In light of Jess' Ashes to Ashes write-up, which you can find here, I feel compelled to write down a few of my own thoughts and opinions regarding the finale of what was undoubtedly one of the best television series' the BBC has produced for a number of years.
I'll admit, I didn't watch the first series when it was broadcast. I'd seen Life on Mars on DVD only after people had kept raving on about how good it was. I watched the first five or so minutes of the first episode of Ashes, and when Layton appeared in the back seat of Alex's car I jumped a foot out of my skin and dismissed it as a little too jumpy for my innocent nerves. What a mistake.
Thanks to Laura, and Jess and Doug, I was warmly invited to several 80s themed get-togethers in which several packets of garibaldis were digested and numerous litres of Tizer were consumed, and Ashes to Ashes was the show to keep us entertained. It really didn't take long for me to get hooked inside the world of 1980s Fenchurch East CID.
For me, the first series was excellent. Unsure of whether they were to have another series comissioned, the creators set about producing eight episodes of television gold and wrapping it all up in an explosive and emotional bundle at the end. Series two, I felt, wasn't as good. It was good, but not good, you know? I didn't like Martin Summers, but you weren't meant to anyway and throughout the series the relationships between Alex and Gene and Chris and Shaz really developed into something worth watching. When the final episode of S2 was screened, and that cliffhanger was broadcast, I was left wondering quite how I was going to manage waiting another year to find out what was really going on, and what the answers were.
And then series three rolled around, to much excitement from the aforementioned Ashes stans, promising to answer all the questions that bugged us and finally telling us who Gene Hunt really was. For the first part of the series, I did begin to tire of the constant appearances of the ghostly copper with no explanation or development as to how or why he's haunting Alex. But the Gene/Alex dynamic was fabulous and Keats gradually began to generate feelings of hate inside me for him. Discipline and complaints? An office "...hotter than a Mallorcan minge" as Ray put it? There was always something dodgy about him.
A two-part finale ended the series. Following the death of Sgt. Viv James, the team were in disarray and it seemed that Keats was winning in his attempts to turn Ray, Chris, Shaz and Alex against Gene. I read a great theory somewhere that the characters were following a 'Wizard of Oz' theme. Chris wanted intelligence, or a brain, Ray wanted a heart and a Shaz wanted courage. Alex wore red shoes, or ruby slippers throughout S3, and Gene was the wizard who could grant them their desires. This made sense.
I don't really have any strong religious beliefs. If there is a place the soul goes after death then I'm happy to believe that, and if that place is a police station governed by a mysoginistic, racist, arrogant yet strangely attractive and dynamic DCI, then that seems good to me. Of course, I'd have to become a police officer first, as it turned out that this police station is in fact a sort of purgatory for police officers who died with issues needing answers.
And Gene Hunt? Well. Watching as Alex dug up with her hands what was revealed as his shallow grave, meaning he was the ghostly copper, and that this purgatory was his domain was not only harrowingly upsetting but allowed a sense of relief to wash over me. Finally, we knew who Gene Hunt was. He'd been dead the whole time, creating this place where he guides police officers to their eventual 'Heaven'.
Remembering that this place isn't real caused Gene to regress into that young man state, where he couldn't even stand after being kicked about by Keats. Alex pleading through whispers for him to 'get up' really marked a change in their status. And Alex choosing to stay with Gene whilst the others followed Keats truly showed what their relationship was about.
I said to Caitlin earlier, the kiss was much anticipated and great to see, but the circumstances in which it took place made it less 'yay!' and more sobbing sadness. Alex volunteering to stay with Gene, so as to stop him being 'alone' was heartbreaking.
All in all, in my opinion, a perfect ending. Gene Hunt, is and always will be, the Guv.
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