Life can get mighty complicated. Just ask Detective Michael Britten, who finds himself living in two duelling realities - or parallel universes - after a car crash claims the life of his wife. Or was it his son who died?
The actor Jason Isaacs - best known for his roles in the Harry Potter films and Brotherhood - gives a compelling, nuanced performance as Michael, who awakens after the tragedy to two separate realities. In the first, his teenage son, Rex (Dylan Minnette), perished in the crash and his wife, Hannah (Laura Allen), survived. In the second, Hannah is dead, leaving father and son to pick up the pieces.
"As soon as I read the synopsis for the pilot I thought to myself: 'If this show doesn't get picked up, I don't know what will' because it sounded so cool," says Minnette. "I read the script and I thought it was really, really cool."
In a premise that, emotionally at least, hefts the heart-rending gravitas of a Sophie's Choice scenario, Michael does the only thing a caring husband/father could do - to keep both of his loved ones alive, he embraces the duality and decides to live in both worlds until he can figure out what's real.
So in one, Michael and his wife debate having another child, while in the other, his son Rex tries to fill the motherless void by turning to his tennis coach, Tara (Michaela McManus).
"It's not a mistake that [Michael's] mind has come up with this [coping mechanism]," says Isaacs.
"He's a great cop, even if he didn't have these realities, he'd be a very good detective. He's not stupid. He knows somewhere he's making up one of the realities. He's not ahead of the audience at all. You have the adventure with him."
If you like your series intricate and tricky (attention all Lost fans!) then you'll find Awake a glorious mind-bender. But if you like your cop drama gently served over-easy, then you may find this critics' darling more like a migraine after a few episodes of twists and turns.
Even Michael wears different-coloured rubber bands - red and green - to give himself (and the viewer) a quick visual cue about which world he has just woken up in.
The creative mind behind all this inspired confusion is the Texan scribe Kyle Killen, whose previous short-lived 2010 Fox series Lone Star (oddly enough, about a Texas con man with two personas, two jobs and two spouses) was critically acclaimed.
In a bid for a new normality, Michael returns to solving crimes in both worlds, but with different partners in each: Detective Isaiah "Bird" Freeman (Steve Harris) and Detective Efrem Vega (Wilmer Valderrama, formerly of That '70s Show).
Adding to the coolness of this premise, Michael soon discovers his dual existence is a detective's gift - he solves impossible cases; his two realities let him link clues that cross over from world to world. And, of course, it's hardly surprising that Michael has two shrinks - Dr Evans (the Emmy-winner Cherry Jones, formerly of 24) and Dr Lee (BD Wong). As both therapists work to untangle his two worlds, and as memories of the accident begin to haunt him, he's forced to face the truth about what really happened the night of the crash.
For fans who choose to stick with Awake until the season's end, Killen promises a sweet payoff with no cheats: "The one thing I will say the finale absolutely positively is not - like not even open to interpretation - just is not, is any form of: 'It was all a dream. Britten woke up, there was no accident, his wife and his son were fine. Nothing that you experienced throughout the season ever happened.'"
Awake is shown at 10pm on Wednesdays on OSN First HD
Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species
Camelpox
Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.
Falconpox
Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.
Houbarapox
Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.
Third Test
Day 3, stumps
India 443-7 (d) & 54-5 (27 ov)
Australia 151
India lead by 346 runs with 5 wickets remaining
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group B
Barcelona v Tottenham Hotspur, midnight
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
Zimbabwe v UAE, ODI series
All matches at the Harare Sports Club:
1st ODI, Wednesday, April 10
2nd ODI, Friday, April 12
3rd ODI, Sunday, April 14
4th ODI, Tuesday, April 16
UAE squad: Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Yuki Means Happiness
Alison Jean Lester
John Murray
Ireland v Denmark: The last two years
Denmark 1-1 Ireland
7/06/19, Euro 2020 qualifier
Denmark 0-0 Ireland
19/11/2018, Nations League
Ireland 0-0 Denmark
13/10/2018, Nations League
Ireland 1 Denmark 5
14/11/2017, World Cup qualifier
Denmark 0-0 Ireland
11/11/2017, World Cup qualifier
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
Company Profile
Company name: OneOrder
Started: October 2021
Founders: Tamer Amer and Karim Maurice
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Industry: technology, logistics
Investors: A15 and self-funded
England's lowest Test innings
- 45 v Australia in Sydney, January 28, 1887
- 46 v West Indies in Port of Spain, March 25, 1994
- 51 v West Indies in Kingston, February 4, 2009
- 52 v Australia at The Oval, August 14, 1948
- 53 v Australia at Lord's, July 16, 1888
- 58 v New Zealand in Auckland, March 22, 2018
Results:
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 2,200m | Winner: AF Al Montaqem, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,200m | Winner: Daber W’Rsan, Connor Beasley, Jaci Wickham
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 1,600m | Winner: Bainoona, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m | Winner: AF Makerah, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 | Winner: AF Motaghatres, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,600m | Winner: Tafakhor, Ronan Whelan, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
The%20Killer
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Draw:
Group A: Egypt, DR Congo, Uganda, Zimbabwe
Group B: Nigeria, Guinea, Madagascar, Burundi
Group C: Senegal, Algeria, Kenya, Tanzania
Group D: Morocco, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Namibia
Group E: Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania, Angola
Group F: Cameroon, Ghana, Benin, Guinea-Bissau
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The biog
Favourite food: Fish and seafood
Favourite hobby: Socialising with friends
Favourite quote: You only get out what you put in!
Favourite country to visit: Italy
Favourite film: Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.
Family: We all have one!
The Freedom Artist
By Ben Okri (Head of Zeus)
