Anything but a God-Awful small affair! (Life On Mars: Complete BBC Series 1 (DVD))

Name: MizzMolko

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Product:	Life On Mars: Complete BBC Series 1 (DVD)
Date:	17/05/08 (113 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fantastic acting, well written scripts and characters

Disadvantages: May need an older member of the family to explain some of the 70's references

To most people, the production company Kudos are a mark of quality within the world of British television. Over the years, they have offered viewers some of the most carefully directed and well written but quirky dramas, including the long running, Dr. Who, its spin off Torchwood and the lovable rogues series, Hustle.

Yet, to me, there has been one programme in particular that has stood out amongst all of the others, a show which I feel didn't receive nearly as many as BAFTA and other awards as it deserved. That programme is the 1970's cop, time travel drama, Life on Mars.

First of all, don't let the mere mention of it being another police show put you off because, although crime and its consequences is the basic backdrop to every episode, the programmes diversity covers a wide range of genres, most notably comedy and action, which all eventually runs into the potential time travel aspect of the storyline.

Series one of Life on Mars aired from Monday January 9th of 2006 and ended Monday February 27th of 2006, consisting of eight one hour long episodes on BBC1. For this reason, as the box set age certificate suggests, its audience is for anyone of aged 15 plus; there can be some fairly touchy themes and language used (which is even more applicable in series two) so it may not be suitable for everyone anyway. More on the themes a little later on.

CHARACTERS
The programme mainly focuses around the life of Sam Tyler, a DCI from the future who smacks back to earth with a bang. John Simm's fantastic portrayal makes the whole 'mad, in a coma or back in time' theory utterly believeable and combined with tough talking sperior Gene Hunt, Philip Glenister adds to the chemistry of the programme remarkably well.

Liz White steps up as Annie Cartwright, the 'Plonk' who comes to admire, respect and try and understand the baffling DI Tyler. DS Ray Carling (Dean Andrews) is the enemy within the ranks against Sam and really adds to both of their characters. Marshall Lancaster is fantastically casted as the naive, Private Pike type character of DC Chris Skelton, who is both amusing and enjoyable to watch develop.

Although there are the main five characters, there are many more including the haggard but demanding Phyllis Dobbs (Noreen Kershaw) and Nelson (Tony Marshall) the local bartender who is both good natured and supportive, trying to help Sam figure out his place inside the twisted world of 1973. Although the programme is entirely from the perspective of Tyler, all of the characters add something different to each and every episode and his bid to return home to 2006, whether it be words of advice on how to survive in the 70's or general friendship.

EPISODE SUMMARIES
As I've mentioned, there are eight episodes in both series, each lasting 60 minutes a piece. As I don't want to go into too much detail about each episode, on an account of not wanting to ruin the surprises for you, here are brief episode synopsises for you as well as my favourite one liners from each episode.

Episode 1; written by Matthew Graham.
After a car accident in 2006, Sam Tyler is transported back to the 1970's. Confused, he heads to the only place he knows, the police station, where he meets his new comrades who are working on a murder case that Sam believes is connected to the same one he is working on in 2006. Although the newly demoted Inspector clashes with many of the culture changes and personalities of 1973, the resident eye candy, WPC Cartwright, befriends Sam and eventually stops him from making a big mistake...

Marks out of 10: 10 - I honestly believe that this is one of the most gripping hours of television ever made. The acting is suburb, especially on the part of John Simm, as the story of whether he is mad, in a coma or back in time only just starts to unravel.

Episode 2; written by Matthew Graham
After an uneasy first few days in CID, Sam is faced with another challenge in this episode. Although he has always stuck by his morals and use of evidence as a way to solve a case, this backfires on him after releasing a potential suspect from the cells, one that Gene was planning on planting evidence on to frame him. Appalled by the Gov's actions, Sam has to put his feelings aside in a bid to nail the thief and co-operate with his new superior.

Marks out of 10: 9 - this episode marks the contrast of how different policing methods are portrayed to be during both eras. I love the chalk and cheese relationship between the two main characters which is portrayed to be at its most edgy for the most part of episode two.

Episode 3; written by Matthew Graham
Murder is once again the main topic in this episode, this time set in a mill which is about to go bust - and it's where Sam lives in 2006. Although Gene is convinced he knows who the murderer is instantly, his Inspector isn't so sure and plans on using his intelligence to prove it. Yet, Sam learns another vital lesson of survival within the 1970's, one that nearly tested the theory of whether he was actually alive in 1973 or not...

