De Jour. Belle de Jour.

_****

Belle is hired to help a client fulfill his fantasy of being James Bond, but her favor with the client is put at risk when she and Duncan run into he and his wife. After a drunk Ben and Byron confront Duncan about Hannah, Hannah decides to sever her ties to Ben completely.

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.

Taking Chances

_****

Belle is well aware that women in her line of work simply can't make romantic relationships work, but seeing Bambi so happy with Byron makes her think that she might have written off her chances with Duncan far sooner than she should have.

Potential Hazards

_****

Hannah/Belle struggles to maintain a professional working relationship with Duncan, while Bambi does the same with Byron. Meanwhile, Ben has decided to end things with Jackie but is unsure of how to go about it.

Mechanics and Technicalities

_****½

Duncan, Hannah's publisher, is convinced that her writing style needs a lot more work, while Hannah starts to seriously consider making their relationship somewhat more personal. Meanwhile, Bambi's frequent client starts to become something more, while Ben and Jackie's seem to be having more sex than Belle herself.

Life on Mars Special: Ashes to Ashes

_****½

Police psychologist Alex Drake has spent a great deal of time reviewing the case of Sam Tyler, wondering whether there was anything that could have been done to prevent his leap off the roof. Her investigation is sidelined, however, when she's shot and meets up with Gene Hunt in 1981.

Playing Into Fantasy

_***½

Hannah's life is made all the more complicated when her sister Jackie comes to stay, proceeds to snoop about Hannah's flat, and falls into bed with Ben. As though that weren't enough, Belle is confronted by an angry Stephanie looking to discuss her depiction in Belle's book.

Life on Mars Overview

_****

Sam Tyler is struck down in a car accident and wakes up thirty years in the past, having seemingly lead an entire life in 1973 despite not belonging there. Made to help clean the streets of Manchester's past, Sam continues searching for clues as to how to get home, running into a constant stream of characters that will have a great impact on making him the man he's to become, but never sure whether or not he's helping set things up for his return to 2006 or if he's merely rooting himself further in a life that's not his own.

Incognito

_****

Hannah attends the launch party for Belle's book disguised as a waitress, but it's Ben who finds himself confused for the author. Meanwhile, Stephanie has a few choice words for Belle in regards to how she has been depicted within the confines of her semi-biographical narrative.

Life on Mars Overview: Series 02

_****

Trapped thirty-three years in the past, Sam's chances of getting home grow dimmer every day, and, worse still, he's growing accustomed to the world of 1973. Given hints that not all hope is lost, Sam makes one last ditch effort to regain the life he thought he'd lost, but the ultimate question is if he can leave behind a reality that so desperately needs his influence.

The End of the Tunnel

_*****

Sam is given the promise of returning home provided he's strong enough to get through one final operation: the complete destruction of Gene Hunt. Working with Frank Morgan, Sam must gather evidence to remove Gene from his position, in effect risking the lives of everyone he's come to know.

Secret Diary of a Call Girl Overview: Series 02

_***½

Initially worried that her secret will be outed to the public without her control, Hannah questions whether or not she can continue her double life and still look her family in the eye. However, in taking control of the situation, Hannah soon realizes that a high profile reveal could lead to many more opportunities than she had had before. It's her fear of revealing the truth that keeps her from a stable relationship, but her desire to tell the truth may prove too much for her.

End to Beginning

_***½

Stephanie books Belle for one last client before retirement, promising that this will get everything out of her system and allow Hannah to live with Alex happily ever after, and while Hannah is loathe to consider betraying Alex in this way again, she also has been unable to find another source of income.

Stacking the Evidence

 _***½

After one of his previous arrests unravels, Gene falls back on his reliance on alcohol, only to find himself in an even worse situation when he's accused of murder. Sam is torn between his loyalty to Gene and his determination to find the truth when he's forced to investigate his superior's activities.

Tentatively Normal

_***½

Hannah gives up her life as Belle in an effort to win back Alex, taking a job as an office temp and getting rid of all of her call girl paraphernalia. Her first night with Alex doesn't go quite as planned, though, when Ben appears at her door and professes his love for her.

Drugs on the Street

_**½

For the first time heroin starts hitting the streets of Manchester, forcing Gene to send his officers out as a task force in order to find the culprits, though the investigation is complicated when Annie is kidnapped by the drug smugglers and the only witness is the mother of Sam's future girlfriend.

In Sheep's Clothing

_***½

Belle and Bambi are booked for a party that quickly escalates beyond Belle's comfort zone, forcing she and Bambi to flee the party for fear of their safety. Ben comes to the rescue and, in her vulnerable state, Hannah invites him into her bed, risking their friendship in the name of brief comfort.

Coercion

_****

Sam grows progressively ill during his investigation into the abduction of a mother and daughter, leading him to believe that he's suffering from an overdose in 2006. With Sam taken out of action, Annie and the rest of the team are forced to finish the investigation without him.

Love is for Other People

_****

Belle's session with a disabled client is interrupted when Alex walks into her apartment. Unable to look at Hannah in the same way, Alex goes to Ben for information about who she really is, wondering if she ever really loved him and if he can stay in a relationship with someone who continuously lies about who she is.

Falling in Love is Against the Rules

_***

A murder investigation leads the team to a series of private parties, forcing Sam and Annie to pose as a married couple in an attempt to infiltrate a wife-swapping subculture.