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Feb. 21st, 2009
Life On Mars
Feb. 21st, 2009 08:58 pmJust finished watching this week's episode and I'm having my own deja vu. Although we didn't actually say much about the show at Farpoint (mostly just discussed Lorenzo's history in music) the one thing I did learn is that the US LoM will resolve the how/why thing differently than the UK one did, so watching the UK won't necessarily spoil the US version. So I decided it was safe to start watching the UK version now, even as I'm watching the US version. I'm starting to rethink that idea. The main reason being, I watched the first 3 eps of the UK Wednesday, but was too tired to stay up for the US version that night so I taped it and watched it tonight. If I'd watch them both Wednesday, I think I'd have freaked. UK 3 and US11 used the same song ('Ballroom Blitz') and entire chunks of verbatim dialogue. It's weird even with the 3 day separation!
Anyway, about the shows themselves...I never saw the UK version before this week, so I didn't have the 'compared to the original' problem with the US version. However, I almost didn't watch it because the advance word was so poor, plus the recasting and redoing the first ep. But I did watch it mostly out of obligation to give genre shows a chance. The first few eps - slow and confusing. Then it started picking up, and it's come back from break running at full speed. I love the pairing with Lost, I think that helps a lot. It took a couple of eps, but I am now certain that Jason O'Mara is a total hottie. (Shades of Alex O'Loughlin last year, who went from 'they gave that guy a lead role?' to 'drool' in a couple eps.) I'm not a fan of Michael Imperioli, and I'm meh on Harvey Keitel, but I'm fine with both of them on this show. I'm sucked in. Meanwhile, watching the UK version - yes, it's first rate. But it's not THAT much better than the US one. At the beginning, yes, but I think the US one has caught up in quality. And I have to give the US one a big advantage - I can understand what the heck they're saying. The Mancurian accent is downright deadly. And did I mention I really like O'Mara?
Anyway, about the shows themselves...I never saw the UK version before this week, so I didn't have the 'compared to the original' problem with the US version. However, I almost didn't watch it because the advance word was so poor, plus the recasting and redoing the first ep. But I did watch it mostly out of obligation to give genre shows a chance. The first few eps - slow and confusing. Then it started picking up, and it's come back from break running at full speed. I love the pairing with Lost, I think that helps a lot. It took a couple of eps, but I am now certain that Jason O'Mara is a total hottie. (Shades of Alex O'Loughlin last year, who went from 'they gave that guy a lead role?' to 'drool' in a couple eps.) I'm not a fan of Michael Imperioli, and I'm meh on Harvey Keitel, but I'm fine with both of them on this show. I'm sucked in. Meanwhile, watching the UK version - yes, it's first rate. But it's not THAT much better than the US one. At the beginning, yes, but I think the US one has caught up in quality. And I have to give the US one a big advantage - I can understand what the heck they're saying. The Mancurian accent is downright deadly. And did I mention I really like O'Mara?