Life on Mars
A modern day cop in a 1973 world.
Created by Tony Jordan, Matthew Graham, Ashley Pharoah
On ABC
A disorienting mystery about a modern cop trapped in a 1973 police procedural, where reality itself becomes the central question.
After a car crash, police detective Sam Tyler mysteriously finds himself transported back to 1973 and still working as a detective.
Clusters
Where to watch
Questions people ask
Is Life on Mars scary? Yes, very. More frightening than 93% of series.
Is Life on Mars sad? Yes. More sad than 84% of series.
Is Life on Mars easy watching? Barely. Less comforting than 75% of series.
Does Life on Mars leave you hopeful? Not especially. Less hopeful than 73% of series.
Is Life on Mars violent? Somewhat. More violent than 64% of series.
These describe how the series comes across across its whole run, compared with other well-known series. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked episode by episode, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.
Written about
- Whose Show Is It?Finding
Cinnamon Score
How much this series gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.
Familiar shape, done well.
How unlike any other series this one feels
How much more it delivers than it promises
How much audiences actually like it
Ensemble
Everything like Life on Mars, and what each one shares →
Like Life on Mars
Nearest across the full emotional profile.
Same Mood as Life on Mars
Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.
Like Life on Mars, But Darker
Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.
Like Life on Mars, But Lighter
Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.
Like Life on Mars, But Less Popular
Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.
