Life on Mars: Top 3

Life on Mars is a series that had a lot to offer, and more often than not the stories told were superb, but in retrospect there are always a few moments that stand out above the rest. Listed here are the top three episodes, according to myself, not only for the series as a whole, but also for both series individually.

Life on Mars: Bottom 3

This is the story of Sam Tyler (John Simm), a detective from 2006 who finds himself trapped in the world of 1973, and his journey to make it back to his own time and his own life. His journey is interrupted with the intervention of new found friends and allies, and his determination to help them in their quest to better themselves, to clean their streets, and to make the world a safer place for the people of the 1970s.



Top 3 (Overall)

03. Blowin' in the Wind [4.5]

The episode that started it all, Sam is struck down in a vehicular accident and wakes up thirty years in the past, with a new rank, a new group of colleagues, and seemingly no way of getting back home. Forced to play along with the investigation springing up around him, Sam looks for a way to return to 2006, all the while hearing whispers from the present about his comatose status.

It is here that Sam's critical thinking is on full display as he attempts to work out exactly what his situation is, bouncing ideas off of those around him hoping that they will act as some sort of conduit to the outside world. Despite the fact that Sam treats the people around him as though they're figments of his imagination, they react to him simply as though he has a concussion, and the world of 1973 is made to appear completely genuine, as though there's a possibility that his life in 2006 may have been nothing more than a dream. The mysteries introduced in this episode play out fantastically through to the last episode, and it's a wonderful beginning to a wonderful series.


02. Take a Look at the Lawmen [5]

As the first series closes, Sam works to prove his father's (Lee Ingleby) innocence, hoping that in stopping him from leaving their family in 1973 that he will wake up in 2006. Instead Sam learns the truth about who his father was, why his father left, and he begins to think that his mission in 1973 may have been simply to save Annie (Liz White) from dying at his father's hand.

There are a lot of questions that were answered through this story, but there were also a lot of new questions that arose by the end credits. This episode is beautifully shot and scripted, the character motivations are fantastic, and everything falls into place so well that it's a pleasure to watch repeatedly. The episode ends with a sense of melancholy as Sam once again mourns the loss of his father, resigns himself to never returning home, and questions whether or not building a life in 1973 is even possible.


01. The End of the Tunnel [5]

In the final episode of the series Sam is given an opportunity to return home, one that he can't pass up, but he soon realizes that the people he loves are the ones he's left behind in the past. In a daring move, Sam returns to the past in order to save his friends, and he finally realizes where it is that he belongs.

The dangling plot threads introduced throughout the series are tied up very nicely here, and even though the conclusion is left somewhat open-ended, and it works perfectly in regards to the future of Sam and those who are most important to him. The nature of Sam's arrival in 1973 is answered in a way that makes sense for the series, and the cast climbing into Gene's (Philip Glenister) Ford Granada, driving off into the horizon, is the best way in which this show could have come to a close.



Top 3 (Series One)

03. Internal Investigation [4.5]

A man under police custody is killed, and Sam launches an investigation to discover exactly what happened, which pits him against his colleagues and friends. Though Sam is determined to find the truth, Gene and the rest of the team work to cover up the evidence that would lay the hand of blame on one of their own.

On display in this episode is the absolute loyalty that these people have to one another, and though many of them, most especially Chris (Marshall Lancaster), have come to respect Sam, they are still aware of the divide between he and them. What's more interesting is that Gene eventually admits that Sam is absolutely right to do his investigation, and the only reason he doesn't back him officially is because he needs his people to stay loyal to him. Gene wants Sam to vilify himself among the staff so that Gene isn't made to seem disloyal to his men, and though it seems underhanded, in a way, it also provides an interesting discussion between the two men about procedure.


02. Blowin' in the Wind [4.5]

See commentary above, 3rd overall.


01. Take a Look at the Lawmen [5]

See commentary above, 2nd overall.



Top 3 (Series Two)

03. Coercion [4]

Taken out of the action due to an unexpected illness, Sam is made to sit on the sidelines as the rest of the department complete their investigation. As the story progresses Sam is witness to the changes in his colleagues brought about through his presence, and he notes for the first time the impact he has had since his arrival.

This is the only episode of the series as a whole that doesn't include Sam in absolutely every scene, and it really gives the writers and directors the chance to expand on the rest of the cast. Sam's presence is felt through the rest of the team as they complete their investigation, pausing constantly to consider how Sam would go about things, and choosing to do their best to live up to his example. Sam has made a difference since he arrives in 1973, and that's no more evident than it is here, showcased through the flashbacks of the characters as they once were during an investigation, and as they are presently.


02. Bring Me Sunshine [4.5]
Sam is lead to believe that the man he and Gene are chasing in 1973 is the same man who is tampering with Sam's life support systems in 2006. Though he has impacted the people around him in many ways, it's now that Sam notices how much he, too, has changed since traveling back in time, and it's questionable whether or not it's for the better.

Since his first appearance Sam has always been the dutiful cop, living up to the letter of the law perfectly and rarely faltering, and though there were a few missteps along the way, Sam generally came through in the end to serve proper justice to those that needed it. Here Sam has started to lose his grip, becoming more and more like the men of 1973, and it puts into question whether or not his modern techniques are always the best choice at hand. Sam has impacted Gene and his team by making them more like him, but we see here that the opposite is also true, and though they would be loathe to admit it, both Sam and Gene have made each other better coppers through their partnership.


01. The End of the Tunnel [5]

See commentary above, 1st overall.


As a whole, Life on Mars earned a 4-star ranking. Series Overview.