A mysterious phone call from a tipster leads Det. Sam Tyler to a headless body. A severed head is delivered to the precinct at the same time, thus leading to the discovery of a series of gruesome decapitations that might involve Det. Carling's brother, Eddie.
Season 1 Episode 9 of Life on Mars (US) resulted in a 0.00 rating in the 18-49 demographic.
Sam Tyler is a detective from the 21st century that travels back in time to the 1970's after a car accident. Tyler clashes with new boss Gene Hunt who doesn't take his coming from the future seriously. He finds a friend in one of the few female detectives Annie Cartwright. Tyler ends up working on a case involving a serial hugger which may have something to do with his girlfriend's kidnapping in the present.