A2A final episode shocker

[Guest]

I loved it. Loved LoM as well. The first series of A2A I wasn't so sure about as Squeely Drawers irritated me, but it's improved with time. I'm kinda gutted there's no more Gene Hunt, but they finished it before it went shit.Hunt in a 190D would be so very wrong. He'd never drive a diesel.

I enjoyed it also, and that's a rare thing these days. The quality of A2A was consistently lower than LoM in my opinion. A2A started off averagely, dipped badly in the middle and finished on a high point.It was interesting to see how long each character lasted in the 'real world' as well - Gene Hunt was killed at the time of the Coronation (so what, 1953?), Chris looked like he died in the early Sixties, Ray topped himself in what looked like the Eighties and Shaz was stabbed in 1995 \ 6. Drake died in the present day.There is one bloody massive plot hole they didn't explain though - Drake has a memory of someone taking her hand when she was a child at the point of her parents death, and that person is later revealed to be Gene Hunt - in his recognisable phase. How the hell did that happen if (as Philip Glenister) he was long dead in 1981 (the first time around)? It's also suggested that Annie from LoM was in the same boat (sorry) as the rest of the main characters. How come her back story was never explained? Sam's got exposition in a very convoluted way, and yet she 'couldn't be traced' in the same way as Sam.And who the hell was the bloke in the Miami Vice suit supposed to be, other than Hunt's new charge? And how the bollocks did that con man in the prison know Sam Tyler's back story? (unless Keats got to him and put him up to it?)

[FredTransit]

OK, this is my understanding about it. Gene died in the line of duty in his first week in the job, shot in the head by a burgler, in 1953. As he was so young and had loads of unfinished business, he carried on in a 'purgatory' of his own making, attracting the souls of other recently deceased coppers, who also had unfinished business (and died before their time), intending to help them eventually pass over when the time was right for them.But, as time went on, he began to stop them passing over, keeping them with him so he wouldn't be alone in his world. Eventually the 'powers that be' of the afterlife sent somebody to clear the backlog (Keats) but instead of him being a good guy, he was the Devil and wanted to take the 'delayed' souls for himself to hell.All of the characters were either dead or close to death, and had unfinished business.The only bit I can't get my head around is how would Gene, who died in 1953, know anything about 1973 and 1983? Could it be through the lost souls that came to him, he gained the knowledge of the world beyond his death to perfect the purgatory?Gene died in 1953, the day of the coronationChris at some time in the late 60sRay in 1977 (he's watching the silver jubilee)Shaz in about 1995 (if you go on when Wonderwall came out)Shame about Shaz, the stab vest came out in 1989 (a mate of mine who is a police specialist sent me a text to point it out) and would/should have had a stab vest by the mid 90s....

[Mr Lobster]

OK, I understand it all but will be rewatching it on iPlayer at some point over the weekend as it will make more sense then. One question, who was the copper with part of his head blown away? Is that the young Gene Hunt?

[Rod/b]

Affirmative.

[Guest]

OK, I understand it all but will be rewatching it on iPlayer at some point over the weekend as it will make more sense then. One question, who was the copper with part of his head blown away? Is that the young Gene Hunt?

That's him.

[FredTransit]

Still can't see Gene in an oil burner....

[Guest]

The only bit I can't get my head around is how would Gene, who died in 1953, know anything about 1973 and 1983? Could it be through the lost souls that came to him, he gained the knowledge of the world beyond his death to perfect the purgatory?

LoM \ A2A purgatory seems to mirror the passage of time in the real world. If Gene had been stuck in this alternate reality since 1953 and aged accordingly (so he'd be 42 in LoM and 52 in A2A), it may just be that he's picked it up as he went along.Anyone got any explanations for my plot holeage?

[GJR 11L]

....bet they didnt shoot up a real Quattro either

No, it was a boggo coupé in disguise, according the man from Kudos who posts on some car fora but his head would probably explode in some bizarrely atmospheric, 1970s/80s way if he had to respond on every single site where the question was asked.

[Spottedlaurel]

I didn't watch any of A2A. Did enjoy LoM though.I wonder if the writers knew this was the story all along, or did they develop it as the series went on, to fit (more-or-less) what had gone before?

[Mr Lobster]

From reading the article on the Guardian website, it appears that this was the plan right from the start of LOM.

[MrDuke]

Hasn't the whole 'surprise ending' thing kinda shat on the chances of the US version? Or do the yanks get to re-write everything themselves? Actually, knowing them, there'll be an infinite number of ever-more pretentious and convoluted series a la Lost.

[Father Ted]

There was a US version - its endng was even more wank.

[FredTransit]

....bet they didnt shoot up a real Quattro either

No, it was a boggo coupé in disguise, according the man from Kudos who posts on some car fora but his head would probably explode in some bizarrely atmospheric, 1970s/80s way if he had to respond on every single site where the question was asked.

Yep they shot up the stunt double, the pretty one is still tucked up somewhere. Before it came to light it was up for the chop, they were offered twenty grand for it.....

[FredTransit]

 

 

 

There is one bloody massive plot hole they didn't explain though - Drake has a memory of someone taking her hand when she was a child at the point of her parents death, and that person is later revealed to be Gene Hunt - in his recognisable phase. How the hell did that happen if (as Philip Glenister) he was long dead in 1981 (the first time around)?

 

It's also suggested that Annie from LoM was in the same boat (sorry) as the rest of the main characters. How come her back story was never explained? Sam's got exposition in a very convoluted way, and yet she 'couldn't be traced' in the same way as Sam.

 

And who the hell was the bloke in the Miami Vice suit supposed to be, other than Hunt's new charge? And how the bollocks did that con man in the prison know Sam Tyler's back story? (unless Keats got to him and put him up to it?)

