Life on Mars

[bigbry]

i recorded this in case I wanted to watch it , wasn't too sure, but having read this thread last night I sat down this afternoon and watched it. Superb first episode and will definitely watch the next one on Monday

 

[nick1181]

Although obviously if I went back in time to 1973 I wouldn't carry on being a cop, I'd a) see some excellent bands and b) craftily invent things from the future that I know will make loads of money.

I'd feel a bit fucked without the internet though I must admit.

 

[fucthest8]

Really entertaining. Favourite line:

DCI Hunt: "It's 1973, nearly lunchtime. I'm 'avin' 'oops."

 

[bigbry]

Really entertaining. Favourite line:

DCI Hunt: "It's 1973, nearly lunchtime. I'm 'avin' 'oops."

Favourite line for me was when the lead character (can't remember sname at moment) arrived in the 1973 police station the first time and said to one of the other DC's "I need a desk - and get me a PC Terlinal" to which he got the reply "You want a plod up here ?".

Also when he first came round from the accident and when he found that the old Rover was his car he said to the guy in the 1973 uniform "I was driving a Jeep !" to which the PC said "You were driving a military vehicle ?".

To someone who was an adult in 1973 and can remember what it was like and 'how far we've come' this show is excellent.

I hop at smetime he's going to ask for a cashpoint, although IIRC they were around then they were few and far between - and Lloyds for example originally had them inside branches.

Good show though.

 

[moose]

I like it because its recreation of certain parts of Manchester are uncanny. The record shop last week was the double of one I used to go in in 1975.

 

[El Sueno]

I finally got around to this on tape last night and frankly it was a mild revelation. The moment when he came to in 1973 to the big build from Bowie's song was euphoric and I was constantly surprised and delighted the whole way through. In short, a great concept executed brilliantly.

I really can't wait for next week's episode, and I haven't said that for ages.

 

[Sigmund Fraud]

The moment when he came to in 1973 to the big build from Bowie's song was euphoric...

That was stunning- the whole process from the accident to waking up in 1973, wandering the streets and stumbling into his office took place within the length of that song - all perfectly edited so the final clangy piano bit at the end faded into his first meeting with his colleagues.


I'm loving some of the viewers reviews on the bbc website...

"I was puzzled when the trailer for the new drama Life On Mars was shown. This is where the BMW saloon is 'transformed' into what should be a 1971/72 Ford Cortina MkIII GXL (1600 or 2000) registration number KJM 212K.

I say 'should be', as the front end is definitely a GXL model with twin circular headlamps; plus the 'K' registration is correct for a GXL of that year.

However, I was puzzled to see that when the sides and rear of the car are subsequently revealed to the viewer, there are 'E' badges on the rear roof quarter panels and a '2000E' badge positioned on the right hand side of the boot lid. These badges are from the later model of the top-level Cortina, introduced early 1974.

My father owned a 'K' plate Cortina 2000 GXL in 1972 and I owned an 'M' plate 2000E Cortina in 1975, and so I feel that I have a very good idea of what I am talking about here.

Although the car in question, KJM 212K, is in undoubtedly good condition for use in the forthcoming series, I really would have expected more attention to detail, as the car will be an important feature of the drama."

Barry, Yorkshire

FFS!!

 

[El Sueno]

That was stunning- the whole process from the accident to waking up in 1973, wandering the streets and stumbling into his office took place within the length of that song - all perfectly edited so the final clangy piano bit at the end faded into his first meeting with his colleagues.

I'm loving some of the viewers reviews on the bbc website...

FFS!!

Yeah I noticed that shocking automobile dating error too, but kept my mouth shut.. Good find, can anyone beat Barry from Yorkshire for sheer pedantry?

btw I was born in 1973 too so it makes it doubly special for that year to be recreated. If you check about, it was a fantastic year for the arts. You'd be surprised just how many seminal films and records were put out that year, nice to see it finally get its own series!

 

[DexterTCN]

2nd episode better than the first

 

[jannerboyuk]

2nd episode just as good as the first. Seems he is definitely in a coma of some kind. Whether that is the mechanism of his time travel or everything is just a coma dream - time will tell.

 

[marty21]

didn't see the first one, was on holiday with no tv, but really enjoyed the second one...agree that glenister is brilliant, and sims too...this is appointment to view tv

 

[Sigmund Fraud]

agree that glenister is brilliant, and sims too...this is appointment to view tv

How much fun is he having playing DCI Hunt - he's getting all the best comedy bits and all the best tough stuff bits too. Loved the coma stuff at the end with all the lights turning out - very creepy. The show is working well on so many different levels.

 

[franklin1777]

was the nurses voice in the end coma scene Annie's?

What about the test card girl and clown, that girl is possessed, very excorcist.

 

[Lava]

was the nurses voice in the end coma scene Annie's?

I have a bad feeling that when he wakes up it'll be all "I had a dream and you were in it, and you, and you..." whilst pointing to various hospital staff.
Still, good telly so far.

