Life on Mars (UK): Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 7 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 84 Ratings

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9.0

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9.0	Your Score
9.0	User Score Universal acclaim based on 84 Ratings

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Season Details & Credits

BBC-1 | BBC | Season Premiere Date: January 9, 2006

Starring: Philip Glenister, John Simm, Marshall Lancaster

Summary: A present-day Manchester police detective is hit by a car and wakes up to find himself seemingly living in the year 1973 in this hit British drama from the creators of "Hustle."

Genre(s): Drama, Science Fiction

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E8. Episode 8
Air Date: February 27, 2006
tbd
S1:E7. Episode 7
Air Date: February 20, 2006
tbd
S1:E6. Episode 6
Air Date: February 13, 2006

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Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Jennifer Armstrong

It's Quantum Leap meets The Streets of San Francisco--with narry a C, S, or I in sight. [28 Jul 2006, p.56]

TV Guide Magazine Matt Roush

Surreal and harrowing. Read full review

Melanie McFarland

Plain wonderful. Read full review

Robert Abele

Don’t mistake the slick-but-not-stupid Life on Mars for brain-bending sci-fi or Austin Powers-style farce. Aside from the psychological stress of its star... this is actually at heart an old-school cops-and-robbers show, with that dash of Twilight Zone to give it 21st-century cachet. Read full review

Brian Lowry

"Life on Mars" has the makings of an intoxicating treat, proving how far a little atmosphere can go in breathing life into a format that occasionally appears close to flatlining. Read full review

Robert Lloyd

The show is exceptionally well made from top to bottom and pulls you in and pulls you along, owing not least to a host of terrific performances. Read full review

Aaron Barnhart

It’s an ambitious and ever-shifting examination of the lack of foresight in a culture addicted to rapid change. Read full review

User Score

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9.0

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User Reviews

KarenR

Aug 11, 2006

We'll be watching a lot more of BBC America shows this season because of shows like this!

0 of 0 users found this helpful

PolisKanin

Feb 8, 2014

John Simm. Need I say more?
It could just be 6 episodes of John Simm and leave it at that and it would still be at least an 8, but this is so much more. I'm sad I can't give this 11/10.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

TeriY

Jan 2, 2007

A terrific show. There is a theory that those who go into a coma and heal are prone to handle illnesses by coma again. Perhaps a third season?

0 of 0 users found this helpful

CatherineM

Apr 11, 2007

Just fantastic. Watched final episode last night. Absolutely brilliant in all aspects. Will really miss the show. The acting of all cst members and writing superb, Keep the great dramas coming BBC

0 of 0 users found this helpful

OnyxRocks

Jun 5, 2007

Loved season 1, when does the US get to see the rest of the series? Please show it soon!

0 of 0 users found this helpful

MattBrady99

Mar 18, 2015

Sam Tyler: "I need you to connect me to a Virgin number -"

Operator: "Don't you start that sexy business with me, young man. I can trace this call". A lot of people may not know what the TV show "Life on mars" is about and to be honest I didn't too. I over hear people talking about itSam Tyler: "I need you to connect me to a Virgin number -"

Operator: "Don't you start that sexy business with me, young man. I can trace this call".

A lot of people may not know what the TV show "Life on mars" is about and to be honest I didn't too. I over hear people talking about it but I never got a chance to watch it and has years past I forgot all about it, until I FINALLY got a chance to watch it and I'm a bit disappointed with myself for not watching it sooner because this show is freaking excellent.

Life on Mars gives me that classic nostalgic good cop and bad cop feeling, also taking place in the 70's, this is perfect for a series and how could people over look this brilliant and well made show.

John Simm plays are main character (Sam Tyler) and John Simm has said the script for this show was "Bonkers", and he was right but my god dose it worked so well in this show. John Simm and the rest of the supporting crew was just terrific and they wasn't that one person who did a terrible job, no they all did terrific. They cast the right people in the right roles and that's just good to see.

Philip Glenister has (Gene Hunt) was simply brilliant has this mean, bad cop who wants the case done badly, which makes him a lot of fun to watch. Sam and Gene back and forward was just TV gold.

The 70's soundtrack used in the show was also terrific and I listened to those tracks about loads of times now. The story was great and interesting, the cast has I said before was great and the writing as well was fantastically well written.

Now this isn't going to get the perfect rating of 10/10 because it isn't up to that level, but it still get's a strong rating of 9/10.

P.S. If you haven't see this show then... well, watch it please.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MattM

Jul 31, 2006

Impressive acting and good stories. The twist is a little bit annoying to me - couldn't it take place just fine in the present-day? But, aside from that, the twist adds a psychological element that adds to the rather harrowing nature of the main character's situation.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

SEE ALL 34 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

79

Series Overview
Season 2

79
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: February 13, 2007
Season 1

79
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: January 9, 2006
- tbd
  S1:E8. Episode 8
  Air Date: February 27, 2006
- tbd
  S1:E7. Episode 7
  Air Date: February 20, 2006
- tbd
  S1:E6. Episode 6
  Air Date: February 13, 2006
- tbd
  S1:E5. Episode 5
  Air Date: February 6, 2006
- tbd
  S1:E4. Episode 4
  Air Date: January 30, 2006
- tbd
  S1:E3. Episode 3
  Air Date: January 23, 2006
- tbd
  S1:E2. Episode 2
  Air Date: January 16, 2006
- tbd
  S1:E1. Episode 1
  Air Date: January 9, 2006