The Ending of Life on Mars USA

[Mr Light]

I just finished watching the USA version of "Life on Mars" on DVD. I've only seen the first series of the BBC version so I don't know how that one ends.

Spoilers if you care!

I was wondering how people felt about the ending reveal. I certainly did not see it coming. After all the set up with the microscopic robots I was expecting future humans (or less likely, aliens) to be sending Sam back in time for a sociological experiment. When he busted into the Aries Toy Factory with the hundreds of people dancing, I figured they were all from the future taking a 1970s vacation or something.

The last thing in the world I was expecting was that 2008 Sam Tyler was a fake and the real guy was a Mars astronaut in 2035! Seems kinda left-field. I can't decide if that's clever or annoying.

Also I was convinced the idealistic young cop in the precinct was one of the future observers. It looked like he was the mysterious person on the phone and he said a few wonky things sometimes.

As for the series as a whole, it was just alright.

 

[watermelony2k]

Honestly, your speculations sound like a better conclusion than the one we ended up getting. Who knows, maybe your predictions might have been closer to whatever intended ending we would have had if the series creators didn't have to rush to tie up the story after cancellation.

 

[Mr Light]

OK I just read the ending to the BBC version, since I won't bother buying or watching it. I think I prefer the USA version! At least it had a sci-fi twist to it.

 

[IcecreamLtDan]

The ending to the BBC series is the only thing I didn't like about that series. While I did enjoy the BBC series more, honestly, suicide? The first thing I would have done upon waking up from a coma was to go a find out whether or not the people I encountered were real or not. It seems the ending to it was almost as rushed as the American version. Overall, though the BBC series was superior, there were things about the American series I liked better. I though Michael Imperioli was better as Ray, not that the acting was so much better, but I thought the character was written in better. I was kinda annoyed at how Ray and Sam were supposed to be at odds with each other, but in the BBC version it changed from episode to episode, it seemed more consistent in the American version. I also thought that Annie in the BBC version was just a bit too trusting of Sam at the beginning, where as in the American version she thought he was nuts, which made more sense. However, the versions of Sam, Gene, and Chris in the BBC version were superior.

I watched series 1 of Ashes to Ashes and while I love Gene, I wasn't too impressed with Alex, I found her annoying. I have not watched series 2 and I'm not sure if I ever will honestly. I know there's supposed to be a series 3, but I'm not sure what happens after that. I imagine that will be the end though I know everyone hopes that Sam will at least return in some form during the series. Not sure what John Simm is doing outside of Doctor Who these days.

 

[Pingfah]

OK I just read the ending to the BBC version, since I won't bother buying or watching it. I think I prefer the USA version! At least it had a sci-fi twist to it.

You really should bother, the UK version is so much better than the US version.

 

[Aragorn]

^ So when you watched the UK version, when he committed suicide at the end, did you think, "That is so awesome how he's too fragile and unstable to handle reality and needs to be with his imaginary friends instead"?

The US ending might not even be the real ending since "Gene" stepped onto Mars in regular shoes, if I remember correctly.

 

[Pingfah]

^ I wasn't referring to the ending, I was referring to the show in general.

The US version was a pale imitation of the British show, and an ambiguous ending to the UK version doesn't change the fact that overall it was far better written, more exciting and with much better developed characters. I couldn't bring myself to give a crap about the fate of the US characters. It took them 20 something episodes to develop the characters to a level that they achieved within the first few episodes of the UK show.

What happened in the last 3 minutes doesn't really affect that.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

The US ending may not be what we think it is. For a few reasons:

- The Mars capsule appears to have 1970's decorations scattered around inside it.

- Aragorn, you got it. Look at the last boot that steps onto the Martian surface. It's Gene's! And by that I mean 1973 Gene.

- As Sam is waking up inside the Martian lander, we hear a voice saying "We're losing him..."

The 2035 reality might be true. It might not be. The ending is much more ambiguous than the UK version.

Actually I don't think the 2035 ending is true. I think it's a brief hallucination. Here's why:

- We had, at various times, seen scenes without Sam in them (such as that bit with Ray arguing with his brother - Ray gives him his car and tells him to get the hell out of town). If the whole thing is Sam's dream, then logically those scenes should not occur, since Sam can't dream scenes that he's not in.

- The 2010 scene, with Sam visiting old Annie. I think this takes place after Sam gets home (for real). Or perhaps the whole series was a dream of *Annie's* - that is, old Annie - which she had after Sam visited her? She could have imagined what it would be like if she'd known him in her prime, as it were.

I have never seen the UK version - I've only read the spoilers. But I think I like the US version better than what I've read about the UK one. It is set in New York City, after all.

I do think that since the UK version came first, there is probably a lot of impetus to automatically think that it's better, just for that reason (and the in-built prejudice against American TV series in general, in particular when we remake UK shows). And for those who genuinely prefer the UK version, then that's fine. But I don't think the US version should be dismissed simply because it's 1) American, and 2) a remake. I liked the US show just fine. I loved it, in fact. I doubt I would appreciate the UK version if I watched it now.

And based on what I've read about the UK version's ending, I would have freaked if the US version had done that. So after all he's been through, Sam KILLS himself? What a cop-out (pardon the pun).

That being said, I wonder what a US version of Ashes to Ashes might be like. Obviously it couldn't be exactly the same plot as the original (since in the remake, Sam's not dead). Maybe the protagonist could be Annie? You gotta admit, Gretchen Mol was hot.

