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Sam Tyler (UK or US version. I'd trust either one of them).
Which brings me to my post.
I heard that the writers were not going to end the US series the way the UK version ended, and I took that at face value. So when Sam woke up on a space ship--in an Alien-esque pod--surrounded by Annie, Ray, Chris, and "Major Tom", I took that at face value. And I was pissed, though I couldn't quite put my finger on why.
You could say that I was unhappy it was all a dream, except the UK version was all a dream, too. And at least American!Sam (who I absolutely and positive adore) didn't end up in a motherfucking coma, right? I mean, the end of this series was, without exception, happy. Sam had worked out his father issues, he was about to land on Mars and explore a new planet, he was going to be an All-American Hero, and he came to terms with the fact that he was in love with his Annie. Not too bad for a mental simulation. Even the explanation for why he ended up dreaming about 1973 instead of 2008 was pretty acceptable.
But...I couldn't buy it. For one thing, Harvey Keitel was all of a sudden Sam's father, "Major Tom." Just like the Bowie song, eh? (And as Sam surmised, it always comes back to Bowie, but that's true in life, too, I've found). For another thing, Sam was so obviously a product of his time. The first name he thinks of when he needs to give a fake name is "Luke Skywalker." Sam would have been 8 when Star Wars was released, and that would have had a major impact on his life. Sam had 2008 sensibilities, a 2008 understanding of the world, and his mind immediately went to reference that a man his age (40 in 2008) would have been most comfortable with.
Now, on the one hand, I understand that ABC canceled the show and the writers had to scramble, no doubt, to provide a nice, pat explanation at the end of the series. I don't blame that at all for making it all too easy--it was all a computer created dream IN THE FUTURE!
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gigglestheblood and I discussed it in some depth tonight, and I've decided that the writers did not do that. For the entire run of the season, the writers proved themselves to be thoughtful, considerate, intelligent people who didn't piss me off. Their mysteries made perfect sense, their characterization was amazing and consistent, and it always felt like they really understood who Sam was, what he was going through, and what he was supposed to learn.
As soon as Sam came to terms with his life in 1973, and the fact that he didn't want to "go home," the dream changed. Suddenly, he was taken out of a place of constant conflict, stress, and anxiety, and put in a family unit on Mars of all places. Because now he wasn't going to be in conflict with himself (as represented by the people surrounding him) and so he could actually have some fun. Instead of solving crimes and mysteries, he's exploring and finding actual, honest-to-god adventures in untouched land. Instead of dealing with the results of corruption and money, he's going to go to a world where everything new and waiting for him, and he's going to be with his lady-love, his father, and his two brother-figures.
I think it's interesting that Gene's final words in 1973 is "I'm going to miss you most, Scarecrow." An obvious reference to The Wizard of Oz. The character who has to learn he was smart all along. But why "miss you"? It was almost as if Gene was leaving. And as soon as the possibility of Gene leaving entered the picture, everything changed. And he woke up in a place where Gene--his new father figure, the father he always wished he could have--could never leave him.
Sam isn't an astronaut. Sam's a cop in 2008. And when the voice on the phone--his doctor--told him he could wake up if he did one more thing (ie, if he chose to leave his subconscious mind), he declared that he was happy not just where he was at, but he was happy with the people surrounding him. When he did that, he entered a new dream. One where his doctor is no longer a threat (in the form of an FBI agent) but a guy that is literally worlds away, incapable of harming him. As soon as he declared he was happy with his friends, he left one "rock" for another "rock" and chose to bring the people that, for him, made his life worth living.
Is it a sad ending? Is it a happy ending? Is it an ending at all? I feel it's a happy ending, because Sam is happy, and is finally at peace with himself. The issues and pain that tore apart his psyche before are healed, and he's looking forward to a new future. I think that Sam "simulation" will just keep changing in response to his needs. Maybe after he's explored Mars, he'll wake up in 1873 (the man clearly had a thing for spagetti westerns after all), and learn what it's like to tame the land and create a new civilization, since he already tried taming civilization in 1983, and living in a place untouched by man in 2033. And when he does, Annie will probably be the woman who runs the local brothel, Gene Hunt will be the Sheriff, and Ray and Chris will be his deputies.
gigglestheblood and I have decided to relive the shows. We'll watch both series of Life on Mars (UK), and then Ashes to Ashes, and then Life on Mars (US), and then S2 of Ashes to Ashes. It'll be in chronological order then.
Sam Tyler (UK or US version. I'd trust either one of them).
Which brings me to my post.
