# Awake - Starts Tonight - 03/01/12 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 2, 2012, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awake-starts-tonight-03-01-12/614504 "2012-03-02T00:27:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![fubbleskag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fubbleskag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fubbleskag)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awake-starts-tonight-03-01-12/614504/61 "2012-03-05T13:48:44Z")
> [@faithfool](#): > > Unless her **parenthesis** object. ignorance accidentally fought: I was familiar with the plural form of this word, but not this singular form. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awake-starts-tonight-03-01-12/614504/62 "2012-03-05T13:59:43Z")
ignorance accidentally fought plus ungrateful nitpick: in which case it should have been “Unless her parenthesis objects.” ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awake-starts-tonight-03-01-12/614504/63 "2012-03-05T14:20:01Z")
If he has cancer he might just be left after surgery with a semicolon. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awake-starts-tonight-03-01-12/614504/64 "2012-03-06T02:56:33Z")
Ampersand! ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awake-starts-tonight-03-01-12/614504/65 "2012-03-06T03:52:13Z")
I thought the wife looked way too young to be married to him and have a son that old, but it turns out the actress is actually 38. She could pass for 25 easy. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awake-starts-tonight-03-01-12/614504/66 "2012-03-06T03:55:49Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > I thought the wife looked way too young to be married to him and have a son that old, but it turns out the actress is actually 38. She could pass for 25 easy. Aw jeez, I’m 37. Does that mean I’m old enough to have a son that old? ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awake-starts-tonight-03-01-12/614504/67 "2012-03-06T04:00:22Z")
Well yeah, the kid is 15 so that works out fine. I thought she was about ten years younger than she really was. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awake-starts-tonight-03-01-12/614504/68 "2012-03-06T04:03:06Z")
☹ I’m old. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awake-starts-tonight-03-01-12/614504/69 "2012-03-06T05:14:17Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > I thought the wife looked way too young to be married to him and have a son that old, but it turns out the actress is actually 38. She could pass for 25 easy. She was in _Terriers_. I think she was playing younger in that (30, I’d say). ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awake-starts-tonight-03-01-12/614504/70 "2012-03-06T05:35:09Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > I thought the wife looked way too young to be married to him and have a son that old, but it turns out the actress is actually 38. She could pass for 25 easy. I thought she was too young too. I looked it up and saw she was born in Portland. My sister is the same age. If the actress grew up here as well, it’s possible they knew each other. I’ll ask my sister next time I talk to her. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awake-starts-tonight-03-01-12/614504/71 "2012-03-06T20:18:21Z")
I finally got around to this on my DVR last night. I liked it. I was willing to forgive whatever confusion that I had because the concept really works for me. And as a fan of the late, great _Terriers_, I just can’t help but wish a little success for an alumna of that show. ---
**Author:** ![D-bear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@D-bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D-bear)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awake-starts-tonight-03-01-12/614504/72 "2012-03-07T04:41:55Z")
Yeah, I’m with Mrs. **Drum God** … He’s dead and this is his after life experience. Mother and son are both alive and mourning. Interestingly, on the [IMDB page](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1839683/), Jason Isaacs is listed as appearing in 7 episodes, the wife is in 9 episodes and the son is in 8 episodes… Wonder what’s up with that? ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awake-starts-tonight-03-01-12/614504/73 "2012-03-07T04:45:26Z")
I’ve found number of episodes in error on other shows. IMDB just screws up every once in a while. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awake-starts-tonight-03-01-12/614504/74 "2012-03-07T05:03:26Z")
> [@Nobody](#): > > I’ve found number of episodes in error on other shows. IMDB just screws up every once in a while. And they usually screw up episode casts when a show is first starting. I wouldn’t put any stock in it. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awake-starts-tonight-03-01-12/614504/75 "2012-03-07T21:31:25Z")
In [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=644414) the OP links to an interview where the show’s creator says one world is real and one is a dream. So unless he’s lying or changes his mind later on, I guess that’s one aspect of the show we no longer have to wonder about. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Just\_Ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Ed)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awake-starts-tonight-03-01-12/614504/76 "2012-03-07T23:38:44Z")
Interesting; I hadn’t seen that. And it’s kinda disappointing, really. I think I would have preferred that there was no reveal about which world is real. Now the whole thing will be about people trying to pick up clues and figure out which world is real and which is a dream - and that question is the _least_ interesting angle to the story for me. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awake-starts-tonight-03-01-12/614504/77 "2012-03-09T07:33:36Z")
So, any opinions about tonight’s episode? I thought it was a little better than the pilot. I guess that part with the police captain and guy talking about taking out Mike’s family ads another mystery. And then on top of that, I guess we have to figure out if the conspiracy is in the real world or the dream. I’m guessing dream. ---
