Ashes to Ashes

I've just seen the first episode of Ashes to Ashes, the much vaunted sequel to Life on Mars. Some thoughts from while watching it:

• The opening sequence with the gunman by the Thames sees yet another appearance on television for my old school, the City of London School. Why did I never see television cameras when I was there?
  
  
• Has Alex been hit or missed?
  
  
• Alex Drake's outfit when she comes to in 1981 has to be seen to be believed. I can't remember 1981 - was it really like this?
  
  
• Gene Hunt's shoes! Did people really wear those?
  
  
• Gene, Ray and Chris are back and just the same, although Gene's got a new coat and car.
  
  
• In the police station there's at least two black policemen - will there be conflict over racial attitudes?
  
  
• Quite an introduction for the men!
  
  
• Ah Zippy and George! Who of my generation doesn't have fond memories of Rainbow?
  
  
• Alex finds herself in a world she thinks she understands but is it what she imagines?
  
  
• Gene seems uneasy with "modern" policing - is he as out of place as others?
  
  
• Alex is quite open about her situation - will this cause her problems in the station?
  
  
• Zippy and George in the police station - quite a surreal sequence!
  
  
• And is it me or has Roy Skelton provided their voices?
  
  
• The clown is quite scarey!
  
  
• Shadwell is quite close to QMUL but I don't immediately recognise the railway arches seen.
  
  
• Sam Tyler lived in the past for seven years before drowning - or is he still alive somewhere?
  
  
• When Alex walks into the restaurant why do I immediately think of Bergerac?
  
  
• Gene knows that the knives are out for his type of his policing - will he act on borrowed time?
  
  
• We're getting scenes that Alex isn't actually present for, something not done on Life on Mars - is this a sign that this really is 1981? Come to think of it, when in the present day Layton remembered Alex's mother, was he actually remembering Alex herself?
  
  
• "I'm The A-Team." It hadn't started in 1981, had it?
  
  
• What would happen if Layton died? A wake-up, a paradox or what?
  
  
• Alex thinks she's done what it takes to get home, but is it that simple?
  
  
• Even Alex found Gene's cavalry boat ride to be over the top!
  
  
• Have Alex's parents already died yet? Or will we meet them soon?

The trailer for next week - and Alex's mother is alive...

All in all a good start to the series, showing it's very much a different beast and not just a rehashing of its predecessor. I'll keep on watching...