With the glut of police dramas on television, it is rare to find one that is exceptional, let alone unique, but the UK’s BBC production Life on Mars is both and the box set of Life on Mars: Series One is a delight from start to finish.  Detective Chief Inspector Sam Tyler of the Manchester police is in the middle of a serial killer investigation when he is hit by a car and wakes up in 1973.  He is still Sam Tyler, still the same age, but now he is a Detective Inspector transferring to Manchester from Hyde (as in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: is this Sam an alter ego of 2006 Sam?).  David Bowie’s “Life on Mars” now plays on the car’s eight track player where it had been on 2006 Sam’s iPod.  The hits for Sam keep coming, too, as he realizes he has no cell phone, no computer, that police work in 1973 is much different than it is in 2006 with the sexism, delayed and sketchy forensics, unchecked minor corruption, and brutality and that he is in the same neighborhood as he lived (lives) as a child.
 

Given Sam’s fear that he has been thrown into the Land of Oz, it isn’t surprising that his first encounter with his new colleagues doesn’t go well.  His reliance on 2006 crime-solving methods and ethics puts him into direct, frequent, and occasionally physical conflict with Detective Chief Inspector Gene Hunt and his team.  During one of my favorite exchanges, Sam calls Gene an “overweight, over-the-hill, nicotine-stained, borderline alcoholic homophobe with a superiority complex and an unhealthy obsession with male bonding” and Gene calmly retorts “You make that sound like a bad thing.”  The relationship between these two complex men is as much the center of Life on Mars as the time mystery and watching their interaction is a rare and special treat.  The other members of the team include Ray Carling, a sexist bully cop who somehow manages not to be a caricature and Chris Skelton, a young and eager officer who wants to learn from both Sam and Gene.  Annie Cartwright is Sam’s biggest ally: a determined, career-oriented WPC who appreciates the respect Sam shows her and listens to his ramblings about the future with (mostly) no judgment.  Their friendship deepens as the series progresses, adding yet another complication to Sam’s already full plate.  As for characters outside the CID, Nelson the barman is a mysterious confidant of Sam’s, who may know a great deal about why Sam is there and Test Card F Girl and her spooky clown doll will haunt you after you see one of her late night chats with Sam.  We also meet both of Sam’s parents along the way and even young Sam himself.
 

The acting in Life on Mars is stupendous, with every role filled by the perfect actor from Liz White as the sympathetic and ambitious Annie to Lee Ingleby in the pivotal guest role as Sam’s father, Vic.  Special accolades, of course, have to go to the two leads.  Gene Hunt could be a two-dimensional ass, but Philip Glenister, with help from a crack team of writers, turns him into one of the most complex, fascinating, and entertaining characters on television.  Whether he is framing a suspect, tricking Sam into going to dinner because he doesn’t want to eat alone, or doggedly protecting his team, he is both believable and mesmerizing.  John Simm perfectly captures the confusion, determination, morality, and desperation of Sam Tyler, and the chemistry he shares with Philip Glenister is unparalleled. 
 

Life on Mars perfectly balances the case of the week with the mystery of Sam’s presence in 1973, and the relationships between the characters grow and change organically.  The writers do a terrific job doling out clues while telling taut, suspenseful stories that could easily stand on their own.  Occasionally an episode’s resolution will feel rushed or tied up too nicely, but overall the writing flows brilliantly with crisp, witty dialogue and memorable cases.  Along those lines, the music director does an excellent job of creating atmosphere with the song choices and the scoring of the episodes is outstanding.
 

The Life on Mars: Series One DVD set is packed with special features.  There is audio commentary by cast and crew for every episode, a short interview clip with director Bahrat Nalluri, a “The Music of  Life on Mars” featurette, a blooper reel, a “Get Sykes” featurette with production designer Brian Sykes, and the hour-long documentary “Take a Look at the Lawman” with behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with cast and crew.  The video quality of some of the special features is not the greatest, but there is some very interesting, very entertaining footage.
 

If you are a fan of police drama, character pieces, high concept serial shows, or just plain great television, check out Life on Mars: Series One and watch Sam Tyler as he asks himself “Am I mad, in a coma, or back in time?” and as he struggles to find his way through his current predicament and get back home.  Of course, we have to wait for Series Two to be released on DVD before we can know the whole story.