Life on Mars Review
"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."
The set-up is intriguing, but what initially pulls you into Life on Mars is its setting: a police precinct in working-class Manchester, England, circa 1973.
Detective Inspector Sam Tyler (John Simm) is slapped in the face by his new "reality." Suddenly he has to deal with a squad full of smoking, drinking, brawling, sexist, racist, homophobic cops who'd rather solve crimes with their fists than their brains. Tyler is tough, sure, but his harder edges have been softened by education, training, and 21st Century sensitivities. His new squadmates might as well be Neanderthals.
More after the jump, but before we go further, here are three relevant links:
Amazon.co.uk - DVD
BBC America - begins airing July 24
Earlier post by logboy
As with any crackling good entertainment, the merits of the show go far beyond its alternately fascinating and repellant milieu. Each episode features a crime that is never what it appears to be, and requires Sam's unique (for the era) investigative abilities to resolve.
Not every episode hits the mark—I felt Episode 5 was a bit wobbly, and Episode 6 was routine and predictable—but even then, the show has something sociological to say about the gap between the decades. The series roars to a harrowing conclusion in Episodes 7 and 8.
Though Sam's boss, Detective Chief Inspector Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister), is tough as nails, his main interest lies in getting criminals off the street. He's willing to give Sam enough rope to hang himself, but when Sam's methods begin to get results, he's smart enough to recognize the other man's competence. Still, his first instinct is to trust in his gut.
Sam's other ally is WPC Annie Cartwright (Liz White), whose romantic attraction soon morphs into friendly concern for his sanity. She's learned to deal with the casual sexism of the day, but that doesn't mean she likes it. As much as anything, she seems to be drawn to Sam because he respects her without expecting anything much in return.
Lining up against Sam is Detective Sergeant Ray Carling (Dean Andrews), a sort of junior-sized version of DCI Hunt, but lacking the older man's thinking ability. He's the most resistent to change, and the most mocking of Sam's sensitivities.
Finally, somewhere in the mushy middle is young Detective Constable Chris Skelton (Marshall Lancaster). Rather weak-willed and always snacking, he gets in the way more than he helps.
Hovering over the the series is the spectre of Sam himself. For a man in a coma, his "dream world" is far richer and more detailed than one would expect. Yet the details of the crimes he investigates seem to dovetail with memories of his childhood. And Sam hears voices that only he can hear on television, radio, disconnected telephones...
After watching all eight episodes in two sittings, I felt thoroughly immersed in the universe (created by Matthew Graham, Tony Jordan, and Ashley Pharaoh) and was left a bit dazed by its near brilliance. Bristling with intelligence, a righteous sense of justice, a brawling sense of humor, and just a touch of surrealism, Life on Mars is not to be missed.
The lovely Region 2 DVD box set features two episodes per disc with copious extras, including audio commentaries on every episode and several features. (Picture and sound were very good. English subtitles come in handy for picking up some of the dialogue.) US viewers can catch the show via BBC America beginning on Monday, July 24.
