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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.
"One day, there’s going to be a young recruit who will look to you to show him the way. He’ll take his principles, his values, his beliefs directly from you. When that day comes, if you’re not good enough, if all you can tell him is to keep your head down and don’t cause any trouble, then there’s no hope for any of us, is there? How do you want to be remembered, Glen? You know, when you die? What do you want people to say about the sort of copper you were? About the sort of man you were?"
As Gene tries to help his policing ideal, Harry Woolf, catch a criminal he’s been after for years, Sam comes face-to-face with Glen Fletcher, the policeman who advised and encouraged him when he first joined the force. Sam, having just learnt that Glen has died in 2006, reaches out to his mentor’s younger self.
Coupled with the promotion of Annie last week, the introduction of Glen as the first major black police officer on Life on Mars does lend the start of series two an “issue of the week” feeling. It’s dealt with pretty well, though: the way that Glen makes the jokes before the other characters do; Annie (and Phyllis) being more assertive than most of the male characters. I love Annie’s mixture of bravery and naivety more and more with each passing episode, and Liz White is playing a blinder.
The climax of the episode, as Sam and Gene investigate the very corrupt Harcourt Woolf, is compelling. To Gene, there is nothing worse than a copper who is bent for his own gain. While he may have been pretty dodgy before Sam arrived (and still is, to an extent), there’s an underlying morality to the Gene Genie. The disappointment and deep hurt was etched into Philip Glenister’s face and it was impossible to take your eyes off him.
The themes and ideas of this episode are pretty clearly spelt out, most obviously in the scene that I’ve quoted from at the start of this post. But that’s not necessarily a criticism: within the idea of legacy and mentorship, writer Chris Chibnall provides nuanced studies of our two lead characters. Ultimately, Sam and Gene are both faced with the humanity and frailty of men that they’ve idolised; Gene has to accept it, but Sam is given the opportunity to do something about it, and have one last moment of bonding with the man who inspired him to be the police officer he’s become.
Next week: The IRA are suspected of planting bombs. As you can imagine, Irish stereotypes and jokes abound.
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