#14-15. Life on Mars (S1-2)
And finally, w'ere at the end of the challenge. I've watched both seasons of Life on Mars at Christmas. 16 episodes in just a few days because it was quite addicting. And now, here I am talking about it, even though, after 3 months, I fear I've started to forget some of the details.
I remember the first time I watched the Pilot it was a couple of years ago during a lesson. We had to watch it and then review it. I found it pretty amazing back then and promised myself to catch up on the entire show. Well, it took me two years, but finally I did and I still remembered the Pilot very well. One of the things that intrigued me the most since the first watch was the psychological aspect of it all. Life on Mars is definitely a psychological thriller, among the other things, and seeing Sam Tyler trapped in his own mind like that, trying to fight it while the spectator tries to understand what's really going on, is simply enthralling. All the other episodes didn't really let me down, exploring this side of the show more and more while Sam was starting to put the pieces together like a puzzle. Everytime, you don't know if what you're seeing is real or just a dream or just a projection of his mind and then, specially in season 2, you slowly start to understad what's happening in the real world, back in the XXI century. The fact that this trip into his mind was somehow linked to a trauma, or a repetition of it, as it was made clear in the S1 finale, it was even better. I could go on and on about this. I just found it so fascinating, specially if compared to show or movies with a similar subject.
Another great part fo the show is the setting for sure. I just love the clothes, the design, the cars, the smoke that fills the air. Everything is so perfect and really another world. I often found amazing how things were different and yet so similar back then, even though I'm sure I would have gotten as frustrated as Sam was during an investigation without the CSI stuff or computers. It was fun to watch it, though, particularly for the reaction from the other characters when he tried to introduce something new. However, the best part of the setting is the music. Most perfect soundtrack ever, starting from Life on Mars, of course. The way the music was used in the show was always significant and beautiful. Often stressing changes or very emotional moments while some other times it worked against the images with different effects. In any case, that was another strenght point.
I know there are a lot of people out there who adored Sam/Annie. I found their relationship quite sweet, even though I'm not a great fan of Annie. Or better, I like her character the required amount to make it good, I think, but I'm not a huge fan of Liz White. I don't know, it must be her voice. However, the evolution of their relationship was quite interesting to witness. Even though, what I enjoyed the most was the interaction between Sam and Gene Hunt. Actually, I think Gene is my fave character with his rude and chauvinistic ways. I mean, just this should lead me to dislike him, but then you slowly start to discover his heart of gold and soft side. Which he hates to show, but he has it. And he's loyal. He sticks with his friends, protects them, helps them. All in all, the people at the precint are his family. And he's funny. So put a person like him in close contact with a serious lad like Sam and the result is just explosive. Each and every scene they have together is just priceless.
I also liked the other people at the station. Carling is not an immediately likable guy, but it grows on you. While Chris Skelton is just adorable. So young and naive and inexperienced at times. The perfect target for a prank. And then there's the one and only Phyllis Dobbs. I think every show should have a character like her. Must be the way she delivers her lines, but she always manages to crack me up. And then there were a lot of familiar faces popping up every once in a while. Above all, I was plesantly surprised to see Joanne Froggatt as Sam's mom back in the Seventies. She's really gorgeous in this one. And I really liked her character and her interaction with Sam. Even though at times it was heartbreaking to see Sam so near to his mom and not being able to tell her who he really was.
Bottom line: Life on Mars is a great show and I reccomend it for sure.
I remember the first time I watched the Pilot it was a couple of years ago during a lesson. We had to watch it and then review it. I found it pretty amazing back then and promised myself to catch up on the entire show. Well, it took me two years, but finally I did and I still remembered the Pilot very well. One of the things that intrigued me the most since the first watch was the psychological aspect of it all. Life on Mars is definitely a psychological thriller, among the other things, and seeing Sam Tyler trapped in his own mind like that, trying to fight it while the spectator tries to understand what's really going on, is simply enthralling. All the other episodes didn't really let me down, exploring this side of the show more and more while Sam was starting to put the pieces together like a puzzle. Everytime, you don't know if what you're seeing is real or just a dream or just a projection of his mind and then, specially in season 2, you slowly start to understad what's happening in the real world, back in the XXI century. The fact that this trip into his mind was somehow linked to a trauma, or a repetition of it, as it was made clear in the S1 finale, it was even better. I could go on and on about this. I just found it so fascinating, specially if compared to show or movies with a similar subject.
Another great part fo the show is the setting for sure. I just love the clothes, the design, the cars, the smoke that fills the air. Everything is so perfect and really another world. I often found amazing how things were different and yet so similar back then, even though I'm sure I would have gotten as frustrated as Sam was during an investigation without the CSI stuff or computers. It was fun to watch it, though, particularly for the reaction from the other characters when he tried to introduce something new. However, the best part of the setting is the music. Most perfect soundtrack ever, starting from Life on Mars, of course. The way the music was used in the show was always significant and beautiful. Often stressing changes or very emotional moments while some other times it worked against the images with different effects. In any case, that was another strenght point.
I know there are a lot of people out there who adored Sam/Annie. I found their relationship quite sweet, even though I'm not a great fan of Annie. Or better, I like her character the required amount to make it good, I think, but I'm not a huge fan of Liz White. I don't know, it must be her voice. However, the evolution of their relationship was quite interesting to witness. Even though, what I enjoyed the most was the interaction between Sam and Gene Hunt. Actually, I think Gene is my fave character with his rude and chauvinistic ways. I mean, just this should lead me to dislike him, but then you slowly start to discover his heart of gold and soft side. Which he hates to show, but he has it. And he's loyal. He sticks with his friends, protects them, helps them. All in all, the people at the precint are his family. And he's funny. So put a person like him in close contact with a serious lad like Sam and the result is just explosive. Each and every scene they have together is just priceless.
I also liked the other people at the station. Carling is not an immediately likable guy, but it grows on you. While Chris Skelton is just adorable. So young and naive and inexperienced at times. The perfect target for a prank. And then there's the one and only Phyllis Dobbs. I think every show should have a character like her. Must be the way she delivers her lines, but she always manages to crack me up. And then there were a lot of familiar faces popping up every once in a while. Above all, I was plesantly surprised to see Joanne Froggatt as Sam's mom back in the Seventies. She's really gorgeous in this one. And I really liked her character and her interaction with Sam. Even though at times it was heartbreaking to see Sam so near to his mom and not being able to tell her who he really was.
Bottom line: Life on Mars is a great show and I reccomend it for sure.