Review
I thought I knew what was going on. I was as wrong as wrong could be, actually - and now, nearly an hour after the show's finished, I'm still sitting here going 'but, hang on, what about...'
But I don't care about that at all.
Because, quite frankly - I've just been privileged enough to watch one of the greatest hours of television that has been on offer forever, it feels like. There are too many things that I loved about this show to point them all out, but one thing I will do is comment on the scene where Sam Tyler, circa 2007, is standing on the roof of the police station. He may as well be standing on the top of the world, because right there - that was a man in charge of his own destiny. Suddenly clouds parted, sleep was rubbed away from tired eyes, and Life on Mars by David Bowie kicked in. And the director flashed a full house, utterly ubeatable set of cards with a shot that nearly killed me. Camera revolving around John Simm, ever expanding to show the world at large...feel familiar? we saw it at the very start of this series, right back in 2006, and here it is again. Only now, the world that we're seeing has changed entirely and it's never felt more real than it did right there. The director deserves every award going and not only because it made me cry.
He went back for the girl. He went back for the team. He went back for himself. And I've never wished a leading, much loved character to hurl himself from a building with so much venom before. I had a horrible, horrible sinking feeling just before that, where I thought the producers had decided to end it with Sam chosing 2007 and the show would end on Sam's smiling, happy face. But no - they must have heard me going 'please, please don't end it like this! please!' because Sam started running, and I started cheering. Where trouble melts like lemon drops, high above the chimney tops indeed.They didn't even finish it with a shot of Sam's magnificant leap. Oh no, they followed him right to the (1973) ground. And they gave him a kiss with the girl he loves on a street corner with a rainbow in the background.
Although, one thing that is still puzzling me. I think I understand where Hyde came from. But what does that make of the whole 'being undercover' thing? did they really just let that slide, without any further explanation? I mean, is Ray going to just forgive him? will devestated Chris? was he really undercover at all? did they explain? did they heck. But then again, I'll forgive the writers. I'd forgive them if they came over to my house right now and stamped on all my toys. Because they made Sam chose his heart over his head. And they made Gene Hunt real.
2007's never looked quite so dull before, has it? although I will say one thing for it: we can evidently perform brain tumour surgery without having to shave your hair off! result!
Thank you, Life on Mars people. It's been a sheer pleasure.