I heard that the writers were not going to end the US series the way the UK version ended, and I took that at face value. So when Sam woke up on a space ship--in an Alien-esque pod--surrounded by Annie, Ray, Chris, and "Major Tom", I took that at face value. And I was pissed, though I couldn't quite put my finger on why.
You could say that I was unhappy it was all a dream, except the UK version was all a dream, too. And at least American!Sam (who I absolutely and positive adore) didn't end up in a motherfucking coma, right? I mean, the end of this series was, without exception, happy. Sam had worked out his father issues, he was about to land on Mars and explore a new planet, he was going to be an All-American Hero, and he came to terms with the fact that he was in love with his Annie. Not too bad for a mental simulation. Even the explanation for why he ended up dreaming about 1973 instead of 2008 was pretty acceptable.
But...I couldn't buy it. For one thing, Harvey Keitel was all of a sudden Sam's father, "Major Tom." Just like the Bowie song, eh? (And as Sam surmised, it always comes back to Bowie, but that's true in life, too, I've found). For another thing, Sam was so obviously a product of his time. The first name he thinks of when he needs to give a fake name is "Luke Skywalker." Sam would have been 8 when Star Wars was released, and that would have had a major impact on his life. Sam had 2008 sensibilities, a 2008 understanding of the world, and his mind immediately went to reference that a man his age (40 in 2008) would have been most comfortable with.
Now, on the one hand, I understand that ABC canceled the show and the writers had to scramble, no doubt, to provide a nice, pat explanation at the end of the series. I don't blame that at all for making it all too easy--it was all a computer created dream IN THE FUTURE!
But
gigglestheblood and I discussed it in some depth tonight, and I've decided that the writers did not do that. For the entire run of the season, the writers proved themselves to be thoughtful, considerate, intelligent people who didn't piss me off. Their mysteries made perfect sense, their characterization was amazing and consistent, and it always felt like they really understood who Sam was, what he was going through, and what he was supposed to learn. As soon as Sam came to terms with his life in 1973, and the fact that he didn't want to "go home," the dream changed. Suddenly, he was taken out of a place of constant conflict, stress, and anxiety, and put in a family unit on Mars of all places. Because now he wasn't going to be in conflict with himself (as represented by the people surrounding him) and so he could actually have some fun. Instead of solving crimes and mysteries, he's exploring and finding actual, honest-to-god adventures in untouched land. Instead of dealing with the results of corruption and money, he's going to go to a world where everything new and waiting for him, and he's going to be with his lady-love, his father, and his two brother-figures.
I think it's interesting that Gene's final words in 1973 is "I'm going to miss you most, Scarecrow." An obvious reference to The Wizard of Oz. The character who has to learn he was smart all along. But why "miss you"? It was almost as if Gene was leaving. And as soon as the possibility of Gene leaving entered the picture, everything changed. And he woke up in a place where Gene--his new father figure, the father he always wished he could have--could never leave him.
Sam isn't an astronaut. Sam's a cop in 2008. And when the voice on the phone--his doctor--told him he could wake up if he did one more thing (ie, if he chose to leave his subconscious mind), he declared that he was happy not just where he was at, but he was happy with the people surrounding him. When he did that, he entered a new dream. One where his doctor is no longer a threat (in the form of an FBI agent) but a guy that is literally worlds away, incapable of harming him. As soon as he declared he was happy with his friends, he left one "rock" for another "rock" and chose to bring the people that, for him, made his life worth living.
Is it a sad ending? Is it a happy ending? Is it an ending at all? I feel it's a happy ending, because Sam is happy, and is finally at peace with himself. The issues and pain that tore apart his psyche before are healed, and he's looking forward to a new future. I think that Sam "simulation" will just keep changing in response to his needs. Maybe after he's explored Mars, he'll wake up in 1873 (the man clearly had a thing for spagetti westerns after all), and learn what it's like to tame the land and create a new civilization, since he already tried taming civilization in 1983, and living in a place untouched by man in 2033. And when he does, Annie will probably be the woman who runs the local brothel, Gene Hunt will be the Sheriff, and Ray and Chris will be his deputies.
gigglestheblood and I have decided to relive the shows. We'll watch both series of Life on Mars (UK), and then Ashes to Ashes, and then Life on Mars (US), and then S2 of Ashes to Ashes. It'll be in chronological order then. Tags:
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I agree with you also - casting, characters, plotting etc all first class and INTERESTING. Then I was on a spaceship - which was like being rear-ended while sitting at a red light. Jarring and unpleasant. I'm still worried about Sam's 2008 girlfriend - and she doesn't exist. Feh.
Glad it had a happy ending (I'd be sad if he ended up in a coma) but it still yanked me the wrong way.