After Life

Thanks to the glacial nature of programming at the ABC, it'll be another couple of weeks before the first episode of Life on Mars makes it to Australian TV.

For my regular 'Strayan viewers who don't have the faintest idea what I'm talking about, the show follows Sam, a detective from 2006 (John Simm) who is hit by a car and wakes up in 1973 with no idea if he's in a coma, barking mad or has actually travelled in time.

UK readers will have more of a clue about the show, as it was a monster hit up there, recently concluding its second - and final - season (with plans already in the offing for an 80s spin off show, Ashes to Ashes).

Now I'm usually reasonably patient, but after waiting an eternity for an announcement about when LoM would air over here, I sought out my own copies from Blighty. And last night I watched the last ever episode.

Wow. I'd already heard that the finale has divided audiences, a large number of people feeling somehow let down by Sam's fate, but I've got to say I thought it was great. There aren't many pieces of writing that can slam you with happiness and tragedy simultaneously and not fumble one or both. This is one of them.

As to the multiple interpretations of the ending, and its explanation of how Sam can be in 1973 ... well, let's just say I didn't get much sleep last night, what with all that mind-whirring over the details.

And if a TV show can still have you thinking about it well into the wee small hours, I'd call that a success, wouldn't you?

EDIT: Aussie readers may want to steer clear of the comments section - it's spoilerific.