TV series
A modern day cop in a 1973 world.
After a car crash, police detective Sam Tyler mysteriously finds himself transported back to 1973 and still working as a detective.
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Checked Jul 22, 2026
After a car crash, police detective Sam Tyler mysteriously finds himself transported back to 1973 and still working as a detective.
Cast, crew and production details
Jason O'MaraDet. Sam Tyler
Harvey KeitelLt. Gene Hunt
Gretchen MolPolicewoman Annie Norris
Michael ImperioliDet. Ray Carling
Odette AnnableAdrienne
Heather MatarazzoJune
Maggie SiffMaria Belanger
ABCUnited States
KudosUnited Kingdom
20th Century Fox TelevisionUnited States
ABC StudiosUnited StatesWatch options above are for the show and may vary by season or episode.
Episode 1
Modern-day NYPD Detective Sam Tyler finds himself suddenly hurtled back to the tumultuous times of New York City in 1973 when he's hit by a car while chasing down a criminal.
Directed by Gary FlederWritten by Scott RosenbergGuest stars Lisa Bonet, Carrie Getman, Phyllis Somerville, Mike Starr, Ken Marks, Michael Mulheren, Austin Basis, Ramsey Faragallah
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Episode 2
Sam investigates a series of fatal robberies at cash-checking stores while evidence points to someone in the squad being involved.
Directed by Michael KatlemanGuest stars Heather Matarazzo, Lisa Bonet, Sylvia Miles, Pablo Schreiber, Bruce Kirkpatrick, Patrick Noonan, Lee Tergesen, John Cenatiempo
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Episode 3
The murder of a returning Vietnam veteran has Lieutenant Hunt outraged, as he demands a quick resolution to what quickly becomes a complicated and controversial case. As Sam and the squad's team of detectives explore the circumstances surrounding the homicide, Tyler is sent down a mysterious path that may provide clues about his own family's past and why he is back in 1973
Directed by Michael PressmanGuest stars John D'Leo, Susan Misner, Timothy Adams, Brian Avers, André De Shields, Arnie Burton, Nimo Gandhi, Marc Scrivo
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Episode 4
Sam finds his mother, Rose, in debt to a local mobster known for killing women that cause him trouble. Sam finds out the cops of the 125 are in cahoots with the mobster and ignore his illegal activities for tips on other mobsters.
Directed by Alex ZakrzewskiWritten by David WilcoxGuest stars Odette Annable, Jennifer Ferrin, Robert Klein, Lenny Venito, Emerald-Angel Young, Don Puglisi, Dan Griffin, Ken Marks
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Episode 5
Racial tensions run high when a young black girl is killed and a race begins between the cops and the BLA to find the supposed killer. Sam teams up with Fletcher Bellow, a young detective in 1971, who is his captain in 2008.
Directed by Michael KatlemanGuest stars Lisa Bonet, Chris Bauer, Edi Gathegi, Clarke Peters, Chad L. Coleman, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Jesse Perez, Shirley Rumierk
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Episode 6
With a life-and-death hostage situation paralleling own strange circumstances, Sam Tyler is ordered with the rest of the 1-2-5 to diffuse a potentially deadly face-off at a hospital where a crazed gunman is trying to force a doctor to reverse a dangerous operation on the renegade's brother, and the squad are all targeted in the gunman's cross-hairs.
Directed by Daniel MinahanWritten by Adele LimGuest stars Lisa Bonet, Brad William Henke, Bill Irwin, Carmen Goodine, Michael Mulheren, Ken Marks, Stephen James King, Brian McCormack
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Episode 7
When the baby of a prominent family is kidnapped for ransom, Sam Tyler is shocked to discover that his own father, Vic Tyler, may be involved. Sam's discovery leads him to face some deep dark secrets about his childhood.
Directed by Darnell MartinGuest stars Lee Tergesen, Teddy Coluca, Alex Cranmer, Tricia Paoluccio, Douglas Schneider, Matthew Cowles, John Cenatiempo, Deidre Goodwin
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Episode 8
Lt. Hunt's squad and Lt. Nunzio's crew renew their long-standing rivalry due to a bank robbery with a connection to the Russian mob. Meanwhile, Sam is attracted to a pretty, young social worker.
