studioAT
This show was huge when it was on back in 2006, and oddly hasn't been repeated much, at least not on the main BBC channels.Channelling cop shows of the 70's like 'The Sweeney' this show is clever and well written throughout. It also boasted a good dynamic duo to John Simm and Philip Glennister, whose popularity would mean he would get his own spin-off later on.I'm not saying every episode is a classic, but due to the way it's written you do need to see them in order to understand Sam's predicament play out.It's a shame this show isn't repeated more, especially considering its acclaim at the time.
kikkapi20
Love this show! I love the characters, the time it is set in and the music! Some excellent choices on the soundtrack, that IF i was born in the time period when it was set (1973) then it would have brought back memories i'm sure! All of my family and friends love this show! Gene Hunt is a fantastic character! I thinks he knows everything about policing but sadly he is generally wrong most of the time, and if he is right he gloats! He is also a great character for the mixture of seriousness and comedy about him! In short absolutely amazing show! Great producing, directing, acting, writing, and powerful camera work turn this show into something truly special. Enjoy this show, it's a kepper!
hollispierman
Based (obviously) on the David Bowie song named before this, Life On Mars is a completely successful drama that combines the horrors of coping with a past and your present, and coping with a new setting, new faces, and completely different way of life.Basically, in a nutshell, this (in my opinion) would've been one step further than Doctor Who. It was that intriguing and successful, that it has earned my respect from the kind of person who is piqued in interest by these kinds of shows.John Simm and all the other actors really put a stick into the behinds of other great British and American programs, and say, "Here! Have some more!" and sticks it further. This is one show that no one should be able to trifle with, no matter what.
serts34
I admit, at first I didn't want to watch it at first. At first glance, it looked like another BBC's copper shows (and mind you, I'm not British!). But finally someone sat me down to the recording of it, and I was extremely pleasantly surprised. The story took a very interesting twist once Sam Tyler's ex-girlfriend was kidnapped, he got run over by a car while having a mini-breakdown and somehow landed in 1973 Manchester. Sam Tyler is basically in the beginning a little cold, "pedantic", as others have described, and all modern. He's interrogating a killer, Colin Raimes, in the beginning, and would've nailed him except for his water-tight alibi. Maya, his ex-girlfriend and co- worker, decided to follow her guts against his wishes and was kidnapped. At first his character wasn't too compelling to me, but once I saw him upset in the car after his girlfriend was kidnapped I thought, "Well, now he's more likable. Poor guy." And once he lands in 1973, it's a totally different world where fists rule the police station and no modern technology is in sight. And he makes the mistake of getting entangled with Manchester's DCI Gene Hunt, a tough, mean guy who can pound poor Sam to a pulp. And Sam's supposed to be a transfer to Hunt's division. Sam's so confused, and on top of that, he doesn't know whether he's in a coma, gone mad, or really time-traveled! The rest of the series shows Sam trying to resolve the coma-gone mad-time traveled problem that he faces and the various characters he meets along the way, including possible love interest WPC Annie Cartwright, bumbling Chris Skelton and the nasty Ray. Admittedly, maybe one or two episodes are weak, but the weak ones are still miles ahead of such trash on American TV. There is British humor, and very funny humor (at least to me) at that. The humor is injected at just the right time mostly to lighten up a dark scene, to illustrate DCI Hunt's sense of humor and crudeness and to show just how different 1973 Manchester is. The drama is great--there is interaction between Sam's past life, Sam's 1973 life, and Sam's nostalgia of his childhood that really tugs at your heartstrings. Romance between Annie and Sam develops, and there are plenty of internal conflicts in the police station. Most episodes alternate between Sam's dilemma and a crime that happens in 1973. Each crime that happens either puts a new piece to the puzzle, gives insight into the characters, or ends up affecting Sam's life in some way. The show is very psychological, where you have to guess along with Sam whether he's gone mad (and at some points you think he is). There are practically no filler episodes--I can't remember when there was a filler episode in all 16 of them. Sure, it's not the most high-budget TV show, but who needs billions of pounds when you can make do with a moderate budget, a great cast, great scriptwriters and a great producer and director? And believe me, the people involved in this program more than make up for a moderate budget. The actors are all fantastic, especially John Simm as Sam Tyler and Philip Glenister as Gene Hunt. Those guys make the show. Simm is great as Sam; he really makes you feel for what his character is going through, whether it's joy, anger, depression, rage, frustration, or elation. Never, ever in one episode does he ever seem cheesy, no matter how emotional the show gets. And Glenister IS Hunt--the colorful-swearing, fighting, crude, loud cop with principles. As vulgar or politically incorrect or rude he may seem, even he's got rules that he never crosses. And Hunt is strangely endearing, even though he sounds like the opposite of endearing. Just shows you how good these two actors are. The other actors are good as well, but all of them are so good that they can pull off a lot without making the episode cheesy. And some episode have potential to be cheesy if done VERY wrongly. But no fear, the whole cast and crew get it right. This TV show is just one of the best I've seen from BBC in a long time, mixing the right amount of drama, comedy, psychological thriller and time-travel. It has great actors, an interesting premise, lively characters and great setups to boot. I wouldn't hesitate recommending this TV show to anyone who's interested in it. To anyone who's felt blown off by the ending of the American Life on Mars: Give the ending of this one a try if you don't want cheap, pat endings. That's all I'm saying.
