Pinch me, I’m dreaming.
It seems silly when you really think about it. There’s this feeling you have when you’re experiencing reality and it doesn’t require a pinch to confirm. But what if that feeling was your every moment and there was no contrast?
The new NBC show Awake, created by Kyle Killen, introduces viewers to police detective Michael Britten (Jason Isaacs) who has experienced a tragedy. A car crash involving his only son, Rex, his wife, and himself has knocked Britten’s happy three-person family down to two.
But here’s the catch: one day Britten wakes up and his son is dead. He “goes to bed” and the next time he opens his eyes, he’s making breakfast for his son. He spends alternating days with either his wife or his son.
Two separate realities. Two different psychiatrists. Two different detective partners. Two different family members.
Britten soon realizes connections between the two worlds he is switching back and forth between. He finds that he can use them to his advantage in his cases and family life. He begins to lose touch with reality when he has trouble differentiating between his two lives as he attempts to discover what is real and what is a dream.
What’s most commendable about Awake is its refreshing originality. Crime dramas are not foreign to viewers and the unique twist in the show keeps them intrigued.
The show has an appropriate balance between Britten’s work life and home life, which, I’ve found, is lacking in other shows. What’s even more thrilling is when they begin to cross over.
With the addition of a look into Britten’s psychiatric sessions, viewers are transported into the internal struggle he is facing. Both shrinks are urging him to come to the realization of what is real and what is a dream, but Britten is not willing to give up the opportunity to be with his family, even at different times. Ironically, his fear of loss escalates because of this gift he has been given.
The show is off to an exciting start; there really are so many lanes Awake can diverge down. After the pilot, I found myself questioning how the show would pan out and slowly reveal a complex plot, but it’s clear from the first three episodes that Awake has plenty to offer and (hopefully) many seasons to come.
