Life On Mars

The Rascal King · Life On Mars

Anybody been watching this? I Downloaded the first episode yesterday, and was subsequently hooked, and have watched another few. Its fantastic!

Web of Fear

It's very good, though I am glad that it's coming to an end this series. Have you seen the Camberwick Green tribute yet?

Web of Fear

Here's the Camberwick Green clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ixsc9POvY7E&eurl=

Robin The Boy Wonder

A truly excellent series. Like Web of Fear, I'm glad it's ending with the second season - it's best to finish on a high than drag it on for too long, methinks.

And that Camberwick Green tribute is easily the best thing I've watched this year (besides any scene involving Ali Larter in Heroes, that is... Razz

)

Two episodes left on the Beeb now... with Gene Hunt arrested for murder in tomorrow night's epsiode. Can't wait!

Although is anyone a little nervous following the news that a spin-off series will be made starring Gene Hunt... albeit in the 80s?

Web of Fear

I'm not confident about the Gene Hunt series, if it is a go ahead (Ashes to Ashes was the rumoured title). The whole point of Life on Mars is the 2000's/1970's culture clash in terms of attitudes to policing and police shows (and I rather think that the point's been made, which is why now is a good time to end the show).

The best scenes are where Sam and Gene clash with their different attitudes ("I can't arrest him - I don't have any evidence - I can't believe I just said that!"). Without Sam as a counter foil to the rest of the team's sexism/racism/homophobia isn't this just going to be a 1970's police show made in 2007?

I would think that the format and characters would need to be changed, as well as removing Sam from the picture.

Batmanuel

Yeah, been watching this from day one, i really like the lack of political correctness in the show, and the Guvnors constant stream of abuse, having been brought up in the seventies i could harp on about little attentions to detail like smoking Marlboro cigarettes, when every one smoked players number six, but i wont, oh and the cortina has glx on the front and is badged as an e on the back, but i wont, but i will tell you this, having had a few scape's with the law during that period, they got the coppers preety bang on.
I like this show, it fills me with a certain nostalgia for those simpler days when you didn't have to worry that you may offend someone for being blunt, everything was more black and white and that suited me just fine.
and on that note for some who may wonder where i am coming from sometimes, what can i say im a seventies Bash street kid at heart Wink

Robin The Boy Wonder

The Rascal King

And who IS the bloke on the other end of the Phone? That guy from Hyde who pitched up last episode.

Batmanuel

Boy Wonder:

Robin The Boy Wonder

That would be a whole 'nother thread altogether! Wink

Web of Fear

Final episode tonight. I'm sure it will make no sense at all.

Robin The Boy Wonder

It'll be fantastic.

Sam Tyler will walk out of the shower in 2006 and it'll all be a dream...

Web of Fear

Well since John Simm is in Doctor Who, maybe the TARDIS lands and whisks Sam away, like at the end of Torchwood.

Web of Fear

No TARDIS, but an ending that was ........ ambiguous. Cool! Very Happy

Web of Fear

Here's the details of the sequel show. Seems that the BBC is just going to carry on making the show without John Simm.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6542633.stm

Robin The Boy Wonder

That was a very cool episode.

I especially liked how they ended it leaving it entirely up to the viewer as to how you want to view Sam's plight. I've made my choice but I'll post it tomorrow - just in case there's anyone here who hasn't watched it yet.

And if you haven't... you must make the time tonight. It's excellent.

Web of Fear

Instead of waiting until tomorrow, change the font colour of your post to black, and then anyone who wants to read it just highlights the text and anyone who doesn't want to know won't read it by accident.

This has been a public service announcement from Web of Fear.

Robin The Boy Wonder

OK, here goes:

I like the idea that Sam's real life is in 1973 and that his imagined life is the future/our present. The theory that he's suffering from amnesia following his 1973 accident and that he's undercover blew me away.

Sure, there are many, many plot holes with this theory - meeting his mother and father in 1973, meeting himself as a three year old boy, helping in naming his future girlfriend etc etc - but I just like this one. It works for me as a viewer at least. I especially appreciated his leap from the Police building in 2006 perfectly contrasting his nearly attempt shortly after he awoke in 1973.

A girl at work prefers the theory that he's still in a coma in 2006 and that everything is just a dream from being in that coma - including his 'reawakening' in 2006. You could even take that a step further by saying that Sam Tyler dies at the very end following his choice to 'change the channels' on the radio and, in the process, denying himself the chance of ever recovering.

Yep, I loved it. Perfect end to a perfect series - gonna have to buy the DVD now. Very Happy

The Rascal King

Well...

There are some things that don't quite gel with the theory that his real life is in 1973.
Knowing about modern Policing methods ("fingertip scearches"), tapeing interviews, and other stuff besides (TV in pubs, gap year, Red Rum, the Shineing).
I don't think his real life was in the 70's, but I'm not 100% he was just imagining it.
I prefer to think something along the lines of traded conciousness or something.
What I do like, is that he chose his life back in th 70's, over the beauracratic, PC, taped life in the present. Like Robbie, I liked how he jumped at the end, but without a moments hesitaion, whereas in the first episode, he was severly hesitant to do so.

Web of Fear

My theory:

Sam stayed in the coma when he thought he woke up in 2007, hence no pain when he was in the Police meeting.

However, life in 2007 was so sterile, that he chose to "stay" in 1970. Whether he dies at the end, or stayed in the coma is debatable, but the Test Card girl, switching off the TV seemed fairly final.

The 1970's were not reality. How else would Sam have knowledge of future events and be able to throw in those knowing references for the humble viewer?

Smile

Batmanuel

What a great final episode for life on mars, loved it, leaves things open for a third series or not, although haveing been nominated for awards id say we will be seeing more.
Now all i need to do is find a very tall building to jump off of.... Sorted.

Web of Fear

Robin The Boy Wonder

Three different theories and I love them all: this wouldn't have happened had it been on ITV.

Batmanuel

Web of:

Robin The Boy Wonder

It should still be a gripping watch with intelligently scripted episodes but it isn't going to be the same, no matter what they do really.

I was watching Phillip Glenister on The Paul O'Grady Show the other night (as I walked in from work) and he commented that the actors had a say in when the series ended. It just felt right that they should end Life on Mars now - he then compared it to a US TV series where it goes on for 95 years with people then complaining about how it was never as good as in the old days (The Simpsons springs to mind) and he's right. 100% spot on. End it now before it has a chance to get crap. At least then the series has a chance of standing the test of time and being fondly remembered for years to come (think Fawlty Towers).

Web of Fear

Keeley Hawes is the new John Simm for Ashes to Ashes, the spin off show.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6269092.stm

Reaper

aaah Keeley Hawes is great, good actress as shown in Spooks and shes quite attractive too as shown in Complicity