Thoughts about “Awake”

 
I watched Awake tonight on NBC. I’d been seeing the ads for it, and been intrigued.

( Quick synopsis, for those who don’t already know )

All the time I was watching it, I was thinking two things, which — like the show — both paralleled and interrelated.

The first was, this is being beautifully and intelligently done. I like the people. I like the situation. I like the way the story is being presented. I like the way it appears future developments may proceed. Ideas are plentiful (though some are substantially better than others), but the real payoff is how well an idea is used, and the use being made here is of serious quality.

The second was: since, like the Matrix, this situation deals with the nature of reality, it could be applied in fanfic to ANY fandom. Or any moment in fandom. In Buffy the Vampire Slayer, where Warren’s bullet hit Tara — as in our own ‘known’ reality — or Willow instead … or where Caleb blinded Xander or killed him, or Buffy jumped off Glory’s tower or Dawn did it before Buffy could get there, or any of any number of branching points. I could come up with other examples (I’m not utterly bound into Buffy fandom), but I think the basic point has been made. This is essentially an approach, rather than a plot per se, and much could be done with it anywhere.

Meanwhile, I’ll keep watching the show itself. Because it genuinely is interesting and intriguing.