Ashes to Ashes (TV Series) Episode #2.1 (2009) User Reviews

Allum & Evans are bent coppers

[Johnny_West · 7/10 · 25 February 2024]

Endeavor star Shaun Evans pre-stars here as a bent constable who got his partner killed by trying to ensnare him in corruption. Roger Allum, the mentor of Morse in Endeavor also stars as a corrupt superintendant who was bedding the wife of the constable that got killed (by Evans). Interesting pre-Endeavor connection for those two actors.

The actual story is pretty standard fare and predictable. This could have been an episode of Kojak, Starsky & Hutch, Hawaii 5-0, Streets of San Francisco, or any other 1960s / 1970s police TV show.

In the middle of the story we get Alex going between the past and the present, and a character that abducts her and seems to be a time traveler also. This TV series is pretty way out there, so I just watch the episodes that look interesting. This was one of them.

No (p)re-Morse

[xmasdaybaby1966 · 8/10 · 3 October 2020]

A strong start to series two with the storyline and great music plus a great cast of some familiar faces. Shaun Evans and Roger Allam whom later head the cast in Endeavour are both in this episode but don't actually appear in any scenes together. Shaun hides his natural Scouse accent well in Endeavour but his cockney accent here sounds nearly as bad as Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins. There seems to have been a big change in the look of the cast with Keeley Hawes having her make up toned down and her off the shoulder tops have gone. There seems to be no mention of the emotions Alex must have gone through at the end of the previous series and the use of the Sam Tyler character hasn't been mentioned for some time allowing this now to be a show in its own right. There are brief glimpses of topless women (and a man) which might not be to the tastes of some viewers.

The series starts off in excellent fashion with half the Endeavour cast

[Sleepin_Dragon · 10/10 · 9 August 2015]

A very dramatic start sees 2 nurses seemingly tending to a present day Alex, laying in a hospital bed, being declared as dead. New hairdo's and direction are very apparent from the start. Clearly a switch in production. We get a brief appearance from Mrs McCluskey (Grange Hill,) talking to Molly which feels very random. Keeley Hawes looks somehow more part of the 80s scene, they cleverly had her looking somehow out of place, whereas now she looks very much at home. Chris and Shaz both look much the better for their 80s makeovers. This episode looks at what's seemingly a sex crime, has a man caused his own death while taking part in a sex act? The utterly brilliant Roger Allam (Endeavour's Thursday) is introduced as Detective Superintendent Mackintosh, he'd go on to star in the next few episodes. Keeping the Endeavour link this episode also stars Shaun Evans (Morse) and Pooky Quesnel who also starred in an episode of Endeavour - Trove. Who is the mystery surgeon that has abducted Alex? That's quite a dark moment. The Full Monty is hilarious, the guys faces are a picture!!

Series 2 vs. Series 1

[HallmarkMovieBuff · 8 May 2012]

This is not a review in the usual sense. It is rather a comment on certain improvements in the look of the show, particularly in certain members of the cast, from season one to season two; and here under the first episode of season two seems the most likely place to place it.

The reasons for these changes cannot be known definitively by an average viewer removed in space and time from the making and the original showing of the episodes, but possibilities could be a better budget, personnel changes in the crew, or makeovers by cast members themselves.

Of these three, the only one we can pin down for sure are crew changes documented here, i.e., the addition of Nat Turner as co-costume designer (with season one's Rosie Hackett), and an entirely new makeup department.

So, for example, is Chris Skelton's lighter hair in season two a make-up change to make him more attractive to Shaz Granger (Montserrat Lombard), or merely a new look for the actor himself (Marshall Lancaster)?

Be that as it may, the most striking upgrade is the costumes for our heroine, Alex Drake (Keeley Hawes).

In season one, Alex would wear the same clothes throughout an episode, for "days" on end. In season two, not only are her clothes a step up in style and quality, but she actually changes them from "day" to "day" (i.e., she wears a nightgown to bed instead of crashing on her couch).

If this program is new to you, you might have fun seeing what other differences or costume anomalies you can spot.

Back with a bang

[studioAT · 6/10 · 7 September 2017]

After a great run of stronger episodes towards the end of series one of 'Ashes' I was interested to see what would happen to Alex and Gene and co in series two.

And thankfully the quality of the series hasn't reverted back to the form of the first rather dreary episodes of the show and we are presented with a fast paced, thought provoking story line.

There are lots of great moments, and the slow building of the Gene/Alex relationship.

We also get a reference to Hyde, which reminds us that we are in spin-off territory from 'Life on Mars', after a bit of silence in that area.

Welcome back Gene Hunt.