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Life on Mars (BBC America)

common sense media says

High-concept British crime drama; teens and up.

parents & educators say
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that the detectives in this British crime procedural often use unorthodox methods to solve their cases, including roughing up suspects and accusing people even if they don't have enough evidence. Their actions fuel some of each episode's more violent, gritty scenes. In addition, the '70s setting opens the door for some decidedly un-PC humor and behavior, including sexism.

Positive messages: Because it's a crime show, the series deals with lots of unsavory actions and people, including corrupt cops who rough up suspects to get answers and plant evidence to frame people. Because it's set in the '70s, there's a distinct lack of political correctness -- minorities are mocked, and sexual harassment is standard.
Violence: Autopsy photos; a man is hit by a car; police rough up a suspect. Lots of gritty, crime-related violence, but usually not terribly graphic.
Sex: The cops make sexist jokes.
Language: "Screw," "bloody hell," other British slang.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Social drinking and smoking.
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More on Life on Mars

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about the differences between life today and in the '70s. What's changed? What hasn't? Why is behavior that was acceptable then no longer OK today? How do you think you'd cope without the things you take for granted? What advances in technology do we depend on today that weren't available then? Before fingerprinting and computers existed, how did police do their jobs? How can advances in areas like forensic science help ensure that the right person is caught?

What's the story?

What's the story?
In LIFE ON MARS, John Simm plays Sam Tyler, a successful young detective chasing down crooks in modern-day Manchester, England. When his girlfriend Maya (Archie Panjabi) goes missing, Sam sets out to find her, only to end up in a near-fatal car accident that leaves him unconscious. He wakes up in 1973 with the same name and the same job -- only now the detectives he's working with don't have 21st-century technological advances like cell phones and fine-tuned forensics on their side. In each episode, Sam must rely on his intelligence and wits to solve a crime, each of which he hopes will lead him to Maya. Making Sam's life miserable are his hardened, unprofessional (by modern standards) 1973 colleagues: new boss Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister), who regularly bullies suspects; detective Ray Carling (Dean Andrews), who's suspicious of Sam and his way of doing things; and detective Chris Skelton (Marshall Lancaster), who's a little more willing to give Sam a chance. The one person Sam bonds with is police officer Annie Cartwright (Liz White), who helps him in his quest to discover the truth about his new life (could it all be a dream?) and catch Manchester's criminals.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Fans of procedural dramas will enjoy Life on Mars, since it takes the genre one step further -- not only is the lead solving crimes, he's solving crimes that will help him crack the larger mystery of his girlfriend's whereabouts. The show's violence level is more or less on par with American series like Law & Order; like most British imports, its humor is subtle and might fly over the head of younger viewers.

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: TV-14
Network: BBC America
Cast: John Simm, Liz White, Philip Glenister
Genre: Drama
Where to watch: BBC America
This review was written by Lucy Maher
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

ravvie
adult
 
Really good!
I do like this show; it's really intriguing and pulls you right in. Probably not best for younger kids; you may want to send them to bed. All in all, well done show and very good.
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