Ashes to Ashes

[binkie]

I thought the writers did such a good job with the storytelling on this show, and by the time the finale came around, it really did feel as though this was the story they had been telling all along. I agree that it was kind of a shame to have to exchange anti-hero Gene for hero-Gene in order to get to the (as you say, heartbreaking) payoff, but it felt like a legitimate trade in the context of the conclusion. Possibly, Alex put up less resistance to the idea of him as a hero - since she already had knowledge of him as a fantasy figure from Sam's account - and this explains the tonal difference. Equally, as you point out, Gene's ability to learn, and to take the best suggestions at face value, must have contributed to this also.

I appreciated no end the care and attention that went into the gender-identity aspects both of Alex's acceptance of Gene's world (Wonderland, Narnia) and of Gene's interpretation of his position (white hat Westerns). I liked the clever layering of pre-existent dialogue and themes (Chris correcting Alex when she accuses him of being nervous, pointing out that actually he is cautious. And now we know why). All in all: a good job, well done