![Dear Thursday: My So-Called Life on Mars [Spoiler Alert]](https://fierceandnerdy.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/life-on-mars-usa.jpg)
Dear Thursday: My So-Called Life on Mars [Spoiler Alert]
Seriously, don’t read this if you haven’t seen the Life of Mars series finale yet.
Now, I have to admit that when I heard Life on Mars would be canceled but fully wrapped up, I was thrilled.
I liked the American version of Life on Mars well enough, despite their prudish refusal to show people actually smoking, one-note sexism arc (which kind of made me suspect that there weren’t any women on the writing table), and the lead character, Sam Tyler, completely forgetting about his beloved fiancee after like 3 or 4 episodes. And I welcomed the chance to see how it all ended, rather than have to commit to it Lost-style for an unknown amount of seasons, before its central mystery was finally revealed.
However, last night’s episode felt hastily written and it’s gotcha ending tacked on. As it turned out, the whole thing had been a glitchy 2035 simulation that had been running while our main character and his co-workers/astronauts were under stasis while on their way to Mars. Oh, and because Sam’s IRL dad, Harvey Keitel was his captain in the glitchy simulation and Sam slept with the captain’s daughter, who also had (rather vague) daddy issues with Harvey Keitel, and somehow this solved the (also rather vague) daddy issues that Sam had. If you’re confused now, so was I.
But I’m not mad at the ending, b/c it was confusing. I’m mad because it was poorly executed. And this got me to wondering about a common philosophical question. Is it better for someone or something to die early rather than die lame?
For example I still love My So-Called Life, despite its brutal cancellation (also rendered by ABC) after just one season. I have no idea what happened after the cliff-hanger season one finale, but I’ll always remember it as a high-quality, well-executed series. Not so much with Life on Mars.
I also feel the same way about Aerosmith. Like if Steve Tyler had OD’d Jimi Hendrix style after “Janie’s Got a Gun,” then I’d probably still be a die-hard Aerosmith fan today. Same goes for U2, Seinfeld, Arthur Miller and a bunch of other artists and shows that have tapered off to a lame end.
So is it better to go out before or after your expiration date? And would you rather a TV show end abruptly or lamely? Weigh-ins welcome.
OMG! I had no idea they remade this for the US. It sounds like the ending was totally different in the UK (and possibly the whole series as well??) In the UK Sam Tyler eventually wakes up in the present day from his coma only to decide that 1973 was much better after all. Gene Hunt, Sam's 1973 boss, was so popular here that they wrote another series set in the 1980's called Ashes to Ashes. This series features yet another cop (this time a woman) who gets thrown back in time but to Hunt's new force in London (the first one was set in Manchester). Both versions of the show have been hugely popular in the UK but mostly I think because of the roguish charms of the Gene Hunt character and the amazing period soundtracks. It's School Disco all over again. The new series of Ashes to Ashes starts here next week.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/articles/…
OMG! I had no idea they remade this for the US. It sounds like the ending was totally different in the UK (and possibly the whole series as well??) In the UK Sam Tyler eventually wakes up in the present day from his coma only to decide that 1973 was much better after all. Gene Hunt, Sam's 1973 boss, was so popular here that they wrote another series set in the 1980's called Ashes to Ashes. This series features yet another cop (this time a woman) who gets thrown back in time but to Hunt's new force in London (the first one was set in Manchester). Both versions of the show have been hugely popular in the UK but mostly I think because of the roguish charms of the Gene Hunt character and the amazing period soundtracks. It's School Disco all over again. The new series of Ashes to Ashes starts here next week.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/articles/…
um… i'm really confused… i posted a comment here, but it disappeared… hmmm…
um… i'm really confused… i posted a comment here, but it disappeared… hmmm…
oh well — can't find my post. ha.
basically, i said i think network audiences who are watching a cop show, even if it is an "alternative" cop show, would probably prefer a wrap-up. generally. (and etc, i don't think you're the main audience for that show.) something like My So Called Life is a character drama and can be left open ended without disappointing a bunch of people.
but you can't blame the writers. blame the network. chances are the news of cancellation happened after that script was written, or it was already in production, or maybe even already shot. no time + no money (they don't throw money at a cancelled show) = little chance for an amazing or even satisfying ending. same thing happened to another ABC drama i once knew…
oh well — can't find my post. ha.
basically, i said i think network audiences who are watching a cop show, even if it is an "alternative" cop show, would probably prefer a wrap-up. generally. (and etc, i don't think you're the main audience for that show.) something like My So Called Life is a character drama and can be left open ended without disappointing a bunch of people.
but you can't blame the writers. blame the network. chances are the news of cancellation happened after that script was written, or it was already in production, or maybe even already shot. no time + no money (they don't throw money at a cancelled show) = little chance for an amazing or even satisfying ending. same thing happened to another ABC drama i once knew…
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ashestoashes/index.shtml
Here's the trailer for the new Ashes to Ashes series. It features Keeley Hawes from Spooks – really hope you got this over there!
