6. Life On Mars
Imagine you didn't know the premise of Life on Mars; that you didn't know it was a show about a detective from 2006 who wakes up in 1973, and has to try and find his way home. Sam Tyler's girlfriend and colleague, Maya, has been abducted by the murderer the pair have been chasing. There's a beautiful silent sequence where Sam's driving alone, and tears begin to trickle down his face; the sadness soon turns to anger though as he hits his steering wheel in frustration, before stepping out of the car a second, to get a breather. The magical chord sequence of David Bowie's 'Life On Mars?' rings in the background, Bowie's almost mystical vocals soundtracking this pensive moment, before Sam's horrifyingly taken out by a speeding car. The last shot is of Sam, lying helpless on the concrete, eyes open. It feels like we have a plot already, and that's why this is such a brilliant opening scene; Sam Tyler's search for Maya is gripping enough for the show already, but the car crash, a complete bolt from the blue, shakes up a good premise with a gob-smacking one. This would become the mystery that viewers would tune in for over two series; the Maya case might have fizzled out, but this is an idea that kept us on the edge of our seats.