Well, this is a surprise...
I started watching Life on Mars because it runs ads constantly during Lost, and when I looked it up on Google it seemed interesting, especially the fact that it was based on a BBC show. I downloaded both seasons of the BBC show, and everything that's aired so far of the US series. The US episodes finished first, so I watched those, and now I'm starting in on the BBC. Here's what I'm surprised by: I don't like it as much as the US version. Maybe that's because I've already seen most of the plot and even whole sections of dialog before, but I also think the US plot's a lot more interesting, and in a couple of cases I even like the acting better.
I know it sounds dumb to be surprised that I liked an American show, and it's not like I'm a snob about it. I watch entirely too much TV, and enjoy any number of American shows, and I've even posted here about some of the hilariously bad UK shows I've watched. But there's a long history of a real difference in training and acting style between the US and the UK, and when you pit really good British actors against really good American actors, I tend to prefer British acting.
I also have to say that it doesn't help to have John Simm (who played The Master on Doctor Who) playing the lead character. The whole central mystery of the show is why a modern day cop finds himself in 1973 after being hit by a car. But with John Simm in the role I just want to say "Of course you can go from 2006 to 1973. You're a renegade Time Lord."
I know it sounds dumb to be surprised that I liked an American show, and it's not like I'm a snob about it. I watch entirely too much TV, and enjoy any number of American shows, and I've even posted here about some of the hilariously bad UK shows I've watched. But there's a long history of a real difference in training and acting style between the US and the UK, and when you pit really good British actors against really good American actors, I tend to prefer British acting.
I also have to say that it doesn't help to have John Simm (who played The Master on Doctor Who) playing the lead character. The whole central mystery of the show is why a modern day cop finds himself in 1973 after being hit by a car. But with John Simm in the role I just want to say "Of course you can go from 2006 to 1973. You're a renegade Time Lord."