Life on Mars 2008
“A modern day cop in a 1973 world.”
What is Life on Mars?
Life on Mars is a television series that follows police detective Sam Tyler after he experiences a mysterious phenomenon following a car crash. Tyler suddenly finds himself transported to the year 1973 while still maintaining his role as a detective.
- Type
- TV series
- Year
- 2008
- Status
- Ended
- Episodes
- 17
- First aired
- Oct 9, 2008
- Last aired
- Apr 1, 2009
- Original language
- EN
- Origin
- US
- Networks
- ABC
- Genres
- Mystery, Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
- Updated
Where to watch
With ads
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Apple TV Store
Amazon VideoStream
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Fandango At HomeStreaming availability data provided by JustWatch via TMDB. Availability changes by country and date; verify on the provider before subscribing or purchasing.
How long to binge?
Estimate the schedule using 17 episodes and an average 45-minute runtime.
Trailer
No official trailer is available for this title yet.
Find the trailer on YouTube ↗Overview
Life on Mars is a television series that follows police detective Sam Tyler after he experiences a mysterious phenomenon following a car crash. Tyler suddenly finds himself transported to the year 1973 while still maintaining his role as a detective. The series explores his experiences navigating law enforcement work in this earlier time period, dealing with the cultural and professional differences between his original era and the 1970s setting. The show examines themes of displacement, adaptation, and the evolution of police work through the lens of this extraordinary temporal displacement. Tyler must adjust to the investigative methods, social norms, and workplace dynamics of the 1970s while continuing his detective duties. The series uses this premise to contrast different approaches to law enforcement across decades, as well as to explore how societal changes have impacted police work and criminal investigation techniques over time.
Should you watch it?
“A modern police detective wakes up in 1973 after a car accident while still working as an officer.”
- compelling premise
- engaging period setting
- unexplained time travel
- dramatic tension
Watch it if you enjoy police procedurals with a supernatural or time-bending twist.
The series contains depictions of police work and themes related to its 1970s setting.
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Cast
Episode guide
Season 1 · 17 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide →- E1 Out Here in the Fields Oct 9, 2008
- E2 The Real Adventures of the Unreal Sam Tyler Oct 16, 2008
- E3 My Maharishi is Bigger than Your Maharishi Oct 23, 2008
- E4 Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadows? Oct 30, 2008
- E5 Things to Do in New York When You Think You're Dead Nov 6, 2008
- E6 Tuesday's Dead Nov 13, 2008
- E7 The Man Who Sold the World Nov 20, 2008
- E8 Take a Look at the Lawmen Jan 28, 2009
- E9 The Dark Side of the Mook Feb 4, 2009
- E10 Let All the Children Boogie Feb 11, 2009
- E11 Home is Where You Hang Your Holster Feb 18, 2009
- E12 The Simple Secret of the Note in Us All Feb 25, 2009
- E13 Revenge of Broken Jaw Mar 4, 2009
- E14 Coffee, Tea or Annie Mar 11, 2009
- E15 All the Young Dudes Mar 18, 2009
- E16 Everyone Knows It's Windy Mar 25, 2009
- E17 Life is a Rock Apr 1, 2009
Frequently asked questions
What is the premise of the show?
A police detective is transported back to 1973 following a car crash.
Does the protagonist continue working as a detective?
Yes, he continues to work as a detective after his arrival in 1973.
When was this series released?
The series was released in 2008.
What genre is the show?
It is a television series featuring crime and mystery elements.
Is the time travel explained?
The series presents the character's arrival in the past as a mysterious event.