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Life on Mars

2008 – 2009Show1 season17 episodes

DramaMystery
73
GoodGoodWatch score
IMDb7.5Metacritic738.1

A nostalgic, profoundly sad mystery series about history and crime, with standout performances and direction.

Good for date night · friends night · teens

Skip it if you want to half-watch while scrolling

Where to watch

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Not for laughs.

Shows with

Episodes

1 season · 17 episodes · best: S1E7 "The Man Who Sold the World" 8.0

Episodes

7.5

Story

A modern day cop in a 1973 world.

After a car crash, police detective Sam Tyler mysteriously finds himself transported back to 1973 and still working as a detective.

Feels like

  • Neo-Noir Detective Drama
  • Time-Slip Mystery
  • Deeply Melancholic Atmosphere
  • Stellar Ensemble Cast
  • 1970s British Cultural Texture
  • Psychological Character Study
  • Intricate Procedural Plotting
  • Haunting Soundtrack
  • Ambiguous Reality
  • Emotionally Resonant Finale

Cast

24 of 138 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
Michael Katleman, Alex Zakrzewski, Jean de Segonzac
Written by
Adele Lim, David Wilcox, Scott Rosenberg

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

October 9, 2008 · April 1, 2009 · Ended

First aired
October 9, 2008
Last aired
April 1, 2009
Status
Ended
Length
1 season · 17 episodes
Content
Violence, Strong Language, Drug Use, Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Mystery, Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Available in
7 countries

Tropes

Cryptic Conversation, Motifs, Locked in a Room +9

  • Cryptic Conversation
  • Motifs
  • Locked in a Room
  • Celebrity Star
  • Time Travel
  • All Just a Dream
  • Not Named in Opening Credits
  • It Will Never Catch On
  • By-the-Book Cop
  • Modesty Bedsheet
  • Calling the Old Man Out
  • Hollywood Atheist

12 of 49 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream Life on Mars?"

Questions about Life on Mars

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Life on Mars?

In the United States, you can rent or buy Life on Mars from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home. It streams in 4 other countries, but not in the United States.

Is Life on Mars worth watching?

73
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 73 (IMDb 7.5 and Metacritic 73).

Can I half-watch Life on Mars?

Easy watchDemanding

No, it needs your attention: the title analysis rates it 8 of 10 for complexity and 8 for ambiguity.

Is Life on Mars good for date night?

and 3 moreDate NightPartner WatchAdultsFriends NightIntergenerational

Yes: romance is 6 of 10, and the viewing guide lists it for date night.

What tropes does Life on Mars use?

Cryptic ConversationMotifsLocked in a RoomCelebrity StarTime TravelAll Just a DreamNot Named in Opening CreditsIt Will Never Catch OnBy-the-Book CopModesty BedsheetCalling the Old Man OutHollywood Atheistand 37 more

TV Tropes lists 49 tropes for it, including Cryptic Conversation, Motifs, and Locked in a Room.