Life on Mars 205 - Review and Picspam
The theme of this episode was details. Which was rather hard to miss since the word details showed up in nearly every scene. *g* Did you know that God is in the details? Anyway, noticing details and missing details were woven in throughout the episode, all flowing from the meta plot of Sam's medication being screwed up since someone was not paying attention to details. I just want to say right here that I'm very impressed with the show's ability to take an event occurring in world of Sam's coma and weave that back into the world of 1973. I love how actions echo back and forth between the two.
Also, by going back to a past case from before Sam's time in this world, the episode highlights how much he has influenced the world. With no one to insist that they step back, gather all the information, and *think* about the case, they barrel in, jump to conclusions, and bully a false confession out of their suspect.
Looking at the structure of the episode, I wouldn't be at all surprised if the idea of it started from the thought, 'Let's make Sam stoned. We can use cool camera techniques and give him some hallucinations!' That would certainly explain the Camberwick Green sequence! Not being British, I had no clue what that was all about until after I watched. A bit of googling later and now I understand the cultural reference.
It was with great difficulty that I limited myself to only one of the caps of the puppets. Expect another picspam just of the first minute of the episode very soon! Because they're just SO CUTE!! *flails* Ahem, sorry about that.
Poor Sam. He's been out for days barely holding it together but now he has to go into the office. Yes, poor Sam all sweaty and moaning on his bed...
Even though I didn't quite understand the scene while I was watching, I still loved it. I loved Sam rushing in after his very weird run to work and immediately grabbing Gene to yell at him. As for Gene, everything that Sam does is a mystery to him, so this just rolls off his back like all the rest.
Of course, they were ignoring the man trying to hang himself in the middle of the room. Until, OOPS, the table slipped and Simon Lamb almost got his wish.
For the first part of the episode, every time someone touched Sam he got a flashback. So, we got flashbacks of Ray sleeping at his desk and Annie looking at Sam's coat while thinking about Roxy Music as well as flashbacks about the actual case. I liked the randomness of the flashbacks. They fit with drug induced haze that Sam is in.
Two gratuitous neck shots. He's just barely holding himself together and he's comfortable enough with Annie to show her how bad he feels. Luckily, he's very sexy when he's feeling bad. *g*
Sam is unimpressed with their investigative skills. Details are missing and the files are a mess.
Sam finds a new link between Lamb and Bathurst. Chris hadn't put into his report who first gave Bathurst's name. A lack of details.
Sam is impressed with Annie and not just because he wants to have sex with her. Heh. Out of all of them, she has taken his policing methods most to heart. Every file has been properly filed and she can put her finger on every piece of information that they might need, assuming it is in the files in the first place.
This scene struck me as to how Sam has changed since he arrived. He is completely unfazed by Gene's methods and is, instead, helping them.
But he's still empathetic and interested in connecting with people.
Too bad for Sam, they're going to give him a depressant to counteract the stimulants. And now he's down for the count. Will everyone else revert or will they follow his methods?
Pissed off Sam.
Lucky for him, he has the tv to tell him what's going on. And it turns out that they remember to pay attention to the details. The pictures, the letters alleging incompetence, the victim's father as a photographer, the proper way to confront a suspect that's holding hostages.
Sam cops a feel.
And asks her out on a date! Which she says she'll think about. Go Sam! He looks so happy here.
Another detail. Tung oil was on the rag, not motor oil. Combine that with Lamb's freaking out about not being able to stop the screaming and a leer towards a schoolgirl, and we have a new suspect.
Also, by going back to a past case from before Sam's time in this world, the episode highlights how much he has influenced the world. With no one to insist that they step back, gather all the information, and *think* about the case, they barrel in, jump to conclusions, and bully a false confession out of their suspect.
Looking at the structure of the episode, I wouldn't be at all surprised if the idea of it started from the thought, 'Let's make Sam stoned. We can use cool camera techniques and give him some hallucinations!' That would certainly explain the Camberwick Green sequence! Not being British, I had no clue what that was all about until after I watched. A bit of googling later and now I understand the cultural reference.
It was with great difficulty that I limited myself to only one of the caps of the puppets. Expect another picspam just of the first minute of the episode very soon! Because they're just SO CUTE!! *flails* Ahem, sorry about that.
Poor Sam. He's been out for days barely holding it together but now he has to go into the office. Yes, poor Sam all sweaty and moaning on his bed...
Even though I didn't quite understand the scene while I was watching, I still loved it. I loved Sam rushing in after his very weird run to work and immediately grabbing Gene to yell at him. As for Gene, everything that Sam does is a mystery to him, so this just rolls off his back like all the rest.
Of course, they were ignoring the man trying to hang himself in the middle of the room. Until, OOPS, the table slipped and Simon Lamb almost got his wish.
For the first part of the episode, every time someone touched Sam he got a flashback. So, we got flashbacks of Ray sleeping at his desk and Annie looking at Sam's coat while thinking about Roxy Music as well as flashbacks about the actual case. I liked the randomness of the flashbacks. They fit with drug induced haze that Sam is in.
Two gratuitous neck shots. He's just barely holding himself together and he's comfortable enough with Annie to show her how bad he feels. Luckily, he's very sexy when he's feeling bad. *g*
Sam is unimpressed with their investigative skills. Details are missing and the files are a mess.
Sam finds a new link between Lamb and Bathurst. Chris hadn't put into his report who first gave Bathurst's name. A lack of details.
Sam is impressed with Annie and not just because he wants to have sex with her. Heh. Out of all of them, she has taken his policing methods most to heart. Every file has been properly filed and she can put her finger on every piece of information that they might need, assuming it is in the files in the first place.
This scene struck me as to how Sam has changed since he arrived. He is completely unfazed by Gene's methods and is, instead, helping them.
But he's still empathetic and interested in connecting with people.
Too bad for Sam, they're going to give him a depressant to counteract the stimulants. And now he's down for the count. Will everyone else revert or will they follow his methods?
Pissed off Sam.
Lucky for him, he has the tv to tell him what's going on. And it turns out that they remember to pay attention to the details. The pictures, the letters alleging incompetence, the victim's father as a photographer, the proper way to confront a suspect that's holding hostages.
Sam cops a feel.
And asks her out on a date! Which she says she'll think about. Go Sam! He looks so happy here.
Another detail. Tung oil was on the rag, not motor oil. Combine that with Lamb's freaking out about not being able to stop the screaming and a leer towards a schoolgirl, and we have a new suspect.