In Appreciation of Philip Glenister

This month brings the final chapter to the original Life on Mars/Ashes to Ashes series with series three of Ashes. It should go without saying, then, that this month we had to appreciate Philip Glenister,  the Gene Genie himself.

Before Life on Mars, I had only seen the softer side of Philip Glenister. He was sweet as the shy photographer from Calendar Girls.  He was sensitive as the new man of the ex-wife in Vincent. He was endearing as Mr. Carter in Cranford. The most odd would have to be the compassionate Nazi in Island at War.

Then boom, 2006 brings us Gene Hunt, my favorite armed bastard. Life on Mars, on paper, just sounded to me like a bad idea all around, but almost from the beginning became one of my favorite shows ever. This was partly because of my crush on John Simms, part on my love of 70s kitch, and most of all my instant love of Gene Hunt.

Gene Hunt is an even worse idea on paper. He’s sexist, thuggish, racist, homophobic and about a dozen other things I can’t think of off the top of my head. In spite of this he is a complex, brilliant character in this 1970s world that is so attractive. Technically I should hate this man, but his machismo just drips off of that trench, you know, the one with the ever present flask of whisky. Sploosh. His bromance with Sam Tyler is a treat to watch. Gene Genie returns for more fun, this time with Keeley Hawes in Ashes to Ashes, the sequel to Life on Mars. He’s softened ever so slightly but still just as fun.

Don’t get me started on his one liners:

“She’s as nervous as a very small nun at a penguin shoot.”

“You great… soft… sissy… girlie… nancy… french… bender… Man-United supporting POOF.”

“Today my friend, you diary entry will read “Took a prozzie hostage and was shot by three armed bastards.”

“Oh dear Lord, if this is a test I fear I may fail. And I thought it’d be the booze or the fags but oh no, I’m going to die in an underground vault in the company of a posh mouthy tart with a head full of brains and the common sense of a grain weevil.”

Now I love Phil Glenister, but nobody is perfect and I thinks it’s best if we all just forget about Demons. Nothing to see there, just move along.

I can’t wait for the last series of Ashes to Ashes and take comfort in the fact that I bought a region free DVD player just to watch my region 2 DVDs of Ashes to Ashes. Phil you are soo worth it. xxoo