Ashes to Ashes, Funk to Awesome
I watched the first episode of Ashes to Ashes a few days ago.
Several days later it's still difficult to encapsulate how fabulous it was.
During the last year I managed to watch all 16 episodes of Life on Mars, in which I became interested after seeing John Simm play The Master in Doctor Who, my favorite British TV show. I enjoyed it immensely, because it had an adept, precisely chosen cast, quick and witty dialog, realistic detailed sets and locales, and most of all, a cohesive, well paced plot. However, as I neither grew up in the 70s nor have ever been to the UK, some parts of the show were not very relatable.
The 80s on the other hand, are a totally different story. It may be that at many times during the 90s I looked back at those years, cringing in horror (And rightly so in some cases!). More recently though, I've been looking back on those years with a growing fondness. Everything was over the top. Cheese was fun and acceptable. Bright colors lit up my youthful imagination. Punk rock! Perms! PCs! It was a glitzy, glammy time that set us on the path to where society is today. And it's often the most overlooked and unappreciated decades. That's way I was so excited over Ashes to Ashes.
Let me tell you this: it delivered. From the moment Hawes' Alex Drake woke up on that barge in her red dress, fur coat, flashy jewelry, hair and makeup, I thought, "This was the 80s!" The rest of the episode did not let me down either. It just captured exactly what I felt about the decade, cheese and all, and I love the creators for it. Many of you naysayers claim there were "too many hero shots of Gene" and "it didn't feel realistic." Well, I can only tell you that the 80s were not about realism (do you remember the eyeliner and huge hair!?), and the hero shots were in keeping with the mood of the time (do you remember the A-Team!?).
I am rife with anticipation for second episode.
Several days later it's still difficult to encapsulate how fabulous it was.
During the last year I managed to watch all 16 episodes of Life on Mars, in which I became interested after seeing John Simm play The Master in Doctor Who, my favorite British TV show. I enjoyed it immensely, because it had an adept, precisely chosen cast, quick and witty dialog, realistic detailed sets and locales, and most of all, a cohesive, well paced plot. However, as I neither grew up in the 70s nor have ever been to the UK, some parts of the show were not very relatable.
The 80s on the other hand, are a totally different story. It may be that at many times during the 90s I looked back at those years, cringing in horror (And rightly so in some cases!). More recently though, I've been looking back on those years with a growing fondness. Everything was over the top. Cheese was fun and acceptable. Bright colors lit up my youthful imagination. Punk rock! Perms! PCs! It was a glitzy, glammy time that set us on the path to where society is today. And it's often the most overlooked and unappreciated decades. That's way I was so excited over Ashes to Ashes.
Let me tell you this: it delivered. From the moment Hawes' Alex Drake woke up on that barge in her red dress, fur coat, flashy jewelry, hair and makeup, I thought, "This was the 80s!" The rest of the episode did not let me down either. It just captured exactly what I felt about the decade, cheese and all, and I love the creators for it. Many of you naysayers claim there were "too many hero shots of Gene" and "it didn't feel realistic." Well, I can only tell you that the 80s were not about realism (do you remember the eyeliner and huge hair!?), and the hero shots were in keeping with the mood of the time (do you remember the A-Team!?).
I am rife with anticipation for second episode.