PTSD, Thatcher, Torchwood

A great episode of Ashes to Ashes last night. Not only did we have a complex plot involving a serial killer who brands his victims, but we got to see Shazzer really stand up for herself. I wish she and Chris would get back together... sigh. Alex's clothes still holding out around a 9, maybe she won't look awful this season after all. What did you say? I'm not mentioning the most wonderful, funniest thing ever to happen on Ashes to Ashes? Yeah, that's true, because why mention the "Uptown Girl" parody when I can show it? Eh eh? This easily gives Gene a perfect 10 for the night... sure it was Alex's dream, but COME ON! How could I not?

Posted by Miss Eliza at 11:01 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Alex Drake, Ashes to Ashes, Chris, Gene Hunt, Shazzer, Uptown Girl

It took me a long time to get into the show Life on Mars. It's bizarre mix of reality and non-reality and the fact that it always kept you guessing and wondering were at the same time frustrating and fascinating. But once I embraced that the show was not so much about Sam Tyler as it was about Gene Hunt, it seemed to make some sort of sense. This is Gene's world, Sam's just a visitor. Therefore when Alex Drake dropped into Gene's world I was immensely trilled. Here was someone who, perhaps, knew a little more about what was going on, due to her studying of Sam's case file, as well as being a potential love interest who could verbally spare with Gene with a side of sexual tension. When we last saw Alex and the crew after a convoluted series two, she had woken up in the present day but was somehow still in a coma back in the 80s with Gene Hunt on the lamb because they didn't know his shooting of Alex was an accident. We pick up three months later and it looks that they have upped the surreality but have a strong focus. Sure we're not sure how Alex went from the present day back again, but she, like Sam wanted to go back. Where Sam went to save them, Alex went for answers. Alex went for Hunt. We're promised answers, we're promised conclusions. For a show that lives in the land of convulsion and dreamscapes the thought of bringing it to a cohesive ending is at once scary and exciting. If they can do it will everyone be happy? I can't be certain. The new DNC officer Jim Keats seems to know more than he's saying and seems to be wanting to help Alex out of the world of Gene Hunt. But despite a mildly interesting and diverting kidnapping plot it was the last five minutes that galvanized this episode more than any of the previous series of Ashes to Ashes. Jim Keats will unmask Gene, though I deeply hope that Gene does not turn out to be the villain that Keats is foretelling. And could everything hinge on Sam Tyler? A subject rarely brought up, yet obviously pivotal. I can't wait till next week when Alex opens up that desk drawer and sneaks a peak at Sam's file. Until then, like her, I will still dream of Gene Hunt.

Each week I am going to do a Gene Genie Awesomeness Scale as well as an Alex Drake Drab Scale.

How awesome was Gene tonight? On a scale of 1-10, an 8. The driving the Quatro and shooting at people dream sequence was a perfect 10, as was his way of waking up a coma victim, just slap them in the face, but overall, not enough screen time.

How awful was Alex's clothes tonight? A 9! Highest ever, mainly due to the good new haircut, she really can't be blamed overmuch for the ugly sweater and shoulder pads... at least it wasn't the fur coat!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 2:21 AM 2 comments  

Labels: Alex Drake, Ashes to Ashes, Gene Genie, Gene Hunt, Life on Mars, Quatro, Sam Tyler

Gene Genie will return April 2nd! The press release has been pressed and set free into the wilds of the interweb! After last seasons cliffhanger I've been waiting with baited breath. Will all really be revealed about Gene? How are Alex, Gene and Sam connected? Will Sam make an appearance? Or even Annie? Gah! It's so hard waiting and to think of the eight weeks as this unfolds... sheer excitement is the only thing to be said! As it says on Philip's website: "It's time to get into the Eighties mood for the very last time because the award-winning BBC One drama, Ashes to Ashes, is back for Spring 2010. The highly-anticipated finale sees Philip and Keeley Hawes reprise their roles as that most un-PC of policeman, DCI Gene Hunt, and his sassy partner DI Alex Drake, along with Dean Andrews as DI Ray Carling, Marshall Lancaster as DC Chris Skelton and Montserrat Lombard as WPC Sharon 'Shaz' Granger."

