DVD Review: “Life on Mars: Series One”
Rating: 77
Small but lucky numbers of stateside viewers discovered “Life on Mars” through its 2008-09 ABC remake, but those mourning the early cancellation of that series should immediately gorge themselves on “Life On Mars: Series One,” the original BBC program about a 21st century detective supernaturally transported to 1973. While the domestic adaptation of Sam Tyler’s bizarre crashlanding into a world of bell-bottoms and brutal police work was a compelling head-scratcher, this collection offers compelling evidence that the Beeb got it right the first time.
John Simm plays Tyler, an inspector with the Greater Manchester Police who was hit by a car in 2006 while pursuing a serial killer. When he awakes, the iPod that was playing David Bowie’s “Life on Mars” is now an 8-track, and he’s stranded in the early ‘70s — no cell phone, no computer and hardly any forensic police work. Conveniently, he’s assigned to the Criminal Investigations Department run by Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister), a hard-drinking, fist-throwing lout who teaches Tyler his less-genteel approach to the law.
Much of “Life on Mars” centers on the mystery of Tyler’s condition, and whether his 1973 experience is the result of a coma, insanity or actual time travel. The BBC version is considerably darker and downright frightening at times (“Test Card Girl” and her creepy clown doll will haunt your dreams), and the entire cast, including Simm, Glenister and Liz White as police officer Annie Cartwright are superb. “Series One” includes the first eight episodes of the 16-episode arc and includes entertaining commentaries from most of the cast, making “Life on Mars” completely sustainable.
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