I think that could either be explained as Alex remembering it wrong, or that Gene can come out of his manufactured reality into the real world. I remember this bit of the plot, but can't remember how it came out. Did Alex say that, or did Gene? I didn't watch a lot of series 1 as I had no vans in it!

 

I think how Annie got there was she was kicked to death by Sam's Dad, and they married in the afterlife (Sam and Annie), then passed on together when they were ready.

 

iphone man is obviously the new lost soul that Gene has to contend with. That's what I mean when I say the door has been left wide open. New arrival from the future, new car in the off.

 

As for Thordy (the con man in prison) I reckon he was primed by Keats.

[garbaldy]

Yep they shot up the stunt double, the pretty one is still tucked up somewhere. Before it came to light it was up for the chop, they were offered twenty grand for it.....

from the pics on t web it looks like the front parts have been removed whole and placed on the ground, the bullet holes look like them halfords stick on jobbys that you used to see,20k bloody hell thats about 3 times the cars normal value

[FredTransit]

If you watch the scene, bits fly off (small charges) and they are genuine holes. Some made by charges, some actual bullet holes. Shot at Northolt.

[MrDuke]

iphone man is obviously the new lost soul that Gene has to contend with. That's what I mean when I say the door has been left wide open. New arrival from the future, new car in the off.

I don't see another series tbh. I think that last bit was just to round off the whole explanation of Hunt's (continually evolving) place in the afterlife. I think they were also just rubbing in the fact that he could've gone on to heaven himself at any time, but instead stayed behind to guide other 'lost souls' through.

[garbaldy]

I have to admit now that i never new that A2A was a supernatural thriller sort off thing i just thought that she was sent back in time to sort out something, or that she would wake up after a long dream mabe i should have watched the whole series from start to finish then it might have made sense

[Rusty Pelican]

I have to admit now that i never new that A2A was a supernatural thriller sort off thing i just thought that she was sent back in time to sort out something, or that she would wake up after a long dream mabe i should have watched the whole series from start to finish then it might have made scense

Ashes to ashes as a title should have been a bit of a clue

[garbaldy]

Ashes to ashes as a title should have been a bit of a clue

alrighty then so what was life on mars supposed to mean

[FredTransit]

iphone man is obviously the new lost soul that Gene has to contend with. That's what I mean when I say the door has been left wide open. New arrival from the future, new car in the off.

I don't see another series tbh. I think that last bit was just to round off the whole explanation of Hunt's (continually evolving) place in the afterlife. I think they were also just rubbing in the fact that he could've gone on to heaven himself at any time, but instead stayed behind to guide other 'lost souls' through.

I agree with what you are saying, and the writers have always said this is the last series. But if they are not leaving the door open so to speak, they could have ended with the crane shot of Gene alone in the street outside The Railway Arms. They really didn't need to show CID again, or the new arrival mouthing off about his iphone. Considering they lopped 20 mins off the final edit, that was an extra scene that could have been done without, if there is 100% to be no more.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

You can watch the ending of the US version of Life On Mars here, if you want a laugh.

[FredTransit]

Yeah I heard about that, why do the yanks have to re make everything? Can't they cope with the original?

[Guest]

iphone man is obviously the new lost soul that Gene has to contend with. That's what I mean when I say the door has been left wide open. New arrival from the future, new car in the off.

I don't see another series tbh. I think that last bit was just to round off the whole explanation of Hunt's (continually evolving) place in the afterlife. I think they were also just rubbing in the fact that he could've gone on to heaven himself at any time, but instead stayed behind to guide other 'lost souls' through.

I agree with what you are saying, and the writers have always said this is the last series. But if they are not leaving the door open so to speak, they could have ended with the crane shot of Gene alone in the street outside The Railway Arms. They really didn't need to show CID again, or the new arrival mouthing off about his iphone. Considering they lopped 20 mins off the final edit, that was an extra scene that could have been done without, if there is 100% to be no more.

Is the full cut ever gonna be released? How do you know about Annie being kicked to death by Sam's dad?

[trigger]

x2 how do you know about Annie? I was wondering that as well...

[FredTransit]

it's partly theory, partly shown in LOM, it's part of what Sam was supposed to change, when he went back in the first place.

[Father Ted]

it's partly theory, partly shown in LOM, it's part of what Sam was supposed to change, when he went back in the first place.

Which of course in reality he didnt because its not reality but purgatory.

[FredTransit]

My head hurts......

[Father Ted]

Well, you see Sam lived his life wondering WTF happened to his dad, in the end of series one he found out what he had been repressing as childhood memories was his dad murdering a policewoman. In LoM he changed this and his dad ran away -Sam realised his dad was in fact a grade A wanker and the police woman wasnt killed - but in reality she was because nothing in "reality" changed, it was just a way of Sam to reconcile what he saw as a child and work out what happened to his dad. Also Annie was killed, so she ended up in this limbo place and became his love interest. Then presumbably their time there came to an end and they reached whatever reconcilliation they needed and they to went to the pub which if you are lucky was the passing over point to heaven - as opposed to the rather corny lifts going down to the basement.Quite why Gene chose to stay in this world rather than pass over is one that will keep people speculating down the pub for hours, or at least untill the next jug of Pimms arrives on the table.I have of course been drinking drambui and all this is quite probbaly bollocks of the highest degree.

[MrDuke]

Quite why Gene chose to stay in this world rather than pass over is one that will keep people speculating down the pub for hours, or at least untill the next jug of Pimms arrives on the table.

That was the last 'twist' - basically, he acts like a total tosser all through the series', but at the end it turns out he'd rather stick around to heroically guide people through, than move on himself. So he must be really nice after all Although there's always the possibility that he really IS a genuine w4nker, and isn't allowed into heaven