‘Superb’ BBC TV series fans want to see more of has perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score | Films | Entertainment

Few television dramas manage to be both intellectually gripping and emotionally resonant, but Life on Mars remains one of them. Nearly two decades after its debut, the BBC series continues to attract new viewers and currently holds a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The rating reflects both critical acclaim and the deep affection audiences still feel for the show.

The series follows Detective Sam Tyler, played by John Simm, who is mysteriously transported from 2006 to 1973 after a near-fatal car crash. In this unfamiliar world of rough policing and questionable ethics, Sam finds himself working under the fiery and unapologetically old-school DCI Gene Hunt, played with unforgettable swagger by Philip Glenister.

As Sam struggles to make sense of what has happened to him, he begins to lose hope of ever returning to his old life.

Yet he continues to rise through the ranks and change those around him, including a young officer named Glenn Fletcher, who Sam knows will one day grow into the very man who mentored him in his own future.

Although the show ended in 2007 after just two seasons, Life on Mars remains one of the most beloved and discussed dramas in British television history.

Its combination of crime, science fiction, dark humour and poignant character development left a lasting mark on audiences who still hope for its return. Co-creator Matthew Graham confirmed in 2020 that he and Ashley Pharoah had written a follow-up series called Lazarus, which would have linked Life on Mars with its sequel Ashes to Ashes.

The project, however, was later shelved after the BBC decided not to move forward, citing financial concerns.

Fans have not given up. “Four or five episodes would be enough. The best British television is short and sharp,” one Reddit user wrote after the cancellation.

“Bringing all the characters together and finally explaining everything would round the story off perfectly.” Another said, “It’s a shame we’ll never see it. We need that closure.”

Others expressed how deeply the show continues to resonate. “Life on Mars is one of those series I re-watch every couple of years,” one viewer commented. “I really want a fix of Gene Hunt. There’s nothing like it anymore.”

For many people, part of the show’s enduring appeal lies in its mystery. Viewers still debate what truly happened to Sam Tyler and whether his time-travel experience was real, psychological or something else entirely.

The creators have hinted that a final chapter would have explored these themes in even greater depth, spanning time periods from the 1970s through the 1980s and into a distorted version of the present day.

“We would never make another Mars unless we really had something to say and could push the envelope all over again,” Matthew Graham told The Guardian when discussing the unmade sequel. His words have only added to the hope that Life on Mars might one day return.

For now, the show stands as a rare example of creative perfection, both in its execution and its legacy.