Marks out of 10: 9.5 - I really like this episode although I couldn't remember all that much about it until I started watching from the box set. I think the fact that the ending is not crystal clear from the get go is why it's so good and interesting to watch and I liked a lot of the scenery used here. Gene's one liners had me in stitches!

Episode 4; written by Ashley Pharoah
Corruption is a thing that Sam knows destroys the good, hard work of decent people in the future but is yet to convince his new partner of this. As Gene feels that by working with the people opposite that belief, Sam begs to differ and soon gets caught up with two women; one of whom is unintentionally at the centre of this sleazy life, the other the woman who he believes is his Mother. However, for one of them, the police do little to protect them but in fact fatally harm them...

Marks out of 10: 9.5 - I simply love the way Sam comes to realise that he does in fact have feelings in the 1970s, despite the scenarios he thinks he may be in. It's a very poignant episode within the series and truly marks the beginning of the friendship between Sam and Gene effectively. Brilliant!

Episode 5; written by Tony Jordan
Football has always been seen as an excuse for someone to get a good kick in and the rivalry between the Manchester United and Manchester City fans is at it's strongest during this episode. After a Man United fan is found brutally murdered, Sam is determined to solve the problem ahead of the rival's big match at the weekend. With the mention of going undercover in a pub suddenly appealing to so-so alcoholic Gene, Sam soon finds that the issue of rivalry runs much deeper than he thinks...

Marks out of 10: 9.5 - again, fantastic acting makes this episode unmissable. I think that Phil Glenister must be the most convincing drunk since Arthur Lowe's portrayal! This episode is both funny but with some good messages being sent across too, particularly at the very end with some more intense acting on the part of John. Also, there is another great link to the whole mad/coma/time traveller idea which leaves the viewer on the edge of their seat, waiting for the next episode.

Episode 6; written by Matthew Graham and Ashley Pharoah
With a potential hostage situation causing havoc at the local news paper office, Sam's Mother is at his bedside in 2006 telling him that if he doesn't wake up, his life support machine will be switched off at 2pm, the same time that the hostage taker intends on killing someone! As Sam races against time to think of a logical solution, Gene and the gang make a few dud moves that could end up costing somebody their life. But the question is, will everyone remain in tact come 2 o'clock or will someone suffer some dire consequences?

Marks out of 10: 10 - episode 6 has just as much tension as the first in an episode that I think tests the true characterisations and acting abilities of the cast. The guest appearance of Paul Copley as the hostage taker was greatly received as well because he'd worked before with John Simm in another very good BBC1 drama, The Lakes. One of my sure fire favourite episodes throughout both series!

Episode 7; written by Chris Chibnall
Sam's sense of team work is tested to the limit after a rather suspicious death in one of the police cells whilst DS Carling is in charge. Demanding a 'transparent investigation', Sam and Gene's rocky relationship is tested as DCI Hunt is desperate for his team not to be torn apart but also for his Inspector to come up trumps and find out exactly what happened that fatal night.

Marks out of 10: 9.5 - another very strong episode with the confrontations between Sam & Gene and Ray & Sam portraying some of the best moments in the series. One scene is particularly well crafted and involves the use of a radio and some rather modern music. Another perfect way to keep the sci-fi storyline alive!

Episode 8; written by Matthew Graham
Although Sam seems to be more settled in the world of 1973, a bombshell seems set to blow his world apart; the arrival of his peculiar father, Vic. Testing both his loyalty to his new team and his willingness to get back home, Sam is confronted by some childhood demons that could make or break his situation. But, as this is the series finale, will Sam soon find himself back in the familiarity of 2006 or is he destined to stay a prisoner inside of his own mind in 1973?

Marks out of 10: 10 - I actually felt tears in my eyes when the title song strikes up towards the end of this episode! Although the wit and comedy values are still obviously present, what I like is the tension the writers and producers have created once again; as a viewer, I felt myself wanting Sam to return home but, at the same time, I really wanted him to stay put in 1973 as there is certainly some unfinished business that he had with both Gene and Annie.

EXTRAS
In the box set, there are four disks, comprising of two episodes each and all with a number of extras on them. The extras I find to be really interesting and do perhaps help clear up any questions that a viewer may have throughout the series.

Take a Look at the Lawman:
This is split up into two parts and is available on both disks one and two. 'Take a Look at the Lawman' does as the title implies; it goes behind the scenes of the series and talks directly to both the cast and crew about the making of Life on Mars as well as some of the original ideas about the show. Interestingly, the programme was originally going to be called 'Ford Granada' as Sam was meant to wake up in that model of car! Thankfully, that didn't happen and the co-creators, Matthew Graham and Ashley Pharoah, go on to talk in great detail about how much of a struggle it was trying to get this show sanction for release. I bet ITV are kicking themselves now after the BBC and Kudos took on this obviously worthwhile challenge.

