I got the impression that in the NY version, Sam's not the boss. I think the dude who handed Sam the vest when they were raiding the apartment was the boss.
Life On Mars: "Out Here In the Fields" 10/9 - Grading & Discussion
- Thread starter Aragorn
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I got the impression that in the NY version, Sam's not the boss. I think the dude who handed Sam the vest when they were raiding the apartment was the boss.
Yep, that's my impression as well. That was Sam's CO who handed him the vest (in the credits he's listed as Captain Bellow).
Well, I can't imagine anyone going for the police station as a big reveal when the WTC opportunity is staring them smack in the face.
I've no idea what affect the police station segment in the BBC version was supposed to achieve, but in the show I saw the other night it was Sam's introduction to the environment and the other characters that he's going to be interacting with every week - and having him come in as a raving whacko and bounce off of them definitely gave them each their moments.
i sorta thought that sam was thinking i must have hit my head really hard during the early stuff like seeing the car and especially the wtc.
that he was seeing something that he didnt believe was really there.
the police station bought things into stark reality that something very wrong and personal was going on.
that he was seeing something that he didnt believe was really there.
the police station bought things into stark reality that something very wrong and personal was going on.
Yes, actually, the Willys Jeep CJ (CJ - Civilian Jeep) was introduced in the 40's.
Just got the opportunity to watch it - absolutely loved it, and I am a huge fan of the BBC series. Keitel may not be Glenister, but he still does a great job. O'Mara's definitely not John Simm, but it seems to me he's lost some weight since the first US pilot, so I can at least believe Keitel can take him now... I'm willing to give him a few eps to see if he can pull off Sam Tyler convincingly in the long run.
Incidentally, can anyone confirm that when Sam's looking at himself in the back of the rearview mirror of the car in the street, right after arriving in 1973, the car is Gene's '73 Cortina from the BBC show? The color's definitely the same... basic style appears to be the same... If so, it would be a really nice reference...!
This pilot definitely did its job as far as I'm concerned - I'll stick around for at least a few more eps to see how it plays out, but as of now I'm very optimistic. I absolutely love the original, and Ashes to Ashes for that matter, but that doesn't diminish the appreciation I have for this version's potential. Let's hope they do it right!
Incidentally, can anyone confirm that when Sam's looking at himself in the back of the rearview mirror of the car in the street, right after arriving in 1973, the car is Gene's '73 Cortina from the BBC show? The color's definitely the same... basic style appears to be the same... If so, it would be a really nice reference...!
This pilot definitely did its job as far as I'm concerned - I'll stick around for at least a few more eps to see how it plays out, but as of now I'm very optimistic. I absolutely love the original, and Ashes to Ashes for that matter, but that doesn't diminish the appreciation I have for this version's potential. Let's hope they do it right!
So that scene makes even less sense, with Keitel's Hunt punching Sam because he was trying to "own" the station...
Really, they should have just cut the whole scene from the show given that they changed the story structure so much already.
Nevermind - it's not the Cortina, but damn it looks a lot like it....
Well, stj, it appears as if some of the comparisons are getting a bit invidious, aren't they? 
I still do think, based on the pilot, the original is far superior.
I still do think, based on the pilot, the original is far superior.
Yeah, plus the police station in 2008 looked almost exactly the same as the one in '73. It was very clean and whitewashed in the UK version, which contrasted much better with the dingy cluttered station in 1973.
I've never seen the original so I had no thoughts about it beforehand other than I hoped it would be good.
It was ok, I guess. None of the characters excited me at all (the blond woman was really irritating), the dialogue was boring and the storyline wasn't anything to write home about. The scene with the guy in the TV was the only standout part of the show. It looked nice but I didn't think it had much substance. I might watch next week's, we'll see.
It was ok, I guess. None of the characters excited me at all (the blond woman was really irritating), the dialogue was boring and the storyline wasn't anything to write home about. The scene with the guy in the TV was the only standout part of the show. It looked nice but I didn't think it had much substance. I might watch next week's, we'll see.
Actually, no. The scene works just fine within the episode. It's possible that if one comes to it with expectations based on having seen the BBC version it seems out of place or something, but taken on its own without preconceptions the whole episode works pretty well - although the acceptance of this looney by his new co-workers strikes me as a little wonky.
