Life on Mars finale (spoiler)

[tzikeh]

I cannot be insightful at the moment, and I can't promise that I will write up my thoughts on the finale anytime soon, because... because. But...

I have never felt such fannish glee as I felt tonight when I realized that a character whom I adore was going to fling himself off of a roof. That was the best suicide *EVER*.

Comments

[nomadicwriter]

I know. You just knew as soon as you saw him on the roof. John Simm was right, it would have been perfect to end it there, but I was still happy that they didn't.

I have never been so impressed with a finale that completely and utterly failed to answer any questions whatsoever. 'Cause you know, on reflection giving Sam emotional resolution while still leaving every single coma/time travel/mad/who-the-hell-knows? theory on the table was absolutely a better way to end it than picking out any one of them as The Truth. (Especially from a fanfic-loving point of view. Open-ended canon for the win!)

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

giving Sam emotional resolution while still leaving every single coma/time travel/mad/who-the-hell-knows? theory on the table

YES! Have we ever had a show that did BOTH? I think not. I am in heaven. HEAVEN. I just... the Ford Cortina driving off into the sunset, Gene and Sam squabbling away, for eternity...

When he was standing on the roof I just... I just... I have no words. I still have to process.

Anyone's interpretation can be right! Or none of them!

[leaper182.livejournal.com]

*waves hello*

Just out of curiosity, I've heard rumors on my f-list that this might be the series finale for Life on Mars. Is that true, or is it just a season finale?

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

We've known from last year that the show would only run two series. That's the series finale.

[leaper182.livejournal.com]

Ohhhhh.

*nodnod* Interesting that there's series on like that. I think Babylon 5 was the first one to do that, wasn't it? I know that Avatar: the Last Airbender is supposed to run for just the three seasons, but if the ratings continue to climb, they might do something else.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

I think Babylon 5 was the first one to do that, wasn't it?

No - the Brits have been doing it this way for years. That's why so much of their television is so much better than ours. ;)

[leaper182.livejournal.com]

Ohh! I didn't know that! I'm only really familiar with old-school Doctor Who, which ran for 26 friggin' seasons.

Granted, all the stories are, like, 2-10 episodes long, but still.

^_^

[elynross.livejournal.com]

Yay, you got it! Wasn't it FABULOUS!?!

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

*incoherent*

YES!!!!!!

Oh my it was the thing with oh and then that other aie I have with the AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.

Yes.

Updates as further coffee warrants.

That hurt, didn't it? That's because it's real.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

I have been entirely unable to get the song out of my head today. Just the part that starts with "take a look at the LAWWWWMAAAN beating up the wrong guy...". Over and over and over and over. And I have a sense that, any time I hear that song from now on, I will see those two series-bookending 360 pan-shots of Sam, standing alone, wondering what to do.

I have been *electrified* all day. I don't know how I've been participating in classes. I'm... it's so glorious! I laughed and cried at the same time, I was emotional for the story and the characters and emotional that the show was over, I will be thinking about this for days and days. I think it may be the best series finale I've seen. I'll really have to think about that hard, but for the moment, that's my verdict.

Oh, man. Look at those cave men go...

[jackiekjono.livejournal.com]

I think I will need brain surgery to get that song out of my head now.

Re: That hurt, didn't it? That's because it's real.

[elynross.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm *so* glad. I've just been... *happy*. It's like the best possible outcome. In a way, Gene isn't "real" -- but he's just as real as Sam is. *g* And *so* creative, and they kept me guessing right down the line!

Re: That hurt, didn't it? That's because it's real.

[roga.livejournal.com]

This is so, so random, I know, but I watched the finale this weekend and am still squeeing about it in my head and was linked to this post, and:

Just the part that starts with "take a look at the LAWWWWMAAAN beating up the wrong guy...". Over and over and over and over. And I have a sense that, any time I hear that song from now on, I will see those two series-bookending 360 pan-shots of Sam, standing alone, wondering what to do.

OMG SO MUCH YES, I CANNOT GET THAT SONG OUT OF MY HEAD. NOR THE 360 CAMERA PAN. And I'm not really sure I ever want to. This is making writing my paper very, very difficult.

[casirafics.livejournal.com]

I have never felt such fannish glee as I felt tonight when I realized that a character whom I adore was going to fling himself off of a roof. That was the best suicide *EVER*.

*dies* *somewhat ironically* Best suicide ever, best line ever. ;)

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Well - tell me! Was it not? I can't think of a better one. With his eyes wide open running full-tilt with a smile on his face...

Just... *glee*

The creator / writer said that when they aired it at BAFTA, when Sam started running, the house burst into applause. Can you IMAGINE?

[casirafics.livejournal.com]

OMG YAY SUICIDE!

It's just so perfect and bizarre and fantastic and true all at the same time.

JUMP! JUMP! JUMP!

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Here's something for the books - they had a showing last night at BAFTA (in the big auditorium where they give out the BAFTAs, naturally) with the glitterati in attendance, and when Sam went up on the roof and started running for the sky, the entire audience started APPLAUDING.

And these are the *Brits*! :)

GOD, how I wish I could have been there.

I want an animated icon of that running jump with the smile that says "BEST. SUICIDE. EVER". But I'll only be able to use it in the comments of lj-cut posts that have spoilers for the finale, so that only people who have seen it can see it.

Le sad.

Re: JUMP! JUMP! JUMP!

[casirafics.livejournal.com]

Oh, man, I wish I'd been there. I would have been cheering right along. ;)

And I might just have to do something about that icon....

Re: JUMP! JUMP! JUMP!

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

LOL! We can make several of that... scene. Yes.

No brain today....

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Wow. I realized I just wrote the same thing to you twice.

So - did you hear how the audience at BAFTA applauded when Sam started running off the roof?

I am REALLY out of my mind today.

Re: No brain today....

[casirafics.livejournal.com]

And I replied to it twice, so hey. Right there with you. :)

(I just assumed you were... elaborating? yes.)

[laurashapiro.livejournal.com]

I loved all the reversals. I continue to adore the use of the song (my favorite Bowie song since I was a wee, and still on my top 10 list of best songs ever), and the use of "Changes" in the finale as well. Suicide glee!

But I think my favorite notion is that everyone gets to pick their own heaven, and this is Sam's.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

I love that right after Sam discovers that he has to destroy Gene Hunt, the soundtrack kicks up "Funeral for a Friend".

And best of all, *any* interpretation of what happened is viable. I have so, so, so much to say about this finale. Unfortunately I also have so, so, so much studying to do (and three papers in two weeks).

[laurashapiro.livejournal.com]

You know, I was always firmly on the "in a coma" side of the debate, and the finale pretty much vindicated that for me. I never really entertained the idea that you could still view it as open to interpretation, because it seemed so clear to me. But on reflection, I find you're right, and that's pretty cool.

A wild hair

[laurashapiro.livejournal.com]

You know, it occurred to me at some point while watching the finale that Gene and Ray Vecchio had certain things in common. They might enjoy going out for a drink together and bitching about this uptight guy they work with (I wouldn't mind reading that story).

Today, I am struck by a certain similarity between Sam Tyler and Benton Fraser: a moral and upstanding lawman from a distant world travels to a place where he is an alien and his ethics are bewildering to everyone and irritating to his fellow cops.

I think I'm beginning to understand why so many of my diehard F/V friends are in mad love with this show.