Life On Mars: The Man Who Sold The World

This was probably my favorite episode of the series so far. Sam’s interaction with his father blew away his moments with his mother in a previous episode. That makes sense, though, since he’s been away from his father for 30 years. There was so much to catch up on, so much to figure out.

I was riveted by Sam’s moments with his father. The one scene that stood out so much, yet was such a simple gesture, was Sam smelling his father’s leather jacket. Sam missed his father and loved him. At that moment, whatever reason Vic had for leaving Sam as a child was forgotten. All Sam knew after that moment was that he was going to change history, one way or another. Will the truth make him really feel any better?

Speaking of altering history, I got a bit of a game changer in this episode. If Sam’s memories from his childood are accurate and he did see a woman in a red dress (Annie) get killed, he did change the course of history. What I’m wondering, though, is whether young Sam still went into the woods to find his father and maybe saw what went on this time. If he didn’t go into the woods, why not? Was it because old Sam changed his mind in that brief moment with them together?

One thing that’s starting to bother me is how much time Sam is spending with his mother. What I mean is, with as much communication they’ve had together thus far, she’d clearly remember him in 2008. Not only that, but I hope I get some indication later that she remembered “Luke Skywalker” once the movie comes out five years later.

It looks like Sam and Annie’s relationship is starting to turn up a bit. I’m wondering if Sam will eventually forget his fiance and have more reason to stay in 1973 than to leave and go “home.”
Finally, the mysterious phone call. What I’m confused about is why Sam figured his father’s “bottom-right corner” theory meant something more, made him rush off to read a bunch of case files and somehow translate them all within a few hours to be an address.

Songs in this episode:
Bread - “Everything I Own”

Steely Dan - “Reelin’ in the Years”

David Bowie - “Life On Mars?”

Harry Nilsson - “Spaceman”