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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Apr 3, 2009 5:26:49 GMT -6
Has anyone else been watching this show? The finale was Wednesday evening.
Ive been in a private conversation with Simon comparing the original BBC series with the US knockoff. Not having seen the original I cant compare, but I thought the US version intelligent and edgy with one exception (more on that later)
The basic storyline revolves around Det. Sam Tyler (played by Jason O'Mera) who is hit by a car in 2008 New York, and wakes up in 1973 New York. The central theme of the show, however, is Sams quest to find out if he is in a coma, is insane, or is actually in 1973 Everything he knows about police work is different, he struggles with trying to adapt to a different world yet stay within his principles, and figure out why he is there, and how can he get home. "Its like living on another planet" says Sam in the opening monologue to every episode.
Along the way he meets his mother, his younger self, and his estranged father who walked out of his life when he was a child.
EXCELLENT representation of that era by the production team through out, and great use of music from the time to set the mood, and the story line.
LOVED the show up until the final 7 minutes Wednesday night, which sucked donkey dick BIG TIME.
Anyone else watch this series and care to comment?
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Post by nolaflacav on Apr 3, 2009 8:29:40 GMT -6
I have enjoyed most of what they have offered during the season. My biggest problem (up until Wednesday night) was the casting of Michael Imperioli. For some reason watching him in that role was like finger nails on a chalk board for me. I am sorry but he will always be Christopher Moltisanti in my book.
I also thought Keitel fell just a little flat. He has always been one of my favorites and it was nothing major but sometimes I felt like he was just mailing it in.
I thought they did an excellent job with the early storyline. And I kept wondering how they were going to tie it all together. I figured with a couple of seasons ahead of them they would do a solid job with the ending.
And then several weeks ago I saw it was being canceled and I had this sick feeling that they were going to do a hack job in wrapping it up. The only series ending that I think comes close to doing such a shitty job was St. Elsewhere.
I guess I am going to have to find the British version to see their resolution. Or like you get a quick synopsis from Simon.
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Apr 3, 2009 8:50:56 GMT -6
Wiki "Life on Mars" and you will get the details on the original series
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Post by nolaflacav on Apr 3, 2009 9:02:11 GMT -6
Wiki "Life on Mars" and you will get the details on the original series Thanks. After reading the synopsis I am not sure I like their ending any better. I am going to have to think about this one for a little longer. |
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Apr 3, 2009 9:06:01 GMT -6
Tell me, were you happy with the way they were headed up to the last scene? I heard about the ending before I viewed it (I wanted to judge for myself, so I watched anyways, but knew what was coming)... I thought they had a great finish on their hands up until then.
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Post by Irish Stu on Apr 3, 2009 9:12:10 GMT -6
The original BBC version was a most excellent show, recreating as it did a bygone era when TV cops were less PC and more hands on... well fists anyway. Back in the 1970's when the US was producing cop shows like Kojak and Starsky and Hutch we had our own cop shows, most notable of which was "The Sweeney" about the London's Metropolitan Police 'Flying Squad' whose job it was to investigate violent crime, bank robberies etc (Sweeney is Cockney rhyming slang for 'Flying Squad', Sweeney Todd = Flying Squad = Sweeney. Life on Mars did an excellent job of reminding us of how our favourite cop shows used to be... with the added dimension that Sam Tyler was actually a cop from the future. Or was he? Maybe as he lay in a coma his mind had created this alternative reality... Life on Mars ran for two seasons here, and the ending was VERY different then in the US... it satisfied my need to understand just what the hell really was going on, and gave me the closure you need when a favourite show comes to an end (unlike the ending of The Sopranos). If you enjoyed Life on Mars (USA) then Life on Mars (UK) is well worth watching. There was also a spin-off show 'Ashes to Ashes : I believe both shows can be seen on BBC America and purchased on DVD on www.amazon.co.uk (and I'm sure you can also find all the episodes online to download... no that anyone on this board would do such a thing...) Simon |
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Post by Irish Stu on Apr 3, 2009 9:23:24 GMT -6
Wiki "Life on Mars" and you will get the details on the original series Thanks. After reading the synopsis I am not sure I like their ending any better. I am going to have to think about this one for a little longer Having watched both seasons this was the kind of ending I was expecting, and that I felt fitted the story. It left the viewer thinking whilst also bringing the story to a satisfying conclusion : The final episode depicts Sam waking from his coma, only to find the modern world devoid of feeling compared to his life in 1973. He ultimately takes a joyful leap from the top of the police station, returning to the past. Writer Matthew Graham wrote the scene to indicate that Sam is now in the afterlife, but acknowledged that the ending is ambiguous and open to other interpretations, such as lead actor John Simm's belief that Sam may not have returned to the present. The first episode of sequel series Ashes to Ashes shows Sam's personnel file, which is stamped "SUICIDE".
