Life on Mars

A detective chief inspector from 2006 is investigating a serial killer when he is knocked over by a speeding car. Waking up, he finds himself mysteriously transported back in time to 1973. Initially struggling to come to terms with his situation, he has to come to terms with the old-fashioned technology and attitude of the day, while figuring out how he came to be trapped in the past.

Life on Mars (2006-2007) is a British time travel crime drama created by Matthew Graham, Ashley Pharoah, and Tony Jordan for BBC One. Detective Sam Tyler (John Simm), a modern Manchester detective chief inspector, is hit by a speeding car while chasing a serial killer and wakes up in 1973, facing a police station run by the blunt, combative Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister). Sam must work cases alongside Annie Cartwright (Liz White) and the rest of Hunt's team while struggling with outdated forensics, rough interrogation methods, and a city that feels alien to him. Each episode pairs a murder or criminal investigation with Sam's search for a way home and a clearer picture of how he arrived in the past. The show runs for two seasons and sixteen hour-long episodes, shifting between gritty police procedural work and a pointed exploration of masculinity, class, and the social changes of the decade. Its tone is abrasive, bleak at moments, and often darkly funny, with a moody, rain-soaked atmosphere. Fans of Ashes to Ashes, Luther, and Line of Duty will find resonance in its British police grit and its blend of genre mystery and emotional unease.

Acclaimed for its original premise, sharp scripts and strong performances that make a time-travel police drama feel fresh.

• Ashes to Ashesshared time displaced detective premise with gritty 1970s police culture and sharp character clashes
• Luthershared crime procedural with a mystery engine and British period police tone
• Line of Dutyshared gritty British police drama with serialized murder investigation and morally ambiguous detectives
• Doctor Whoshared time travel premise and unlikely bond between a modern protagonist and a retro world

Created by

Matthew Graham, Ashley Pharoah, Tony Jordan

Release Date

2006-01-09

Episode runtime

60 min

Rating

8.3 / 10 (339)

What is Life on Mars about?

A modern Manchester detective wakes up in 1973 and must solve crimes with a brash, old-fashioned police team while puzzling out how he got there.

What is Life on Mars like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Life on Mars as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.

Is Life on Mars violent?

Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Life on Mars as moderate.

What did critics think of Life on Mars?

Acclaimed for its original premise, sharp scripts and strong performances that make a time-travel police drama feel fresh.

Which shows are like Life on Mars?

Shows with a similar feel include Ashes to Ashes, Luther, Line of Duty, and Doctor Who.

How long is Life on Mars?

Life on Mars: 2 seasons, 16 episodes.

Is Life on Mars still running?

No, Life on Mars has ended.

Where can I watch Life on Mars?

In United States, Life on Mars streams on Amazon Prime Video, BritBox Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video Free with Ads, Fawesome, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Amazon MX Player.