Staggering Stories Forum!

Did anyone else watch 'Life on Mars', from the pen of Matthew Graham, Spooks, This Life, the Last Train and newly announced Doctor Who writer. Personally, I rather enjoyed it and will be thrilled to find out what the flip is going on. Thought the WPC was a good character and love Phillip Glennister's boorish DCI, ripped straight from the Sweeney. Not so sure abour John Simm in the central rolw though - he hardly ozzes chrasmia and screen presence!

I'm not going to vote until I've seen the next episode as I'm very undecided about it right now.

Going in I had the impression there'll be real doubt whether it was real or not. Had he really time travelled? Is it just his imagination? There didn't seem to be a great deal of doubt left in that one, which is a shame.

It's lacking a certain... I dunno, 'style' compared to Spooks and Hustle, the most recent Kudos productions I've seen. The characters just don't seem so interesting. Perhaps I shouldn't judge it so soon, though - that's why I'm waiting for another episode. Perhaps he'll start seeing real evidence that contradicts the fantasy 1973 idea (how they can possibly do that is another question...). Perhaps the characters will get more complex and interesting after settling in. Perhaps it will take a stronger decision on whether it is drama or comedy.

Blast and damn. Missed it, too busy watching "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou". Still, any programme named after Bowie's finest three minutes and that uses Led Zeppelin in its trailer slot gets my vote!

Really enjoyed it and, like tallorder, can't wait to see what the twist is.

The Mirror described it as Doctor Who meets The Sweeney, which I think was pretty accurate.

It's amazing to think how blatant the sexism and racism was back then - and this was only 30 years ago. The attitude of the men towards the WPC stinks - but that's what it was like.

Loved the police station atmosphere - smoke, alcohol and violence - and the perplexed response to Our Man's insistence on actually looking for clues! Brilliant!

Hobbit wrote:It's amazing to think how blatant the sexism and racism was back then - and this was only 30 years ago. The attitude of the men towards the WPC stinks - but that's what it was like.

Sure it was. Now go and make us a cup of tea, luv.

I can kill you with one finger...

tallorder wrote:Did anyone else watch 'Life on Mars', from the pen of Matthew Graham, Spooks, This Life, the Last Train and newly announced Doctor Who writer. Personally, I rather enjoyed it and will be thrilled to find out what the flip is going on. Thought the WPC was a good character and love Phillip Glennister's boorish DCI, ripped straight from the Sweeney. Not so sure abour John Simm in the central role though - he hardly ozzes chrasmia and screen presence!

Okay - so three weeks in and I'm still loving it. All reservations about John Simm went straight out the window after the look on his face when the BBC2 test card girl came to life. Glennister continues to shine and that WPC is still acting them all off the screen. So, WTF is going on... any theories?

I am in nostaligia heaven - lots of little things making my memory go 'ping' - or maybe that's just senility setting in.

I still can't spot the twist - there must be more to it than 'if he solves a big crime he'll wake up, if he fails he'll die'.

I think he'll come across himself as a wee lad and have to play some pivotal role in his own life.

So many options...

Loved the bit where the lights were all playing up as his life support machine packed in.

Also loved 'Drop your weapons - you're surrounded by armed bastards!' Brilliant.

Just wondering if you Life On Mars fans have ever seen a movie called "Jacob's Ladder" .... I've managed to miss all of LOM (though I'm keeping an eye out for the inevitable repeats on the digital channels) but from what people have said about it, it struck me as having a very similar premise to one of my favourite and weirdest movies of the eighties/nineties.