TVSquad

This will become a cult classic series. Like the early Sopranos, a little rough in a hurry to establish characters but nonetheless well-executed overall. The soundtrack is perfect. Had it lasted, there would have been more celebrity appearances, maybe in 1970s character. This also proves Imperioli deserves a lead role after back-to-back great supports/second leads. Keitel showed the wonderful actor he is by not dominating but also leading through delivery. Annie was fine. She seems to be one of those "oh yeah it's her" actors. That is, fine for what is demanded of the role.

Reply

Since it appeared that things in the "dream" manifested from real situations inside his head, what kind of messed-up issues was Astronaut Sam having where he ends up banging his dad's daughter? I mean, I know it wasn't his "dad", but if the parallel is supposed to always be there, it's messed up.

At least it was an "ending", but there are many more ways I would've PREFERRED the series to end that didn't involve 2035 and a Mission to Mars (ordered by future President Obama).

Reply

They shouldn't have made Hunt his dad. That was lame.

Reply

Here's the thing - because it was a shortened one-season series, I actually liked the ending. But if the show had dragged on for years, I think I'd be pissed off. Let's put it this way - if they pull this sort of trick ending with the series finale of Lost, I will be EXTREMELY friggin pissed off (like if the whole thing was just Jack's dream on Oceanic 815, which he wakes up from as the plane safely lands). The fact that there were only 17 episodes of this show is what allows me not only to like the way they ended it, but accept it as plausible, originally intended (i.e. not made up at the last second to surprise for the sake of being surprising), and well-rounded.

I think killing off the show when they did is what will ultimately make these 17 episodes a classic with great DVD sales. Had it gone on for 3-5 full 22-episode seasons, I think I'd be very pissed off at a "gotcha" ending like this. But with the short run, it works well. And there were enough clues throughout the entirety of the series to make this a very plausible, logical, consistent ending.

I would have liked to have seen what the actual astronaut characters were like as compared to their "Sam's 1973 police trip" counterparts. As pointed out, what space agency in their right mind would let Ray Carling (as we've come to know him) within 100 yards of a spaceship, let alone put him on an extended mission to Mars. But maybe the real Ray Carling is nothing like the "1973 cop" Carling. It would have been nice to delve into that just a little bit, but I realize they were short on time.

Between his performances as Vic Tyler on this show, Dennis Duffy on 30 Rock, and Charlie Dixon on Terminator: TSCC, I've come to really like Dean Winters as an actor. Unfortunately I always think of Dennis Duffy first. But he's had a lot of good parts in a lot of good TV shows over the past year or two, and he's one of those actors I keep an eye out for, b/c he's bring something unique to the part. Sucks that TSCC killed off his character in the last episode.

One last thought: Gretchen Mol has always looked much better as a blond, and she should always have blond hair.

Reply

I think it's a travesty that this show was cancelled so quickly. It obviously has a huge following, great reviews, an amazing cast, great writing, etc.... shouldn't those be qualities in a show worth keeping on the air? Oh well, I suppose it's time for another Super Nanny Wife-Swapping De-tox Variety Dancing show to grace the air. (I like to think of reality shows as huge awkward metal plates to patch potholes on side streets: quick, easy to make, and no filler.)

I'll miss you most of all, scarecrow. :)

Reply

'Life On Mars' always was a limited run premise and to have dragged it out even further would have weakened its impact at the end, no matter what type of scenario they came up with to explain everything. And if they did get a second year and continued to bleed viewers, ABC might not have been so indulgent and let them come up with an ending; they would have been cancelled outright. At least this way, we have a complete story.

'The Prisoner' only needed 17 episodes, and it's still my favorite TV series. The original 'Life On Mars' is in my Top Ten and that had only 16. Maybe the US TV industry should start thinking more in terms of limited run series.

I'll bet most of the American audience for this show never even saw the original. I hope they do check it out, but I also think those viewers never would have accepted that series' ending for this one. I just don't think it's in the general American psyche to be comfortable with that. This ending could be said to be the most American option possible - we've always seen ourselves as pioneers. (Cue the 'Star Trek' voice-over...)

It wasn't a great series, but it never failed to be enjoyable, and I'm quite happy with how it turned out.

And I liked the two 'Wizard of Oz' touches at the end, one implied. First, Gene Hunt's quote "I think I'll miss you most of all, Scarecrow" and then Sam's variation on the "and you were there and you, and you... and you" routine.

Reply

Tony: Even though we Americans have extremely short attention spans, which makes short seasons somewhat logical, the networks are too chickenshit to take a show that's getting good ratings off the air. Why invest in a product that only gives returns for a limited time when you can invest in a product that can potentially give returns perpetually (like the simpsons) or at least a couple of years on average? It's bad business, especially when it costs so much to develop and produce a TV show for the American market.

If Lost is still getting good ratings, my thoughts on it only having 2 more seasons per demand of Lindelof and Cuse - I'll believe it when I see it. Another few seasons will be created when the money is thrown at their feet. Or new showrunners will be found.

I'm actually sympathetic with the networks on this from a business standpoint - and as a viewer I'd hate to have a TV show I like taken off the air solely out of principle. Any story that can be told in 10 episodes can be told in 100 with a lot more detail. As long as you like the premise and the characters, and it's not boring, why not opt for the "extended edition"? Everyone does when it comes to DVDs. It's comparing a short story to a novel, but they're written for different purposes.

Reply

It doesn't suprise me that ABC would bail on a show like this. They are the same as FOX and HBO and Showtime and any of the others who only run things based on their bottom line.
This show was great and I am just happy that they were able to give it any ending.
It's a better treatment than 90% of the other shows that the networks bail on and let the fans swing in the breeze.

Reply

Never saw the ending coming. Thought it wrapped things up nicely.

Great show, best cast on TV. For it to be replaced by more reality is a travesty.

Thanks to the people who put it together and gave us one great year.

Reply

RT: surely 3 straight hours (instead of just 2) of "which pair can lose the most weight" is better for America than Harvey Keitel et al in a unique, interesting, well-written show.

We get the TV shows that we deserve just like we get the government that we deserve.

Reply

I hated the ending, I just sat there in shock and then said "oh cmon seriously?" It just seemed so .....wrong.
The voice of the computer is windy, he was 2B, Hyde 125, all the people he worked with as fellow astronauts, I mean the horrible wig they put on Gretchens head should be yanked off and trampled as a scene killer. AND the references to the Obamas again. I know thats to ground us in 2009, but I rolled my eyes.

If this is what they planned all along for this series, and it would have ended like this after a few seasons? I am glad they cancelled it.

Reply

I just watched it again...

Why (how) would Barack Obama be president in the year 2035? Unless they were implying that Michelle Obama is President in 2035 (it's not clear from the use of pronouns the guy says in the videocom - "she went to be with her father" or something like that).

Either that, or Obama's such a great president that after 8 years we amend the constitution to let him serve additional terms.

Windy the computer clearly states that it's 2035, though, and the final "life on mars" countdown goes from that year. Why mention Obama?

Reply

I liked that they used lines from Bowie's "Life on Mars" as dialog during the finale, rather than just playing the song.

As to the female Obama reference, I thought they might be referring to his oldest daughter as president.

Reply