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'''Life on Mars''' is a British TV drama based in [[Manchester]], [[England]]. There are only 6 episodes per season. Season 1 is finished, and Season 2 has not yet aired in the US.

'''Life on Mars''' is a British TV drama set in [[Manchester]], [[England]]. There are a total of sixteen episodes; split into two series, airing originally in the United Kindom in 2006 and 2007 respectively. '''Life on Mars''' follows the story of Sam Tyler, a contemporary police officer who, after being hit by a car, awakes to find himself in 1973. A lot of the show's dramatic elements are derived from the fact that Sam does not know exactly what's happened to him; in the opening of each episode, he lists three possibilities: "Am I [[mad]], in a [[coma]] or back in time?"

==Initial Plot==

==Name==

It follows the exploits of a contemporary cop, Sam Tyler, who finds himself in the 1970s after an accident leaves him in a coma. He spends most of his time between solving crimes trying to figure out if he is still in the coma, insane, or time-traveling and if he can get back home by solving a crime or two.

The name "Life on Mars" refers to a David Bowie song which is playing in Sam's car after the accident, both in 2006 and and in 1973. It also refers to the fact that Sam finds 1973 as being "like I've landed on another planet"; his modern, by-the-book methods contrasting sharply with Gene Hunt's outdated policing.

Meanwhile, in the 1970s, his new girlfriend is disturbed by his insistence on his coming from the future.

A modern police officer from 2006, Sam has a by-the-book and modern approach to policing and to crimefighting, though in the initial scenes in the future, he does express doubt over these methods to his girlfriend Maya. Sam contrasts with Gene Hunt, who is willing to go to any means neccesary to prevent crime; legal or not. Sam has a girlfriend in the future, Maya, who he believes has left him during his coma. In 1973, he also finds himself attracted to Annie Williams, and it is implied that they get together in the final episode.

Also, there are many 1970s cop-show formula gimmicks inserted into the action, like Starsky-and-Hutch style shenanigans.

The foil to Sam, Gene commands A-division of the Manchester police force, and is considered to be brutish and outdated by Sam. Although he often argues with Sam, both come to see the benefits of the other's methods.  

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