I've been watching. I'm pretty sure they're preparing the ground for Sam to show up again. I have asked myself the Annie question too, but Alex probably doesn't know much about Annie. None of the men has mentioned her, and who knows how much Sam referred to her in his notes (they only really got together after he "returned" anyway). So I'm not surprised she's not seeking her out.

This series is solid, but it's never been as good as LoM at its peak, and I'm quite glad it's the last. I just wonder if the "solution" to the "mystery" will be (a) given at all; (b) pulled-out-of-their-asses or (c) actually make some kind of narrative sense .

Hmm to me there is no explanation that will be as satisfying as leaving it a mystery. I kind of hope she does wake up though.

The matchmaking one? Well, I've seen them all, but I'm not sure which one you're referring to.

You think they'll bring Sam back? Interesting. I could see him showing up as a "ghost", but as really for realz alive? They'd have to sell me hard on that.

I did notice that "Life on Mars" was playing during Ray's light-shift hallucination moment in the most recent ep (and said to myself, "What's up with that? He's from here.")

I did notice that "Life on Mars" was playing during Ray's light-shift hallucination moment in the most recent ep

Ooh. I'm going to have to go back and look for that.

Yep, the speed-dating episode. I'm starting to wonder whether other characters are in comas or from the 2000s. At one point last season there was a real-world reference to another man in a coma. I've only seen each of the episodes of AtA once, and I don't remember what my original thought was of the significance of that. But you add in Shaz seeing stars, and I'm wondering whether that's just an echo of Alex's visions, or whether it's something else.

I, too, am hoping for an ending that's at least coherent. The Life on Mars ending took away the glorious ambiguity of the show, for me. Ashes to Ashes hasn't been at all ambiguous, but it's regaining some of that now, which is fun.

Coherent and ambiguous - I would like that.

There's been a very strong implication that the new character, Keats (Daniel Mays), is also from the future. He's practically said as much, and he knew the names of future serial killers. So it will be interesting to find out what he's doing there .

Apparently the coming episode will be even more Sam-centric. I'm fairly sure he could come back. They never found the body... .

Fiona: Ooh. I wonder if they've managed to tempt John Simm back, if only for a scene or two. It would also be fascinating if he didn't die in the past.

Seska, re your whitefont:

yes, it would be extremely cool to see John Simm again. However due to subsequent events I can't guarantee that I won't be shouting, "Don't trust him, he's THE MASTER!" at the screen .

Sapphire and Steel reference on Ashes to Ashes last night. Love it.

I was a bit worried when Ray started seeing stars and talking about astronauts though. I do hope they're not going to go where the US LoM did and put them all in hypersleep .

Nice episode, all in all. The Sam mystery deepens....

RE: Last night's Ashes to Ashes on the BBC. Anyone have any thoughts on what Gene might have said? I don't think it was just 'the truth' in relation to Sam. I think he knows where this universe, for want of a better term, has come from. Which might be related to Sam's death, too.

Fiona: Don't think the stars thing - which Ray and Shaz have both seen - is particularly literal. I think it might be what Ray said about being on the edge of the universe. Their world might be collapsing.