Life On Mars

:

Season 1
  • Network: ABC
  • Series Premiere Date: Oct 9, 2008
User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 101 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 89 out of 101
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 101
  3. Negative: 10 out of 101
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User Reviews

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  1. VincentS.
    Oct 10, 2008
    2
    Very disappointing. If this is the stuff that the average critic is finding good %73 as I write this. Then maybe it goes some way to explaining why TV generally seems to be a wasteland these days. To be honest I found it hard to watch. Actors had been chosen for their semblance to the original UK series and not for their acting ability. Most of the time it felt like they were reading from Very disappointing. If this is the stuff that the average critic is finding good %73 as I write this. Then maybe it goes some way to explaining why TV generally seems to be a wasteland these days. To be honest I found it hard to watch. Actors had been chosen for their semblance to the original UK series and not for their acting ability. Most of the time it felt like they were reading from a script. Once again the US has (for some reason best known to itself) tried to copy a series that already existed instead of just showing the original. One again the US has totally failed to pull it off. Nevertheless there are worse things on TV than this, so I give it a 2.… Expand
  2. nickb.
    Oct 14, 2008
    1
    What a waste!!! You have two fabulous actors in Keitel and Imperoli. One is provided with embarassing.one liners that totally diminish his reputition as an exemplary actor, then "misdirect" an equally prolific actor. The writers should respect Imperoli's abilities by not making him look like a "goof", and a major star like Keitel certainly deserves better direction!
  3. DavidS.
    Dec 2, 2008
    1
    It's already been done, and done better. The british Life on Mars was the dog's bollocks. This is just plain bollocks.
  4. BrandelineA.
    Oct 9, 2008
    2
    What TV show were the critics watching? The original Life on Mars had actors who could actually act, chemistry, and style. This one just makes me want to avert my eyes. They tried to imitate the BBC version, but proved they didn't know what actually made the series a hit in the first place with their copy.
  5. TonyG.
    Oct 11, 2008
    0
    When a police detective can't figure out he's in 1973 after all the clues (newspapers, signs, people, even the WTC) and still calls the 'operator' to connect him to a cell phone after walking into his old police precinct and wondering what happened to his desk, you have to figure the writers don't have much of a story to tell. Maybe they should import the original When a police detective can't figure out he's in 1973 after all the clues (newspapers, signs, people, even the WTC) and still calls the 'operator' to connect him to a cell phone after walking into his old police precinct and wondering what happened to his desk, you have to figure the writers don't have much of a story to tell. Maybe they should import the original instead of remaking it.… Expand
  6. TerryW.
    Oct 16, 2008
    0
    Weakly executed rehash of the superb BBC original. ABC's answer to "deepen the mystery" is to add alien robots? How sad and pathetic. And sorry, but Harvey Keitel is just to old to portray Gene Hunt convincingly. We'll see if this thing even lasts one season.
  7. KieranDevlin
    Dec 11, 2009
    3
    It has the music, at least, but this remake of Life On Mars UK was entirely unnecessary and extremely poor in comparison to the great original. I don't need to watch more than 10 minutes before hitting a WTF moment, as something not in the original is included. Maybe I haven't watched enough, but it was genuinely awful from what I saw.

Awards & Rankings

24
#24 Best TV Season of 2008
12
#12 Most Discussed TV Season of 2008

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
73

Generally favorable reviews - based on 26 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 26
  3. Negative: 0 out of 26
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Gillian Flynn
    75
    Based on a popular BBC series, Life on Mars, like Mad Men, makes a long-ago era feel both alien and nostalgic, like in the sweet moment where Sam wanders into a record store and just beams.
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  2. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Tim Goodman
    75
    If the ambition of the pilot continues, American television may get another remake right. We'll have our first hint this next week. In the meantime, enjoy the pilot.
    Read full review
  3. Time
    Reviewed by: James Poniewozik
    83
    The premise of ABC's Life on Mars is ludicrous but irresistible.
    Read full review
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