Life On Mars - Series 1 - Complete (DVD)

John Simm stars as Sam Tyler, a driven and ambitious young detective, determined to keep the streets of 21st Century Manchester safe. But after a near fatal car accident, he wakes up, dazed and confused, in 1973. Has he gone back in time? Is he in a coma? Or has he simply gone insane?

What follows is Sam's 21st century account of 1970s life, where he feels like a fish out of water. He must come to terms with an unfamiliar environment and an archaic CID unit. There, using his modern know-how, he becomes integral to the unit. But he must adapt to their old-fashioned technologies and etiquettes.

Sam works on some of the hardest cases he's ever been involved with. It's a world where witnesses are regularly intimidated, it takes two weeks to process forensics, and his colleagues will nail their suspect whether they have the evidence or not...

Simply the best programme that has come out of the BBC for a long time, as I was a teen in the 70’s, I was hooked straight away. Even if you weren’t around in the 70's this series is still very watchable.

I was amazed how accurately the programme makers captured the look and language of that era.

Excellent performances from all the cast, all the characters were believable and I could associate them with people I knew/know in real life.

Some absolutely cracking one liners throughout all the episodes

Plot Summary:

Policeman DI Sam Tyler (John Simm) has an accident and awakes in 1973, as he tries to get back to his own time.

The questions you ask: Has he gone back in time? Is he in a coma? Or has he simply gone insane?


If you are going to buy both series, consider the boxset with both series, it may be more cost effective.

I have to admit I was extremely sceptical of another time-travelling programme. What with Dr Who and the daddy of time-travel sci-fis Quantum Leap, to compete with, this is an extremely absorbing if paradoxical programme. Yet it is completely and utterly brilliant. Humour, gripping finale (to this series), superb music and above-all fantastic acting between EVERY actor in the series make this quite possibly THE best BBC programme for a decade. Well done Beeb!

All us 40 somethings have been waiting for this series for a long time. Anyone who loved the Sweeny and 70's music is in for a treat here!

The concept is simple, but the acting and writing is just brilliant! Very funny and at times very politically incorrect (by todays standards anyway!) but that is what makes it so great.

I can't wait to buy the next series on DVD from e.bay so I can watch it over and over again! They are not making a 3rd series which is a great shame, so the DVD's are essential for all fans of this amazing peice of classic BBC T.V.

I just love this series. Every statement is so politically uncorrect, it's so brilliant.
I bought it because I love it but also because it's a bit of a cult thing, everything from the 60's & 70's is great according to the youngsters.
I'm looking forward to series 2 to complete the set.
Highly recommended, like the Sweeney with a touch of the Del Boys? Then this is for you!!

wot a serious.the best thing since slice bread.the character gene hunt is superb and the story line 4 sam tyler is well thought out.

Highly original police thriller series in which an ambitious detective, badly hurt in a car accident, finds himself 30 years in the past in the 1970s. Is he dreaming while in a coma? Has he gone nuts? Is he a time traveller? These are the least of his problems as he is plunged into the alien world of the 70s, complete with completely different attitudes (especially between men and women) and policing methods - not to mention fashion and cars. It's great when, for example, he asks someone where his mobile is and they ask, "Mobile what?" Fascinating and fun.

I bought this as the new series was about to be aired on TV and wanted to be reminded of the original. We have throughly enjoyed watching a very good series again. Worth every penny. Thanks

Yes this series is fantastic.
In fact it's the absolute best thing to be shown on the BBC at the moment (apart from the footy and rugby!). The series script is pretty mediocre at certain points over the series but the overall idea makes up for it. The series starts in vertially the same way as Lost series one (big accident/crash and end up in another dimension) The story then moves onto Sam Tyler (John Simm) waking up in 1973 and not knowing why he is there, he then goes down to the police station (where he worked as a DCI in 2006) only to be demoted to DI as his DCI is Gene Hunt portrayed by Phillip Glenister. The series then revolves around him solving cases with his DCI and in some cases having the opportunity to change the future (sometimes affecting his own if he gets back).
Series One has been brilliant and series 2 is apparantly going to be the final one so I hope the ending is something really good that ends in him getting back to 2006 i.e. something as simple as that he's in a parallel universe on a slightly different earth would be quite cool or maybe if he's been abducted by martians, and they have recreated a sense of earth they know, except there's a 33 year communication gap of intel would be even cooler.
I just hope the BBC do something really intelligent as an ending i.e. NOT something they usually come up with on a 5 minute coffee break like one of there pathetic dramas like born and bred or rough diamond (hardly pay tv quality, which the owners of the BBC seem to forget. We are paying for just the bbc in the TV Licence bill at the end of the day)
Roll on Series 2!

After watching the series on TV you can now obtain both Series 1 and Series 2 box sets at a very resonable price.
Both sets will not disapoint, well designed, with all extras you come to expect.
True collectors items..

I never caught this series on BBC1 when it first aired, but having read the reviews of people on here, decided I would buy the first series and take a look at it myself, and see what all the fuss was about.