To tide you over for the next two weeks, Sport Relief did a little golf parody video. While it's not as magnificent as a new episode, or even 2008's stupendous Top Gear cross over, and the Tiger Woods joke is unfortunate (see, this is what happens when public opinion can change in an instant), Gene Hunt golfing is a site worth seeing.



And as for 2008's excellence:

Posted by Miss Eliza at 6:18 PM 0 comments  

Labels: Alex Drake, Comic Relief, Gene Genie, Gene Hunt, Golf, John Simm, Keeley Hawes, Life on Mars, Philip Glenister, Sam Tyler, Sport Relief, Top Gear

Name: Philip Glenister

First Impression: William Dobbin in Vanity Fair, when he hits his head on that lamp in the entryway.

Lasting Impression: Life on Mars, season 2, episode 7. Could I be anymore specific? I don't think so. But it's the episode where Gene Hunt is wrongly accused of a crime. It made me realize for the first time that this was really Gene Hunt's show and Sam, well... he didn't matter so much. My love of Gene Hunt is not unique, they so made Ashes to Ashes just for him, despite Keeley Hawes being the "big name."

What else you've seen them in: Besides being featured on my blog before... From losing life and limb in Cranford while educating the local youths, to Hornblower to more modern works, like Calendar Girls with Helen Mirren and State of Play with his Life on Mars co-star John Simm. Philip Glenister has been around for quite awhile, but it took a little Gene Genie to get this man some well deserved recognition.

Can't believe it's them: He looks so little in Hornblower, but then all those big named stars who started out here did... Jamie Bamber, Ioan Gruffudd.

Wish they hadn't: Demons... a Buffy-esque show with Mackenzie Crook where he donned a bad American accent... best just to forget about this one for all involved.

Bio: I love me my Gene Hunt! Plus is it just me or has he aged into his looks more?

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 4 comments  

Labels: Ashes to Ashes, Cranford, Demons, Gene Hunt, Hornblower, Keeley Hawes, Life on Mars, Mackenzie Crook, Philip Glenister, Spotlight, Vanity Fair, William Dobbin

So recently I had an urge to rewatch Life on Mars... could be a need for a John Simm hit, he is The Master afterall. Or could be the need for a Gene Hunt fix, Ashes to Ashes season three does seem a long way off... at least they only have two more episodes to film! But once again, I forgot how funny the Camberwick Green spoof was.


For those who don't know, it was a kind of crappy early animation show from England in the 60s, reminiscent of the crappy 80s animation Hattytown which aired on Nickelodeon's pinwheel... which now that I google it, was also from about the same time period, wow, talk about time warp...

I digress... anyway, seeing as I'm trapped inside with the cold winter wind blowing I tend to get in a crafty mood. I was thinking, wouldn't it be cool to have my own little Gene Hunt and Sam Tyler dolls... lucky for me someone already did a how to video. Enjoy!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Animnation, Ashes to Ashes, Camberwick Green, Craft, Gene Hunt, Hattytown, John Simm, Life on Mars, Nickelodeon, Nonce, Pinwheel, Sam Tyler

So last night season two of Ashes to Ashes came to a close. Thankfully this is not the last we will see of Gene Hunt (and if you read my previous post, you'll know of my love for this man), as Ashes to Ashes will be back for a third season, even if just a short miniseries or special if they don't get the full 8 episode pickup, like they are doing with Torchwood. The Gene Genie WILL return! This season felt more up and down than last season to me. The through line of stopping police corruption just didn't seem as interesting as Alex trying to solve her parents murder in season one. But I do have to say Alex was far less annoying dealing with the rose scheme then dealing with her mommy issues. But I had two main problems with this season. One, the chemistry between Gene and Alex, and two, what is really happening to Alex and how will it connect with Sam.

