Breaking Down the Nervous Detectives - Nuf Ced McGreevy Shouted "We're Not Here to Mess Around!"

Life on Mars - Series One, Episode Five - February 6, 2006

The final episode of Life on Mars aired on BBCAmerica last week, and I've been alternately anticipating and dreading the BBC's upcoming sequel and the American redo (although the writers strike might have put a stake in the latter's heart by now) One of the joys of Life on Mars is the way it can play with the audience.


We know, as Sam knows, what's coming. There's something about sport(s) that brings in the pack instinct. Next week will see the SuperBowl played between two teams from two cities that hate each other's sports teams. There will be a week of taunting and chest thumping and then, after one of the team wins, there will be still be taunting and chest thumping and one more thing to yell about at the next Yankees/Red Sox game.

There's a moment at the end of this episode - everyone in the city is walking to the game. I love that moment. You start walking with just your friends and family (or even by yourself). Then as you're sitting on the bus or the train, you start noticing people dressed like you. You get off and start walking again and all of a sudden you're in a huge mass of people all walking in the same direction. I love that feeling, and I love how we see it in this scene.

Sam is walking against the tide of people. I love that too.