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Seeing a good series like this slowly die on the vine is quite depressing. I really have enjoyed this show, and this episode was a typical of what we've seen this year from "Life on Mars:" a decent storyline, some humorous interaction among the cast members, and just enough supernatural elements to keep the show grounded in its science-fiction premise.

When a series is setting the ratings on fire, that could be seen as a good thing, but "Life on Mars" is hemorrhaging viewers on a weekly basis. A second season is extremely remote at best, and with the viewership decline in free fall, the plug could be pulled any day now.

This was a solid episode with perhaps the best procedural mystery of the season so far. A newspaper columnist is murdered, and since he had written negatively about Hunt, there is extra pressure for the guys to handle this one right. This would seemingly play right into Sam Tyler's playbook, but one of the suspects happens to be a serial killer Sam nabs in the future.

This week, it is Sam who flies of the handle and needs to be held in check by Ray and Hunt. He gets a restraining order against him, violates it, but in the end, ends up being right. Oddly enough, Ray becomes an unlikely ally, and Annie proves to be much more than a pretty face, and is instrumental in bringing down the serial killer.

Aside from a couple weird images from a television screen, this could have been an episode of any procedural cop show, and that is probably the only thing wrong with it. It simply was a normal episode or what has been a pretty solid show. It was intriguing, well acted, and satisfying overall, but nothing ground breaking.

It would be nice if the suits at ABC would allow "Life on Mars" to have some sort of satisfying conclusion for its ever-dwindling fan base, but I have to assume that every episode may be the last one we see of this fine show.

What Worked

I liked the connection with the future serial killer. I like stories like this when Sam's future knowledge becomes useful.

Nice cameo by Fred Thompson. Regardless of what people may think of his political persuasion, Fred Thompson is not a bad actor and these types of roles seem made for him.

Ray delivered his best insult of the season, when he said Sam was a couple Brady's short of a bunch. Loved it.

What Didn't Work

The music in this episode is usually a strength, but not so this week. It's not it was bad -- it just wasn't memorable. It simply had no impact on the episode.

Role reversals are a bit cliched. So Hunt was the guy going by the book and Sam was the one who was breaking procedure and reacting emotionally. This might have worked if Sam really didn't just come across as stupid in this episode. There exists a fine line between being emotional and being an idiot, and Sam crossed it more than once.

Giving Credit Where Credit is Due

"Life on Mars" airs at 10:00 on Thursdays on ABC. It stars Jason O'Mara, Harvey Keitel, and Michael Imperioli. "The Simple Secret of the Note in Us All" was written by Becky Hartman-Edwards and Adele Kim, and directed by Jean de Segonzac.