Revisiting Life on Mars

Deckerd · August 24 2012, 07:55 PM

Damn but this is a good show. I only ever saw it once but got hold of the 2 season set recently. The two leads are so charismatic but even then the first episode is deliberately uncomfortable. You don't know whether it's going to be good or rubbish right up until the point where they both look at each other and take off over the office desk. Then you know it's going to be really good.

Deckerd · August 24 2012, 10:08 PM

"Halt! You are surrounded by armed bastards!"

Peter Q Taggart · August 24 2012, 10:08 PM

Love the Gene Genie.

iguana_tonante · August 24 2012, 10:13 PM

I fucking love Life on Mars. The show was an experience.

MacLeod · August 24 2012, 10:16 PM

Of course you do realise, that you'll have to move onto Ashes to Ashes afterwards.

auntiehill · August 24 2012, 10:19 PM

I LOVED LoM. But I couldn't take Ashes to Ashes. I think hubby and I made it through the first season but that was it. Bah.

I just loved how they ended LoM. No American TV series would ever have the balls to end a series like that.

Emh · August 24 2012, 11:11 PM

Life on Mars is pure brilliance. The rapport between John Simm and Phil Glenister is why the show was so awesome.

Ashes to Ashes is highly enjoyable (largely because of Glenister) but it's not quite on the same level as Life on Mars simply because it lacks that rapport.

Kirkman1987 · August 25 2012, 01:38 PM

Emh wrote:

Life on Mars is pure brilliance. The rapport between John Simm and Phil Glenister is why the show was so awesome.

Ashes to Ashes is highly enjoyable (largely because of Glenister) but it's not quite on the same level as Life on Mars simply because it lacks that rapport.

This. Life on Mars is maybe my favorite show of the past decade (I might like Mad Men just a hair more.)

Ashes was great fun and got much better as it progressed, but it never reached the heights of Life on Mars. The ending of Life on Mars was perfection, and I do feel Ashes slightly sullied it by continuing the story (as entertaining as the series was)

MacLeod · August 25 2012, 02:34 PM

And the less said about the American remake, the better. Esp. the ending.

Mr. Laser Beam · August 26 2012, 03:56 AM

^ I have only ever seen the American version, but I liked it very much. I suspect the ending was either 1) forced on them by the network, or 2) cooked up at the last minute because of the abrupt cancellation (there's certainly nothing in the actual run of the series that would lead up to such an ending, and lots of indications - such as the 'Aries Project', the plentiful scenes that had no Sam in them at all (and thus should not exist), and the weird voice on the phone - that would indicate something completely different.

It is very likely that the UK ending wouldn't be used on the US version - because US networks would not allow it. It's not the fault of the people running the show. They do what the network execs tell them.

And besides, there's no proof that the ending is even real, anyway:

Enterprise is Great · August 26 2012, 05:56 AM

My recollection that the producers of the American version were told by ABC that the show would be canceled at episode number whatever it was that it ended on and that they should wrap up the series in that final episode. I'm pretty sure that the producers of that show said that the ending they did was how they had planned to end it if the series had continued on.

Deckerd · August 26 2012, 08:58 AM

Peter Q Taggart wrote:

Love the Gene Genie.

Perhaps I'm misremembering but I don't recall him calling himself that in LoM.

Emh · August 26 2012, 09:23 AM

Deckerd wrote:

Peter Q Taggart wrote:

Love the Gene Genie.

Perhaps I'm misremembering but I don't recall him calling himself that in LoM.

I'm pretty sure he did at least a couple of times.

iguana_tonante · August 26 2012, 09:48 AM

Mr. Laser Beam wrote:

^ I have only ever seen the American version, but I liked it very much.

Do yourself a favour and watch the British one. Stat.

Guy Gardener · August 26 2012, 10:35 AM

Of course if you made it tot he end of ashes to ashes, everything is explained.

And it's hilarious.

I remember thinking... "What the fuck is an Iphone?"

They're making shit up to seem futuristic.

August 24 2012, 07:55 PM	#1
Deckerd Fleet Arse Location: in the Frozen Wastes	Revisiting Life on Mars Damn but this is a good show. I only ever saw it once but got hold of the 2 season set recently. The two leads are so charismatic but even then the first episode is deliberately uncomfortable. You don't know whether it's going to be good or rubbish right up until the point where they both look at each other and take off over the office desk. Then you know it's going to be really good. __________________ They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance.

August 24 2012, 10:08 PM	#2
Deckerd Fleet Arse Location: in the Frozen Wastes	Re: Revisiting Life on Mars "Halt! You are surrounded by armed bastards!" __________________ They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance.

