Life On Mars finale (spoilers)

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 9:14 pm

So, am I being stupid, or did they actually not explain whether he was crazy, in a coma or back in time? Seemed a jumble to me...

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 9:17 pm

I stumbled across a story on Ceefax tonight saying it was on and would definitely answer the question.

I watched CSI and then flicked across to see some gubbins with a radio and the Girl From The White Room turning off the channel.

I have no clue what's going on.

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 9:28 pm

err, [composite word including 'f*ck'], was watching the best game of football ever, so im missed the episode.

conclusions?

Post by **snarl** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 9:35 pm

2006 was real.

1973 was a comatose dillusion.

He survived the car crash and woke up in 2006, his normal life.

But he was all ****** up, missed his invented reallity, couldn't deal with the crunch of coming back to 'normality' + felt like he was 'killing' part of himself.

So jumped off the building and ended up in his coma again - or, he died and his afterlife, or his version of 'heaven' was being back in 1973.

All IMO.

Personally thought it was ace, bit sad but at the same time elating.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 10:45 pm

Colour was important.

In 1973, it had all been warm, bright colours, while when he returned to 2006, it was a much colder environment.

Being that it was well over a year ago that series 1 episode 1 was shown, I can't remember if pre-accident 2006 was cold or warm, but I'm sure watching it again would shed some light, or deepen the mystery.

There was a general feel of detachment when he was back in 2006, tho.

Anyway, when he jumped my initial reaction was "Well, that was pretty final!"

But, wasn't Chris the one who got shot, after saying "I don't want to be a policeman anymore!", even though Ray ended up in a sling?

KingMob · Post by **KingMob** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 6:21 am

Oh crap, can't believe I missed this episode. Thanks for the info...BBC Breakfast is going on about a sequel 1981 show with Gene? Interesting to see how that is constructed if 1973 was an entirely fictional reality.

And in minorly related crash of two of the best things, someone on Barbelith positied that Grimlock was the Gene Hunt of the Transformers. Gave us a smile, that did.

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 8:16 am

KingMob wrote:Grimlock was the Gene Hunt of the Transformers. Gave us a smile, that did.

Perfect!

Snarl wrote:2006 was real.

1973 was a comatose dillusion .

Yeah, I've slept on it and its the only conclusion that makes sense. I can't say the "it was all a dream" option is the most satisfying of endings, but I still enjoyed the episode.

Can't see how they can do a spin off if it's all a product of Sam's mind tho.

Post by **snarl** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 8:31 am

http://blogs.manchestereveningnews.co.u ... swers.html

Just about wraps it up.

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 8:49 am

I was just thinking if the spin off was in 1981, 'Ashes to Ashes' would be a great title...

Excited that we'll see some of the characters again, but the premise feels a little illogical. Will wait and see.

Post by **Best First** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 10:47 am

spiderfrommars wrote:I was just thinking if the spin off was in 1981, 'Ashes to Ahes' would be a great title...

not actually seen any of this, but according to last nights Sh1t Free Newspaper (C) it is.

KingMob · Post by **KingMob** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 9:56 pm

Watched the repeat on Beeb Four, it were smashing. Really a damn fine TV show, loved it. Snarl nailed it, the roof scene was sad and exhilarating at the same time, and the tune fit so perfectly.

The 'sequel' fascinates me now, because it infers that Gene and co. aren't just fictional randoms created by Sam's subconscious or whatever, but might be some form of existing construct that interacts with human minds that get exposed to their plane.

The concept is all very Invisibles/that issue of Planetary when Snow meets the inhabitants of the informational underspace that make up consensus reality. Awesome.

I must get the DVDs and watch them obsessively.

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 10:07 pm

My DVD's are in the post!

Something that came up in a recent discussion.... In the first ever episode he was going to jump off the roof to wake up from 1973. In the last episode he did jump off the roof... in 2006. So he could have dreamed 2006 and not the other way round...

inflatable dalek · Post by **inflatable dalek** » Fri May 04, 2007 3:24 pm

I've watched it three times now and I start to well up during Sam's conversation with his mum everytime. "I made a promise..."

And love how he seems to be able to hear the song playing on the soundtrack when he's on the roof- Look at him smile at the "Take a look at the lawman" line...

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Fri May 04, 2007 8:47 pm

I am right in understanding that the basic message of LoM is "the present's crap - it's preferable to die in a fantasy world", yeah?

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Fri May 04, 2007 9:37 pm

inflatable dalek wrote:I've watched it three times now and I start to well up during Sam's conversation with his mum everytime. "I made a promise..."

It would have been an interesting twist if his Mum had remembered him from 1973 I thought...

Brend wrote:I am right in understanding that the basic message of LoM is "the present's crap - it's preferable to die in a fantasy world", yeah?

I can't bear to think of it as a fantasy. Both worlds were real in some sense as far as I'm concerned.

KingMob · Post by **KingMob** » Sat May 05, 2007 10:06 am

spiderfrommars wrote:I can't bear to think of it as a fantasy. Both worlds were real in some sense as far as I'm concerned.

Same here. I've decided to just go all invisibles on it and believe that Sam being hit by the car was his Barbelith event, that '1973' is his contextual heaven, and that Gene at least is a pre-existing inhabitant of the informational plane of reality, where this is all being constructed.

And love how he seems to be able to hear the song playing on the soundtrack when he's on the roof- Look at him smile at the "Take a look at the lawman" line...

Yeah, the song is used masterfully. I love how it's used both when he enters '73 after the crash and then on the roof...both sequences, with the swelling music and the great camera moves, can be pretty emotionally engaging.

inflatable dalek · Post by **inflatable dalek** » Sat May 05, 2007 12:31 pm

Brendocon wrote:I am right in understanding that the basic message of LoM is "the present's crap - it's preferable to die in a fantasy world", yeah?

Well no- the overriding message of the entire show is about stricking a balance between the two ways of doing things. that's what I love about it, it's not just "Wasn't life better when the police could randomly beat the crap out of you"*, nor is it "Lets laugh at how primative we were back then. Sam and Gene work best together, when they combine the intuitive and the methodical aproaches.

However, for me the final is a utter tragedy because I'm in the "It's not real" camp (and it seems to be the authorial intent as well, but as the show doesn't come out and say it directly that still leaves different interpritations as valid). Sam couldn't find the balance in the real world, and ultimately he didn't have anyone in 2006 who'd stop him jumping like Annie did when he tried the same thing back in 1973 in the first episode.

Oh, and for what its worth John Simm is in the "He never really woke up and the 2006 stuff was as fake" camp. Which would explain him not having so much as a misplaced hair after major brain surgery...

Snowcat · Post by **Snowcat** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 2:09 am

Brendocon wrote:I am right in understanding that the basic message of LoM is "the present's crap - it's preferable to die in a fantasy world", yeah?

Pretty much. Either that or 'go where you're happiest', really. And Sam was happier when he was being challenged by Gene, teaching Chris, and getting boinked by Annie.

Sounds good to me, especially getting boinked by Annie.