In the final shot, the team drives off, with Sam and Gene bickering as usual. Children run past, including the girl from Test Card F. She looks directly into the camera before reaching out and "switching off" the television the viewer is watching, signifying that the story has come to an end. Simon |
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Post by nolaflacav on Apr 3, 2009 9:32:54 GMT -6
Tell me, were you happy with the way they were headed up to the last scene? I heard about the ending before I viewed it (I wanted to judge for myself, so I watched anyways, but knew what was coming)... I thought they had a great finish on their hands up until then. I was very much into the show for the entire season and was looking forward to seeing how they wrapped it up. But I agree that the end sucked. I will give them credit for at least scripting an ending rather than sending it to rerun heaven without one. When did you first hear about the ending? I wonder if they had the it picked out from the very beginning before they ever started shooting? Or if it was a work in progress with several options sort of like how Lost is progressing. |
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Post by Irish Stu on Apr 3, 2009 9:41:45 GMT -6
When did you first hear about the ending? I wonder if they had the it picked out from the very beginning before they ever started shooting? Or if it was a work in progress with several options sort of like how Lost is progressing. I've had to give up on Lost. I didn't pay close enough attention to the story last season, and missed a couple of episodes, and now I haven't got a fucking clue what is going on!! Simon (who is still loving every second of 24) |
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Apr 3, 2009 9:49:14 GMT -6
Tell me, were you happy with the way they were headed up to the last scene? I heard about the ending before I viewed it (I wanted to judge for myself, so I watched anyways, but knew what was coming)... I thought they had a great finish on their hands up until then. I was very much into the show for the entire season and was looking forward to seeing how they wrapped it up. But I agree that the end sucked. I will give them credit for at least scripting an ending rather than sending it to rerun heaven without one. When did you first hear about the ending? I wonder if they had the it picked out from the very beginning before they ever started shooting? Or if it was a work in progress with several options sort of like how Lost is progressing. I heard about it the morning after it was shown. I had TiVoed it. No idea whether it was planned from the start. I know that they only had a few weeks after notification they were being canceled to put something together. To me, it appears that they banged it out in a short meeting, including the rewrite of the previous two episodes to lead up to the finish. |
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Post by nolaflacav on Apr 3, 2009 9:49:14 GMT -6
When did you first hear about the ending? I wonder if they had the it picked out from the very beginning before they ever started shooting? Or if it was a work in progress with several options sort of like how Lost is progressing. I've had to give up on Lost. I didn't pay close enough attention to the story last season, and missed a couple of episodes, and now I haven't got a fucking clue what is going on!! Simon (who is still loving every second of 24) That is OK I have watched every second of Lost and I haven't got a fucking clue what is going on either!! I am constantly texting my son for explanations. |
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Post by nolaflacav on Apr 5, 2009 19:53:39 GMT -6
I found Ashes to Ashes on BBC America On Demand and just watched the first episode. I enjoyed it and will definitely stick with it.
I think it is hilarious that the are using subtitles for Gene's dialogue only. I guess they figure his accent is too difficult for us Yanks to decipher. I don't have any problems with it and I sort of find the subtitles distracting.
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