Anybody can be a prop class clown.

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All Ogle, No Cash -- It's Not Just Annoying, It's Un-American

Discussion of episodes currently airing in Un-American locations (anything that's aired in Australia is fair game), as well as anything else the Un-Americans feel like talking about or we feel like asking them. Please use the show discussion threads for any current-season discussion.

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Seska (the Watcher-in-Training) - May 13, 2010 12:16:45 am PDT #8961 of 9843
"We're all stories, in the end. Just make it a good one, eh?"

But seriously though: what else could he have done?

I was holding out for them doing nothing. They assumed that it was their role to support one of the major parties. They could have demanded the Tories formed a minority government, opposed it on all fronts, and forced an early re-election. This wouldn't have been stable, but it would have been democratic. I'm really feeling let down by Clegg and co at the moment. Power corrupts and all that - apparently even just the possibility of power.

BTW this is a really foolish idea on both sides of the Atlantic.

Completely. I am actually quite terrified of the public spending cuts that are coming. Also of the Tories' plans to 'reform' the social security system at the same time, i.e. chuck everyone off benefits just when people really need them. There's going to be trouble.


Seska (the Watcher-in-Training) - May 14, 2010 11:41:57 pm PDT #8962 of 9843
"We're all stories, in the end. Just make it a good one, eh?"

And just to move the conversation off politics and back to telly: anyone see Ashes to Ashes last night? Bloody marvellous. Dull speculations: I still reckon that the stars, sounds etc are about this world falling apart. I don't think it's about Alex leaving anymore, though. I think it's about Gene being discovered for whatever he is. It's Gene that keeps this world going. I won't be at all surprised if he's in a coma somewhere and either slowly dying or slowly recovering. It also wouldn't surprise me if Keats has worked out that to get out of this world and back to his life, he has to get to Gene's secret. Hence trying to destroy the team.

It's also interesting that Alex has stopped having 'interruptions' from the real world, and is now only having visions of dead policemen. Is she dying? She seems to think so, given her conversation with Gene at dinner.


Fiona - May 15, 2010 11:02:17 pm PDT #8963 of 9843

AtoA: finally getting very interesting again, but the episode STILL left more questions unanswered than answered. No idea what's going on with Ray/Chris/Shaz, though your explanation is plausible, Seska. They're going to have a heck of a lot of wrapping up to do next week .

Did anyone else do a double take when the nice Venetian Gondolier from Doctor Who last week suddenly turned out to be an ANC terrorist ?

I know that the one tiny scene from the trailer is supposed to make us think that Sam - John Simm - will be back next week, but I really, really hope it's true .


Seska (the Watcher-in-Training) - May 15, 2010 11:57:45 pm PDT #8964 of 9843
"We're all stories, in the end. Just make it a good one, eh?"

Fiona: I very much hope he'll back, too - but I can't believe the BBC would have been able to keep that quiet! We'll have to see...


Fiona - May 16, 2010 12:49:42 am PDT #8965 of 9843

Oh, they do manage it from time to time. Fingers crossed.

Thinking about it (probably more than I should), Shaz and Ray and now Chris have all had their starry moments following a crisis with Gene, after which they've returned to the ranks. The identification of Nelson as the voice was interesting too. Are they really all still stuck in Manchester in 1973 ?


DebetEsse - May 16, 2010 8:52:23 pm PDT #8966 of 9843
Woe to the fucking wicked.

Interesting thought, Fiona. It would make sense that Faith In Gene is key--That's the center that cannot hold. I prefer the idea that he's a real person, in whatever time, to some sort of non-human entity, or not real.

To me, the stars recall Bowie's Space Oddity. (And then I start down the wikipedia rabbit hole and it all kind of works). I mean, Major Tom is referenced in Ashes to Ashes the song. When the series started, I read it as Sam, and I may still, but (as much as it pains me to be similar to the US version), it might be Gene.

It's so very All About Sam, that he really ought to be back, even if just in flashback (and I agree that it was heavily implied in the promo). Dunno where/how Shaz fits into the Manchester thing, though, since she's not from there.


DebetEsse - May 21, 2010 5:02:25 pm PDT #8967 of 9843
Woe to the fucking wicked.

A2A: That was oddly satisfying. They over-used the "Life on Mars" line of that song in the Railway Arms scene. And I stand by my "looking up Gene Hunt in the real world would have been helpful" statement. I really liked that they told us who Jim was without actually getting out the chart and saying it.

I had to look up when Antiques Roadshow started. You've had it for ages over there.


Fiona - May 21, 2010 9:43:24 pm PDT #8968 of 9843

DebetEsse - I agree, especially about Jim. I'm now retrospectively sad that Jim got Viv, not Gene . I loved the way he was played, unpredictable until the final episode, then completely unhinged .

And I really liked the fact that we saw Nelson again.

Antiques Roadshow has been running for ever - since 1979 apparently. Though the best oh-my-goodness-has-it-really-been-on-that-long of the series was Top Gear .

Here's a Guardian article and interview with Matthew Graham explaining everything, über-spoilery:

[link]


Seska (the Watcher-in-Training) - May 21, 2010 11:19:44 pm PDT #8969 of 9843
"We're all stories, in the end. Just make it a good one, eh?"

I was sad to see that a lot of my friends on twitter hated that, so I'm glad you liked it too, Fiona and DebetEsse! It seems that people who were watching it as a retro cop show were disappointed, but those of us who were enjoying the fantasy elements weren't. There was some serious retcon going on, but it worked. Alex's ending was consistent with the fact that she'd had no real-world interruptions this season. And the whole overarching story arc makes a lot of sense. I want to go back and watch the whole of Life on Mars now. (The BBC has only 'stacked' Ashes to Ashes on the iPlayer, though, irritatingly!)

Fiona: Yep, you were right that they should have looked up Gene in the real world. But they thought Sam was crazy, and he didn't know there was a real world connection, so it makes sense. I didn't think the very short burst of 'Life on Mars' was over-done, but then I'm sentimental. I liked the return of Nelson and his pub.

I liked the very end. I like the idea that some people are dead and they forget where they're from, and others are close to death and remember. Knowing that Gene wouldn't think those who remember are crazy anymore was a rather nice touch at the end. (Although having the bloke asking for his iPhone was a bit OTT.)

There was an Antiques Roadshow mention? I'll have to watch again - I missed a couple of things. Yep, that's been on as long as I can remember.

And I had a long and complicated dream last night that my father had died after being in a coma. BBC's fault.

ETA: [refs to the very spoilery article Fiona linked to]Hmm. The Guardian article suggests there was no retcon involved. Hard to know whether to trust the writers on that. I'm definitely going to have to rewatch Life on Mars.


DebetEsse - May 22, 2010 4:08:31 am PDT #8970 of 9843
Woe to the fucking wicked.

I wondered about whether Gene would remember in the new re-boot. I get that they had to short-hand the "new guy from the future", but, yes, the iPhone was heavy-handed.

I kind of want to re-watch all of both series, but that's a lot of show.

It's horribly funny that they made Gene Hunt a bloody woobie in the end.