Life on Mars Part Two
It is still 1973. And Sam Tyler is trapped in a prison of time. He has nowhere to go.
And so the second season of Life of Mars begins with the kind of foreshadowing for the main character who must reside in 1973, solve a series of crimes and hopefully find a way for him to get a one-way ticket back home.
But the questions still linger in his mind. Is he living in a world of fiction? And will 1973 be able to let him go back?
Sam Tyler, wonderfully underplayed by John Simm, continues to warm to the audience as a hesitant guide through 1973 as he gives us a chance of revisiting old friends and enemies. He might be a prisoner in the 1970s.
But that doesn’t mean he can still change things for the better. Isn’t that what everyone wants to do? Go back and fix the things we regret doing? Finding a way to make life easier for people. And fulfilling his duty as a police officer.
The second season, to my humble opinion, seems to be slightly better than the first. This is because the supporting characters of the cast is more established. They’re growing as people. The stories embellish the characters until we learn about them inside out.
And the issues they face are no greater than modern day stories. The second season deals with wife-swapping, heroin on the streets, a murder case that accuses one of the police officers, and the brutal realism that crime sometimes get away with it. But not in Sammy’s world. No matter how hard he tries, with a long-suffering determination, he wants to get the job done. He’ll go at any length to see the bad man off the streets.
It’s always been a copper’s wet dream. To make a utopia out of the city. But that’s asking for too much. Crime will always find a home in the city. No matter what.
There are some pretty outstanding episodes with some solid writing. The episode with DCI Gene Hunt is accused of murder and the story devolves into a corrupted boxing ring is pretty exhilarating. It’s a knock-out episode. Plus there’s plenty of humor around the block to make this still entertaining. But smart as the same time. There’s some great stuff by Philip Glenister in this one. Almost a solo story on his character.
The last episode, to risk spoiling the whole thing, does resolve the mystery of the character Sam Tyler. And what he is doing there in 1973. And what future he is facing in his life. There is a definite conclusion to the time traveling story that involves the central character. And there’s nothing left but a trickling, heartwarming farewell to familiar faces.
But the story remains well-rounded with a wall-stopping finale. But the story is not what you expect. And that makes it very tantalizing. It’s no longer just a cop show. It’s a reflection of a man’s personality. It’s a heartbeat of a man’s constant battle with his own inner soul.
One of the more interesting changes in the series is the promotion of Liz White’s character on Life on Mars. She is made as an integral part of the team, another DC who would become the pulse of the group. Despite her having a degree in psychology, she is made so much more in Sam Tyler’s eye. He believes she is capable of more. There’s a man who slaps her on the butt. And she does the same to him. She takes everything as it comes. But men in 1973 can underestimate her. But not Sam Tyler.
Another great episode is the one where Sam Tyler is put out of commission when someone from the future gives him the wrong kind of medicate. He reacts. He falls into a deeper coma. He slips into a kind of darker reality. And he’s forced to watch as his co-workers must resolve a kidnapping caper. It shows how well his team works despite his lack of presence. It is a good team ensemble who draws to each other.
But it is the ending that changes everything. Is it a world within a world that the lead character lives in? Or is it just a figment of his imagination? Is 1973 just a part of a greater scheme? Perhaps there is something more devious at work. But I won’t tell you anymore so you can decide for yourself as a viewer. The answer up to you, really.
But this isn’t the end. Not for 1973. Not for anyone here. More time-traveling stuff.
There is supposedly a sequel, Ashes to Ashes, in the works. It will see Philip Glenister return as DCI Gene Hunt - but this time in London in 1981. And he’s given a brand new woman co-worker. Think of how much this will piss him off. As if isn’t not bad enough for miss Cartwright to rise to the ranks in 1973. A woman Prime Minster.
It'll broaden the story now with the woman co-woker.
Another cop show. Another point of view. It might have some possibilities. But there are always possibilities in 1981.
And so the second season of Life of Mars begins with the kind of foreshadowing for the main character who must reside in 1973, solve a series of crimes and hopefully find a way for him to get a one-way ticket back home.
But the questions still linger in his mind. Is he living in a world of fiction? And will 1973 be able to let him go back?
Sam Tyler, wonderfully underplayed by John Simm, continues to warm to the audience as a hesitant guide through 1973 as he gives us a chance of revisiting old friends and enemies. He might be a prisoner in the 1970s.
But that doesn’t mean he can still change things for the better. Isn’t that what everyone wants to do? Go back and fix the things we regret doing? Finding a way to make life easier for people. And fulfilling his duty as a police officer.
The second season, to my humble opinion, seems to be slightly better than the first. This is because the supporting characters of the cast is more established. They’re growing as people. The stories embellish the characters until we learn about them inside out.
And the issues they face are no greater than modern day stories. The second season deals with wife-swapping, heroin on the streets, a murder case that accuses one of the police officers, and the brutal realism that crime sometimes get away with it. But not in Sammy’s world. No matter how hard he tries, with a long-suffering determination, he wants to get the job done. He’ll go at any length to see the bad man off the streets.
It’s always been a copper’s wet dream. To make a utopia out of the city. But that’s asking for too much. Crime will always find a home in the city. No matter what.
There are some pretty outstanding episodes with some solid writing. The episode with DCI Gene Hunt is accused of murder and the story devolves into a corrupted boxing ring is pretty exhilarating. It’s a knock-out episode. Plus there’s plenty of humor around the block to make this still entertaining. But smart as the same time. There’s some great stuff by Philip Glenister in this one. Almost a solo story on his character.
The last episode, to risk spoiling the whole thing, does resolve the mystery of the character Sam Tyler. And what he is doing there in 1973. And what future he is facing in his life. There is a definite conclusion to the time traveling story that involves the central character. And there’s nothing left but a trickling, heartwarming farewell to familiar faces.
But the story remains well-rounded with a wall-stopping finale. But the story is not what you expect. And that makes it very tantalizing. It’s no longer just a cop show. It’s a reflection of a man’s personality. It’s a heartbeat of a man’s constant battle with his own inner soul.
One of the more interesting changes in the series is the promotion of Liz White’s character on Life on Mars. She is made as an integral part of the team, another DC who would become the pulse of the group. Despite her having a degree in psychology, she is made so much more in Sam Tyler’s eye. He believes she is capable of more. There’s a man who slaps her on the butt. And she does the same to him. She takes everything as it comes. But men in 1973 can underestimate her. But not Sam Tyler.
Another great episode is the one where Sam Tyler is put out of commission when someone from the future gives him the wrong kind of medicate. He reacts. He falls into a deeper coma. He slips into a kind of darker reality. And he’s forced to watch as his co-workers must resolve a kidnapping caper. It shows how well his team works despite his lack of presence. It is a good team ensemble who draws to each other.
But it is the ending that changes everything. Is it a world within a world that the lead character lives in? Or is it just a figment of his imagination? Is 1973 just a part of a greater scheme? Perhaps there is something more devious at work. But I won’t tell you anymore so you can decide for yourself as a viewer. The answer up to you, really.
But this isn’t the end. Not for 1973. Not for anyone here. More time-traveling stuff.
There is supposedly a sequel, Ashes to Ashes, in the works. It will see Philip Glenister return as DCI Gene Hunt - but this time in London in 1981. And he’s given a brand new woman co-worker. Think of how much this will piss him off. As if isn’t not bad enough for miss Cartwright to rise to the ranks in 1973. A woman Prime Minster.
It'll broaden the story now with the woman co-woker.
Another cop show. Another point of view. It might have some possibilities. But there are always possibilities in 1981.
posted by K.M. Paters at 11:02 AM
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