“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”.
‘Life on Mars’ was a British television series broadcast on BBC One between January 2006 and April 2007. The series combines elements of science fiction and police procedural, featuring an officer from the Greater Manchester Police (played by John Simm) who travels back in time after being involved in a road accident. The title is a reference to David Bowie‘s 1973 single “Life on Mars?” A sequel to the series, Ashes to Ashes, referencing another David Bowie song, began airing on BBC One in February 2008, followed by a second series in 2009 and a third and final series in 2010. This article will be ‘major’ spoiler free.
The show tells the fictional story of Sam Tyler (John Simm), a policeman in service with the Greater Manchester Police. After being hit by a car in 2006, Tyler awakens in 1973 to find himself working for the predecessor of the GMP, the Manchester and Salford Police, at the same station and location as in 2006. Early on in the series, it becomes apparent to Tyler that he awakes as a Detective Inspector, one rank lower than his 2006 rank of Detective Chief Inspector. As part of the Criminal Investigation Department, Tyler finds himself working under the command of Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister). Throughout the two series, the plot centres on the ambiguity concerning Tyler’s predicament of it being unclear to both the audience and the character whether he has died, gone mad or into a coma, or has actually travelled back in time.
The methodology and techniques of modern policing that Sam Tyler employs during Life on Mars lead him into frequent clashes with other characters. Gene Hunt and the rest of the CID appear to favour brutality and corruption (a la ‘The Sweeney and the likes) in order to secure convictions, as shown by their willingness to physically coerce confessions and fabricate evidence. Throughout both series, Tyler clashes with Hunt the most frequently, usually because Tyler values forensic evidence whereas Hunt often resorts to traditional methods and gut instincts. In one episode during Series 1, in which doubt is cast on several suspects, Hunt insists that “the first to speak is guilty” and frequently refers to the ‘Gene Genie’.
Sam describes Hunt as an “overweight, over-the-hill, nicotine-stained, borderline alcoholic homophobe with a superiority complex and an unhealthy obsession with male bonding.” Hunt is supported by his fiercely loyal subordinates, Chris Skelton and Ray Carling, with the latter portrayed as a character similar to Hunt. Ray and Sam often disagree with each other, and Sam and Gene have a love-hate relationship. Chris, in contrast, becomes friendly with Sam and respects his modern methods, finding his loyalty torn between Gene and Sam.[27]
Given Sam’s predicament, he avoids revealing his suspicion that he may have travelled back in time, for fear that others will think he is insane. The only person in 1973 to whom Sam fully reveals his story is Annie Cartwright. According to Liz White, the actress who played Cartwright, “She gets very tired of his constant talk about how this situation is not real, that they are all figments of his imagination — she can only explain it as psychological trauma from his car crash’ (Source: Website, Wikipedia).
To me, Life on Mars is one of the greatest TV shows ever made. So politically incorrect in lots of places but they get away with it under the guise of ‘it’s 1973, that is how it was!’ You connect with all the main characters and invest in them and feel for them. It does help me that I feel in love with the character of Annie Cartright! I have never been the same since. The depiction of ’73 is spot on and the storytelling is just wonderfully written. It truly is emotional and the ending of the whole series will have you in tears. In 2008 it was voted the ‘#1 Ending to a TV Show’ ever, in a Channel 4 countdown.
As stated above, in 2008, a sequel was produced: ‘Ashes to Ashes’ (2008-10), continued the story and lasted for three series. Ashes, in my mind’ is just as good as Life, but I am classing them as one for this post. Again, and this is only my personal view, the final episode of Ashes is up there as another of the greatest of all time. The tension that has built over three series, the huge reveals and the final conclusion and explanation are mind blowing and veru emotion. Plus, as touched upon in another post on here, if you do see the final episode, look out for something extra after the end titles! Trust me, at first you will wonder what place it has in Life & Ashes but soon after you will realise what it all means! (How did I mention that without the urge to use a spoiler!!).
