Life on Mars (UK)

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Season 2
Season #: 2, 1
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9

Critic Reviews

  1. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Maureen Ryan
    70
    Simm is also compelling (as he was in a couple of standout “Doctor Who” episodes earlier this year), though his performance is sometimes pitched to a level of intensity that the occasionally formulaic storytelling doesn’t quite match.
  2. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Robert Lloyd
    80
    Cop show, fantasy, mystery, comedy, romance, puzzle -- there are a lot of ways to approach "Life on Mars," which begins its second and final season tonight on BBC America, and they all pay off.
  3. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Tim Goodman
    75
    It's helpful to remember that Life on Mars is less about said realism and more about Sam's twisted journey. Enjoying that retro-cool ride is the essence of the series.
  5. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Ginia Bellafante
    80
    Life on Mars is a smarter, gloomier "Journeyman."
  6. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Robert Bianco
    88
    The British Mars produced only 16 episodes, and when the last of this season's final eight is over, you will have all the answers you need. What's more, they're satisfying and well worth the relatively short amount of time expended.
  7. TV Guide Magazine
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    80
    Mars is an entertaining collision of bare-knuckled police-procedural realism and mind-blowing surrealism.
  8. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Gillian Flynn
    75
    This isn't much different from Season 1--confusion, frustration, bell-bottoms--but it's still a good, uneasy time. [14 Dec 2007, p.62]
    All this critic's reviews
  9. San Jose Mercury News/Contra Costa Times
    Reviewed by: Charlie McCollum
    80
    If anything, season 2--also just eight hours long--is even better as Tyler's world in 1973 becomes even more complicated.
  10. Salon
    Reviewed by: Heather Havrilesky
    80
    Life on Mars is colorful and fun and well-written.

Awards & Rankings

13
#13 Best TV Season of 2007
63
#63 Most Discussed TV Season of 2007

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 35 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 33 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 35
  3. Negative: 2 out of 35
  1. PolisKanin
    Feb 8, 2014
    9
    John Simm. This show has John Simm. The best part of this is John Simm. Did I mention this has John Simm? John Simm's performance in thisJohn Simm. This show has John Simm. The best part of this is John Simm. Did I mention this has John Simm? John Simm's performance in this series is great.
    Dat ending tho.    … Full Review »
  2. drlowdon
    Feb 13, 2021
    8
    The second and final (If you don’t include follow up Life on Mars) eight episode season of Life on Mars more than lives up to the first andThe second and final (If you don’t include follow up Life on Mars) eight episode season of Life on Mars more than lives up to the first and wraps up with an ending that provides just enough to satisfy viewers.… Full Review »
  3. MattBrady99
    Mar 21, 2015
    8
    Sam Tyler: "I'm bloody sick of 1973".

    Annie: "Don't worry it will be 1974 soon". Well this is the closing of Life on Mars as a series    Sam Tyler: "I'm bloody sick of 1973".

    Annie: "Don't worry it will be 1974 soon".

    Well this is the closing of Life on Mars as a series and to me it ended on a good and a happy note that I'm totally fine with. Don't worry I won't spoil anything in this review, but without spoiling anything we must talk about Season 2 and it's season finale.

    John Simm once again brings another excellent performance as Sam Tyler. He brought so much weight and likability to his character that at one point I totally forgot that John Simm was in the episodes, I only saw Sam Tyler and nothing else. Great work John Simm.

    Philip Glenister as Gene Hunt is probably my favorite character of all time. Gene always have a sick but funny sense of humor and good comebacks to those who insult him. I got to give Philip Glenister a big well done for playing this character. Always making me laugh, always making me think about his actions and always...keeping my watching.

    The directing and the writing has well was really good with each episodes. All of it was well done and I can clearly see the time and effort put into each different episodes.

    For problems I only have one little problem: Season 2 isn't has good as the first season and that's it, yeah not such a big problem but I don't think it's on the same level as the first season but season 2 is still a solid season.    … Full Review »
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