Life on Mars (British TV series): Difference between revisions
Lambertman (talk | contribs) →Episode guide: I know it says Spoiler Alert up top, but even still, had I known this before watching the ep I wouldn't have enjoyed it as much as I did |
m You should perhaps refrain from reading encyclopedia entries about the series then. (Hell even I know enough not to read the Battlestar Galactica wiki for just that reason) |
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|OriginalAirDate=Monday [[February 27]], [[2006]], 9–10pm |
|OriginalAirDate=Monday [[February 27]], [[2006]], 9–10pm |
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|ShortSummary=Sam encounters his parents again in 1973; he believes that if he keeps his father from running away he will be awoken from his apparent coma. The closer he gets to apprehending his father, the more he hears sounds that tell him he's close to waking up. However, rather than traumatising his family more by arresting his father, he instead lets him run away. |
|ShortSummary=Sam encounters his parents again in 1973; he believes that if he keeps his father from running away he will be awoken from his apparent coma. The closer he gets to apprehending his father, the more he hears sounds that tell him he's close to waking up. However, rather than traumatising his family more by arresting his father, he instead lets him run away. Flashbacks throughout the entire series are revealed to have been from young Sam's memories of this incident. |
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Revision as of 20:33, 9 January 2007
| Life on Mars | |
|---|---|
| File:Life on Mars logo.gif | |
| Created by | Matthew Graham Tony Jordan Ashley Pharoah |
| Starring | John Simm Philip Glenister Liz White |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| No. of episodes | 8 (to date) |
| Production | |
| Producer | Kudos Film & Television |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | BBC One |
| Release | January 9, 2006 – present |
Life on Mars is a British television drama series, which was first shown on BBC One in January and February 2006. The second and final series[1] started production in April 2006, and is due for transmission in early 2007.
The format of the series mixes time travel with police drama, with the central character being modern-day policeman Sam Tyler (played by John Simm), who after being hit by a car in 2006 finds himself back in 1973. There, he is working for Manchester and Salford Police CID under DCI Gene Hunt (played by Philip Glenister). Over the course of the series, Tyler faces various culture clashes, most frequently regarding differences in approaches to policing between him and his colleagues. The series also features a strong ambiguity concerning Tyler's predicament: it is unclear whether he really has travelled back in time, is in a coma in 2006 and imagining his experiences, or is really from 1973 and mentally unstable.
Production
Produced by Kudos Film & Television — the makers of Spooks and Hustle — for BBC Wales, the eight one-hour episodes were broadcast on BBC One on Monday nights at 9pm. The series was created by writers Tony Jordan, Matthew Graham and Ashley Pharoah, who also provide the majority of the scripts. The fourth writer on the first series was Chris Chibnall.
The programme was originally conceived in 1998, when Graham, Jordan and Pharoah had been sent on a break to the seaside resort of Blackpool by Kudos to come up with new programme ideas.[2] Originally titled Ford Granada after the popular car of the 1970s (also featured in The Sweeney), the series was initially rejected by the BBC. "Back then, broadcasters just weren't comfortable with something like that, something that wasn't set in the real world and that had a fantasy element to it,"[2] Graham later told SFX Magazine.
