Life on Mars: The Complete Series
Life on Mars only lasted one season but you can catch the show and find out why Sam Tyler played by Jason O’Mara finds himself back in the past.
Film making 20/25
Video 21/25
Audio 20/25
Bonus Features 18/25
Total 79/100
Watching a single season of a show is not a fair way to judge the quality that can be had from a cast and crew as the first part of the season they are just getting into character. The show really starts to take off after the first few episodes and it really is a shame Life on Mars was cancelled.
Sam Tyler played by Jason O’Mara is a police detective in the year 2008 when he chases a suspect and gets propelled to 1973. Sam finds himself as a new transfer to the NYPD in 1973 and he at first doesn’t believe what has happened but finds that he can do something about it.
While he tries to figure out what has happened to him he does what he was good at in 2008, catching crooks but in 1973. Using his training as a police officer and detective from 2008 he fights crime and occasionally bumps into not only himself at a younger age but others he knows.
Harvey Kietel plays Sam’s Lieutenant Gene Hunt, the rough and gruff old timer who is not afraid to rough up a suspect 1970’s style. Other characters like Gretchen Mol and Michael Imperioli really fit the 1970’s theme of the show and really add character and appeal to the storyline.
Through several episodes Sam does get clues to what happened to him in 2008 after the accident as he finds he gets messages and can hear things that are going on. In one episode he hears his mother saying they are going to pull the plug on his life support as Sam is in a coma from the accident.
Another episode has Sam in between life and death which amounts to the same thing and Sam turns to prayer and God to figure things out. By the end of the series Sam is not really given any concrete answers to his predicament but you are given some choices that may be the truth or just Sam’s delusional mind.
In all Life on Mars was a pretty good show but the show did not get renewed so we are left with more unanswered questions by the end of the season and show. Life on Mars does get a little crazy and I can see why some viewers left but it was entertaining and did really well with the 1970’s reality.
The show took great pains to depict the 1970’s in all its glory and uses a lot of music to highlight the times and Sam’s predicament. Not only the clothes but music, attitudes of people in general and even the video has a look of the past and specifically the 70’s.
The show is good and has some very definite past feel using a sepia tone throughout the show that adds to the 70’s feel except for the few times they show Sam in 2008. The video is clear and looks good with its sepia tones that really do give the series an older feel.
Life on Mars features Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound for some really good audio and the music is what really stands out. The audio is well done with good positional sound and has the great music of the 70’s including David Bowey’s “Life on Mars” and many other period hits.
The music really does fit the show and various episodes highlight different songs and artists instead of only having a few songs and the main theme title from David Bowie. The bonus features of Life on Mars include a making of feature, a look at the set of Life on Mars with Lee majors and Jason O’Mara plus more.
The bonus content is pretty good and well worth taking a look at but also has the usual audio commentary during episodes from Jason O’Mara, executive producers and director. The bloopers feature is quite short but the making of features and a look back with Lee Majors are very good with a close look at the period.
The extras really stress going back to the period and the making of features do a lot to look at how they went back and made the show look like it really occurs during the 70’s. The extras are a nice look back and a look at how they took so much thought and recreated the look and feel for the show that helped the actors get into their roles.
Life on Mars is a pretty good show and a great look back at how things were done for police back in the 70’s as well as a good drama/science fiction show. Sam really does not answer many questions as to why or how but the show does offer one explanation at the end of the season but you’re going to have to watch the show to find out what.