Life On Mars

Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadows

Season 1, Episode 4, Aired 10/30/08

Episode Summary

Sam investigates the assault on a young woman by a local gangster, but realizes later that she is his mother. During the investigation, Sam discovers links to the murders of two other women that involve the local mob boss, and his own squad members may be involved in a cover-up.moreless

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Cast & Crew

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Jason O'Mara

Detective Sam Tyler
Harvey Keitel

Lt. Gene Hunt
Michael Imperioli

Detective Ray Carling

Fan Episode Reviews (2)

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Well done to David Wilcox, he managed to work out the copy and paste button.

5.0

"Mediocre"

By Ossie, Nov 01, 2008 Report Abuse

Ashley Pharoah wrote a great episode for the UK version. David Wilcox did nothing but copy and paste this - though in fairness it would've been under the guidance of the executive producers. This episode had no originality, it had no element that made it worth while to make. If you wanted to see the same episode of the UK version - watch the damn UK one!!

Come on. The only thing they did was change Sam's mother's name from Ruth Tyler to Rose Tyler - which had to be, because I can't believe they would be so ignorant of British TV, a direct reference to the very famous Rose Tyler from Doctor Who.

Poor. Very poor.moreless

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This episode was a disappointment

6.5

"Fair"

By Nikkles, Oct 31, 2008 Report Abuse

The concept for this episode was great. Go back in time help your mother, make a stand about being on the take, and try to protect some hookers. Its a good idea and was kind of a boring episode despite having so much going on. There was no class to work until the last 10 minutes of the show. The lack of actual cases has been the problem with the show for me so far. Its all you can only watch Sam wonder if he's crazy for so long. I like the mini arc they cave Harvey's character, but it still does not make up for the fact that not much happens in this episode.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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Trivia
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- When Gene and Sam are talking near the river, close to the end of the episode, viewers can see a blurred-out Verizon logo on a tall building in the background. Obviously, the cell phone company didn't exist in 1973. Edit
Notes
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- Music: "Mother and Child Reunion" by Paul Simon "Rock and Roll" by The Velvet Underground "Get It On" by T. Rex "Lucky Lady" by The Jones Brothers "20th Century Man" by The Kinks "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress" by The Hollies "Long Promised Road" by The Beach Boys Edit
- This episode takes its title from the 1966 song "Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadows?" by The Rolling Stones. Edit
Quotes
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- Annie: Come on, Sam. We're here to have fun. Sam: (sarcastically) Right, that must be why I'm here. Edit
- Sam: (to his Mom when he goes to talk to her after she leaves the precinct) Aside from the fact that you took money from a thug and your husband's never home, how are you? Edit
Allusions
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- Sam's mother's name is Rose Tyler. Rose Tyler had earlier been used as a name of a Doctor Who character. As revealed by Life On Mars co-creator Matthew Graham his daughter named Sam Tyler after the Doctor Who character Edit
- Annie: I'm telling you Sam, you find their killers, you save Mama Rose. Called Mama Rose, Rose Hovick was the mother of the burlesque stripper, Gypsy Rose Lee, who was hugely popular in the thirties. Edit
- Elliott Casso: (greeting Gene Hunt) Gene Hunt! The Jean Genie, lives on his back. "The Jean Genie" is a song by David Bowie that was released in November 1972. One of Bowie's most famous songs, it was the lead single for the album Aladdin Sane (1973). The song was featured in Episode 1.4 of the UK version of Life on Mars upon which this episode is based. Edit