Also, I don't know what happened to Jason O'Mara after he filmed the original pilot (set in L.A.) but he looked much healthier when the show rebooted and shifted to New York. And as much as I appreciate Colm Meaney, I think Harvey Keitel was a better Gene.

 

[auntiehill]

^ I thought the UK version was actually rather brave. The man's life was miserable and sterile, but in the last moments of his life, he's transported to this frustrating, challenging, exciting life where, ironically, he's more alive than ever.

In the end, he chooses to end his suffering and embrace the 1970s world, because to him, it IS more real. He is more alive inside his head, or in "heaven" if you will. So, he ends his life and goes back to that existence---a mere second or two in our world, but YEARS of happiness in his mind. I thought that was a really gutsy move--not something any cowardly American TV-executive would try. Bold moves upset people, and might get them angry letters, after all. It was risky and unexpected, and I loved it.

I thought the UK version was far superior because the writing was far more sophisticated and the story-line was tighter, the acting was unilaterally superb and I really liked and BELIEVED the characters.

I tried to watch the US version, but the scripts were too heavy-handed, the supporting characters were bland and unbelievable and the main character was, frankly, as dull as dishwater. I honestly didn't care WHAT happened to him.

 

[Zachary Smith]

I've never seen the BBC version but I VERY much liked the USA version and I very much liked the unexpected ending. Frankly, I think the show was hoped or intended to go on MUCH longer and this ending was something pulled out of thin air in order to wrap things up in the time that was left once the decision was cast the show would not continue. That in mind, the writers were DAMN clever to come up with something so unexpected yet still compelling and interesting to sum it all up. And I very much liked the ambiguity of it all. I thought it was a hell of a show and I still miss it.

 

[Canadave]

I watched series 1 of Ashes to Ashes and while I love Gene, I wasn't too impressed with Alex, I found her annoying. I have not watched series 2 and I'm not sure if I ever will honestly. I know there's supposed to be a series 3, but I'm not sure what happens after that. I imagine that will be the end though I know everyone hopes that Sam will at least return in some form during the series. Not sure what John Simm is doing outside of Doctor Who these days.

I had similarly lukewarm feelings about the first series of Ashes to Ashes, but I'd strongly recommend series 2. It's a vast improvement, and Alex becomes a much more likable character. Trust me on this one.

 

[Kelso]

I not usually one of those "The original is so much better!" people... but in the case of Life on Mars, it's true.

 

[Pingfah]

I have never seen the UK version - I've only read the spoilers. But I think I like the US version better than what I've read about the UK one. It is set in New York City, after all.

I do think that since the UK version came first, there is probably a lot of impetus to automatically think that it's better, just for that reason (and the in-built prejudice against American TV series in general, in particular when we remake UK shows). And for those who genuinely prefer the UK version, then that's fine. But I don't think the US version should be dismissed simply because it's 1) American, and 2) a remake. I liked the US show just fine. I loved it, in fact. I doubt I would appreciate the UK version if I watched it now.

But you haven't seen it, so erm... yeah.

I don't think it is better because it came first, i think it is better because it is better.

 

[Aragorn]

It took them 20 something episodes to develop the characters to a level that they achieved within the first few episodes of the UK show.

20 something? Did you even watch the show?

I don't know about you, but episode 22 of Firefly was one of the greatest moments in television history!

 

[Temis the Vorta]

I bailed on the show early on (couldn't get into either the American or UK versions, maybe because of my intense aversion to the cop show genre horning in on sci fi, just waaaay too much of that crap happening nowadays and no signs of letting up! ) but now you people have gotten me curious so I've added that episode to Netflix for the sole purpose of seeing the ending...

 

[Pingfah]

It took them 20 something episodes to develop the characters to a level that they achieved within the first few episodes of the UK show.

20 something? Did you even watch the show?

I don't know about you, but episode 22 of Firefly was one of the greatest moments in television history!

Yeah I watched the show, I can't remember the exact number of episodes off the top of my head, hence the "something". Yeah that totally negates my point. Oh my god, I got it wrong by 3 episodes please shoot me now for not knowing such an important precise number.

Jeezus.

Anyway, it took the US show a whole season to do what the british show did in 2 or 3 hours, much better.

 

[Ryan]

The ending was unfortunately, not least of all because it implied Sam has far worse issues with his sister than he does with his dad.

Come to think of it he had some screwed up mother issues too.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

I far prefer the BBC version, I watched the US version until the mid-season hiatus and gave up.
Apparently the ending to Life on Mars (UK) was a bit abrupt because they wanted a 3ed series but it was too hard on John Simm, being in every scene of every episode, so they ended it early.
Ashes to Ashes started off a little underwhelmingly but series 2 was fantastic, and according to an interview I read series 3 will kinds be more like Life on Mars series 5 and explain the Life on Mars ending a bit more unambiguously.

 

[Mistral]

I liked the US ending-but Gretchen Moll's hair took me right out of the final scenes. She was so loveably beautiful thru the series and then they did THAT to her...

 

[Canadave]

I have never seen the UK version - I've only read the spoilers. But I think I like the US version better than what I've read about the UK one. It is set in New York City, after all.

But you haven't seen it, so erm... yeah.

I don't think it is better because it came first, i think it is better because it is better.

Agreed. MLB, you really ought to give the UK series a chance. I gave the American version a try, despite my love for the original, and it certainly didn't hurt it. It's worth it just for Philip Glennister, whose portrayal of Gene Hunt is downright iconic.