Ep 5. Oregon

Awake season 1 episode 5, titled "Oregon," follows Detective Michael Britten (played by Jason Isaacs) as he investigates a murder that takes place during a camping trip in Oregon.

The episode begins with Michael trying to balance his two realities, one where his wife Hannah (played by Laura Allen) is alive and their son Rex (played by Dylan Minnette) died in a car accident, and the other where Rex is alive and Hannah died in the same accident. In both realities, Michael is called upon to investigate a murder.

In his reality where Hannah is alive, Michael and Hannah take a weekend camping trip with their friends. One of the friends, Ryan, is found dead the next morning and Michael is called in to investigate. He discovers that Ryan and another friend, Lewis, had a feud going on and Lewis had threatened Ryan.

In his reality where Rex is alive, Michael is called to investigate the murder of a wealthy businessman, Mr. Harrington, who was found dead in his cabin in Oregon. Michael's investigation leads him to suspect Mr. Harrington’s son, who stood to inherit a large sum of money after his father’s death.

As Michael continues to investigate in both realities, he starts to notice similarities between the two cases. For example, both Ryan and Mr. Harrington had been drugged before they were killed. Additionally, Michael’s investigation in both realities leads him to the same small convenience store, where he discovers a connection between the two murders.

As the episode progresses, Michael struggles to reconcile the two realities and uncover the truth about the murders. He is haunted by the loss of his son Rex and this case forces him to confront his grief and his desire to find justice for those who have been wronged.

Throughout the episode, viewers are shown both of Michael’s realities simultaneously, which allows them to see the differences and similarities between the two cases and how Michael’s investigation in one reality impacts the other.

Overall, "Oregon" is a compelling episode that showcases the unique storytelling style of the show, which uses the concept of parallel realities to explore complex themes and ideas. The murder mystery is well-crafted and keeps viewers engaged until the very end, while the emotional depth of Michael’s character adds an extra layer of complexity and nuance to the episode.