The Isle of Dogs in 2008 (shortly before Alex Drake's shooting). (A2A Series 1: Episode 1)
The year 2008 was the eighth year of the twenty-first century and the third millennium.
Events[]
Background[]
In 2008, Alex Drake was a Detective Inspector in an unspecified police division of the Metropolitan Police Service. She lived with her only daughter, Molly Drake, who often visited their (mutual) godfather, Evan White. She specialised in psychological profiling and assessment, and thus was a vital part of hostage negotiation teams.
Shooting of Alex Drake[]
Whilst investigating the psychological results of Sam Tyler and his following death in 2007, DI Alex Drake was shot by former explosives expert Arthur Layton which sent her into a deep coma. She awakened in 1981. (A2A Series 1: Episode 1). Like DI Sam Tyler, Alex often saw images and visions of the future - in this case, 2008.
Vision of 2008[]
Before waking up from her coma in 2008, DI Drake was shot accidentally by DCI Gene Hunt in 1982. The impact of the gunshot had sent her into a separate coma in 1982. While in a coma, she saw a vision of herself waking up in a London hospital in 2008 with her daughter. At the same time, she began to see visions of Gene Hunt on the hospital screens, who explained her coma and said he had been accused of shooting her on purpose. (A2A Series 1: Episode 8)
Months later[]
Over the next few months, Alex stopped seeing visions of Gene Hunt and sought psychiatric therapy. When she believed that the visions would not continue, the 'hallucinations' began to appear again of DS Ray Carling, DC Chris Skelton, WPC Sharon Granger, DCI Jim Keats and DCI Gene Hunt talking to her in a hospital. After being slapped by Gene Hunt, Alex woke up back in 1983. (A2A Series 3: Episode 1)
Death of Alex Drake[]
In reality, Alex never woke up from her coma in 2008 but remained unconscious until her death. While in a London hospital, she died and remained in 1983. (A2A Series 3: Episode 8)
Real World[]
- The first series of Ashes to Ashes was first broadcast on BBC One from Thursday 7 February to Thursday 27 March.
- In October of the same year, the American version of Life on Mars was first broadcast on ABC in the United States. The first episode was briefly set in the present.
- The Future of Modern Policing was released by Bantam Press. It is the sequel to The Rules of Modern Policing.
Music[]
The following songs were heard in 2008 in Ashes to Ashes:
- Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire (Series 3: Episode 1)
| Years featured and mentioned in 'Life on Mars' and 'Ashes to Ashes' |
|---|
| UK: 1953 - 1969 - 1972 - 1973 - 1974 - 1979 - 1980 - 1981 - 1982 - 1983 - 1995 - 2006 - 2007 - 2008 - 2009 US: 1973 - 2008 - 2035 ES: 1977 - 2009 |