Why So Series: Life On Mars

Show: Life On Mars

Starring: John Simm and Philip Glenister.

Channel: BBC ONE

Genre: Best described as a sci-fi police drama

First Aired: 9th January 2006

Concluded: 10th April 2007

The Story:

“My name is Sam Tyler. I had an accident, and I woke up in 1973. Am I mad, in a coma, or back in time? Whatever’s happened, it’s like I’ve landed on a different planet. Now maybe if I can work out the reason, I can get home.”

And so it began, one of the most greatest TV shows the BBC has produced in years. Sam Tyler (Simm, of Doctor Who/The Devil’s Whore fame) is our tortured protagonist. One moment Sam is a rising star in bureaucratic politically correct British Police Force, the next he’s lying flat on his back in a warped corrupt Manchester City. Oh and it’s 1973.

Sam is a great principal character. He’s a straight laced play-by-the-rules police officer who suddenly he has to deal with a squad full of smoking, drinking, racist, sexist, homophobic neanderthal cops who’d rather solve crimes with a smack in the mouth and a quick backhander than with their brains. Confused and shell-shocked Sam doesn’t know if he has actually been transported back in time or is dreaming the entire situation. The only thing he is certain of is that he wants to go home.

Soon Sam begins to believe that his actions in 1973 will unlock some mystery which will eventually send him home to his Girlfriend and budding career. Being the pragmatic detective he is, he begins working on 1973 cases that may be linked to his 2008 serial-killer case while buzzing with doubt all the while.

Now I hear the cynics scoff at the premise of “is it time-travel/is it a coma” but the show works due to a wondrous mix of spectacular writing, attention to detail and quality production. What surprised me most about Life On Mars aside from the great performances was how invested I became in the characters. You become so caught up in the universe. Yes, you want Sam to find a way home but equally you need don’t want to leave this world and witness it’s possible destruction.

Support: The Gene Genie

Simm is joined by a great support cast, some of whom carry through to Season 2 and eventually into the sister drama Ashes to Ashes, the most pivotal of which is the infamous Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister). Hunt is one of those powerful character creations like JR or Kojak whose name will echo in TV for many years to come. It’s worth mentioning that I have money on Glenister becoming The Doctor at some point, he would be epic.

Hunt is Sam’s tough as nails, asshole of a DCI. He wants to clean up the city but he is misguided in his ways. He is for most part Sam’s antagonist, mocking and undermining him at every opportunity. He’s the ultimate anti-hero without whom the show would be a mere shell of it’s eventual brilliance.

Every episode is drenched in nostalgia portrayed by fashion, language or circumstance but a central aspect of the show is music. Bowie, as the title would suggest features prominently and the producers employ an eclectic mix 70′s and recent thematic music throughout.

It’s a smart funny snappy show and I won’t spoil the ending for anyone but the finale really is something special. I raises considerable philosophical and moral issues that get the synapses firing and questioning for a long time after.

Points of Note:

A US version of Life on Mars has been made and subsequently cancelled. I haven’t watched a full episode but it looks terrible and even the greatest imitation would pale in comparison.

You can next catch Simm in full Master mode on 25th December 2009 in the Christmas Special of Doctor Who. Dr. Manfattan has more on that here.

The aforementioned Ashes to Ashes concluded only a few weeks ago and is a very worthy follow up to LoM. Well worth putting in some couch time for.

The DVD:

I haven’t seen the two series in a full box set yet but they separately can be picked up in HMV or Xtra-Vision for about €20 a season.