The use of green screen is ridiculous. All the 70s cop shows were done on real streets. So should Life on Mars if they actually want to capture that time.

The dialogue should much be much harder. I mean these are tough, grown men working in an almost female free zone. How do they think mean like this would talk? Which leads to my next issue.

All the characters seemed watered down and unrealistic. Do they actually want me to believe that a woman that young, thin, wearing that much makeup, would have been a detective in 1972- and have been accepted by her peers?!

And Colm as Gene. I like Colm. I think he's a very good actor but his portrayal doesn't fit the bill. Gene Hunt was the head of his department in 1972 which means he must be in his mid-40s to mid-50s at that time; this puts his birth in th late 20s, early 30s. I think Gene should be hard, cold, bitter and tough having gone through that time as well as the issues of the 60s.

Gene would have been trained, if there was training outside of military experience, in a time when women were not respected, or welcome, on the job and blacks and minorities even less.

If the US version wants to match the quality of the UK version, one thing must be remembered- Gene is the star of the show.