Don’t leave Sam, just one more show
As I’m writing this I’m trying not to go into that ‘fanboy’ stage that some reviewers tend to fall into. It’s difficult to avoid it though, as this show has thoroughly changed my view on how television is made. Anyway, I just wanted to let you all know that prior to watching this entire series I wasn’t a fan of Life on Mars. I had heard of it, but I had never watched it or looked into.
So, with that said, let’s talk about how this show ended.
I’ll ruin it for you now, the ending of Life on Mars is quite possibly one of the best endings I’ve seen on television since Newhart woke up back in his first show (see Newhart for details). The ride you’re taken on with Sam through series 2 is a bit more intense than the first series. This time around Sam is slowly but surely gaining back his life and his memories are starting to pour into his 70s persona. In the very first episode you have Sam dreaming of stopping a murderer, but in real life the same guy is actually trying to kill Sam while he’s in the hospital. Again, much like I mentioned before the stakes are higher in this series than in the first. The writers of the show seem to have challenged themselves in the second go around instead of just simply sitting on their laurels and making the same level of intensity. This is probably the number one reason why the second series makes the entire series so good; they weren’t afraid to take chances. Those chances certainly did pay off.
As for the production value, much like the writing the production has gotten better. Generally I don’t mention such things, but the lighting, the camera work, and the acting has dramatically improved. I know that sounds like a stretch in a review, but humor me. The locations seem to have been a bit more unique between episodes. The first series it seemed like there was four buildings the gang went through, but this time around they seem to break out of the small city and stretch the environment a little. As for the lighting, it seems to have grown dimmer and dimmer, almost completely emulating what’s going on with Sam through his ordeal. Finally, the acting has gotten better because the boys/girl seem to have gotten comfortable in their roles. John Simm is now superb and comfortable with Sam and his two personas. Philip Glenister as Gene Hunt no longer seems like a thoughtless brute, he has a very tough, sensitive side to him in this series, and Glenister plays it well. The biggest improvements in the cast seem to fall with Dean Andrews who was spitting out lines the first time around; this time he has bought into his role as Ray. When you get to the episode where Ray is nearly killed by a car bomb you’ll see it. Finally, Liz White as Annie Cartwright no longer seems like a stiff, cute girl. White has expanded the role of Annie and given her genuine personality.
So, does the series end well? While I’m certainly not going to reveal how this series ends, I will tell you that this series ends the best way possible. Generally you will walk away from a show thinking, “That’s it?”, but this time around you walk away thinking, “That’s it.” It truly does end on the note it should end on and this makes it one of the best endings for a television show of ‘all time’. What’s remarkable is that this show only spans a small amount of time, but the writers knew that there was no more that could be done with the premise; God Bless the BBC.
Are there any downers to this season? No. There is no slowdown in the show; nothing that screams this doesn’t feel right. For all intents and purposes the writers/directors really embraced how this series should act and go. They balanced out the personalities and conflicts in the story brilliantly. Most of all, they ended the show when it should have been ended. Add that to terrific acting and a killer ending and there’s nothing to hate or dislike.
As for features, there are some disappointments here. I wanted more features, but I realize that you get nearly three hours worth in three featurettes. Here’s what you’re looking at:
– The Return of Life on Mars documentary
– Behind-the-scenes footage for episodes 3, 5, and 7; also a tour of the set
– The End of Life on Mars featurette
Again, not a large quantity to choose from, but very solid features nonetheless. You’ll love the last featurette as it is quite appropriate and good for the show.