Directed by Brad TurnerWritten by David WilcoxGuest stars Maggie Siff, Michael Aronov, Vincent Curatola, Olek Krupa, Joseph Badalucco Jr., Daniel Yelsky, Yelena Shmulenson, Jeff Wiens
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Episode 9
Ray's shady brother may have played a role in the number of recent decapitations in which the squad is investigating. but other suspects pop up too, such as a biker, a Wall Street executive and badly disfigured man.
Directed by Rick RosenthalWritten by Bryan OhGuest stars Eric Balfour, Kevin Conway, John Bedford Lloyd, Joel Marsh Garland, Joseph McKenna, Guy Paul, Antonia Rey, Bridget Berger
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Episode 10
When rock star Sebastian Grace receives a death threat, Sam and Chris are exposed to the rock-and-roll lifestyle that includes one of Grace's groupies called "Rocket Girl." Things really get strange when Chris finds Sebastian and Rocket Girl waiting for UFOs in the swampy area of New Jersey known as the Meadowlands.
Directed by Michael KatlemanGuest stars Maggie Siff, Cheyenne Jackson, Wallace Shawn, Robert Clohessy, Kristen Connolly, Del Pentecost, Alexandra Daddario, Mark Greenberg
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Episode 11
NYC Councilman Bobby Prince shares a secret with Sam after Prince is caught with a hooker during a raid on a motel. The secret leaves Sam with even more questions as well as the realization he has more in common with Prince than he had ever thought. Meanwhile, Gene Hunt locks down the precinct after a shooting, Maria and her father confront each other, and Ray's wife, Denise, adds tension to the drama.
Guest stars Maggie Siff, Laura Benanti, Jason Kravits, Armand Schultz, Corey Stoll, Quisha Saunders, Eric Chan, Annie Meisels
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Episode 12
The detectives at the 1-2-5 investigate the murder of newspaper journalist Joey Conway. Sam is convinced the killer is the same criminal from a case in 2008. He is motivated by flashbacks to the case, which puts him at odds with his coworkers who think someone else is guilty.
Directed by Jean de SegonzacWritten by Adele LimGuest stars Kerry Bishé, Chris Bowers, Fred Thompson, Peter Appel, Geoffrey Cantor, Danai Gurira, Tom Hammond, Michael J. Burg
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Episode 13
When the Weather Underground sends the department bomb threats on the anniversary of their leader's death, Lt. Hunt takes the threats personally. As Sam, Annie and Lt. Hunt investigate, they soon find a connection between a student and Pat Olsen, a professor.
Written by David WilcoxGuest stars Kevin Kilner, Janel Moloney, Arthur J. Nascarella, Austin Pendleton, Brendan Sexton III, Mary Testa, Christopher Backus, Michael Cullen
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Episode 14
When a Pan Atlantic air hostess is found dead, Annie volunteers to go undercover in order to solve a series of homicides. Annie, Sam and Ray, working undercover, are able to find an unlikely suspect.
Directed by David PetrarcaWritten by Adele Lim, Bryan OhGuest stars Mark Deklin, Gina Gershon, Kelli Giddish, Mark Linn-Baker, Keri Lynn Pratt, Marla Sucharetza, Hamilton Clancy, Scott Robertson
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Episode 15
When Sam goes undercover as a gang member, he has to reveal a dark side in order to keep his cover. While undercover, Sam is pushed to the limit when he is ordered to bind and shoot a woman.
Guest stars Paige Turco, Daniel Stewart Sherman, Bill Cwikowski, Patrick Salerno, Rick Kain, Robert Berlin, Peter Greene, Robert Creighton
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Episode 16
Crime hits home after Ray and Chris are shot by a gang member. When the shooter is found dead near a bar, Sam becomes the lead suspect since he has been working undercover as part of the gang. With evidence mounting against him, Sam must search for the real killer before it's too late for him
Directed by Alex ZakrzewskiGuest stars Scott Adsit, Peter Greene, Robert Creighton, Baylen Thomas, Deidre Goodwin, Steve Rizzo, Liza Binkley, Joe Toronto
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Episode 17
When Sam Tyler receives a phone call that presents him with three tasks he must perform so he can return to his life in the future, he must weigh his alternatives and decide whether to stay in 1973 or go home.
Directed by Michael KatlemanWritten by Scott RosenbergGuest stars Lisa Bonet, Tanya Fischer, Dean Winters, Jennifer Ferrin, Peter Gerety, Nick Damici, Steven Marcus, Emerald-Angel Young
Where to watch Life on MarsEpisode information updated Jul 22, 2026
