Life On Mars: Season 1
  • Network: ABC
  • Series Premiere Date: Oct 9, 2008
  • Season #: 1
Life On Mars Image
Metascore
74 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 26 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.5 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 93 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
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  • Starring: Jason O'Mara, Rachelle LeFevre
  • Summary: Sam Tyler (Jason O'Mara) finds himself transported to the 1970s after a car accident in this remake of the award-winning British drama.
  • Genre(s): Drama, Suspense, Science Fiction
  • Creator: Ashley Pharoah, Matthew Graham, Tony Jordan
  • Show Type: Ended
  • Season 1 premiere date: Oct 9, 2008
  • Episode Length: 60
  • Air Time: 10:00 PM
  • More Details and Credits »

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 26
  3. Negative: 0 out of 26
  1. Newsday
    Reviewed by: Verne Gay
    100
    The producers ("Alias" alums Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec) have created a Dickensian (with a nod to L. Frank Baum) universe, draped in shadows, pastels and mystery, while aurally wrapped in chestnuts from the Sweet, Five Man Electrical Band and the Ramones. This new series has enormous promise.
  2. PopMatters
    Reviewed by: Cynthia Fuchs
    80
    This idea--that Sam is experiencing his coma as an “alternate reality” via a TV show--is wickedly clever. It’s a question as to whether Life on Mars can sustain and develop this idea, which is really an investigation of limits.
  3. Orlando Sentinel
    Reviewed by: Hal Boedeker
    80
    This vivid series puts an ironic spin on nostalgia.
  4. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: David Hinckley
    60
    The show raises questions, and fans of the paranormal will find they're kept open in reasonably interesting ways. The problem is that time-travel shows require a level of attention casual TV viewers don't always want to invest.

See all 26 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 47 out of 54
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 54
  3. Negative: 7 out of 54
  1. BryanB
    10
    It took some time in the beginning to hit stride, but the series eventually found its niche and was incredibly strong the second half of the season. Great cast and visuals throughout. The nuanced and multifaceted Sam/Annie love story was the best of the season and one of the strongest in television history, and the surprise twist at the end of the series tied everything together well. The series will be missed.… Collapse
  2. ChuckT.
    8
    This show was great. It definitely wasn't just another cop show. There was a great twist and the mystery behind the plot was refreshing. I would have given this a perfect 10, but ABC canned the show for some reason and the last episode (whether ABC's or the writer's fault) was absolutely horrible. It made no sense to the show and ended so wrong.… Expand
  3. Sean
    6
    Not as bad as I thought it would have been. My issue is more that there seems to be chemistry missing between the characters. I was also disappointed in that they used the same plot for the first episode, I was hoping for a different crime or similar. If you're going to almost directly lift the script from the BBC series, you might as well just air the BBC series. What I did like, however was Sam dealing with the future serial killer as a kid.… Expand
  4. KieranDevlin
    3
    It has the music, at least, but this remake of Life On Mars UK was entirely unnecessary and extremely poor in comparison to the great original. I don't need to watch more than 10 minutes before hitting a WTF moment, as something not in the original is included. Maybe I haven't watched enough, but it was genuinely awful from what I saw.… Expand

See all 54 User Reviews

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