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Contains spoilers up to and including the episode discussed, but is spoiler free for subsequent episodes of Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes.
"I was four in 1973, Annie.”
This summer, I’ve decided to do something I’ve been meaning to do all year: re-watch all of Life on Mars. I love this programme in the way that only a nerd can, and I’ve probably seen all of the episodes at least two or three times, but I’ve never watched it from beginning to end in order. So if you've never seen this wonderful series before, or just fancy watching them again, now's your chance!
I’m glad that they don’t spend too long in the modern world: it’s cold and colourless, Sam’s girlfriend is a bit annoying, and his suit doesn’t even fit properly. Cleverly, they get to the 70s within 10 minutes. In Life on Mars, the 1970s is a place of warmth and colour (even if the colour is usually either mustard or brown), funny characters and some seriously retro clothes.
The crime-of-the-week is pretty good: the working in of the modern plot into the 70s storyline is neatly done, and the “eureka” moment that Sam and Gene have as they talk to the nice old lady about biscuits and her noisy neighbour is properly grin-inducing. So much of what makes Life on Mars a joy to watch is present in this opening episode: the great sets; the sense of nostalgia; the cool music choices; and the interesting and diverse supporting characters, particularly Liz White as Annie.
But, really, it’s the performances of two men that stand out as key to the whole thing. Even at this early stage, Philip Glennister completely nails the character of Gene Hunt. Before he’s even been on screen for a minute, he’s uttered one of the series’ most memorable lines, but it’s in the last fifteen minutes or so that you can really see the birth of Gene Hunt the icon: ludicrously inappropriate, brilliantly instinctive and staggeringly funny.
But don’t overlook John Simm: here, he too manages to nail his character. As Sam Tyler, he has to hold the whole thing together, and avoid being annoying or unbelievable in a totally ridiculous situation, doing some impressively understated “What the hell is going on?” acting. Simm’s performance in this first episode is quiet, classy and brilliant, and it allows the whole 70s world to unfold around him in mad, glorious shades of brown.
Join me later in the week for episode 2.
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