Ashes to Ashes
Created by Matthew Graham, Ashley Pharoah
On BBC One
A metaphysical crime drama that uses 1980s London as a liminal space to interrogate mortality, identity, and the nature of reality itself.
Crime drama series featuring Life On Mars' DCI Gene Hunt. After being shot in 2008, DI Alex Drake lands in 1981, where she finds herself in familiar company.
Where to watch
- StreamPrime Video, BritBox
- AdsPrime Video, Tubi TV, The Roku Channel, Amazon MX Player
Questions people ask
Is Ashes to Ashes scary? Yes. More frightening than 89% of series.
Is Ashes to Ashes one of a kind? Yes. More singular than 89% of series.
Is Ashes to Ashes sad? Yes. More sad than 84% of series.
Is Ashes to Ashes violent? Yes. More violent than 81% of series.
Does Ashes to Ashes leave you hopeful? Not especially. Less hopeful than 73% of series.
Is Ashes to Ashes easy watching? Not especially. Less comforting than 66% of series.
These describe how the series comes across across its whole run, compared with other well-known series. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked episode by episode, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.
Written about
- Whose Show Is It?Finding
Cinnamon Score
How much this series gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.
Familiar shape, done well.
How unlike any other series this one feels
How much more it delivers than it promises
How much audiences actually like it
Ensemble
Everything like Ashes to Ashes, and what each one shares →
Like Ashes to Ashes
Nearest across the full emotional profile.
Same Mood as Ashes to Ashes
Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.
Like Ashes to Ashes, But Darker
Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.
Like Ashes to Ashes, But Lighter
Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.
Like Ashes to Ashes, But Less Popular
Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.