‘Interestingly, there have been a few remakes around the world: Firstly, Life on Mars (USA) originally aired on ABC from October 9, 2008 to April 1, 2009. The series tells the story of New York City police detective Sam Tyler (played by Jason O’Mara), who, after being struck by a car in 2008, regains consciousness in 1973. The series remained ambiguous regarding its central plot, with the character himself unsure about his situation. The series also starred Harvey Keitel, Jonathan Murphy, Michael Imperioli, and Gretchen Mol. (Wikipedia). Im my mind the ending, which interesting came to a conclusion after just one season after been pulled, ending BEFORE the UK ending to Ashes to Ashes. Thus they did not have the explanation of what really was going on. They come up with something so stupid it is unreal. All I will say is they took the title Life on Mars literally!!!
Secondly, ‘La Chica de Ayer’ (English:The Girl from Yesterday) is a Spanish television series which first aired on the channel Antena 3 between 26 April and 14 June 2009. The Spanish version of the show was set four years later, in 1977, and took its name from the Spanish song “La Chica de Ayer” by Nacha Pop in a similar manner to the British version which was named after the David Bowie song “Life on Mars” It featured Ernesto Alterio in the role of Samuel Santos, a modern-day police officer who finds himself in 1977 post-Franco Spain under the command of Quin Gallardo (Antonio Garrido), a tough old-school policeman contemptuous of his modern methods.
Finally there has been a Russian remake: ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ . In 2011, Mikhail Soloviev Jr. is a Moscow police captain. He is hit by a car while trying to arrest a violent maniac, and wakes up in the body of his father, Moscow police lieutenant Mikhail Soloviev Sr., in 1979. Mikhail is not sure if he is dreaming while in a coma, or if he has gone insane, or if he has really gone back in time. He must cope with the alien-to-him environment of Soviet Russia, and catch criminals (including a serial killer who is just getting started) and—above all else—figure out what has happened to him.
As a postscript, the BBC sitcom ‘Not Going Out’ did a wonderful comedic homage with a practically identical opening! The episode, ‘Life On Mars Bars’, is well worth searching out.
Also to add, regarding the Sam Tyler name in Life on Mars: The programme’s central character was originally to have been named “Sam Williams”, but Kudos felt this not to be striking enough and requested Graham devise an alternative surname. Graham asked his young daughter for her opinion and she suggested “Sam Tyler”, which became the character’s name. Graham subsequently discovered that his daughter had named him after the Doctor Who character Rose Tyler. The initial geographical setting was to be London; this was then changed to Leeds and finally to Manchester, as part of a BBC initiative to make more programmes in the city. The name Sam Williams was subsequently used as a plot point in the second series. Interestingly in the US version, Sam’s Mother is called Rose Tyler Her BBC counterpart is Ruth Tyler (Joanne Froggatt in 1973 & Judi Jones in 2006). Changing her name in the American version brought the name full-circle! (Sources of various bits of text: Website, Wikipedia).
To conclude, this will be an occasional series. Please feel free to post your own choice but do feel free to post your own choices as we go along. I am sure you will agree it is a good addition to the blog.
1000 FILMS TO WATCH 
Agree that Life On Mars was a superb series – original and well produced. Gene Hunt, clearly based on The Sweeney’s Jack Regan, appeared to overtake Sam Tyler in public prominence as the series progressed.
I also enjoyed Ashes to Ashes but I felt it never quite matched its predecessor, probably because it was the follow up, and went on for one series too long. Not for the first time the programme makers wanted to extract every last sinew out of a good idea. Thinking about it, I can’t now remember how each series concluded!
Certainly worth a re-watch perhaps Steve. Once you see the ending to Life on Mars again, you will remember just how stunning the ending was!!! I agree with you about Gene Hunt being the more prominent in the public eye! As we both said, certainly an iconic series.