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Ashes to Ashes – Why the subtitles?

ashestoashesThe third installment of Ashes to Ashes was one of the filler variety. The plot involved a serial rapist who preyed on “impure” prostitutes. It was mildly interesting, but I was hoping for a few more clues as to how and why Alex Drake is stuck in 1981. I was denied. Instead, there was a glimpse of her daughter, another freaky appearance by Pierrot, and a quick flashback of her parents right before their car exploded.

Since the episode was so-so, allow me to go off on a bit of a rant. I noticed something that used to irk me when I watched Life on Mars. One word: subtitles. The last time I checked, the British speak the English language. In fact, isn’t the language named after them? Well, that hasn’t stopped someone from subtitling a great portion of Gene Hunt’s dialogue. Is the heavy accent and street slang really that incomprehensible? I watch a good deal of Brit series, so perhaps I’m just accustomed to the dialect.

I still find this practice ridiculous. It’s not even used for every line. Hell, if they’re going to do it, why not subtitle the whole damn show? It’s beyond annoying when only a select few sentences are deemed too difficult to understand. How do they decide which lines to text? Is there some sort of focus group consisting of dimwitted Americans sitting in a room, raising their hands whenever they hear a phrase that frightens or confuses them? Or is it up to the discretion of a lowly intern at BBC America to pick and choose the dialogue that makes no sense? I’d like an answer. Who do I know over at the network? Oh yeah, that’s right, nobody. Shit.

Alright, I’m done bitching. I needed a forum to lodge my complaint; now I can go on living my otherwise peachy existence.

Here are a few of Gene’s best lines. Some were subtitled, others were left alone.

  • Alex asked him if they had a “rape suite” for conducting discreet interviews with victims. Gene’s response: “Is that with or without the mini-bar?”
  • “Don’t you ever get brain ache?” Gene’s retort to Alex’s psychobabble.
  • “Sometimes I hate you, Drake.” She has a way of getting beneath Gene’s skin.
  • “Got a dose of the old pox, Raymondo?” Gene’s not-so-subtle inquiry into the burn on DS Ray Carling’s lip.
  • “Anything you say will be taken down, chewed up, and spit down your scrawny throat!” Gene Hunt’s version of the Miranda rights.

I’m still liking Ashes to Ashes, although Gene, and to a lesser extent, Ray, carried this episode on their backs. The sexual tension between Alex and Gene continues to build. She even left him an opening; however, he didn’t snatch the bait. I doubt anything will come of it, but it does add flavor to their combative exchanges. Hopefully, next week’s chapter will be a tad more revealing.

Photo Credit: BBC America

4 Responses to “Ashes to Ashes – Why the subtitles?”

March 22, 2009 at 7:32 PM

I HATE their subtitles. Do they put the disclaimer on at the beginning of the show like they did on “Skins”? Something ridiculous like it’s because they have a silly accent.

Wonder when series 2 will hit the US.

March 22, 2009 at 10:20 PM

No disclaimer at all. They just throw them in whenever they feel like it. The first two episodes didn’t have any!

March 24, 2009 at 8:01 AM

You missed my favourite Gene line from that episode of:

Alex: This requires a cognitive interview procedure.
Gene: We’re fresh out of cognitives. What don’t we just talk to her?

The other slightly worrying thing, if you’re quoting accurately, is that they are editing these episodes (always likely as they run for an hour without adverts). The Gene’s version of the Miranda rights, from memory, went:

You’re nicked. Anything you say will be taken down, ripped up then shoved down your scrawny throat until you choke to death. Gene Hunt, Chapter 1, Verse 2.

Either way stick with it as episode 4 really mounts up the sexual tension and storyline as do the ones thereafter. On sub-titles, it is pathetic. As a Brit I’ve watched a few of the US Life on Mars episodes and, yeah, at first Harvey Keitel was hard to understand, but as soon as you get into the rhythm of his speech it becomes clear. Subtitles therefore don’t help, they actually make things worse as you don’t have to make the effort.

March 30, 2009 at 4:31 PM

I agree, the subtitles are not a help…. however, I do sometimes have trouble following Hunt’s vernacular. Not so with Alex and the others.

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