25 Days of Crime-mas Day 11: Life on Mars UK mixes crime and sci-fi

Life on Mars is a fantastic combination of TV crime drama and science fiction. That’s why the UK series is our pick for Crime-mas Day 11.

Life on Mars is like no other TV crime drama before or since. It mixes the crime genre with the science fiction genre, and not in the typical way either—the show’s ultimate twist is different and the kind of thing you won’t see coming till the very end.

Most crime shows stick within the genre, and those that try to mix in other types of storytelling are usually a mixed bag. But this series is the exception to both of those stereotypes, aside from being very well-cast.

(It’s worth noting that we’re talking about the original UK series, and not the ill-fated US spinoff that proved to be a pale imitation of its predecessor.)

Here’s why you need to watch Life on Mars today:

A throwback drama

Life on Mars transports viewers back to the 1970’s, and that automatically makes for a compelling story, because fighting crime was very different back then—as was the culture.

There are no technological advances like fans have come to expect in today’s TV crime shows; the characters have to rely almost completely on getting their hands dirty and doing the hard work themselves. It’s also a very different vibe amongst the police; things aren’t as regimented as they are now, and there’s rampant sexism that one of the main characters struggles to deal with.

Even before getting into the actual work, it’s interesting to watch the show just as an example of how different it was to be a police officer almost five decades ago.

The Life on Mars cast

The cast of Life on Mars is led by John Simm, who went on to even bigger fame playing The Master to David Tennant’s doctor on Doctor Who. Simm stars as Sam Tyler, an experienced detective who gets into a near-fatal accident and has no idea how it will change his life forever (and for us to tell you would be a massive spoiler).

The scene-stealer is Philip Glenister as Sam’s boss Gene Hunt, and you’ll also see Liz White (Line of Duty, Grantchester) as Sam’s love interest Annie. Other great actors pop up in supporting and guest roles, but it’s the interplay between Simm, Glenister and White that makes the series work at its best.

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What is Life on Mars about?

The show’s mind-bending story starts when Sam is involved in a car accident and hospitalized; his colleague and girlfriend Maya Roy (a pre-The Good Wife Archie Panjabi) is devastated and praying for his recovery. What she doesn’t know is that Sam has woken up…in the early 1970’s.

He stumbles into a new police precinct, circa 1973, and begins to investigate cases with its ragtag band of cops, led by the cranky yet effective Gene Hunt. While solving various crimes, Sam keeps trying to figure out how he ended up there in the first place, and if there’s any way for him to ever get home.

Why should you watch?

The show effortlessly blends the crime and sci-fi genres, and doesn’t overdo the latter. There are clues throughout the episodes as to the nature of Sam’s predicament and a possible solution, and some are kind of creepy, but Life on Mars doesn’t get in your face with them or make it so weird that it distracts from the crime drama part of the show either.

There’s also a very human story underneath, as Sam struggles with being in the past and learns a few things about himself along the way. He undergoes a real transformation in 1973, and Simm is amazing to watch as he wears his heart on his sleeve. If you only know him from Doctor Who, you will be floored.

Episodes to watch

Since Life on Mars contains an ongoing mystery, it’s best to watch in order. You need to see the first episode in order to fully grasp the show’s premise and important details, and humping ahead might accidentally reveal spoilers that ruin your appreciation of certain character arcs.

Having said that, it’s only two seasons, so there’s not a ton to go through—and when you get to the end, you’ll probably be crying. This show is that good (and so is its spinoff, Ashes to Ashes, but that’s a story for another time).

Next. See the full 25 Days of Crime-mas schedule. dark

What do you think of Life on Mars? Which TV crime dramas are making your list for the 25 Days of Crime-mas? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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