DCI Sam Tyler is a modern detective of Manchester Police in 2006, who tries to find a serial killer. When his girlfriend and colleague is taken by this killer, he is desperate to find him. But he never gets a chance. After a car accident, he suddenly wakes up in 1973, which isn´t too friendly time for his police style. He doesn´t know if he is in coma, mad or if he is really back in time. He can hear sounds and voices from the future, which makes him think that he is in a coma and can´t just wake up. But he has to do his job because it´s the only thing keeps him sane – more or less. He lost a rank somewhere on his way throught the time so he has to deal with his new boss, DCI Gene Hunt and his rough methods of policing. And, somewhere in this madness, he has to find his way back to 2006. But in the end, will he want to go back?

Life on Mars was a suprising hit of BBC in 2006/2007. With its simple, but still original plot, mixing „Sweeney“ and „Back to the future“, caught attention of millions of viewers. Viewers, weary of all the „CSI“ criminal shows and different spin-offs, were happy to see some good, old, „Professional“-like show, where criminals get what they deserve and crimes are solved by detective minds and not by computers and DNA scans.

The title has nothing to do with Mars but it´s called after song by David Bowie – Life on Mars. And, also because Sam feels like on a different planet when he gets to 1973. You can hear songs from 70s, from David Bowie to Rolling Stones in the whole show. It fits perfectly to the story and it´s so intensive that you may have trouble to get „Life on Mars“ from your head.

The main success is based on the collision of two worlds – Sam Tyler´s world, where is everything driven by rules and law, and Gene Hunt´s world, where rough methods and common sense play main role.

And, it works. It works great because both, Gene and Sam, are affecting each other and learn from each other. Sam, used to solving everything by science, who already forgot how to use instincts and „gut feeling“, is sceptical of using fists instead of brain. And Gene, who is used to beat the answer out of his suspect, is sceptical of scientific methods and „forensics“ is almost a swear word for him and, in his opinion, good for nothing. But, they both are, oddly enough, open to new methods and as the episodes go on, we can even be witnesses of how their roles are switching sometimes and especially Sam will take up understanding his buried detective instincts.

Sam is glad that he can finally be a real cop and feel the pleasure to actually hit some criminals who are guilty and take up arms against those bad guys. And Gene, who is still a good and smart cop, finds out, that blood patterns are not only nice pictures and that to be kind to a witness might actually help.

This everything is highlighted by their colleagues, who have different reactions to both men, but especially Annie, a young police woman, isn´t sure how to feel. She is the only one who knows the truth about Sam but doesn´t believe him – she thinks he is just shaken by the accident he had. Sam and Annie like each other but they are both unsure about their feelings. Especially Sam, who believes that everything is just in his head, never takes Annie out.

Sam keeps fighting with everyone and everything, he refuses to give up but eventually finds a balance and fits in. He fits in so much that he starts to doubt if he really wants to go back to the future – or if his future is real at all.

In Life on Mars is also used a very nice language. Set in Manchaster, different accents and word connections make it special. It´s hard for non-native English speaker to understand everything. With pop-cultural allusions, it might be hard for non-UK resident to catch everything. But it´s OK, there are plenty of other things that any viewer can enjoy.

Life on Mars has something, that is typical for most of current British TV shows. Mixture of comedy and drama, politically incorrect while it doesn´t look like politically incorrect at all.. It´s not taken too seriously in some points, but seriously enough to make us worried about characters, especially about Sam.

Actors in this show are very good, I can even say they are great. John Simm in the role of Sam Tyler is incredible and capable to handle all aspects of his role.

Philip Glenister as Gene Hunt is great in his role of a drunk, hard, stubborn cop.

Life on Mars also deals with problems of 70s – racism, sexism, new drugs, but everything is written naturally, in some kind of „by the way“ style and isn´t it forced as in many US shows that could try to do the same. Life on Mars has two seasons, with eight episodes in each and the final episode explains everything, with some suprising twists and a shocking end.

Let´s see how US remake, made by ABC television, will handle this challenge. I don´t think it´s gonna work. What about you?