Ashes to Ashes, Monday 9pm, BBC1

Posted by Jane Murphy

Before I get down to the nitty-gritty of reviewing the second series of Ashes to Ashes, I'd just like to say what a welcome relief it was to hear Gene Hunt's not-so-dulcet Mancunian tones again after Philip Glenister's best-forgotten US accent from Demons.

Last night's first episode began just as Gene would have liked it: no fuss, no faffing about, just straight down to business immediately. You know the set-up: DI Alex Drake (Keeley Hawes) is still stuck in the early '80s and desperate to get back 'home' to 2008. It's confusing for her. It's confusing for us. And in the meantime, there are crimes to be solved.

Before the opening credits had even rolled, we'd been fed so many conflicting hints and clues about Alex's predicament, it made the average episode of Heroes look relatively straightforward by comparison.

A mystery man lies in a coma in 2008, while a BBC news bulletin in the background reveals Alex has been missing for one hour. Meanwhile, in 1982, Alex is cleaning Gene's cowboy boots after a rather unfortunate incident in a sewer. Then her daughter Molly turns up on TV in Grange Hill and tells headmistress Mrs McClusky: "Tucker said my mum was dead." See what I mean about it being confusing?

Oh yes, and then there was this week's crime plot. A vice cop has been found dead in a strip club - apparently as the result of an auto-erotic strangulation incident. New Detective Superintendent Mackintosh (Roger Allam) wants Gene and his team to uncover the truth and clean up the streets as quickly as possible. "Everything will be black and white from now on," he tells them. But is he all he seems? Is he hell!

The first series took a while to warm up - partly because Life on Mars was such a hard act to follow. But now Ashes to Ashes is unmissable drama in its own right. Rumour has it the series finale is so good, we'll still be talking about it in 20 years' time. But for now we're left to piece together the clues from last night's episode - then work out what was truly significant and what was just a red herring.

What did you think of episode one? Tell us here.

Picture: BBC

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Philip Glenister quits Demons >>
Glenister banned from Audi Quattro >>
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Comments

[hooked]

Absolutely fantastic series. If the BBC do try to axe it, we should all write to the BBC and complain, after all its us the licence payers who pay them their salaries. I am a devoted fan of both the series, and I can't wait till next Monday to see the next instalment. Long live the Gene Genie!!!!

[at home]

FANTASTIC - what a great drama and what a breath of fresh air to turn the TV on and not have to watch a cooking, how to clean, how to sell, where to buy, clean your attic, dining etc., etc., programme.

Please put all that reality rubbish on a separate channel and put some more of this type of drama back on. We all live with reality and it doesn't bear any relation to the "reality" on TV.

I just want to kick back and watch something that is entertaining and fun.

I am just praying they decide to continue this and not make it the last series.

[steve]

Tracy inoticed that as well with the coat belts ? interesting .hope sam tyler comes back before the end .

[lou]

Never saw life on mars or 1st series of ashes to ashes, thought i'd see what all the fuss was about. It was really good, loved hearing the music it bought back al my teenage memories.

[Abbie]

i thought it was fantastic, and wait for next weeks episode. gutted its the last series tho!

[Gemerald]

Xantian - you need wit to watch this

[Scoz]

Utter pants!!

[poppy]

Well it was just as i immagined, absolutly brilliant, so glad its back. The reviews said it wasn't gong to be as funny, but more serious, but it was very funny, with a good story line too. All the actors are great.

[Andy]

think your wrong about police in my day they wernt bent just really stupid and were out for a nick

[Lorraine]

Fab,Fab,Fab....lots of references to life on mars last night!!..One moan though PLEASE STOP the spoilers between programmes and after...it ruins it

[Maggie T]

I took quite a dislike to Alex Drake when she first appeared in the last series, but last night she seemed quite a different character and I could actually say I quite liked her. I hope the writers dont get sloppy and romantic and put a relationship between her and 'The Genie' that would end it for me. I love the rough and tumble of it all.

[mike]

Absolutely brilliant. Drama at its best. If only all tv was like this.........can't wait for the next episode.

Can't we stick reallity tv on an obscure channel and have drama like this every night???

[Lou]

Luvin it!
Luvin it!
Luvin it!

[Ivy]

Love the Gene genie soooo much.

[cathy]

Absolutely brilliant!! How can you not like it. Glenisters portrayal of Gene Hunt is magnificent. All the cast are brilliant, the script is great, acting, timing - all fantastic. Glad you're back guys - more, more more

[Ian Mott]

What a great episode last night. For the first time I didn't say "It's good, but not as good as life on Mars."

What a good start to the second series, maybe it will turn out to be even better than Life on Mars, we'll see.

[andy]

Love the characters still. Long live the Gene genie!!
Got a feeling it's going to get complicated though. Still not as good as Life on Mars but will watch it just to drool over Ms Alex Drake :)

[Tracy]

Last night's episode was brilliant! Ashes to Ashes is definitley back in all it's glory! Right back into the action!

As for what is significant - don't forget - "everything is significant".

Though I'm slightly puzzled by the significance of Gene's and Super Mac's coat belts handing out the car doors when the pull away in separate parts of the episode.

I intend to watch it again!

[Neil]

Fantastic,

[Richard]

Missed the first series, wasn't interested, saw last nights and regret missing it now. Hope to get it on catch up

[tracy]

fantastic, gene genie at his best, monday night is best for tv at moment, ases then 24, life just cant get any better..... fire up the audi..........

[gobsmacked]

Brilliant, brilliant brilliant.

[letty]

Cracking episode it about timewe had moreseries like this. I hope that the beeb will do more series like this

Get rid of simon cowell et al

[Drew McFarlane]

I have never watched so much drivel in all my life. It was switched off after 15 minutes of sheer rubbish.

[Alan]

Sergio.....the majority of the Audi's were red! Don't ever remember seeing a black one! Oops....that shows my age!

[scott]

Finally! This is just about the only thing that I will put everything aside to watch and the Gene Genie didn't disappoint. Loved it, love it, will continue to love it!

[C.Newsham]

Five Knuckle Shuffle.
Say no more. He`s Back
Brilliant

[Xantian]

After all the hype and advertising, all i can say is what a load of rubbish. should have stopped after series one.

[timepiece]

Great,one of the very best,many more please

[dave]

get rid of the rubbish programmes eg britains got talent,and the likes of frost and miss marple and all the reallity shows and make more of this, we had plenty of it in the 70s. the script is brilliant and so are the actors, just a shame the series is only 8 episodes

[sergio]

Great start to the series. The Audi should have been in black though.

[becky]

It was fantastic, authentic 80's feel throughout, but as relevant as any current drama, wonderfully cast. Can't wait for next Mon!.