Parents' Guide to

Ashes to Ashes

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

'80s-set British crime sequel is as good as the original.

TV BBC America Drama 2009
Ashes to Ashes Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

age 18+

Based on 1 parent review

age 18+

Ashes to Ashes for mature audiences only

This is a great show. Life on Mars was just as good but this is not for kids. The brief nudity and sex, excessive violence and swearing, police brutality and the death scene flashbacks make this show for an older audience. Don't get me wrong, this is a good show and i would suggest it to adults. Great shows come from BBC.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (2):

Like its predecessor, this multifaceted series subtly follows the life of Gene Hunt as seen through the eyes of others (although Alex Drake is the "face" of the series, Hunt is the key returning character from Life on Mars), with the decade's significant cultural and political moments serving as the backdrop of his story. It successfully meshes poignant moments and subtle humor by combining the realities of 1980s British politics with the colorful glam culture the decade was known for. The show also borders on the surreal as plotlines from the present and the past come together, with simple crime solving scenes transforming into visually and psychologically abstract moments.

It's all pretty edgy, and it may not be the kind of thing that you want your tweens and younger teens to watch. Although a lot of the humor may go over young kids' head, there's plenty of violence, strong language, sexual content, and smoking (common in British series). But for older teens and adults looking for some sophisticated entertainment, it's a great choice.

TV Details

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