The final three episodes of A2A...
...or, to be more accurate, reactions to the final two episodes, and I'm sure there was a sixth episode in there somewhere.
Unfortunately for episode 6, episodes 7 and 8 were seen immediately afterwards, pushing most of the details of this episode from my mind. I do remember that "Ace of Spades" was used, which is of the awesome, but also reminded me of another Brit show that used the song this year. Another British show, which also happened to use Joy Division, an area in which Ashes to Ashes have so far failed in (see, in my mind, everything comes back to Joy Division. It is more than slightly sad. *facepalm*) It was probably a decent episode, I'll probably have to watch it later to, you know, actually remember what occurred.
Episode 7
This episode broke my little heart. Sure, from a dramatic viewpoint Chris was the best choice as the mole, but who cares about shocking storytelling? Chris is just... Chris. The div who vomits Perneot (or something like that) and Black on girls because he's nervous, the div who hero-worships Sam and strips to "You Sexy Thing". I wasn't even remotely angry at him for breaking Gene's heart (you know, the whole breaking the family bond bit), I was just too devasted. And in more than a little bit of denial. Marshall Lancaster was absolutely brilliant in the confrontation between Chris and Gene, and his watery eyes did not help the tears springing from my own eyes at all. Why couldn't have been Ray? Then I could just call him a tosser and be done with it. But no, it had to be Chris. Screw proper drama, proper drama can go to hell and die. Chris was just covering for somebody, that's it.
As for the other events in this episode, they were awesome. Somewhat overshadowed by the revelation about Chris of course, but even before that I was thinking that this would have to be one of my favourite episodes of not only Ashes to Ashes, but of the entire LoM/A2A verse as well. When Summers not only met Summers (only in this verse) but bloody killed him, and then forced Alex to dispose of the body, I was ecstatic. It was the very best sort of dark and twisted timey-wimey stuff, and older Summers was the perfect villain: cold, calculating, menacing, and generally awesome.
There were plenty of great one-liners, the re-appearance of Caroline was used to perfection and I think for the first time in the history of Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes I actually felt sorry for Ray, but all of that was overshadowed by two things. Summers meeting Summers, and the fact that Chris wasn't the mole, he's just saying he was to protect someone. It can't be Chris dammit! (Yes, I hear Egypt is quite nice this time of year actually...)
Episode 8
You'll have to excuse me if I lapse into capslock later on when I get to the events at the end of this episode, but to avoid that I will start where most episode reviews tend to begin, that being the start of the episode.
First off, Gene Hunt on CBeebies needs to happen dammit. That was even more entertaining than the Simm ones. Although I don't know what to make of the idea that Gene thinks Alex is a zombie (what else would want BRAAAAIINS that much?) Also, I should have been giggling a little more loudly - then Gene would have had to come around to my house and "stamp on all my toys." *groans at the lame*
I don't see how Ray gobbling on some deep-fried penis should come as a surprise to anyone. Like Alex said, it doesn't make him a bad person. That had to be one of most wrong/hilarious scenes in any show ever (and this is coming from someone who watches It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, which is the most wrong/hilarious show in the universe). Quite aside from this scene though, this is one of the funnier episodes, which is exactly what I needed after episode 7. There were so many classic one-liners, from "Yeah, it's third stage VD Guv. I'm an aggressive promiscuous nymphomaniac, you know that," and "you're pulling my todger." "Well, he's not pulling his," to "I prefer Coaltion of the Willing." "Like I said. Mugs," and "I'm into bondage and you are giving me a stiffy." I bloody love this show.
This is entirely hypocritical, but as much as I hated Chris being the mole in episode 7, I kind of hated the resolution of the storyline in this episode more. It was entirely too rushed, and everyone forgave him too easily, even though it was after he risked himself to help the team. There should have been some residual anger towards him, but there wasn't, which is the exact same problem I had with Sam returning to 1973 in the final episode of Life on Mars except this time it's worse because that world was his world, he could imagine however he wanted. This world isn't Chris's, and I think everyone's forgiving of Chris was entirely too rushed. Having said that though, Shaz forgiving Chris was so adorable it almost made up for it. Almost being the operative word.
The blag itself was full of car-chasing, nonce-kicking, Quattro-pwning awesomeness with a little hint of mind-bendingness when Summers got out of the back of the van. It was entertaining enough, but nothing special. That was until the ending happened. An ending of such superb what the balls proportions that it would be difficult not to capslcok, so I'm not even going to bother trying to fight the capslock back.
WHAT THE FUCKING BALLS?!? THERE WERE TOO MANY OMGWTFBBQ MOMENTS TO COUNT. OMG, THE BLAG WAS THE REASON SUMMERS WAS IN 1982! OMG, ALEX GOT SHOT!! OMG, SHE BLOODY WOKE UP!!! OH DEAR SWEET MOTHER OF TINKERBELL JEEBUS, SHE CAN SEE GENE IN 2008, AND HE HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF HER MURDER!?!
IS 2008 REAL, OR IS SHE IN A COMA IN 1982 AND 2008 IS HER COMA-COMA VERSE?
WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED THERE?
WHY, OH WHY IS IT NOT NEXT YEAR YET???