Having watched almost the whole first series in its entirity, (I am six episodes in) on the sheer basis of the first six episodes alone, I give it five stars. John Simm is proving to be an excellent actor, certainly he plays DI Sam Tyler with the right mixture of confusion, vulnerability, sadness and determination that makes him instantly likeable.

The premise is quite simple. DI Tyler is involved in a horrific car crash, and wakes up in 1973 - the time when man made fibres were the order of the day, Ford Cortinas were hot, and when Mobile Phones were possibly "forgein numbers" and the world was still to be introduced to the concept of a TV in a bar. Tyler is left to unravel the mystery of what is happening to him - is this all a dream? a product of his mind, brought on by the coma from his accident? Is he going mad, or is 2006 a figment of his imagination and 1973 is reality?

It's powerful, gripping television and I watched the first six episodes back to back. Sam is an engaging character, a lost man trying to make sense of the world he is in, and get to grips with brutal methods of policing. Reading a suspect his rights "doesn't go like that" there weren't tape recorders used back then, and Sam finds himself regularly haunted by the girl off the TV test card.

Sam also clashes on a regular basis with the hardline methods of his superior "Gene" played by Phillip Glennister. Glennister ignites the screen in every scene he's in, and though the two rarely see eye to eye, together their screen presence is commanding and an absolute joy to watch.

There's chemistry too between Sam and WPC Annie, which develops over the course of the six episodes i've seen so far, and I look forward to seeing what happens next. Unfortunately, being made aware of the ending in the second series before I have even finished watching series one (I didn't read the spoilers on here) does slightly detract from me enjoying the series, but performances all round are so engaging, its hard to resist.

It could have gone terribly wrong. For so many reasons it should have never worked, but John Simm plays his role so well, he makes it believable, and crucially, makes it work. He conveys the right amount of bewilderment, frustration, determination and anguish to make you care, and make you really believe he is trapped in 1973. Had anyone played the role with less enthusiasm, it could have been a very different story for Life On Mars. Just as importantly, the show manages to blend in enough humour to keep you laughing as well, which I feel is important to the story as it could have become very gloomy, downtrodden and overtly gritty. This adds to the overall charm of the show, and I think is another reason why it became such a smash hit.

If you have never seen this, and are a fan of cop shows - and the paranormal, and anything just plain odd - buy this! I can't recommend it highly enough and will definitely get series 2! I only wish I had brought them together, because now I have to wait for series 2 to arrive through the post!

I watched both series of life on mars and thought it was excellent so I wanted the dvd set to watch at my leisure.

Having seen the brilliant series "Life On Mars" when it was televised on BBC1, I couldn't wait to see the whole series of 8 one-hour programms again. The drama follows police officer Sam Tyler who is apparently transported back to the policing methods of the 1970's and is intriguing, exciting and often very funny. When the DVD was released, I knew eBay would be the best place for me to buy the whole boxed series. I was delighted with my purchase of a brand new, boxed set which arrived very quickly, in perfect condition, from an excellent seller. I have no negative comments to make at all.

I loved the series because it was different from the usual run of the mill police shows. Added to that, it was based in my home city.
I enjoyed the relationship between the two main characters and I was delighted to be able to buy the series.

What an entertaining time I have had watching this collection.
Reminded me how great life was in the 70's, no political correctness just nitty gritty good old fashioned policing. How I wish we could go back to those days.

I wanted to get this DVD for a birthday present and I needed the next day after purchace, I was elated when I saw it on ebay, and the whole transaction went without any hassle, I asked if I could get it quicker than stated time from seller, and I received it the next morning packaged securly, the recipient of the birthday present loved it.

Best series out there at the moment
Sam is cute which is great for us women
The whole of the series is just fantastic

Only dislike of this product is that there are not more episodes

Just all round fantastic

I borrowed the dvd from a friend when it was first released and was absolutely stunned. What a brilliant plot, I just had to own this series myself! Have already had several friends asking me when they can borrow my dvd - and I just can't wait to buy season 2 when it is released on dvd!

Fantastic series. Series 2 has just finished which will be the last one (what a shame).
The partnership between the two main characters Gene Hunt and Sam Tyler is great.
I will be buying series 2 as soon as I can.

I like the light hearted humour and the good cast in this program also to look back in time as to how things used to be and to see how much times have changed - Its a break from everyday things that happen now I have also been watching the series on the television so wanted to start collecting the series of dvds

Life on mars has to be one of the best cop series to date especially how they have set the scene so brilliantly and its actually belivable s if i were you i would buy this.


Ryan.Briscoe

Loved the TV show so decided to get it on DVD. Comes on 4 DVD's, 2 episodes per disc also comes with extra features on each one. Great to watch them again as you pick up on things you missed the first time. One of the best programmes to come out in a long time. First class acting and writing with a superb sound track.

Absolutely Fantastic series, the best on telly for years. All the actors are superb and it combines drama and humour with intrigue (What is rally happening to Sam ?). The storylines are great and it is good to see the difference in the way things were in the 70's and the way they are now, sometimes better in 70's !
Of course sometimes not. Music is also very good all from the 70's.
Watching the second series at the moment ob BBC TV which is every bit as good as the first.