TV Gold

Don't know about you lot - because nobody seems to have mentioned it - but I think Life on Mars has been a cracking good show. Was gripped from first episode till the last. At last! Something different from the normal dross that makes up the current peak viewing schedules of the main channels - detective series, yes, but with a twist!!! A few minor gripes about post-1973 details aside, it's been great drama that I think is going to be around a while. New Doctor Who has reawakened the British consciousness that decent television doesn't revolve around Big Brother, Celebrity Bonk Island, X Factor and Graham Norton, and that some (fairly) "original" British drama is needed to break the monotony of Americanised trash that we are bombarded with. (And yes, I know it isn't entirely original, but it's still good enough to get a second series into production!)

Well i haven't seen any of this as yet (on the ball as ever ) but i just ordered series one and two from amazon. I've heard so many good things about the programme and its follow up show (Ashes to Ashes) that i thought it was about time i caught up with it. So of course i had to begin at the start and am now looking forward to the DVD's arriving.

Well i have now watched both series of Life on Mars and all of the DVD extras.

What an absolutely fabulous show it is. It has a bit of everything - comedy, drama, fantasy and i don't think that it takes itself too seriously. A joy to behold and the best programme i've been introduced to in many a long year.

I particularly enjoyed the opening sequences of episode 5 of series 2 in which a little Sam Tyler figure emerged from a music box in Camberwick Green style. Then we were treated to a Gene Hunt figure giving a villain a kicking on a street corner. Hilarious stuff for people of a certain age .

I now have in my possession series 1 of Ashes to Ashes to view. On the box there is a quote from the Guardian stating that it is better than Life on Mars. It will have to be very good to live up to that boast.

bullshooter wrote: I now have in my possession series 1 of Ashes to Ashes to view. On the box there is a quote from the Guardian stating that it is better than Life on Mars. It will have to be very good to live up to that boast.

Well for me Ashes to Ashes series 1 didn't live up to that boast.

I found it very hard going at the start and Keeley Hawes character (Alex Drake) was very difficult to warm to, despite looking as good as she does. To me she didn't come across as being a nice person and i also didn't think that she made a very convincing DI. Having said that Philip Genister was as good as ever as Gene Hunt and as the series progressed i did find myself liking it more and more.

As i missed series 2 on TV while i was playing catch up with the rest of the shows on DVD, was it any good and therefore will it be worth purchasing on DVD?