Don't say I didn't warn you ;p
Unfortunately for episode 6, episodes 7 and 8 were seen immediately afterwards, pushing most of the details of this episode from my mind. I do remember that "Ace of Spades" was used, which is of the awesome, but also reminded me of another Brit show that used the song this year. Another British show, which also happened to use Joy Division, an area in which Ashes to Ashes have so far failed in (see, in my mind, everything comes back to Joy Division. It is more than slightly sad. *facepalm*) It was probably a decent episode, I'll probably have to watch it later to, you know, actually remember what occurred.
Episode 7
This episode broke my little heart. Sure, from a dramatic viewpoint Chris was the best choice as the mole, but who cares about shocking storytelling? Chris is just... Chris. The div who vomits Perneot (or something like that) and Black on girls because he's nervous, the div who hero-worships Sam and strips to "You Sexy Thing". I wasn't even remotely angry at him for breaking Gene's heart (you know, the whole breaking the family bond bit), I was just too devasted. And in more than a little bit of denial. Marshall Lancaster was absolutely brilliant in the confrontation between Chris and Gene, and his watery eyes did not help the tears springing from my own eyes at all. Why couldn't have been Ray? Then I could just call him a tosser and be done with it. But no, it had to be Chris. Screw proper drama, proper drama can go to hell and die. Chris was just covering for somebody, that's it.
As for the other events in this episode, they were awesome. Somewhat overshadowed by the revelation about Chris of course, but even before that I was thinking that this would have to be one of my favourite episodes of not only Ashes to Ashes, but of the entire LoM/A2A verse as well. When Summers not only met Summers (only in this verse) but bloody killed him, and then forced Alex to dispose of the body, I was ecstatic. It was the very best sort of dark and twisted timey-wimey stuff, and older Summers was the perfect villain: cold, calculating, menacing, and generally awesome.
There were plenty of great one-liners, the re-appearance of Caroline was used to perfection and I think for the first time in the history of Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes I actually felt sorry for Ray, but all of that was overshadowed by two things. Summers meeting Summers, and the fact that Chris wasn't the mole, he's just saying he was to protect someone. It can't be Chris dammit! (Yes, I hear Egypt is quite nice this time of year actually...)
Episode 8
You'll have to excuse me if I lapse into capslock later on when I get to the events at the end of this episode, but to avoid that I will start where most episode reviews tend to begin, that being the start of the episode.
First off, Gene Hunt on CBeebies needs to happen dammit. That was even more entertaining than the Simm ones. Although I don't know what to make of the idea that Gene thinks Alex is a zombie (what else would want BRAAAAIINS that much?) Also, I should have been giggling a little more loudly - then Gene would have had to come around to my house and "stamp on all my toys." *groans at the lame*
I don't see how Ray gobbling on some deep-fried penis should come as a surprise to anyone. Like Alex said, it doesn't make him a bad person. That had to be one of most wrong/hilarious scenes in any show ever (and this is coming from someone who watches It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, which is the most wrong/hilarious show in the universe). Quite aside from this scene though, this is one of the funnier episodes, which is exactly what I needed after episode 7. There were so many classic one-liners, from "Yeah, it's third stage VD Guv. I'm an aggressive promiscuous nymphomaniac, you know that," and "you're pulling my todger." "Well, he's not pulling his," to "I prefer Coaltion of the Willing." "Like I said. Mugs," and "I'm into bondage and you are giving me a stiffy." I bloody love this show.
This is entirely hypocritical, but as much as I hated Chris being the mole in episode 7, I kind of hated the resolution of the storyline in this episode more. It was entirely too rushed, and everyone forgave him too easily, even though it was after he risked himself to help the team. There should have been some residual anger towards him, but there wasn't, which is the exact same problem I had with Sam returning to 1973 in the final episode of Life on Mars except this time it's worse because that world was his world, he could imagine however he wanted. This world isn't Chris's, and I think everyone's forgiving of Chris was entirely too rushed. Having said that though, Shaz forgiving Chris was so adorable it almost made up for it. Almost being the operative word.
The blag itself was full of car-chasing, nonce-kicking, Quattro-pwning awesomeness with a little hint of mind-bendingness when Summers got out of the back of the van. It was entertaining enough, but nothing special. That was until the ending happened. An ending of such superb what the balls proportions that it would be difficult not to capslcok, so I'm not even going to bother trying to fight the capslock back.
WHAT THE FUCKING BALLS?!? THERE WERE TOO MANY OMGWTFBBQ MOMENTS TO COUNT. OMG, THE BLAG WAS THE REASON SUMMERS WAS IN 1982! OMG, ALEX GOT SHOT!! OMG, SHE BLOODY WOKE UP!!! OH DEAR SWEET MOTHER OF TINKERBELL JEEBUS, SHE CAN SEE GENE IN 2008, AND HE HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF HER MURDER!?!
IS 2008 REAL, OR IS SHE IN A COMA IN 1982 AND 2008 IS HER COMA-COMA VERSE?
WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED THERE?
WHY, OH WHY IS IT NOT NEXT YEAR YET???
Don't say I didn't warn you ;p