Later Channel 4 drama executive John Yorke showed some interest in commissioning the programme, but eventually decided not to pursue the idea. "[Channel 4] people just said 'It's going to be silly',"[3] Graham told the Radio Times in a feature published the week of the first episode's transmission. However, the series eventually attracted the attention of BBC Wales Head of Drama Julie Gardner, who in turn persuaded the overall Head of Drama at the BBC, Jane Tranter, to commission the programme for BBC One.[2]
The programme's central character was originally to have been called "Sam Williams", but Kudos felt that this was not striking enough and asked Graham to come up with an alternative surname. Asking his young daughter for her opinion, she suggested "Sam Tyler", which became the character's name. Graham later discovered that his daughter had named him after Rose Tyler from Doctor Who, a programme he would subsequently go on to write an episode for.[4]
Filming for a second series for BBC One started in April 2006.[5] According to Jane Featherstone, the show's executive producer, speaking in February 2006, a film version of the show is also a possibility: "Life on Mars is a very high concept idea and there is no doubt it would work on the big screen... But as yet, we are concentrating on the development and production of the second series for BBC1."[6]
On October 9 2006, it was confirmed that the second series of Life on Mars would also be the last, with two possible endings to the programme having been filmed. Matthew Graham stated that "We decided that Sam's journey should have a finite life span and a clear-cut ending and we feel that we have now reached that point after two series."[1]
The Guardian newspaper's Media Guardian.co.uk website reported that producer David E Kelley was to develop an American version of the series for the ABC network there, which is being targeted for the 2007-08 TV season. "Mr Kelley will write and executive produce a pilot for the 60-minute ABC version of BBC1's hit 70s cop drama, which is likely to be broadcast in autumn next year if it gets a full series commission."[7]
In December 2006, it was reported that the BBC had commissioned a Life on Mars spin-off series, to be titled Ashes to Ashes after another David Bowie song of the same name. The Times reported that this spin-off would pick up the lives of Gene Hunt and other characters from the series in 1981.[8]
Music
The series is named after the David Bowie song Life on Mars?, which is playing on the iPod in Tyler's car when the accident happens, and still playing on an 8-track tape when he awakes in 1973. Another song featured on the soundtrack, in the second episode, is Live and Let Die by Paul McCartney and Wings. Kudos were initially refused permission to use the song by record company MCA, but according to Graham in the Radio Times, "We sent the episode direct to Paul McCartney. Almost immediately, his assistant phoned back and said 'Paul loves it. You can go ahead and use it'."[9]
Themes
Tyler — a product of the more politically correct twenty-first century, where suspect rights and the chain and preservation of forensic evidence are more stringently observed — frequently clashes with his 1973 counterparts, who work in a police force where sexism, racism, police brutality and institutionalised minor corruption are casually regarded as routine parts of the job. This strongly alluded to the underlying theme of the 1970's police drama The Sweeney, something which would become more obvious as the show progressed.
There is also a central ambiguity surrounding the status of Tyler. Is he in a coma in 2006 and imagining his experiences? Is he really in 1973 and mentally unstable, albeit with remarkably accurate 'knowledge' of the future? Or is he still in 2006 and suffering from the mental delusion that he is living in 1973? This uncertainty is conveyed through a surreal approach, such as when the young girl featured in the Test Card F or Open University lecturers occasionally speak to Tyler through his television set late at night. Tyler also occasionally hears voices and electronic noises - apparently from people and machines around his hospital bed - which lead him to believe that he is in a coma (although other details, such as the remarkable amount of 'detail' and tangibility in the world Tyler has found himself, may suggest otherwise). It has been suggested that the fact his superior is called "Gene Hunt" lends itself to the idea that whether he has travelled back in time or is in a coma, the real focus of his predictament is to establish what happened to his real-life missing father. [citation needed]
Episode guide
Note: All broadcast dates refer to the original UK transmissions on BBC One. Template:Spoiler
Series One:
Reception
Previewing the first episode for the Radio Times, the magazine's television editor Alison Graham described the series as "a genuinely innovative and imaginative take on an old genre... This sounds silly, but writers Matthew Graham, Tony Jordan and Ashley Pharoah give the drama wit and heart."[10] The series was also featured on the front cover of that week's issue of the magazine, with a publicity photograph of Simm and Glenister. In a preview behind-the-scenes feature for SFX, Steve O'Brien declared that "it looks like BBC One has — and we'll lay large bets on this — a monster hit on its hands... It's funny... and dramatic and exciting, and we're really not getting paid for saying this."[11]