 

[marty21]

How much fun is he having playing DCI Hunt - he's getting all the best comedy bits and all the best tough stuff bits too. Loved the coma stuff at the end with all the lights turning out - very creepy. The show is working well on so many different levels.

it's a great part, we all want to be regan in the sweeney, he's having a crack at it

 

[jannerboyuk]

I think one of the the reasons it works so well is that it is set in Manchester instead of London otherwise it could have easily toppled over into bad cliche 'guv, my manor, you slaaag' territory. Quite subtle in places i thought.

 

[editor]

It's absolutely fucking brilliant - a superb blend of comedy and drama (a bit like an updated Minder, of sorts).

The bit where he descirbed the witness with the hearing aid as 'Lieutenant Uhura' has us in stitches.

And DCI Hunt is a hoot.

 

[rhod]

I have a bad feeling that when he wakes up it'll be all "I had a dream and you were in it, and you, and you..." whilst pointing to various hospital staff.

What's the betting Hunt's going to be a consultant neurologist, or something?


Wasn't too sure about the first episode, but ep 2 was class.

"special glass ???"

 

[El Sueno]

DCI Hunt, with an iced cream cone in his gob, flicking the v-sign to the kids and making them cry was worth the license fee alone.

 

[dylanredefined]

Always thought the test card was odd and a bit scary that dream squence was freaky

 

[editor]

Always thought the test card was odd and a bit scary that dream squence was freaky

That was well inspired.

There's some really smart writing going on in that show.

 

[Wolfie]

I was worried it was going to end up in "Dirty Harry" territory - a kind of "wasn't it better in the old days when we could beat criminals up and plant evidence on them and didn't have to bother with all this namby pampy PC (no pun intended) stuff" - but it seems to have avoided that so far.
I'm really really enjoying it - an added bonus is I remember Manchester when it looked like that, I swear I've been in that record shop that was in last weeks episode ....


And while we're on time travel the first episode of Johnny and the Bomb was good too

 

[BadlyDrawnGirl]

What about the test card girl and clown, that girl is possessed, very excorcist.

I was wondering to begin with why the girl in the test card picture wasn't the original...

Another brilliant episode - this is easily the best cop drama since 'Inspector Morse'.

 

[onenameshelley]

I was worried it was going to end up in "Dirty Harry" territory - a kind of "wasn't it better in the old days when we could beat criminals up and plant evidence on them and didn't have to bother with all this namby pampy PC (no pun intended) stuff" - but it seems to have avoided that so far.
I'm really really enjoying it - an added bonus is I remember Manchester when it looked like that, I swear I've been in that record shop that was in last weeks episode ....


And while we're on time travel the first episode of Johnny and the Bomb was good too

Thats what i thought too but i dont think thats the case at all, if anything they are making the 70's look fucking bleak, the constant smog of fag smoke, every kind of bad "ism" you care to mention when those coppers were blatently letching at that women i wanted to punch someone. I watch it and i enjoy every minute but it makes me think thank god i was born at the end of that decade Oh and John Simm in that leather jacket and those tight trousers hubba hubba

My mum keeps jumping about when she sees things she recognises and hasnt seen for donkeys like the No. 6 ciggies and the cars and there was a blouse too.

 

[onenameshelley]

I was wondering to begin with why the girl in the test card picture wasn't the original...

Another brilliant episode - this is easily the best cop drama since 'Inspector Morse'.

Yeah same here i kept thinking thats not the right one, can i say that i actually miss the test card and would like to have it back.

 

[secretsquirrel]

DCI Hunt, with an iced cream cone in his gob, flicking the v-sign to the kids and making them cry was worth the license fee alone.

Yup, DCI 'oops' Hunt gets my award for best character on TV for 2006 already Great punch-up in the hospital.

It's rare there's something on telly that me n'fuct really WANT to watch rather than thinking 'oh that'll do while we eat our tea' but this is great. Absolutely perfect for Monday nights in winter.

I hope the ending won't be as trite as 'you were all in my dream!' but somehow I don't think it will be given the quality of the programme so far. And even if it is, it'll be presented in such a way you won't feel cheated.

I bloody love it!

(btw - SMOKING in a hospital ward? was that really EVER allowed?!)

 

[BadlyDrawnGirl]

Yeah same here i kept thinking thats not the right one, can i say that i actually miss the test card and would like to have it back.

I'll second that! Meditational genius - the original guilty pleasure.

Might I point you in this direction?

 

[onenameshelley]

(btw - SMOKING in a hospital ward? was that really EVER allowed?!)

my mum reckons No that wouldnt have happened because the Matron would have kicked their arses, and no one fucked about with Matron and their is no way she would have let him stub his fag out on the floor, hosptials back then were cleaner than they are now.

DCI Hunt is great

 

[marty21]

everyone smokes in that show...apart from john simms...he'll have to spark up in the end

when i first started work in 1983, there was smoking in offices, I worked in a bank, and in back office, where we did all the processing of payments and that was in a permanent fug as everyone bar me, smoked...

 

[onenameshelley]

everyone smokes in that show...apart from john simms...he'll have to spark up in the end

when i first started work in 1983, there was smoking in offices, I worked in a bank, and in back office, where we did all the processing of payments and that was in a permanent fug as everyone bar me, smoked...

It was normal though to smoke everywhere i remember it always being smokey in our local shopping centre as a kid