Very well executed

Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

Really Surprised!

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

Just watched this show for I think the 3rd time and it just gets better. I first saw the UK one when first aired and was so impressed I told my son (Who was a police officer at the time) - he showed some of the recordings to colleagues who said it brought back memories of the old ways of doing things. Now I don't know if the yank's did the things like that, but whatever - this is a wonderful transition from UK to USA. Every part seemed played to perfection and the "Americanized" plots just added to it - just so sad that it never made season 2. Sequels or re-makes seldom manage to equal , but this one surpasses - if you have not seen it -0 you should !

This should have been at least a 7 or 8, but the ending completely destroyed any hope of me giving this show a good review. ABC pretty much told all the viewers that they were morons for watching it in the first place (I could go on and on about how the networks always seem to do this so I won't) When i first heard the show was being canned, I like many fans were disappointed, but that was nothing compared to the disappointment from the last 5 minutes of the finale. It premiered on April 1st, so after it was over, I kept watching the TV PRAYING (i'm an athiest) that it was some sort of cruel April fool's joke and that the real finale would be on next week, but that would have been too kind to the viewers. Ever since the finale I haven't watched a single show on ABC, and I encourage you all to do the same.

If you think of a very successful British show like Life on Mars, it was only a matter of time before some network in America adapts it for American audience. My initial impressions before seeing this show was it was going to be no where near a good as the original British version. While I have to say that this show is not as good as the UK version,it is however a very enjoyable and entertaining show.The show does do a very good job at recreating 1970s New York with many cultural references which occurred around the time, such as the anti war protests and the Irish gangs. In addition, the acting from everyone is very good, especially from Jason O' Mara and Michael Imperiolli (who plays a drastically depiction of Ray Carling, as opposed to Dean Andrews portrayal in the original series). The story lines are also inventive in how the writers have taking story lines and plot elements from the UK version and added their own twists and ideas to the series, which helps give the show its own identity.Despite this, the show does have some flaws. Like I have previously mentioned, the show is not as good as the original. Another one of these flaws is Harvey Keitel as Gene Hunt. While Keitel is a good actor and his acting credit is seen here, I felt he was miscast as Gene. While he does display the same brutish attitude, he is unable to deliver the same tongue and cheek humour that the original character (played by Phil Glenister)had. Furthermore, the ending to the series is very poor and one of the main reasons why this remake is inferior to the original.Overall, Life on Mars USA is an enjoyable, if not flawed remake. If you look at it as a show on its own, it is pretty descent, however if you compare it to the original UK version, it is simply not as good. Anyone that is a fan of the original series should definitely give this a look, and even if you haven't seen the original, its still worth watching

Sigh... this could have been so good. Began OK, almost identically to the wonderful UK version, despite some bad editing choices, and the moment 'Sam' looks up and sees what he sees instead of the poster advertising the forthcoming Mancunian Way, is worthy of a 'wow' moment, but then it all goes horribly wrong! Instead of Gene Hunt, Sam's nemesis has become Ray Carling, and Harvey Keitel as Gene, essentially seems along for the ride rather than completely inhabiting his character, and I love Keitel in almost everything he's done. Chris is... forgettable. The new Annie is fine and Gretchen Mol suitably understated, Jason Mara however seems to be channelling Mel Gibson in much of his mannerisms and delivery, and seems too... 'nice' to be Sam. The show feels wonderfully appropriate for its time and the set dressing, feel and overall impression is very 'period', but the occasional use of stock 70's footage pulled me out of 'the moment'. It's not needed. We're already in on the joke.I enjoyed the series as it progressed, and the characters became more involving, but boy did I feel cheated at the end! It may have been rushed because the show wasn't going to a second series, but the UK one managed to round things off beautifully and neatly with possibly one of the most satisfying endings in television history in only 16 episodes! The US one had 17 to produce the dire Dallas style cop out (pun intended) we were presented with.Watch for the curiosity value, and if you forget the UK version (is that possible?) you will enjoy it on one level, but really, switch off before the last ten minutes of the last episode. You will live happier and fuller lives if you never see those 600 seconds of utter stomach churning bilge!