Reaction following the broadcast of the opening episode was also generally positive. Reviewing the opening instalment in The Guardian the day after transmission, Sam Wollaston wrote: "For anyone of 40 or over, it's fabulous fun... But Life on Mars is more than just a jolly, tongue-in-cheek romp into the past... Once there, in 1973, we find ourselves immersed in a reasonably gripping police drama — yes, The Sweeney, perhaps, with better production values... Or put another — undeniably laboured — way, as poor Sam Tyler walks through his sunken dream, I'm hooked to the silver screen. And yes, I know it's actually a small screen."[12]
Other newspaper critics gave the series similarly positive reviews, with James Walton of the Daily Telegraph saying that "Theoretically, this should add up to a right old mess. In practice, it makes for a thumpingly enjoyable piece of television — not least because everybody involved is obviously having such a great time."[13] Peter Paterson of the Daily Mail did, however, reflect the views of many other commentators when he wondered "can its intriguing conceit be sustained over eight one-hour episodes?".[13]
The first episode was also a success in terms of viewing figures, with an average audience of seven million in the overnight ratings.[14] This was enough for the programme to win its timeslot with a 27% share of the total television audience for the hour from 9pm, one million viewers ahead of its nearest rival, Soapstar Superstar on ITV1.[14] In the following weeks, the competition on ITV1 came from the comedy-drama series Northern Lights, which gained a marginally higher overnight rating for its first episode against Life on Mars's second, 6.1 million (24% of the available audience) against 6 million.[15]
In subsequent weeks, however, Life on Mars fared better against Northern Lights. Episode three gained 6.2 million viewers and a 24% share against the second of Northern Lights which fell to 5.4 million (21%).[16] The trend continued in the following weeks, with Northern Lights not managing to beat Life on Mars again, and the series even managing a highest viewing figure since the first episode for episode five, which gained 6.7 million viewers and a 26% share.[17]
Critical reaction to the series also continued to be positive. Reviewing episode four in The Guardian, Nancy Banks-Smith wrote that: "Life on Mars is an inspired take on the usual formula of Gruff Copper of the old school, who solves cases by examining the entrails of a chicken, and Sensitive Sidekick, who has a degree in detection... No profession has changed more dramatically in the last 30 years than the police (I wish I could force more enthusiasm into my voice) but old coppers still make the best jokes."[18]
The final episode gained 7.1 million viewers in the overnight figures, a 28% audience share which placed it well ahead of the nearest competition, the first episode of the two-part drama Love Lies Bleeding on ITV1, which gained 5.4 million (23%).[19]
Filming locations
Parts of the filming took place in or around the following locations.
- Manchester's Northern Quarter, Castlefield, the Canal and Ancoats area.
- Stockport, including Stopford House Council Offices (the Police Station in the series) and the old shopping areas.
- Gorton, in south east Manchester.
- Mancunian Way Flyover (Episode 1)
- Victoria Baths The boilerhouse complex is used as the old waterworks (end of Episode 2) and will also feature in season two, when the Turkish Baths will appear as a morgue.
- The Mills around Ancoats, Manchester
- Queen Street Textile Mill Harle Syke, Briercliffe, Burnley (Lancashire) (Episode 3)
- The rear of "The Angel" public house, Shaw Road, Royton was used as the fictional exterior of the pub where the stars of the show are seen to drink each week (the interior of the pub is a set).
- Brook Mill No.2 (Oldham Twist Co.) Hollins, Oldham (Episode 3)
- Great Universal Stores Building Manchester (Episode 6)
Anachronisms
Some minor anachronisms occur in episodes of Life on Mars. Interviews with the creators have shown that at least some of these were unintentional.[20]
The first of these anachronisms is in episode one, occurring after Sam Tyler wakes up in 1973. On a building site for the Mancunian Way, Sam looks at a sign proclaiming the building of a new motorway at the heart of Manchester. In reality, this motorway was completed in 1967.
When Sam first opens his warrant card wallet in 1973, the badge states "METROPOLITAN POLICE" (in capitals), the constabulary covering London, although this has been partly digitally obscured in post-production.
Another anachronism is Sam's dual-display LCD watch. In 1973 the only widely available digital watches used red light-emitting diodes, which required the press of a button to light them. LCDs did not become common until much later. A watch like Sam's, with both a face and an LCD display, would not have been available until the 1980s.
When Sam switches on the colour television set in "his" flat, the sound and picture come up immeditately; at the time all large television sets were valve-driven, and took up to a minute to "warm up" before the picture appeared. In addition, the roofs of most houses in the series sport a UHF-type television aerial for b/w or colour 625-line television reception, but at the time most would have the "H" or "X"-shaped VHF aerials for 405-line reception.
While the Yorkshire Ripper's first confirmed murder did not occur until 1975, there is the distinctive 1979 photofit [21] of the Ripper visible in the police station at which Sam Tyler works in 1973.
While Manchester and Salford Police used only Minis as patrol cars in 1973, in the series they have Austin Allegros — and those used are from a later series which would not have been available until the late 1970s in any case.
Gene Hunt's car is a Mark 3 Ford Cortina badged at the front as a GXL although badged elsewhere as the later 2000E (boot lid and roof pillar). The cars interior is also from the later 2000E as is the Roman Bronze colour scheme.
