Is it possible to go native in not a foreign country, but a foreign time? This is the issue for DCI Sam Tyler (John Simm) on Life On Mars. He’s a 21st Manchester cop who gets hit by a car and knocked back into 1973. Is he dead and lurking in a purgatory? In a coma dream? Did he get knocked through a time hole? Whatever the circumstances, he’s still a cop. But all his modern crime fighting tools including cellphones, laptops and DNA analysis are gone. Even worse, this alternate universe has him serving under DCI Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister). He’s a beast of a cop who enjoys beating confessions out of suspects. For the first eight episodes, Tyler focused on figuring out how to get return to the 21st century and educate the Neanderthal cops. Life On Mars: Series 2 has him less focused on evolving police work and taking care of business like Gene and his crew.
“Episode 1″ reminds Sam that he’s a man stuck between two times. He crosses paths with a mobster that he’ll be arresting in the 21st Century. The crackling noise from the future gives him a sense that the mobster is plotting on killing the comatose Sam. The only way he can save his life is to send the mobster to prison on a sentence that won’t allow him to be sprung until Sam gets out of his coma. He quits playing by his modern cop rules and breaks open the Gene Hunt book of cutting corners to land a suspect. “Episode 2″ has Sam meeting his detective mentor. He’s the first black detective on the force. The dynamics get weird as the mentor finds himself teaching his future teacher. “Episode 3″ explodes with a suspected IRA car bomb hits Ray Carling (Dean Andrews). While everyone is hunting down the Irish, Sam can’t believe it since he knew the history of IRA attacks in the city. Except it’s hard for him to prove it.
“Episode 4″ is the fatal swingers episode that was adapted for the American series. Instead of the dead girl and the suspects being part of airlines, the original English version links them to car salesman. Sam and Annie Cartwright (Liz White) pose at a couple to infiltrate the swinging scene. The episode ratchets up the sexual tension. He doesn’t want her posing with Chris Skelton (Marshall Lancaster). Can they solve the case before they hook up with other couples? Before it can get to tight, in pops Gene Hunt with a prostitute to share with the group. There is humor in the gritty cop action. “Episode 5″ has Sam getting messed up in 1973 when a nurse in 2006 screws up his medication. He can’t explain to anyone why he’s messed up worse than a groupie at a Rolling Stones concert.
“Episode 7″ has Gene Hunt going nuts when even through he testifies to witnessing a boxing manager attack a retired boxer, the guy skips free. He turns to drinking and finds himself at the boxing manager’s house wanting to give out real justice. The next morning the manager is dead and Gene is the prime suspect. It’s up to Sam to clear Gene. “Episode 8″ is the big finale. A lot of people were disappointed with the surprise ending of the American version. It gave a Wizard of Oz twist to the canceled series. Luckily the original Life on Mars has nothing to do with that final episode. There’s no need to spoil what really happens to Sam except to say it works on all levels. It might not be the most up ending, but it is faithful to the tone set by the show. Life on Mars: Series 2 ends the show with the same inventive quality as it started.
The video is 1.78:1 anamorphic. The series was shot on Super 16mm so there’s a bit more grain and less detail than a 35mm show. Helps give a bit of grit to the time travel aspect. There’s a little interlace issue with the final four episodes. The audio is Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo and 5.1 surround. The levels allow you to appreciate the lost hits of Atomic Rooster and Gene Hunt’s finest hits. The subtitles are in English.
The Return of Life On Mars (45:20) explores the success of the first season and what went into creating the final eight episodes. The actors are full of nice things to say about themselves. It’s a shock to see Ray Carling and Chris Skelton as smart guys.
Behind the Scenes of Episode 3 (21:56) demonstrates how the transform a modern Manchester street into 1973.
Behind the Scenes of Episode 5 (15:17) explains how they created the stop motion animation.
Behind the Scenes of Episode 7 (3:26) discusses the difficulties of shooting in a courtroom.
Tufty’s Cameo (3:44) has Gene Hunt dressed in a squirrel costume.
The CID Set (3:33) shows off the headquarters location.
The End of Life On Mars (27:52) shouldn’t be watched until you have completed all the episodes. The cast and creative crew discuss talk about leaving the film with a big dark cliffhanger. But they decided to get out while the show is good instead of stringing it out. Should be noted that the show was semi-brought back as Ashes to Ashes with a 21st Century female cop visiting Gene Hunt’s unit in the ‘80s. Life On Mars, the BBC version does end like a great novel instead of cheesing out for TV. But I’m not going to spoil it. The funniest part was Glenister suggesting a Newhart ending with Sam waking up in bed with the cast of The Good Life.
Life on Mars: Series 2 doesn’t disappoint like its American remake. The show maintains it’s balance of being a cop show with a sci-fi angle without any compromise. It also helps in creating one of the great cop characters in DCI Gene Hunt. His brute force makes us not think this version of 1973 isn’t all in Sam Hunt’s mind. The eight episodes here wrap up one of the best British shows of the 21st Century and 1973.
Acorn Media presents Life on Mars: Series 2. Starring: John Simm, Philip Glenister, Marshall Lancaster, Dean Andrews and Liz White. Boxset contents: 8 episodes on 4 DVDs. Released on DVD: November 24, 2009. Available at Amazon.com
