I enjoyed what little there was of the U.S. version of the series Life on Mars.  I really wanted to see the original U.K. version upon which it was based and was happy when I found it was out on DVD.

The basic premise is that a modern-day (2006) police detective named Sam Tyler (portrayed by John Simm) is the victim of a hit-and-run car accident and wakes up back in 1973.  He’s still the same person, still in Manchester U.K., and still a police detective, but everything has changed.  The question is, is he actually in 1973? Is he in a coma and imagining all of this? Has he just lost his mind?

The way this is presented, it would seem a little of all of that.  There are indications of many different things throughout this first season.  Sam interacts with his earlier life, with both parents as well as a younger version of himself.  Is he being forced back to “fix” his own history similar to Quantum Leap?

If you saw any of the American show and liked it, I would suggest taking a look at the original version from the U.K.  There might be more here that’s alien to us as far as the culture divide, but it’s well-done and well-executed in every way without pandering to the audience at all.  It manages to be science fiction in a sense without being traditional science fiction and be a character driven show rather than an action driven show.

In the first episode, viewers are introduced to Sam, who was tracking a serial killer who he believed had just abducted his partner and girlfriend, Maya (portrayed by Archie Panjabi).  During the course of the investigation, Sam is injured and when he “wakes up” it is 1973 and he is still Sam Tyler, police detective.  It would seem that back in 1973, there were indications that this same serial killer was active.

The remainder of the season has Sam trying to get by in 1973 and attempting to figure out what he can do to get back to his own era.  There are many instances where it seems he is lying in a coma in a hospital bed as that world bleeds through into the 1973 version.  Does that mean all of this isn’t real?

Police methods have changed quite a bit over the years, as is shown here.  Sam’s methods of investigating clash with his fellow detectives, as well as some of the forensic technology he is used to being unavailable.  The dynamic here is interesting as Sam often comes off superior to those who surround him, but it seems quite often he is humbled by what is really going on and how people have actually tried to do the best they can in the situation, although it doesn’t necessarily seem that way to Sam in the beginning.  It creates a lot of tension in the course of an investigation, and it bleeds over into conflict quite a bit, even with their superiors.  That doesn’t mean there aren’t bonds formed, which is nice to see over the course of this season.  Sam may be on the outside looking in for the most part, but there are some connections made to his fellow officers.

For many out there, 1973 doesn’t seem all that long ago.  I was seven years old at the time and though I don’t have many specific memories, many of the things that have come to be through the years, both socially and in terms of technology, are taken for granted.  The detectives are all male and the only female, Cartwright (portrayed by Liz Wright), who is actually quite smarter than the rest of them, is treated in quite a sexist manner which wouldn’t fly in 2006.  There weren’t paramedics when ambulances arrived on the scene – it was just transporting people to the hospital and many died before they could receive any type of care.

There are little things are funny and serve to enrich the show greatly, such as when it first happens and Sam tells the bobby who finds him that he was driving a jeep.  The Bobby responds “A military vehicle?”‘  Sam picks up a phone and asks the operator for a Virgin Mobile number and has her hang up on him thinking it’s a prank sex call.

The acting here is first rate.  I was first exposed to Simm as The Master on Doctor Who, and Sam Tyler is quite different from that role.  I like him quite a bit here as he gets the feeling of a man out of time across very well, as well as the various aspects of what his character needs to deal with.  He easily makes the audience believe the story, which goes a long way to selling it.  It helps that he’s surrounded with such a strong supporting cast.  Wright in particular is fantastic as she doesn’t seem to know what to make of Sam but cares for him anyway, most likely because he treats her with a respect others of that time don’t.  Philip Glenister as Sam’s partner on the force, Gene, is terrific as well.  He also doesn’t seem to know what to make of Sam quite often but is one of those who’s doing the best he can in this world, even if it doesn’t always seem that way.  Glenister is another surprise and I’m left wondering why all these wonderful British actors aren’t meeting with more success.

The soundtrack for the series is excellent.  It uses the David Bowie song Life on Mars as its main theme, but the selection of songs on the DVD are fantastic.  I was really surprised they all made it to the disc intact instead of being replaced as often happens with television shows with great soundtracks.  Among others, there’s Baba O’Riley by The Who, White Room by Cream, and Live and Let Die by Wings.

There are plenty of extras on these discs including commentary with various members of the cast and crew, as well as a slew of featurettes about the show and making the show.  The episodes themselves aren’t titled, but don’t get the impression that means it’s a serial.  Although each episode definitely puts clues out there as to what’s happening to Sam, they also stand on their own quite well as a glimpse into a world very foreign to us now.  I enjoyed it immensely and would definitely add it to my wish list to have in my collection in the future.  It’s a fantastic cop show as well as being a great character-driven mystery bordering on science fiction.