Life on Mars Season 1 Review

My name’s 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.

Life on Mars is a British cop drama which also contains elements of science fiction. The protagonist is Detective Chief Inspector Sam Tyler (John Simm), a Manchester-based police officer who is hit by a car in 2006 and wakes in the same location in 1973. The intriguing drama (and ‘fish-out-of-water’ satire) emerges because Tyler is in the same job, but a vastly different environment.

There are a number of reasons to watch this show. Above all it has a great storyline. Every episode deals with an individual case but there is also a overarching story that threads throughout the season relating to Sam’s desire to return to 2006 and this continually keeps the audience guessing.

The acting in the show is superb, particularly from Simm and Philip Glenister DCI Hunt. Glenister’s portrayal as the politically incorrect but ultimately lionhearted DCI Hunt is a treat. His chauvinistic one-liners and bully boy attitude are the very embodiment of a 1970s police officer and are definite highlights.

Simm is a very versatile actor with a great range. Throughout the season we see Sam go through a number of emotions including confusion with his new surroundings, incredulity at his colleagues outdated policing methods as well manic desperation as he struggles to find his way back home. Simm nails them all.

The season has eight episodes and I binge-watched them in two days. Binge-watching worked in this circumstance because I could better appreciate the intricacies of the main story arc. I would recommend you do the same.

4.5/5