Life on Mars is Worth The Ride

A great new show that you should definitely check out is Life on Mars. It seems to be an incredibly original idea with the theme of the supernatural lurking in the background. The basic plot line is pretty straight forward. The lead character is a police detective. I know what you are going to say. "Oh, another police show, another crime drama, how original!" Hang on, don't get carried away. Yes, it is based around the expoits of a police officer however, here is the twist. He gets hit by a car while he is one the job and when he wakes up he is in 1973. Yup, it sounds crazy and I guess it kind of is. So far it looks great but I think it may end up being one of those kinds of shows that you will have to be following from the beginning.

When the police detective wakes up, he walks around realizing he is in 1973. He doesn't believe that it is real but everyone around him thinks he is insane when he tells them that he is actually from the future. The show takes place in New York so the back drop of characters and scenery is great to watch. The lead is played by Jason O'Mara who I am not that familiar with but he does a great job so far. The supporting cast is amazing. His Police Captain in 1973 is played by Harvey Keitel who takes the 'I do things my own way to get it done' philosophy to new heights. His character, often caught taking a shot of booze, is also hysterical. Gretchen Mol plays the department lady cop who tends mostly to issues of the psychological nature so of course the cop from the future is a major concern of hers. He is also joined in the precinct by Michael Imperioli who most people will remember from The Sopranos and who also happens to be one of the best actors of our generation in my opinion.

Another great part of the show is how it is left uncertain as to what kind of condition this cop is really in. Is he dead? Is he lying in a hospital bed in a coma? What exactly is going on? There is great interaction with him and the world he appears to have temporarily left behind. His girlfriend from the future is played by Lisa Bonet, who has't really taken a run at television since the Cosby Show and she looks and acts great. Looking at her today, she has definitely grown into a beautiful and talented woman. It will be interesting to see how her character and the 'other life' plays into each episode.

Life on Mars looks different and fun. With the kind of cast it has and the origianl story line, there is a good chance this show will hang around for a decent run. Keep your eyes open and check it out. It is worth it.