Things that don't suck, and things for a buck.

[captainsblog]

Let's get the memeage out of the way early:

Day 25 - A show you plan on watching (old or new)

Ashes to Ashes, and/or Life on Mars.

Okay, guys. Reel me in.  You did it with the Doctor, and I’m told the same sorts of things will attract me to the A2A/LOM franchises.

As was my long-time excuse for avoiding Who-age, it’s obviously compicated.  Which is which? Where does the US version fit in (OMG it had Christophuh in it- how'd I miss THAT)? Can I just jump in with the current series, or will I need to understand the backstory?

More to the point, is it readily accessible on BBCA, Skiffy, something not involving a mess of online file downloads?

Is it on hiatus now, when my Dexter and Doctor commitments are off, or am I going to be piled-on come Christmas?

You can do it, people. I can go back to 1973 in my sleep without anything magical. Work with me here.

----

Meanwhile, back at ranch.com, I just joined a new comm, on the rec of a new Friend from There, who also writes here as murrday.  It's called wellwishers, and the concept is simple: members (256 at last count, me being that very 2-to-the-somethingth newest) Paypal in a buck a week, and the comm takes and grants the small and the simple of the wishes that are out there. It might be a month's rent for someone on the brink of eviction until things turn around, or an x-ray for a beloved animal, or, as in these youtubes, a simple delivery of balloons to a little girl's hospital room. First, the recipient's receipt and reaction to them-

"Tyler Westcott of Folkfaces plays The People's Climate March" (Watch on YouTube)

- and, here, Peg's song about the small moments of joy that come in paying it forward at even the lowest level of currency-

"Cow Tipping" (Watch on YouTube)

Where's George? Doing a lot more good than getting lost in your laundry or buying a Tim Horton's cuppa. I'm in. Please come along.

Comments

[thanatos-kalos.livejournal.com]

Okay, here's the short version.

Life on Mars is a 2 series (16 ep) show about a 21st century cop who is in a car accident and wakes up in 1973 (as a cop). He believes he's in a coma and is dreaming, but steadily gets drawn into the 1973 world. His main ally/antagonist is DCI ('Captain' in US terms) Gene Hunt, who is about as Alpha male as it gets, and the contrast between the characters is one of the best parts of the series. (Not to mention the chemistry between the characters. Phillip Glenister plays Gene, and John Simm-- New Who's the Master-- plays Sam Tyler).

Sam's story ends in s2 of Life on Mars (more or less, but I can't say more without giving away one of the best series finales). In series 1 of Ashes to Ashes, a police psychologist in 2008, Alex Drake, studyign Sam's experiences is shot in the head, and wakes up in 1981. She finds herself working with DCI Hunt and his CID (a blend of Robbery/Homicide) team. We get to explore more of that world through Alex for 3 series, culminating in yet another brilliant series finale that I won't spoil.

The series are over, now-- you can watch all 40 eps as a unit and have the full story. The music is great, the performances are fab (though s1 Ashes to Ashes is a bit off in spots; this gets resolved in s2 and s3) and it all actually makes sense. The US version was a remake with no relation to the UK series beyond the very basic ideas. You'll need to dl or get the DVDs, though. It's worth it.

(I'm also a 'trib to a one-off zine on the topic of the series... ;)

[captainsblog.livejournal.com]

Netflix has them. I queued them all. My summer nights are shot to bloody hell. (I also have S4 of Heroes in there- I think for you. You still need that, cos I'm not interested anymore, especially if this works out.)

[thanatos-kalos.livejournal.com]

Ooh, thanks! I'd like to see Heroes s4, thuogh more to see if it's as bad as they say...

you'll like Lom/A2A. :)

[liddle-oldman.livejournal.com]

I very much liked all three shows. Watch Life On Mars first. Watch it all the way through -- I think it's only two years. Then watch Ashes to Ashes. (I"m not sure if England's had the third and final season yet.) Watch the American version if you like -- it's absolutely different, and badly truncated, and has a completely and absolutely different ending, but the ending is not absolutely stupid.

And it has an excellent line in the last show, which applies completely -- "Why does everything come down to David Bowie?"