Life (and Christ?) on Mars .....

Over the last few weeks of "Life on Mars" Detective Sam Tyler has explored a number of possibilities for explaining how, and where and when he is. Last night's episode introduced a new and interesting line of inquiry.

Is he a time traveler ... is he in a coma ... is he dead .. or is he on a journey that will bring him back to the Christian faith he lost as a child?

That last is the possibility that arose in the course of last night's episode, "Things to Do in New York When You Think You're Dead." At the heart of the episode is a racial confrontation triggered between the African-Americans and Puerto Ricans in the neighborhood following the death of a young black girl. While investigating the crime, and searching for a suspect, Sam is confronted with a pair of new characters - a pugilistic priest, and a homeless wise man - who may help him in another, more introspective investigation, and a search for his place in this strange (yet, still, God-created) world. It's a world much like our own, where miracles CAN happen ... or so it is hoped.

Finding his suspect, finding his way home ... and, this time around, finding whether his prayers to be reunited in some way with his 'father,' will at last be answered ... all contributed to another good episode of an outstanding television series ... I'll be watching again, next week.

Life on Mars airs Thursday nights at nine o'clock (central) on ABC (KMID-TV in the Permian Basin). And you can catch-up by watching complete episodes on the ABC/Life on Mars website. It is well worth your giving it a look.