Series Premiere of NBC's Awake Streams Online

The first episode of one of 2012's most anticipated new shows is now streaming online, thanks to NBC. The series, which stars Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter), is slated to premiere March 1, but now viewers can watch it on NBC's website. 

The series stars Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter) as Michael Britten, a police detective dealing with the tragic death of his wife in a car accident. That is, until he goes to sleep. Then he's Michael Britten, a police detective dealing with the tragic death of his son from that same car accident. He shifts between these two realities as soon as he goes to sleep (thus the title). 

The main question of the series is, which is real? The therapists that Michael sees on each side (played by BD Wong and Cherry Jones) each have convincing arguments for why their side is real. Personally, I think it's an all-or-nothing situation; either both timelines are real (parallel universes) or neither (HE died in the car crash). 

In any case, the first episode of Awake is pretty great, though it does raise questions about sustainability. How long can the series continue while operating on this premise? In order to survive much beyond a first season without becoming needlessly repetitive and boring, the show will need to dramatically shift its dynamic (though I wouldn't mind seeing it as a standalone, thirteen-episode miniseries). 

But enough about what I think; it's time for you to decide for yourself! You can watch the premiere episode here.

Awake premieres March 1 on NBC.