In the early '70s, Manchester Police referred to their senior officers as 'Boss' not 'Gov', which is a term propagated by the Metropolitan Police. The policewomen in the series are seen working, to a limited extent, alongside their male counterparts while in the 1970s they would have worked solely within a Police Womens' Department and would not be out on regular patrols. The white-topped headgear worn by the policewomen in the series is also incorrect, as 1970s police women wore kepi-style caps.
Several episodes include street furniture and other items in the background which while they would not have been present in the 1970s, would also be difficult for a TV show to have removed. Green NTL cable television cabinets, satellite television dishes, 'dome' and regular type CCTV cameras, and mobile phone masts are visible in a number of outdoor scenes. In a number of residential street scenes, it can be seen where burglar alarm boxes have been digitally "masked" in post-production.
In an episode where the local pub gets a stolen colour TV, the pub's landlord is seen standing in front of the set to the national anthem with video clips of the Queen at closedown. This is usually associated with ITV, but neither ITV service available in Manchester at the time played God Save the Queen in the way that is shown in the episode.
Overseas sales
Between July 24 and September 11, 2006, the first series aired in the US on BBC America,[22] to favourable critical reviews.[23] The American version is edited for the insertion of commercials and omits some nudity and language that is present in the original BBC One version.
Life on Mars also began airing on BBC Canada on September 13 2006, followed in November by broadcasts on the Canadian network Showcase. While not edited for nudity and language specifically, the Canadian broadcasts of series one episodes were slightly edited for commercials. BBC Canada have since announced that they will be running series two uncut.
References
- ^ a b "Hit BBC drama Life on Mars to end". BBC News Online. 2006-10-09. Retrieved 2006-10-09.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c O'Brien, Steve (January 2006). "The Nick of Time". SFX (139): 54.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Naughton, James (January 7–13 2006). "The Most Original Cop Show... Since the 70s". Radio Times. 328 (4266): 10.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Darlington, David (2006-06-21). "Script Doctors: Matthew Graham". Doctor Who Magazine.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Burrell, Ian (2006-03-27). "Television Drama: Great show - now direct it". The Independent. Retrieved 2007-01-06.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Wylie, Ian (2006-02-07). "Life on Mars is creating stars on Earth". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 2007-01-06.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Deans, Jason (2006-03-28). "Life on Mars goes stateside" (Requires free registration). Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved 2006-03-28.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Sherwin, Adam (2006-12-16). "Originality is old hat as the BBC spins off its top series". The Times. Retrieved 2007-01-06.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Naughton, James (January 7–13 2006). "The Most Original Cop Show... Since the 70s". Radio Times (4266): 12.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Text "volume 328" ignored (help) - ^ Graham, Alison (January 7–13 2006). "Today's Choices, Monday 9 January: Life on Mars". Radio Times. 328 (4266): 70.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ O'Brien, Steve (January 2006). "The Nick of Time". SFX (139): 58.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Wollaston, Sam (2006-01-10). "Last night's TV" (Requires free registration). Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved 2006-01-10.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b "First Night: Life on Mars" (Requires free registration). Guardian Unlimited. 2006-01-10. Retrieved 2006-01-10.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b Plunkett, John (2006-01-10). "7m gravitate to Life on Mars"" (Requires free registration). Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved 2006-01-10.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Deans, Jason (2006-01-17). "Northern Lights glows with success" (Requires free registration). Retrieved 2006-02-20.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Timms, Dominic. "Prison Break captures audience" (Requires free registration). Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved 2006-02-20.
{{cite web}}: Text "2006-01-24" ignored (help) - ^ Timms, Dominic (2006-02-07). "Half Ton Man bulks up Channel 4 ratings" (Requires free registration). Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved 2006-02-20.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Banks-Smith, Nancy (2006-01-31). "Last night's TV". The Guardian. Retrieved 2006-01-31.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Timms, Dominic (2006-02-28). "Cop drama motors to the finish" (Requires free registration). Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved 2006-02-28.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "BBC - Drama - Life On Mars - Clues Or Bloopers?". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2006-12-11.
- ^ "The photofits". The Yorkshire Ripper Website. Retrieved 2007-01-03.
- ^ "Life on Mars - About the Show". BBC America. Retrieved 2007-01-06.
- ^ "Life on Mars (BBC America)". Metacritic.com. Retrieved 2007-01-06.
External links
- Life on Mars at bbc.co.uk.
- Life on Mars at IMDb