Before 'Outlander,' This Sci-Fi Procedural Series Gave Us a Fresh Take on Time-Travel Romance
While Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe brought time-travel romance into the spotlight with Outlander, the BBC series Ashes to Ashes explored the concept years earlier. The show’s engaging mix of science fiction, mystery, and romance made it a standout gem in its own right.
Outlander proved that even a strong series often needs time to find its stride, yet Starz’s historical fantasy hit found immediate success. It captivated millions with its confident storytelling, distinct tone, and compelling chemistry between its leads. Still, viewers craving a comparable blend of high-concept themes and emotional intensity can look back to 2008.
The Premise of Ashes to Ashes
Ashes to Ashes quickly became a BBC favorite, combining a retro police procedural with a mind-bending sci-fi twist. The story follows detective Alex Drake (Keeley Hawes), who, after a near-fatal encounter with an armed kidnapper (Sean Harris) in 2008, inexplicably finds herself in 1981. Navigating a vivid and unsettling new world, she struggles to understand whether she’s dead, dreaming, or caught in something stranger.
“For all intents and purposes, detective Alex Drake (Keeley Hawes) time travels from 2008 to 1981 after a dangerous altercation with an armed kidnapper (Sean Harris). Alex doesn’t buy it; no decorated investigator and criminal psychologist would expect some supernatural Alice in Wonderland absurdity to follow a gunshot wound to the head.”
The show’s allure lies in its melding of psychedelic visuals, psychological depth, and a magnetic “opposites attract” romance between two people divided by time. As much character study as it is cosmic puzzle, Ashes to Ashes remains an inventive take on time-travel love stories long before they became mainstream television fare.
Author’s Summary
Ashes to Ashes predated Outlander in merging time travel, romance, and mystery, crafting a stylish and introspective television experience that still feels ahead of its time.