**Author:** ![Waenara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@Waenara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waenara)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awake-starts-tonight-03-01-12/614504/78 "2012-03-09T12:59:51Z")
> [@Just\_Ed](#): > > Interesting; I hadn’t seen that. And it’s kinda disappointing, really. I think I would have preferred that there was no reveal about which world is real. Now the whole thing will be about people trying to pick up clues and figure out which world is real and which is a dream - and that question is the _least_ interesting angle to the story for me. I don’t know about that - I’ve been googling and reading a bunch of interviews with the show’s creators, and they all state that there’s no pre-determined ending for the show (although they do have an idea for how they’re ending this season), and that they aren’t really concerned with showing which reality (or both, or neither) is real - they just want both of the realities to be interesting and compelling. [Link](http://newtvshows.co.uk/category/interviews/): > [@](#): > > I really don’t think it’s a show about which world is real. I think it’s a show about man who treats each world as real and struggles with the ways those two worlds start to pull away from one another and demand different things from him. I think that to the extent people keep watching, it will be because they’re invested in both worlds, not because they’re waiting for one of them to go away. [Link](http://eclipsemagazine.com/hollywood-insider/31289/): > [@](#): > > **Interviewer** : Great. And as to the question of which is the true world and which is the dream world, is that something that you actually going to answer or is that just something that’s going to be left open at least for the foreseeable future? > > **Killen** : Well it’s an inherent question at all times and that there are people and events that take place in the show on a weekly basis seem to reflect on the nature of what is real and what is manufactured. And, you know, sometimes those questions, pursuing those questions are important to the case that he is on or understanding his own story as he looks back at the events that happened to him that caused the situation, the accident that got him here. > > But I think long term the show isn’t built around answering a single question, you know, which is real. The show is really about a man who has decided and desperately wants to live in both of these worlds. Who refuses to acknowledge which is real and which isn’t. And as you try to live two lives in parallel and you see them start to go in dramatically different directions. I think the idea is that hopefully the audience like the character becomes invested in not wanting to let either of those go. > > **Gordon** : So there is also – this is Howard following up a little bit which is that, you know there will be obviously it will ebb and flow over the course. That question will ebb and flow over the course of this first season. > > But there is also a big question that is answered and that we drive toward at the end of this season so which is, you know, what exactly did happen that night? And that is a question that, you know, will be answered and should give people a pretty strong sense of closure in terms of an ongoing question. > > **Interviewer** : At this point I know it is very early in the game. Do you have an end game for the show or an idea of how you want it to end or is that something that you are just working through as the show progresses? > > And then as I guess a second question is, is it a possibility that perhaps both of the worlds are a dream and not just one? > > **Killen** : I wouldn’t – I’d say we have to answer your first question I would say we have some pretty distinct ideas about where we’d go and how we would like to sum it up. > > I think also part of the joy of this process is leaving yourself open to, you know, the inspiration that comes from putting a bunch of creative people together in a room and letting the story evolve. You know, rather than being dogmatic about something. You know letting a group of people discover it together is frankly why you do the job. > > As for, you know, the possibilities of how it could turn out I wouldn’t take anything off the table. I also don’t want it to seem it is morph[ing] and we don’t know, you know, heated discussions about what ultimately is satisfying and what I’ve always imagined it to be. And I think for the moment that is also part of the joy of being on a show like this that you get to tackle really, really big questions like that. So I guess we hope to be around long enough to put that out there ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awake-starts-tonight-03-01-12/614504/79 "2012-03-09T13:50:54Z")
My problem is that there are things happening in both realities that he’s not present for. So if one of these worlds doesn’t really exist, did he just dream that his wife went to Cole’s house? Did he just dream that Rex went to the storage locker? Did he dream the conversation between his boss and the goon? How can things be happening in his dreams unless he is witness to them? Either the writers are playing loose with the concept, or else both of these worlds are “real,” or maybe _he’s_ in a coma just dreaming all of it. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Just\_Ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Ed)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awake-starts-tonight-03-01-12/614504/80 "2012-03-09T14:37:42Z")
> [@Waenara](#): > > I don’t know about that - I’ve been googling and reading a bunch of interviews with the show’s creators, and they all state that there’s no pre-determined ending for the show (although they do have an idea for how they’re ending this season), and that they aren’t really concerned with showing which reality (or both, or neither) is real - they just want both of the realities to be interesting and compelling. Hey, thanks **Waenara** ; that sounds a whole lot better than what I was seeing. I guess I focused on this quote from exec producer Gordon: “But there is also a big question that is answered and that we drive toward at the end of this season so which is, you know, what exactly did happen that night? And that is a question that, you know, will be answered and should give people a pretty strong sense of closure in terms of an ongoing question.” That made me think they were definitely going to resolve the dream-world question, but I see now it appears to be just one element in an overarching milieu. Both Killen and Gordon seem to be thinking along the same lines I was. > [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > My problem is that there are things happening in both realities that he’s not present for. I dunno; I’m not sure it’s necessary to have Britten in every scene. It’s entirely plausible that parts of his “dreams” are in third person, where people interact outside of his presence. Third-person narrative may not be the way dreams are most usually depicted, but I don’t see why it’s not possible. > [@Nobody](#): > > So, any opinions about tonight’s episode? I thought it was a little better than the pilot. I guess that part with the police captain and guy talking about taking out Mike’s family ads another mystery. > > And then on top of that, I guess we have to figure out if the conspiracy is in the real world or the dream. I’m guessing dream. I saw it but wasn’t really able to give it full attention; will have to watch it again on the DVR. But yes, there appears to be a developing mystery surrounding the crash and what actually happened that night, the resolution of which has been promised this season by the creator and producer. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awake-starts-tonight-03-01-12/614504.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awake-starts-tonight-03-01-12/614504.md?page=5)