The Music of Life on Mars:
Composer, Ed Butt, takes viewers into the music studios and talks a little about how he wanted Life on Mars' music to reflect Sam's bewilderment, as depicted through the theme tune. He wanted it to be a mixture of 70s and 00s popular genres which I found rather interesting as well as his other ideas for the other pieces of background music during the series. This short but interesting featurette can be found on disk 3.

Get Sykes:
Production designer, Brian Sykes, takes the cameras backstage with him as he goes into talks about his ideas for the stage and set up for the series and how he manages to try and capture an authentic 70s feel to it. Whilst I enjoyed this extra, very much like the music extra, I felt that it wasn't really one that you would need to watch over and over again; the 'Take a Look at the Lawman' features both lasted well over half an hour and obviously it would be impossible to memorize everything that was said on one viewing. However, the other two features were less substantial but none the less good. This is the main extra on disk 4.

Life on Mars - the Outtakes:
Being a fan of seeing professionals screw up, I was delighted to see that even such great actors as those in Life on Mars get in wrong. Seemingly quite a lot, actually. I was quite shocked to hear how much John Simm swears as he comes across to me as being a fairly mild mannered gentleman! There are many very funny moments to be watched her and, although the rest of the disks are rated for ages 12 and over, disk 4 had to be rated at 15+ because of all of the bad language used here. Tisk tisk!

Audio Commentaries:
The audio commentaries are probably my favourite extras in this box set. For each of the eight episodes, different members of the cast and crew voice their opinions on what it was like to write and film different episodes. It was really fascinating as you got a sense of how close the team actually are in real life and their dedication to the programme, which could have easily been a miss rather than a hit if dealt with in a less dedicated manner. I found John Simm to be rather humble too; he admitted on many occasions that he found some scenes quite difficult to film but I always considered them to come across as very natural, despite the supernatural type scenarios he was presented with.

PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
When I got my copy for my Mum for Mother's Day about two year ago, I think I paid somewhere in the region of about £25 for the box set, including delivery. As you can guess, since this series is nearly two years old, the price has dropped quite dramatically, at least in most cases:
Play.com - £15.99 (free postage & packaging)
Amazon.co.uk - £15.98 (eligible for super save delivery prices)
HMV.co.uk - £34.99 (free P&P although I've seen it at about £20 in store)
DVD.co.uk - £14.95 (free P&P)

GOOD COP, BAD COP?
In the words of the immortal Gene Hunt; bloody great gorgeous cop! I sincerely mean it when I say that this series is the most compelling in TV history. Sometimes, there is nothing better than watching some really rubbish reality telly on ITV or MTV. But if you want absolutely fabulous, enticing, mesmerizing plots and characters alike, topped off with some of Britain's best actors, then Life on Mars is most certainly for you.

I was really impressed every episode with the amount of detail that must have gone into making the set look as authentic as possible. Whilst I was obviously not alive in the 1970's, from what I have been told by others, the settings are very well made. There is a running gag about the poor electricity situation which I have been told is the truth by many people. I really loved the smoky, hazy atmosphere of CID too as it added to the feeling that Sam was - for the most part - the only one capable of keeping a clear interest in doing his job properly and trying to catch criminal efficiently.

Whilst I loved all parts of this programme, the one thing that really stood out for me was the relationship built up between Sam Tyler and Gene Hunt throughout both series'. It was pure magic and that was mainly thanks to the perfect acting duo of John Simm and Philip Glenister who have worked on many different occasions together before but never so closely. Whilst John's character was portrayed to be every bit as complexed and confused as the writers intended, Phil's strengths are undeniably his fantastic method of joke telling and his way of showing the audiences glimmers of Gene's more tortured yet perceptive sides in a subtle yet understanding manner.

Why Phil didn't get nominated for the BAFTA for Best Actor and why John DIDN'T win is beyond me; neither man could have put more passion or effort into making this spectacularly written show anymore of a success. They made their individual characters come to life and I doubt whether many actors could have been in each and every scene and acted as well as John did throughout both series' one and two.

Oh, and on a final note, how does Life on Mars' opener compare with that of Miami Vice wannabe spin off Ashes to Ashes, I hear you cry? Without any shadow of a doubt, Life on Mars is a million and one times better!

(Please note: This review was previously written displayed on Ciao by myself, MizzMolko).

Summary: The fantastic first series of the critically and commerically acclaimed 1970's cop show!