When Life on Mars was first advertised, I thought, oh here is another show jumping on the Dr. Who bandwagon, but I've had to eat my words, Life on Mars is THE best show on television at the moment and probably the best show in a long, long time.

Well written, well acted and with a great soundtrack, I think it will be the show of 2006, hopefully taking home a clutch of awards. It deserves it.

I liked the look of it from the trailers and am happy to say I've not been disappointed. I've even been guilty of thinking 'I'm enjoying this more than Doctor Who'! Life of Mars also has the added benefit of not having Billie Piper in it. (Joking joking joking!)

Actually though there's room enough for both lovely Doctor and detective. It's great having some good series on again and I quite agree Soaplife, Life on Mars is the best thing on at the moment for me too.

It is puzzling how BBC can astound me with 2 decent drama series (Who, LoM) but then produce absolute rubbish like Two Pints of Lager... and Tittybangbang.

Am well in the mood for some new Dr Who though, it can't come soon enough!

i hope the new 2nd series
of life on mars
works in reverse.........

and someone from the 70s
ends up in the .....er ..21st century of nowadays .

I'm loving it; it is definitely the best thing on TV at the moment.

The only thing I'm surprised about is that the discussion thread is in TV and not in here.

MARS is a nice concept. A single stage QUANTUMN LEAP kinda thing. Dr who is a different type of show.

Both very well made.

From another point of view, I suppose that is the good thing about the BBC.

You might not like everything on it but they have a level of freedom to produce a variety of programming, even for niche "markets" if need be.

Much better than ITV and the next I'm A Celibrity Watch Me 'Cos Your Braindead 52.......

(.....no offence if that is your thing, but I can't stand it!)

Stu.

The BBC did a one-off drama about 10 or 15 years ago, where a 1950s crook swapped places with a lookalike 1980s criminal.

It was played out as a serious drama. The 80s guy wreaked murder and mayhem in the quiet, Dixon-of-Dock-Green type police station of the past.

Meanwhile, the 1950s crook was assaulted and eventually beaten to death by the violent cops of the present day because he wouldn't admit to the crimes committed by his doppelganger.

I'm quite enjoying Life on Mars but I can't help thinking how much its like that one-off drama. And, no, its not a patch on Dr Who (IMO).

Wouldn't it be nice if The Doctor happened to materialise in 1973 Manchester and bumped into Sam?

Thought you was going to say Veronica Mars! He,he!


I'll let myself out.

I think for series 2 he should move to the 80s. Plenty of cultural and fashion references to be had there!

Other than the time travel link I don't think Mars and Doctor Who really play to the same audience.

Gene Hunt turning up in 2006 with his 1970's attitudes and being educated into political correctness by Sam Tyler ..... that would be fun!

A sort of 'Adam Admant'...
K

Liz White > Billie Piper any day.

That would be impossible!

I dunno about Doctor Who - it's made for an entirely different audience. But where Torchwood is concerned I bet the production team of that little BBC3 time-filler are none too pleased about the way LoM has stolen their thunder.

I don't think their briefs are in anyway similar are they?

I'd say the second best thing on TV. The best is still Shameless.

Interesting idea. Series 2 could to be set in the Juliette Bravo era. Series 3 to be a recreation of the early-90s The Bill (back when it used to be decent)

Or he could even go further back to Dixon of Dock Green times.

Neat reference!

I was going to come up with some smart-alec remark about how Gerald Harper - a.k.a. Adam Adamant - was a good Dr Who director too, until I remembered I was thinking of Graeme Harper .....


Of course, David Tennant played Dixon of DG's sidekick, Andy Crawford, last year on the radio (with his Scottish accent) just before he got another job.

Both are predominantly one genre with an extra twist thrown in (Torchwood and LoM both with "This Life" generation in mind in terms of writers) - I'm guessing Torchwood may be somewhat lighter as BBC3 is designed for that kind of programming.

Aww this is funny, dramatic and has a good plot - like Doctor Who in a way, and both are made by BBC Wales!

At least, with Torchwood being a BBC3 commission, we should get a repeat showing (or 7!)

K

I don't remember that but it sounds good.

You saying about one-off drama type things with time travel, anyone remember The Flipside of Dominick Hyde and Another Flip for Dominick?

I love Life on Mars too! I'm so glad I decided to give it a try!

Please, if there are any other shows as good as this on TV lately, please recommend them! I don't want to miss out on stuff as good as this!

Anyone remember Crime Traveller with Michael French off of Eastenders? That only lasted 8 episodes I think but it was quite good. (Nowhere near Life on Mars quality of course!)