Here's the trailer for the new Ashes to Ashes series. It features Keeley Hawes from Spooks – really hope you got this over there!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ashestoashes/index.shtml
ah, nuts! it's not letting me play it, b/c I'm on an American IP. Same reason that we can watch Dr. Who in real time w/ you.
ah, nuts! it's not letting me play it, b/c I'm on an American IP. Same reason that we can watch Dr. Who in real time w/ you.
that's just it. my so called life's open-ender was a HUGE disappointment for their audience — including me. i'm saying that i'd rather a show end abruptly than in badly. of course if it were up to me, my so called life, would have gotten 4 seasons and a profound high school graduation. but if the writing team didn't have enough time to wrap it up, i would have rather they not wrap it up and leave it on a cliffhanger.
but i do get that the majority of the show's watcher probably would chose a bad ending as opposed to know ending at all. Ranh.
oh… see, i liked the abrubt ending of MSCL. not loved, because i hated that it was cancelled (oh the petitions i signed), but i didn't mind it because i knew i wouldn't be satisfied with nearly any ending they gave it.
that's just it. my so called life's open-ender was a HUGE disappointment for their audience — including me. i'm saying that i'd rather a show end abruptly than in badly. of course if it were up to me, my so called life, would have gotten 4 seasons and a profound high school graduation. but if the writing team didn't have enough time to wrap it up, i would have rather they not wrap it up and leave it on a cliffhanger.
but i do get that the majority of the show's watcher probably would chose a bad ending as opposed to know ending at all. Ranh.
oh… see, i liked the abrubt ending of MSCL. not loved, because i hated that it was cancelled (oh the petitions i signed), but i didn't mind it because i knew i wouldn't be satisfied with nearly any ending they gave it.
Wow, that's really upsetting. I had assumed that our version completely stayed in line with the British version, and that's why the ending was so lame, b/c they were trying to match it completely — and failed. Did you like the way your series ended — it just being a coma sounds a bit anti-climatic, and I doubt it would've gone over here. We Americans kind of need that razzle-dazzle ending.
I heard about "Ashes to Ashes" and really, really want to see it. I've been somewhat frustrated that you rarely get to see women or minorities going back in time on TV, which is a shame, b/c the obstacles they would face if this happened are so much more interesting than just sending yet another white male back into time — though don't get me wrong, if anybody goes back in time, I'm pretty much watching.
Wow, that's really upsetting. I had assumed that our version completely stayed in line with the British version, and that's why the ending was so lame, b/c they were trying to match it completely — and failed. Did you like the way your series ended — it just being a coma sounds a bit anti-climatic, and I doubt it would've gone over here. We Americans kind of need that razzle-dazzle ending.
I heard about "Ashes to Ashes" and really, really want to see it. I've been somewhat frustrated that you rarely get to see women or minorities going back in time on TV, which is a shame, b/c the obstacles they would face if this happened are so much more interesting than just sending yet another white male back into time — though don't get me wrong, if anybody goes back in time, I'm pretty much watching.
It's a tough call, I also feel the ending was totally tacked on. WTF!?!?! 2035?!?!!? I loved the ending of the british version. I thought that was wonderfully thought out. Plagiarizing that ending would have been better than what they crapped out.
I'm really sad to see it go, sad to see it go on a crummy ending, but I'm grateful for having the show in my life. I wish they would have gotten extended to an "Ashes to Ashes" …..
It's a tough call, I also feel the ending was totally tacked on. WTF!?!?! 2035?!?!!? I loved the ending of the british version. I thought that was wonderfully thought out. Plagiarizing that ending would have been better than what they crapped out.
I'm really sad to see it go, sad to see it go on a crummy ending, but I'm grateful for having the show in my life. I wish they would have gotten extended to an "Ashes to Ashes" …..