Well, that's my thing with the episode I suppose. Taken on its own, it doesn't work to have him basically feel out of place twice. It's repetitious and the big "money" scene with the other cops gawking at him is made weaker for it. I think if they'd just reversed the two scenes, maybe even have him drive away at the very end of the episode and pan up to reveal the WTC, it would have been much more effective.
thestrangequark---Comparisons between a US show accidentally erased in the DVR and a BBC show that didn't even get that close to me aren't much use. The thread's tone does seem to be getting more belligerent and not just prejudicial. The only thing I've been seeing that seems relevant (even if ominous) is the observation that all the other characters ignore the lead raving about his psychotic delusions.
I'm spending all my willing suspension of disbelief on the coma theory. Ignoring that comatose victims don't dream as far as I know, dreams simply are not that detailed, coherent and prolonged. They are only convincing for short periods. I know because I've dreamed. Well, with luck (since skill is absent, it seems) the DVR will help me decide.
I'm spending all my willing suspension of disbelief on the coma theory. Ignoring that comatose victims don't dream as far as I know, dreams simply are not that detailed, coherent and prolonged. They are only convincing for short periods. I know because I've dreamed. Well, with luck (since skill is absent, it seems) the DVR will help me decide.
We'll just disagree here. I thought it worked just fine.
Well here's something for y'all to gnaw on, three versions of the same scene for Life on Mars. Scene one: ABC. Scene two: BBC. Scene three: Original ABC pilot.
Despite being British I'm not often a major fan of our shows I must admit. The original LoM bucks that trend to the extent that it's one of my favourite shows of all time.
Re the US version, I'd heard reviews of the original LA pilot and I feared the worst. With low expectations going in, I have to admit, this one's come as a very pleasant surprise.
Sure, it's not quite up to the standard of the original, but it's not a million miles away. It's got potential. To be honest, I think that once people start looking beyond the obvious comparisons then it may be seen more favourably in certain quarters.
I liked O'Mara, I thought he did a pretty decent job. I'm glad to see that he didn't just try and mimic John Simm's performance. Keital, I thought struggled in his early scenes but got better as the show went along.
I think they'll take the major events of the original series and weave them across the course of the new series, intersperced with new material.
Just hope that the numbers hold up next week. I think they will. Although another cop show, it fills a niche not currently occupied.
A decent start, and IMO, plenty of potential. What I would say for anyone that's not seen the original series, don't. Not yet. You're just going to give yourself the obvious problem of comparing the two shows. Furthermore, at the moment it's unclear as to whether they'll go down the same route as the original series in terms of its ending. Certainly they've carried over certain themes that the original had, and the memory flashes that Tyler experienced as he went into the coma would tend to indicate that they may follow the same path as the UK version. Hence, stay clear of the original for now so as to avoid spoilers.
Re the US version, I'd heard reviews of the original LA pilot and I feared the worst. With low expectations going in, I have to admit, this one's come as a very pleasant surprise.
Sure, it's not quite up to the standard of the original, but it's not a million miles away. It's got potential. To be honest, I think that once people start looking beyond the obvious comparisons then it may be seen more favourably in certain quarters.
I liked O'Mara, I thought he did a pretty decent job. I'm glad to see that he didn't just try and mimic John Simm's performance. Keital, I thought struggled in his early scenes but got better as the show went along.
I think they'll take the major events of the original series and weave them across the course of the new series, intersperced with new material.
Just hope that the numbers hold up next week. I think they will. Although another cop show, it fills a niche not currently occupied.
A decent start, and IMO, plenty of potential. What I would say for anyone that's not seen the original series, don't. Not yet. You're just going to give yourself the obvious problem of comparing the two shows. Furthermore, at the moment it's unclear as to whether they'll go down the same route as the original series in terms of its ending. Certainly they've carried over certain themes that the original had, and the memory flashes that Tyler experienced as he went into the coma would tend to indicate that they may follow the same path as the UK version. Hence, stay clear of the original for now so as to avoid spoilers.
I'm not sure I understand why any scene should be considered a "big reveal", be it the WTC in the US version or the station in the UK version. The voiceover in the opening credits states the entire premise. The viewer already knows what Sam is going to experience before they even see the first scene of the first episode.
This show, both versions, is all about Sam's reactions to his environment, both inside and outside his head. It's not sci-fi, or a police procedural; it's a psychological drama (sorry Temis, but that's the truth). Even if he has seen the WTC, why would that make him just start accepting everything as real, that he's not living inside his own head, that he doesn't have to do something to wake himself up? If you were in a situation like this, wouldn't it take you a while to settle into it? If anything, UK Sam probably settled in a little too quickly. But then, in the UK they don't go into a series thinking they'll have seven years to tell the story.
That's not quite true, there is no title sequence (no voice over) in the first episode, in either version.
Yeah, it's a cold open for both shows pretty much.
