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Damages/Ashes to Ashes

Glenn Close as Patty Hewes in Damages
  • Posted at 4:15pm
  • 16 April 2009
  • by AlisonGraham-RT
  • 10 comments

Something strange and worrying happened to me this week…I missed an episode of Damages, and I didn't care. This would have been unthinkable during the first series, when I hungered for weekly instalments like an anaemic vampire.

But as for series two - meh, so what? I have two big problems with it. The first one is called William Hurt, who kills the pace whenever he appears because he is so obviously acting that you can actually see him do it. With really good actors, like Glenn Close (Damages's terrifying lawyer Patty Hewes), you can't. With Hurt, you can.

All of that deliberately……saying……his……dialogue……really…really… slowly, and all of those pained looks and quizzical twitching of his eyebrows. Tiresome. Whenever he appears I look at my watch, wondering how much screen time he will be allowed to waste as the action grinds to a halt.

My second problem is the main thrust of the story, something about corrupt big business. Well, big deal. Thrillers involving business just don't work because the human dimension is tiny to nonexistent. Yes, the Hurt character's wife was murdered in the first episode, but no-one seems all that bothered, not any more.

The first series of Damages was so great because it had such a strong central thread, the murder of Ellen Parsons's fiancé and her subsequent arrest. Murder mysteries are riveting, underhand dealings with stocks and shares aren't.

But heigh-ho, things aren't by any means all bad in TV land. At least there's a pretty good home-grown drama, Ashes to Ashes, returning to BBC1 on Monday (20 April).

The first series was a patchy thing that suffered in inevitable comparison to its parent, the marvellous, involving, moving Life on Mars. Ashes to Ashes couldn't live up to Life on Mars's greatness. Unfair, I know, but that's life.

It wasn't helped by the shrieking and annoying new central character, Detective Inspector Alex Drake (Keeley Hawes), who was shot through the head in 21st century London and woke up in the 1980s, a subordinate to Detective Chief Inspector Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister).

She was awful, to the point where I didn't really care why she was there or whether she would ever get home again. But in series two Alex has been toned down. She's more witty and knowing and there's no pointless shouting. She's still wearing that awful white leather jacket, though.

The first couple of episodes hint at some of that old Life on Mars magic and there are signs that Alex's predicament is intriguing enough and promising enough (there are hints to a link with 1997 and the death of Diana) to make me want to find out more.

**

Alison Graham is TV editor of Radio Times - read her column in the latest issue of Radio Times magazine, on sale now.

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Comments

  • Posted on 28 April 2009
  • at 12:59am
  • by Judy

I'm really enjoying the 2nd series of Ashes to Ashes. I did find Alex extremely annoying and superior as a character in the 1st series (if this is how she was meant to come across, then Keeley Hawes did a great job!). I prefer her toned down character in the current series, and really intrigued by her mysterious adversary.

  • Posted on 21 April 2009
  • at 7:08pm
  • by Milly

Watched Ashes to Ashes last night for the first time - not quite hooked yet but don't think it will be long. Congrats to the props team, attention to detail fantastic - much noticed by a big 80's fan.

  • Posted on 21 April 2009
  • at 6:59pm
  • by Sam

I also couldn't bear Alex in the first series mainly because of the scenes involving her and her parents - whom she seemed to run off too at every opportunity, then blub for ten minutes before leaving so the plot could continue.

Sam Tyler's meetings with his parents were less frequent, briefer, and less emotional - perhaps because he was a male character and Alex female. Which sounds chauvinist, but don't blame me, blame the writers. I mean, Alex gets taken prisoner by someone sneaking up behind with a chloroform-soaked rag? Really? Is she a modern woman showing she can be as tough and hardboiled as any bloke, or is she a Victorian-era damsel in distress?

Apart from that I enjoyed the first episode, and I guess there won't be any more parent scenes. So long as future episodes don't involve Alex constantly fainting in the heat and waking up tied to the train tracks by a moustache-twirling baron, it might become as enjoyable as Life on Mars.

  • Posted on 21 April 2009
  • at 12:28pm
  • by Michael

Alex was extremely annoying in series one. Those interminable scenes with her mother just seemed to reach new tv heights of cringe worthiness.

  • Posted on 20 April 2009
  • at 5:04am
  • by Lorraine Hall

I thought Ashes to Ashes series one was a brilliant show and Keeley Hawes in my mind is a good actress who has taken a lot of unfair criticism. Life on Mars was also a great programme, however they are different shows and have to be perceived on their own merit. I personally thought that ashes to ashes was more fun than Life on Mars. I have found tht the secret with Ashes to Ashes is to watch it a good few times to 'get it', it then falls into place and is really enjoyable. I think series 2 looks fantastic.

  • Posted on 19 April 2009
  • at 7:10pm
  • by Bere

I respectfully disagree regarding Damages. I think Damages remains superior drama and actually I feel that the main thrust of the story is highly appropriate for a show called Damages and that being said it is only one of several threads being expertly juggled by the show. That being said, big business is a hard sell to make interesting on screen, and Damages is doing a fine job of it. I must admit that I do think the pace could be faster but other than that, I have no complaints and William Hurt is a fine addition to the show.

  • Posted on 19 April 2009
  • at 6:09pm
  • by LJ

I agree with your comments about damages, I was totally addicted to the first series but the second seems far too contrived - and Ellen is far too skinny it's almost painful to watch her. still try not to miss it though...

  • Posted on 19 April 2009
  • at 5:03pm
  • by Phil

I too have been disappointed with the second series of Damages but it didn't help that I didn't see the first series. If it is repeated I will certainly watch it and maybe things will make more sense.

  • Posted on 18 April 2009
  • at 9:40pm
  • by Susan

I felt Alex got better and better by each episode. She was really great in the last episode. I liked Keeley Hawes in Spooks and i think she is really wonderful in Ashes to Ashes. Can't wait for Series 2 to start. The hints u mentioned r intriguing

  • Posted on 16 April 2009
  • at 7:21pm
  • by MazY

I've never watched Damages so I can't really add anything on that issue - though, of course, I can empathise with the loss of a loved one - I'm still waiting for series five of House!

I never really got the backlash that ensued after the introduction of Alex to Ashes to Ashes. I didn't think she was a particularly good actress, but I can't say I noticed excessive shrieking, nor did I find her particularly annoying. If I had one complaint, I felt they went a little too over the top in trying to portray the era. It seemed like some props were crow-barred in just to make the point. You know, just in case the last crow-barred in prop didn't get the job done.

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