| Michael Britten | |
|---|---|
| Awake character | |
 | |
| First appearance | "Pilot" |
| Last appearance | "Turtles All the Way Down" |
| Created by | Kyle Killen |
| Portrayed by | Jason Isaacs |
| In-universe information | |
| Nickname | Mike |
| Species | Human |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | Detective at the Los Angeles Police Department |
| Spouse | Hannah Britten |
| Children | Rex Britten |
| Nationality | American |
Michael Britten is the fictional main character featured in the American police procedural drama television series Awake. He is portrayed by Jason Isaacs and first appeared, along with the rest of his family, in "Pilot", and last appeared in "Turtles All the Way Down". Michael was created and designed by series creator Kyle Killen after he created and developed the series Lone Star for the Fox network. Killen had been called in to pitch a new drama for NBC after the cancellation of Lone Star.
Michael and his wife Hannah have one child: Rex. After a car crash, Michael begins to live in "two realities", one in which his son Rex survived the crash, when he wears a green wrist band, and another in which his wife Hannah survived the crash, where he wears a red wrist band. He works at the Los Angeles Police Department, alongside Efrem Vega in his "red reality" and Isaiah Freeman in his "green reality". Michael is disorganized and often confused. Despite this, he is adept at solving crimes, as he uses clues from one reality to help him in the other.
Isaacs' portrayal of Michael has been praised by television commentators, who felt that he effectively embodied the characteristics of the lead role. Critics believed that Isaacs' performance deserved an Emmy Award.