Despite wrapping up almost 9 years ago now, Broadchurch is still a hugely popular British crime drama, and audiences continue to seek out another show that’s just as good. Broadchurch stars David Tennant as DI Alec Hardy and Olivia Colman as DS Ellie Miller, the two detectives who are at the forefront of multiple gripping criminal investigations, and their characters play a big part in why viewers love the show so much. While the British original was (and still is) a huge hit, the American version of Broadchurch didn’t work to the same effect, unfortunately.
Broadchurch viewers who are looking for an alternative with a different change of pace should check out Ashes to Ashes, which is another iconic British title. While Ashes to Ashes differs from Broadchurch in several ways, there are several factors that audiences will still find engaging. Ashes to Ashes is one of the best British detective series on BritBox, and if you’ve never seen it before, now is the time to binge it from start to finish.
‘Ashes to Ashes’ Is a Great Alternative to ‘Broadchurch’
Ashes to Ashes proves itself to be a brilliant sci-fi crime show from the very first episode, which introduces Keeley Hawes as police officer Alex Drake in the year 2008. While dealing with Sean Harris’ Arthur Layton, an unhinged criminal, Drake is shot in the line of duty, and instead of finding herself in the hospital, she wakes up in 1981. There, she meets Philip Glenister’s Gene Hunt, Dean Andrews’ Ray Carling, and Marshall Lancaster’s Chris Skelton, who are all in the police force, too.
It’s worth noting that Ashes to Ashes serves as a sequel to Life on Mars, which got an obscure American remake back in 2008, and stars Doctor Who‘s John Simm as Sam Tyler, who suffers a similar experience to Drake’s. Hunt, Carling, and Skelton are all characters from Life on Mars, too. While being familiar with Life on Mars helps viewers better understand the events of Ashes to Ashes, it’s not essential, and it’s easy to follow without watching the prequel.
The sci-fi elements in Ashes to Ashes come into play through Drake’s introduction. As she’s unable to get back to her own time, Drake integrates herself into Hunt’s squad and launches herself into her work, both personal and professional. While Drake helps her colleagues solve various crimes, she also tries to gather evidence against Arthur Layton, believing that his conviction is somehow connected to her returning to the present day. Technically, Ashes to Ashes can be considered a period detective drama, too.
Of course, there are some notable differences between Ashes to Ashes and Broadchurch. Broadchurch is one of the greatest crime thrillers ever for several reasons, but one thing that stands out is that it follows a new story and crime with each season. Ashes to Ashes, however, has more of a procedural format. There are overarching stories, but they’re personal to the characters, and most episodes typically focus on a new crime and set of supporting characters. Ashes to Ashes also experiments with philosophy and the concept of reality, too, which is enthralling. However, the show does a great job at ensuring the sci-fi side of things doesn’t overshadow the fact that it is primarily a crime drama.
Ashes to Ashes and Broadchurch aren’t exact copies of one another, but that isn’t a bad thing. Ashes to Ashes offers an interesting take on detective crime dramas, and the sci-fi twist doesn’t take away from this. Plus, with Life on Mars to watch as well, there’s plenty of content for Broadchurch viewers to check out.
Source link
Add Comment