ABC’s Life on Mars wrapped things up with a neat little bow in the series finale which aired Wednesday night.
For those of you who are not in the know (and apparently there are quite a few of you, since the show abbreviated it’s freshman run due to low ratings), Life on Mars is the story of Sam Tyler, a New York City detective hit by a car in 2008, who wakes up in 1973. There he tries to adjust to his new life working for a politically incorrect boss, all the while trying to figure out how to get home to 2008.
For those of you who are in the know, myself included, the twist of the finale wraps up the season nicely. Throughout the entire series, Sam has been called “space man” and his favorite childhood toy was a rocket ship, foreshadowing the final episode, in which those pieces fall into place.
In the season finale “Life is a Rock,” which also happens to be the series finale, Sam receives a phone call with instructions telling him all he needs to do to return home to 2008 is complete three tasks, the first of which is “Save yourself.”
Sam’s mother comes to the station house and says that his father has reappeared and kidnapped her son (Sam as a little boy). So, basically, he has to save himself.
Flashing forward to New Year’s Eve 2010, Sam sees himself reading “Gulliver’s Travels” to an elderly woman, who we learn is Annie. Realizing she must be the reason he is in 1973, he rushes to her and they share a passionate kiss.
When Sam receives a phone call reminding him that there is still a third task to be completed before he can go back to 2008, he hangs up on the caller, telling him he doesn’t want to go home, he has decided he likes 1973, and the people there.
Gene calls Sam into his office and the two hug, sending Sam “home,” which turns out to be a space ship in the year 2035. Everyone else from 1973 is there too. It turns out they are on a mission to Mars. Gene is actually Sam’s father, and the group has basically been asleep during their two year voyage to Mars, on neurological simulations they have each chosen for themselves. Hitting an asteroid shower caused a glitch in Sam’s, sending him to 1973 with memories of 2008 intact.
Whether you loved it or hated it, one thing is for sure – the finale ended with an unexpected twist that won’t be forgotten and will surely be talked about. This ain’t your mama’s Dallas dream sequence for sure.
View video below.
That explains everything moment
Welcome to 1973 moment