ashes to ashes episode breakdown
Couldn't resist trying to analyse the use of that song in tonight's episode and some of the reoccurring symbols (or red herrings) on the show.
1) The numbers engraved on Alex's desk: 6-6-20?
Date or a bible verse?
Personally I think it could be the date the policeman ghost died (judging by his uniform). I think I saw c.f. 20 on the shoulder pad of his jacket? No idea what that means but could be significant or at least help pinpoint the era he's from.
2) The weird close up on Shaz, with Life on Mars playing in the background
It was just the one line "god awful small affair to the girl with the mousy hair" and the song segment played right after she agreed to stay with Gene.
Shaz made a decision to stay with Gene and suddenly you get this fast-zoom-in ominous close-up of her face (with a conflicted expression, that slowly breaks into a smile) while the background fades to black. Then the camera pans back out, colour returns and the song changes to the track that was playing in the bar earlier "video killed the radio star".
Compare this to Sam. Sam jumps from the building, a nasty side effect of this was his death (assuming A2A canon, because this wasn't confirmed in LOM).
Coincidences:
While Sam is on the building his facial expression gradually changes from a grimace to a full grin as he makes his decision, same as Shaz.
When Sam jumps, Life on Mars is playing (I don't remember much of how it builds up, except the fact that John Simm's lips quirk into this sort of fond smirk at the lyrics "take a look at the lawman beating up the wrong guy", I'm going to take it as a given that this is meant to indicate that Sam was thinking of Gene moments before he decided to jump.
Also when Sam jumped it faded to black and then, colour returned as Sam returned to 1973.
As he made his decision to stay with Gene.
(Also ).
And then Alex...
In episode 1, when she was talking to the dream!shrink, there was that funny business where it the background faded to black when she wasn't talking about Gene and then coloured when she was (or vice versa I can't remember).
So now we have three characters who have made (or in Alex's case - probably very likely to make) their decision to stay with Gene.
But the key thing here? I really like the implications that maybe Shaz is from the future (or past?).
3) The closeup of the police man ghost at the end.
ok, old uniform (check) with tha cf 20 (?) on the shoulder.
4) A close up of a weather-vane which looks like a doubled over old man with a cane, and it's pointing North-West....
(this is the second time it's been shown)
ok so if it's north-west does that mean the wind is blowing from the south east?
Quick google says that the east winds are meant to be an omen of god's judgement. (?)
5)The Uptown girl song at the start cuts out before the word "blood" ("she's been living in her white bread world, as long as anyone with hot blood can")
from episode 1 we have the number 9:06 which I think a few people have posted about it corresponding to the bible passage
"Whoso sheddeth man's blood, {f} by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man."
Also we have a policeman with a very bloody face.
Hmm theme much?
Any thoughts?