Overall I felt that the chemistry between Gene and Alex was not working this season. Gene and Alex have come to some symbiotic relationship where they need and trust each other, but there isn't a spark! It's like the Moonlighting effect, where the chemistry went right out the window once they hit the sheets, only we didn't get any hitting of the sheets! What happened to the promise we saw when they were trapped in the file room or where Gene muttered he'd dreamed of giving her CPR. The reason this show has worked better than Life on Mars is the fact Gene has an equal who is female, who he has feelings for...only it felt like someone squashed those feelings. You can have attraction and mutual respect and admiration! This seemed more like a "buddy" movie, like they forgot Alex is female and they were writing for Sam again.

Now as to the what is really happening to Alex...I felt there was a lot of biding time till something happened (ie the last two episodes). Alex seemed almost totally aware of what was happening (knowing they got the bullet, etc etc) or totally loopy, like she was forgetting her other life, but they didn't bother to explain this or anything, which was odd. After the knowledge gained last season that Gene Hunt is real in some sense I thought they'd be quicker to establish some link to truly figure out what Alex, Gene and Sam have in common. But they spent most of the time on Project Rose! Thankfully in the last two episodes they brought some closure and some new questions. Project Rose was solved and Alex awoke from her Coma...but what about Gene? It now looks like the table is reversed and Alex is now in a coma in 1982 and Gene needs her back...this could be very interesting. But don't you think they could have done this at the beginning of the season instead of basically having a season of Alex is found and she wakes up? Because the next installment looks like we will get answers, unlike this season of just waiting.

As a final send-off for Gene Hunt, till whenever he will grace our screens again, I give you the best of Gene Hunt:

Episode 1: The Audio Quatro is back in business and hanging around SoHo strip clubs.
Episode 2: One kick ass car chase and Gene is inducted into the Masons, bizarre (shirtless) rituals and all.
Episode 3: Gene stands his ground against Super Mac and gets "transferred" to Plymouth.
Episode 4: Gene shoots a dog in the head, which sounds really sick, but is really awesome, because how many times have you had to watch the show where there's the dog during the break-in where they don't know what to do, so Gene skipped the laced steaks or the running away and streamlined the endeavor in pure Gene Genie fashion.
Episode 5: Criminal tied up and dumped in back of truck headed to France.
Episode 6: Gene's search warrant, looking suspiciously like a crowbar.
Episode 7: Gene's handle during the raid on the Docklands building site: Papa Bear!
Episode 8: Gene as a children's TV show host in Alex's subconscious, but what a subconscious! Children watching "Jackanory" watch out! As Gene says: 'Shut yer gob! Or I'll come round yer houses and stamp on all yer toys.'

For more Gene Hunt check out Season 1 of Life on Mars on DVD now! Season 2 coming this fall...

Posted by Miss Eliza at 5:41 PM 0 comments  

Labels: Ashes to Ashes, Gene Hunt, Philip Glenister

Today being Tuesday means last night was a new episode of "Ashes to Ashes." If you aren't familiar with the show it's the spin-off from the popular British TV Show "Life on Mars" (and I'm not talking about the lame-ass American version with the crappy futuristic ending). "Life on Mars" was about a cop being injured in the present and send back to 1973, where he met the wondrous Gene Hunt as played by the fantastic Philip Glenister (who you've probably seen in something, he was in an Andrew Davies miniseries after all!) Anyway, two series of that show, ended it with a cliffhanger, and onto the spin off "Ashes to Ashes," set in the 80s with another cop, played by the wonderful Keely Hawes being sent back from the present.

Anyways, the point of the show isn't really trying to figure out what's going on, it's how awesome is Gene this week. Lets see...he didn't get to drive a boat, so downgraded for that, but he did tie up a criminal, pull over a cargo truck and fling the criminal inside so that he'd be France's problem not England's. Yeah Gene Hunt, you are brash, you do things your own way, and I can't get enough!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 2:47 PM 0 comments  

Labels: Ashes to Ashes, Gene Hunt, Philip Glenister