Ashes to Ashes - Complete Series 1-3 - 12-DVD Box Set ( Ashes to Ashes - Complete Collection - Series 1, 2 & 3 ) ( Ashes to Ashes - Complete Seri [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - United Kingdom ]

I liked the first series where you did not know what was really happening and you had no idea where this was going.In the second incarnation of this show, you pretty much know that this is mostly not real; happening in her head. As a result, in the first incarnation, the interaction between the two characters was interesting and sometimes even humorous; this time around, it is far less interesting, despite the female lead being so attractive.What continually struck me as stupid was the driving of the head cop. He drove like a stunt driver and it really wore thin after the first episode. No matter when this took place, this just seems like an element which was added for dramatic effect, but it came off more as cartoonish.A clever writer could take lead characters, put them in a 1970s cop show, and that could work.In short, I did not hate this series and I will probably watch all of it (as I bought the DVDs); but there is much better work being done out there.

Had to get a DVD player that could play the European format....but works great and really enjoyed the entire series!!!

It was extremely hard to put this great series box set down ..I now have completed my goal to see what happened to Life on Mars detective Sam Tyler and of course how all the characters of Ashes especially D I Drake. made out in the finale....brillantly acted , a plot that finishes as it should in grand and emotional fashion ..I would recommend this series most highly ,,,, it is only on PAL so you will need a region free dvd player......Cheers Guv.

We relaly like this series. I had to buy a special DVD player so we could watch it because it only comes in the PAL region. We needed a new DVD player anyway and we got one that plays everything.As usual with the BBC, wish the series had gone one longer.

In my opinion not as good as Life on Mars but still quite good and most entertaining. Note you need a region free DVD player to watch these UK disks in the US.

I bought this set through Ebay, because it was quite a bit cheaper.I came upon this series & Life on Mars recently through Hulu. Sadly, at the end of January, they removed it, so I've been on the Hunt for the DVD's of both.I've become smitten with both series. So unique, fascinating, excellent characters, acting & stories. Surprised I had not come across it sooner, since I love British TV shows much more than US shows.I ended up buying a region free dvd/blu-ray player just to play this & LoM. (although it plays just fine on a computer & VLC player)Highly recommended series.

Ashes to Ashes is a spinoff/sequel to Life on Mars and upon hearing about it I was pretty skeptical because I thought nothing would compare to the original series.The first couple of episodes were weak and indeed made me feel like LoM shouldn't have had a spinoff series at all but these feelings quickly subsided as I got attached to the show and this progressed to the point where I think it actually much better than Life on Mars, which I LOVED.Save for the weak beginning I mentioned, this item is comedic gold packed into a DVD boxset. This time the show revolves around Alex Drake, a fantastic and feisty character with a lot of chemistry with the brash yet hilarious Gene Hunt, as well as a plot line that feels more studied than LoM's rather impromptu finale. It taking place in the 80s has a lot to do with my enjoyment of it as well. As with Life on Mars the music selection is incredible and very reminiscent of the era.I don't think you can go wrong with this purchase

If you are reading this, you know the premise, and I don't want to give away ANY of the plot developments - but as great as "Life on Mars" was, this may be even better. As with "Life on Mars," the end (of each season) makes you want to go back to the beginning and watch from your new perspective. It took me most of "Life on Mars" to warm up to Gene Hunt's minions, but by now they are old friends - and Hunt himself remains a politically incorrect force of nature, his strengths and weaknesses unfiltered, but now - transplanted to the 1980s or perhaps just seasoned with age - with unexpected flashes of vulnerability that do NOT re-write the character. Hunt and Alex's love/hate relationship actually succeeds where so many (similar) attempts fail, and the chemistry positively crackles, while the writers know just when to pull back and keep up the tension. The art direction is gorgeous, with its super-saturated reds - and thanks to this, I'll give a pass to the idea of a female CID psychologist showing up for work daily in red satin blouses and Flashdance tops, not to mention her club-ready eye makeup when she ought to have other things on her mind than perfecting shadow and liner. My only complaint about this series is that it is not yet available in the US, so that it gave me one more reason to be grateful I bought a multi-region player several years ago - long may it last. I am dying to share with friends, so please publish a US edition!

Where should I start? The beginning of course...who is thinking that ashes to ashes is just a sequel of life on mars, is not completely right. this brilliant series of course continues after "life on mars" but with new and more intricate stories, during the whole 3 seasons, you will discover the "stories" behind the the main characters and most important, why they are still there!Brilliant from start to finish, very addictive, the scripts and the pics are really good, best cast ever, shame for not having Sam back for a quick flashback.A very good example of Brit TV Series.Rather interesting are also the specials, which introduce some explanation.Buy it and you will not regret it.

I had recently watched Life on Mars when I brought this, so at first I was a little wary and it does take some time to settle in to the new department. However, my main concern was that Sam Tyler was simply unbeatable, and I learned in this, that he wasn't.Series 1 was one of the better series,and follows an arc which is based around Alex's parents, who were killed in a car bomb. Whilst the start of the series is a little shaky, it really picks up towards the end and has a simply brilliant ending. Gene Hunt also seems to have improved a lot since Life on Mars, and has become a far more likeable character.Series 2 was also a very good series, and took a different approach to the last series in that Alex was no longer alone in her predicament, which introduces us to the fascinating PC Summers.But I'm skipping a lot here because I want to get to series 3. The series builds up around a very strong plot and keeps you on the edge of your seat all the way through, but the best episode of the series is the final. It explains everything, in the most magical, brilliant way, and although it has a very sad ending, every character really gets a good send off - especially Shaz and Ray. However, the highlight for me was DCI Jim Keats - and he wins me over in the final, as one of my favourite TV characters.

absolutely awesome is ashes to ashes. Following on from life on mars, it provides gripping entertainment and at the end everything is answered so your left in no doubt as to whats going on. Really one of the most satisfying tv series you could wish to watch and even more entertaining if you grow up in the eighties when it was set as it sends you down through memory lane and how simple things used to be. Do make sure you watch life on mars first though otherwise some bits will leave you confused....... A+++++++++ every time