August 24 2012, 10:08 PM	#3
Peter Q Taggart Lieutenant Junior Grade Location: Derby, KS	Re: Revisiting Life on Mars Love the Gene Genie.

August 24 2012, 10:13 PM	#4
iguana_tonante Vice Admiral Location: Italy, EU	Re: Revisiting Life on Mars I fucking love Life on Mars. The show was an experience. __________________ Scientist. Gentleman. Teacher. Fighter. Lover. Father.

August 24 2012, 10:16 PM	#5
MacLeod Vice Admiral Location: Great Britain	Re: Revisiting Life on Mars Of course you do realise, that you'll have to move onto Ashes to Ashes afterwards. __________________ On the continent of wild endeavour in the mountains of solace and solitude there stood the citadel of the time lords, the oldest and most mighty race in the universe looking down on the galaxies below sworn never to interfere only to watch.

STAR TREK

CSI

ABOUT US

August 24 2012, 10:19 PM	#6
auntiehill Fleet Admiral Location: av by Chemahkuu	Re: Revisiting Life on Mars I LOVED LoM. But I couldn't take Ashes to Ashes. I think hubby and I made it through the first season but that was it. Bah. I just loved how they ended LoM. No American TV series would ever have the balls to end a series like that.

August 24 2012, 11:11 PM	#7
Emh The Doctor Location: Japan	Re: Revisiting Life on Mars Life on Mars is pure brilliance. The rapport between John Simm and Phil Glenister is why the show was so awesome. Ashes to Ashes is highly enjoyable (largely because of Glenister) but it's not quite on the same level as Life on Mars simply because it lacks that rapport. __________________ "Eccleston was a tiger and Tennant was, well, Tigger. Smith [is] an uncoordinated housecat who pretends that he meant to do that after falling off a piece of furniture." - Lynne M. Thomas "I'm in Hell and it's full of Avons!" - Vila

August 25 2012, 02:34 PM	#9
MacLeod Vice Admiral Location: Great Britain	Re: Revisiting Life on Mars And the less said about the American remake, the better. Esp. the ending. __________________ On the continent of wild endeavour in the mountains of solace and solitude there stood the citadel of the time lords, the oldest and most mighty race in the universe looking down on the galaxies below sworn never to interfere only to watch.

August 26 2012, 03:56 AM	#10
Mr. Laser Beam Fleet Admiral Location: The visitor's bullpen	Re: Revisiting Life on Mars ^ I have only ever seen the American version, but I liked it very much. I suspect the ending was either 1) forced on them by the network, or 2) cooked up at the last minute because of the abrupt cancellation (there's certainly nothing in the actual run of the series that would lead up to such an ending, and lots of indications - such as the 'Aries Project', the plentiful scenes that had no Sam in them at all (and thus should not exist), and the weird voice on the phone - that would indicate something completely different. It is very likely that the UK ending wouldn't be used on the US version - because US networks would not allow it. It's not the fault of the people running the show. They do what the network execs tell them. And besides, there's no proof that the ending is even real, anyway: If you'll notice, the control room of the Mars lander has 70's decorations all over it. And the boot you see stepping onto the Martian surface? It's Gene's, but in his 1973 clothes! Also, there is a line in the final episode which doesn't outright state this, but implies it, that Sam may never wake up, and that he should just accept whatever reality he finds himself in and make the best of it. Me, I think that 2010 Sam - the version we see talking to Old Annie in the hospital - is the real version. I think the whole series was indeed a fantasy - but Annie's! __________________ It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion. It is by the beans of Java that thoughts acquire speed, the hands acquire shakes, the shakes become a warning. It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.

August 26 2012, 05:56 AM	#11
Enterprise is Great Rear Admiral	Re: Revisiting Life on Mars My recollection that the producers of the American version were told by ABC that the show would be canceled at episode number whatever it was that it ended on and that they should wrap up the series in that final episode. I'm pretty sure that the producers of that show said that the ending they did was how they had planned to end it if the series had continued on. __________________ JJverse Star Trek...is gonna rock again! On May 17, 2013!

August 26 2012, 10:35 AM	#15
Guy Gardener Admiral Location: In the lap of squalor I assure you.	Re: Revisiting Life on Mars Of course if you made it tot he end of ashes to ashes, everything is explained. And it's hilarious. I remember thinking... "What the fuck is an Iphone?" They're making shit up to seem futuristic. __________________ "Glitter is the herpes of arts and craft." Troy Yingst. My Life as Liz