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Ashes to Ashes: Season 1
Ashes to Ashes Image
Metascore
71 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.8 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 4 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • Summary: Welcome to the Ashes to Ashes guide at TV.com. DI Alex Drake of the Metropolitan Police is taken hostage and shot, and wakes to find herself apparently thrown back in time to 1981. She quickly recognises DCI Gene Hunt and his team from detailed reports made by DCI Sam Tyler about his own trip to 1973. Initially sceptical about the surreal nature of her new environment, Alex, a modern, no-nonsense woman, clashed regularly with her sexist colleagues but had to learn to adjust while she strove to find her way back to 2008. As time passed, Alex started to accept her situation, and wonder whether her life in the future had been the dream. Executive Producer Jane Featherstone described this spin-off from Life on Mars as "a touch of Moonlighting teamed with a measure of Miami Vice." The show aimed to build on the success of its award-winning predecessor, resurrecting Philip Glenister's ever-popular detective while taking the opportunity to wink at 1980s fashions and attitudes. Ashes to Ashes is a Kudos production in association with Monastic Productions for the BBC.… Expand
  • Genre(s): Action/Adventure, Drama

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 9
  3. Negative: 1 out of 9
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Jessica Shaw
    91
    The sequel ditches the '70s for the '80s--but the original's hard-boiled plots, retro-pop score, and scene-stealing politically incorrect Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister) remain.
  2. Variety
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    50
    Alex's gender does open the door to further explore the era's sexual politics, but much of that was still addressed in the first show, and Hawes' dry performance doesn't seriously alter the dynamics.
  3. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Maureen Ryan
    37
    Though many small things are executed well, some big parts of this show just don't work, at least in the first couple of episodes.

See all 9 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. KevinR
    8
    Keely Hawes doesn't have quite the same charm as John Simm but it's still a very solid series with amazing characters, great drama, and fantastic humor.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes