Life On Mars: The Finale

[The Toyroom]

So whatja think? I was hoping he'd end up staying in '73 with Annie but the ending was a nice twist. I'm sorry to see the series end but at least I don't feel gypped by a crappy ending...I liked it!

[Marvelmania]

I liked it too but also like you I wished he'd have stayed in '73. It was pretty cool that Gene ended up as his real father.

[The Toyroom]

Ahhh...not "Gene" though....Major Tom

[johnnystorm]

I was really happy with the wrapup to the series...nice twist. I won't give away any spoliers, but it was a much more satisfying ending for me than the Brit series had.

Sorry to see the series end, but it went out on a high note. Looking forward now to the DVD release, will be interesting to re-watch it all with a new perspective!

Can't say the series they are promoting to replace it looks good. Seems more like typical ABC fodder that will be gone after a season as well.

[Marvelmania]

Ok, Major Gene Tom?

[johnnystorm]

One point bothered me though...couldn't they afford David Bowie's Life On Mars song to play during the final scenes? Thought the Elton John stuff was an odd choice.

[The Toyroom]

Ok, Major Gene Tom?

Nope...probably Major Tom Tyler "Gene Hunt" came from one of the projects they'd be undertaking on Mars

[johnnystorm]

Here's something amazing already:

Life on Mars DVD news: Release Date for Life on Mars - The Complete Series | TVShowsOnDVD.com

Oddly, a Walt Disney studios release? Did I miss that part on ABC?

[Marvelmania]

You've just snatched the pebble from my hand Grasshopper

[johnnystorm]

Another question...there was a lot of 'splainin' in the finale about who was what and what all the names meant, from Hyde to Windy. But did they mention who or what Sam's original girl Maya was? Did I miss that?

[kryptosmaster]

Just got done watching it. Wow, totally unexpected but totally made sense now. Kinda bummed he didn't end up with Gretchen Mol and it was all some kind of computer program gone fritzy but at least it didn't end with too many "HUH?'s"
I think someone did theorize a "Wizard of Oz" type ending in another thread where he wakes up and all the people from 1973 are people he knew from his real life.

Another question...there was a lot of 'splainin' in the finale about who was what and what all the names meant, from Hyde to Windy. But did they mention who or what Sam's original girl Maya was? Did I miss that?

I saw Lisa Bonet listed in the credits at the beginning and expected her to show up at the end but as far as I saw she didn't appear at all. If they did explain Maya I missed it as well. I'm wondering if it was a cut scene?

Rich

[The Toyroom]

Glad I'm not the only one questioning Maya's appearance, or lack thereof....I wonder if they were obligated to list her in the credits due to her quick appearance in one of the flashbacks when the whole season is flashing before Sam's eyes? I have to laugh when I think back to the original promos for the series when they were heralding Lisa Bonet's return to series television....that ended up being a big flop as they steered Sam further away from his ties in 2008 and more toward 1973.

[ScottA]

The ending was fine with me and one I certainly didn't see coming. Nice twist. But I think they could have gotten another season out of it with Sam and Annie together and Annie being a detective now. I'll certainly buy the DVD set.

[johnnystorm]

I reviewed the ending on DVR and there was no mention or reference to Maya in it. I did notice that Norris now had a similar hairstyle to what Lisa bonet wore in the opening episodes, so perhaps we are to infer that Maya was an old girlfriend of Sam's pre-trip, but over the course of the dream she was transformed into Annie Norris.

I did notice that the nanobots were really miniature Mars Rovers, just like the one Sam meets in the Hyde street. Was the little girl Maya as a child...so maybe she was a childhood playmate or friend of Sam's? And Gene really being Major Tom...explains the comment Sam makes "Why does it always come back to David Bowie?"

The director of the mission from Nasa, who was the bad guy cop who accused Sam of murder last week was named Frank Morgan- same as the actor who played the Wizard of OZ in the MGM film...hence all the Oz references throughout.

One other thing that is kinda creepy...if Gene Hunt was really Sam's father...what psychological issues are running around in Sam's head since in his dream he was sleeping with Gene's daughter?

[kryptosmaster]

I have to laugh when I think back to the original promos for the series when they were heralding Lisa Bonet's return to series television....that ended up being a big flop as they steered Sam further away from his ties in 2008 and more toward 1973.

Didn't miss her. In fact I was glad when she pretty much disappeared from the show. I wish it could've gone on for at least another season as those characters (and actors ) were great. I was actually a bit disappointed when I saw her name in the credits at the beginning because I figured that meant he'd be going back to her at the end.

The director of the mission from Nasa, who was the bad guy cop who accused Sam of murder last week was named Frank Morgan- same as the actor who played the Wizard of OZ in the MGM film...hence all the Oz references throughout.

I thought that was the Wizard actor's name I heard but didn't follow up checking that out to confirm it.

Rich