New clue to the mystery (SPOILER)

[Helvetica Bold]

On another thread, Penfold revealed that on the DVD coming out tomorrow:
<<in the extras there is a reference to Gene's office as "Heaven"  - now that would tie in with the Gene as God theory, wouldn't it?>>
 
So we thought it would be worth discussing. If you want a starter for ten, here's my initial thought and a half, off the cuff.

If CID is heaven, does that make Gene God? More likely St Michael - out there crashing around and slaying dragons. Viv is St Peter, Shaz is Gabriel the messenger, Chris is a cherub, god is the Super, and Evan might be the Snake (Tim called him a maggot crawling into his Eden, after all). Would that make Tim and Caroline Adam and Eve? If so, who gets to be Satan?  Maybe the Clown is Lucifer, the fallen angel. 
 
Is Gene's world Heaven, or Purgatory? Maybe it's one and the same – Purgatory until Sam and Alex have worked through their demons, accounted for their mistakes, atoned for their misdeeds – when it can become very heaven, as it did for Sam, in the end.

Can't be doing with a new testament version – Dr Who has snaffled the mass media Christ figure role for the moment, and he's welcome to it. (What was all that nonsense with the Master – from House Elf to Messiah in one CGI moment. Doctor, Doctor, Tsk) DCI Hunt is at least interestingly flawed and somewhat in need of redemption himself. So a more general Abrahamic heaven to cover all bases?

But what about Molly, Layton, the mystery phone call person, Evan 2008, and the rest of our favourite debating points? Over to you cleverclogs lot.

[CarrotLucky13]

huh

[Tasha]

I got to say if it turns out that Gene is God, I feel very cheated 

[space-hopper]

I like the idea of Caroline and Tim being Adam and Eve...and Caroline's temptation in the form of Evan (the snake).  It is Alex's world (so far) and so wouldn't that make her Goddess of her own psyche?.  It is her mind and would be omniscient in regards to what is contained in there, although links are lost and memory could be unclear with her past and present traumas (both mental and physical).  Her memory is faltering in regards to thinking it was Evan that was her saviour, so to speak, when it was actually Gene.  Does anyone know if Alex had a religious upbringing?  If so, placing Gene and Co. as those other worldly characters would make a lot of sense.

If Alex is there to undo her misdeeds, what misdeeds would they be?  She has found out that she cannot change the past, indeed, actually being an indirect cause of the factors which led to her parent's deaths.  So what would she have to do to fulfil her wishes? Will the 'escape' replicate Sam's - walking in to the light, although in Sam's case the light led him to a disappointing end even though he decided to correct his decision later on?

Also, I'm sure I read something on this board about the last scene in A2A being a bit like the last supper, which would tie in nicely 

[scooter]

Can't be doing with a new testament version

But yet there is such a lot of NT imagery.  The whole Gene=Aslan=Christ metaphor, particularly in episode 6.  There is a thread running through the whole first series suggesting Gene must somehow "sacrifice himself" to save either Alex in particular or others as a whole.  He tells her he knows he's on the chopping block, but he'll be out there until the last second making a difference.  They even refer to their date as the "Last Supper" and he jokingly (?) says something along the lines of, "Oh, goody, can I be Christ?"  There have been a lot Christ figures in popular lit -- from Billy Budd to John Coffey in Stephen King's "The Green Mile," and it usually suggest a pure, innocent soul, but no reason why it has to.  The Christ metaphor as applied to Gene could refer more to his role as sacrificial saviour.  Gulp.  I hope not, but --

You're right, though, HB, that if he's God, he's more of an OT God than a NT God!

I've never fully bought into the idea that this is all in her head and that all this is her construct.  Much of it is, I think, but it seems to me there is some kind of external force (God, Yoda, whoever...) trying to teach her something.  The characters (particularly Gene in Episode seem to have too much "self-awareness" or at least awareness of their own roles in Alex's current situation to be just her constructs.  So, I don't know if Gene is God, but it does suggest to me the involvement of a "higher power" or whatever you subscribe to.

Does anyone know if Alex had a religious upbringing?

 
I doubt the Prices were religious, but Alex does mention to Gene in episode 3 that although she is "lapsed" she still remembers the "dead man's bones" quote.  So, that suggests she had some kind of religious background.  We just don't know what kind, although the printed script of the first ep describes Molly as being a Catholic school girl or wearing a Catholic uniform -- something like that.

[Sladest]

I would have to say that I would be disappointed if this is the case, and I think it would take some serious retrofitting of LOM for it to be (I believe HB - that you have not seen these yet?).

I couldn't really see LOM as a religious metaphor program, and to move it into that realm after the fact with Ashes feels a bit false. 

I could be totally wrong.

[MolokoPlus]

See, I would love a religious type of ending, but then, I like anything which has a religious overtone to it. Everything seems more creepier when God and his cronies are involved. 

[CarrotLucky13]

lol yu guys make me giggle

[Helvetica Bold]

<<it would take some serious retrofitting of LOM for it to be (I believe HB - that you have not seen these yet?)>>

No, not yet, Sladest - but soon, very soon...  I'm not proposing this little Heaven theory as the Way It Is, just as another great possibility to explore. I love these whacky ideas – just throws lots of options up in the air. People come up with amazing answers to these questions, and it keeps us going. I can't wait till the DVD arrives, as I only saw the early episodes once, and need to scrutinise them for more detail, as per lots of threads on here.

So... is Gene one of the archangels, God, Christ – or another miserable sinner working out his time before he's allowed a glimpse of paradise?

[penfold]

"Dear God - if this is a test I fear I may fail"

[Helvetica Bold]

"Dear God - if this is a test I fear I may fail"

Well, there you go, then...  Sorted!    Well done, Penfold.

[space-hopper]

So Gene is NOT God.  He's the Genie.


Does this mean I'll have to take down my shrine?

[CarrotLucky13]

No don't take down ur shrine

Yu can still worship the Gene Genie...But remember he wont fit in a bottle

Lol

X

[9460549]

Does anyone know if Alex had a religious upbringing?

 
I doubt the Prices were religious, but Alex does mention to Gene in episode 3 that although she is "lapsed" she still remembers the "dead man's bones" quote.  So, that suggests she had some kind of religious background.  We just don't know what kind, although the printed script of the first ep describes Molly as being a Catholic school girl or wearing a Catholic uniform -- something like that.

There's also the "God is Love" banner behind Caroline in the flashback to Alex being left at school for the Royal Wedding, which doesn't suggest a particularly secular education.

In addition to Penfold's compelling evidence, what about Gene's remark to the crucifix as he goes into the church in episode three - "Where were you when she needed you?"

[penfold]

<<what about Gene's remark to the crucifix as he goes into the church in episode three - "Where were you when she needed you?">>

Wow- had forgotten all about that one!