DVD review (region 1 & 2)
Starring Jason O'Mara, Harvey Keital, Michael Imperioli, Gretchen Mol, Jonathan Murphy
Release date Out now (region 1); 15 February 2010 (region 2)

NYPD Detective Sam Tyler finds himself back in 1973 – or does he?

The complete box set of the short-lived US version of Life on Mars gives an opportunity to go back over the episodes and see the way the producers seeded the clues to their solution to Sam Tyler's predicament – ridiculous as their answer seems. You can almost tell the moment (around episode nine) where they realise that they're not going to get renewed, so start ramping up the foreshadowing.

The DVD extras provide a short, but interesting, behind-the-scenes documentary that was clearly shot during the final episode as the executive producers at that point couldn't have seen the UK creators' less than complimentary views on their ending and boast how much they feel validated by the Kudos team's praise for the show!

The commentaries are intriguing, although it's recommended that you watch the show through before listening to them, as there are spoilers for the ending.

The weirdest extra sees former Bionic Man Lee Majors walking through the sets, looking 20 years younger than when I interviewed him 10 years ago! Apart from showing that Jason O'Mara was a sci-fi geek as a youngster, this is really pointless, as is the gag reel, and sadly, the deleted scenes, which don't include the bits taken from the final episode which might have made it make sense!

My initial recommendation when the episodes aired was to stop the final episode seven or so minutes before the end, and make up your own ending. Rewatching the series, even with the benefit of the executive producers' comments, doesn't negate that. But it's nowhere near as bad as it could have been! Paul Simpson

VERDICT: 6/10
An intriguing, if flawed, take on the British original.