In the chilling and surreal world of Impulse Revisionism’s “Awakenings,” we follow the tumultuous journey of Henry, a young woman grappling with extraordinary abilities and the haunting fragments of her past. This narrative delves into the depths of Henry’s psyche, exploring themes of identity, memory, and the struggle for control in a world that seems to conspire against her.
Henry is walking alone in the cold, her breath visible in the frigid air. She finds herself in the middle of nowhere, on a dark, desolate road. In a moment of unsettling behavior, she begins to undress, an action that would appear bizarre and alarming to any onlooker.
As the viewer watches, Henry’s mental state begins to unravel. She falls asleep on the icy road, only to be woken by Clay, who mocks her as he walks by. The scene is surreal, blurring the lines between reality and the tormenting visions in Henry’s mind.
Clay orders Henry into his truck with a harsh command, “Get in the fucking truck!” This moment triggers a contemplation about gender roles and societal expectations. The notion of a man as the head of the household, as suggested by the Bible, clashes with the reality of single mothers who must navigate life’s complexities alone.
Meanwhile, Cleo is oblivious to the passage of time. In the previous episode, she was joking about a movie with Bill, Clay, Lucas, and her fiancé. It’s strange to see her interact with a murderer, someone who assaulted her daughter, and a fiancé who doesn’t truly have her daughter’s best interests at heart.
The narrative takes a medical turn, highlighting that seizures can occur while awake and can be detected by medical devices. Henry experiences a seizure, during which she is transported to another place, conversing with her mother. She is simultaneously awake and unconscious, trapped in a liminal state.
A younger version of Henry appears, only to vanish into a bedroom closet. Henry follows and finds herself in her childhood closet, eventually emerging into her school hallway. Her life is fragmented, like a puzzle with missing pieces. She appears in different places without any memory of how she got there, suggesting a profound memory loss.
The episode intriguingly references the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which allows Congress to regulate commerce with foreign nations. This legal backdrop sets the stage for federal and state police collaboration to apprehend Bill Boone and the Mennonites on U.S. soil (Because You know, all Mennonites deal fentanyl and smuggle guns in the name of God).
Townes, aware of the danger Henry faces, is determined to keep her identity a secret. He knows that if the government discovers her abilities, they will treat her like a lab rat and kill her. This evokes parallels to Jesus, who warned his followers and demons to keep his identity hidden.
Henry’s teleportations are linked to her memory loss, and her younger self reveals that her older self is a monster.
The evil corporation has developed a weapon that emits a sound harmful to teleporters, effectively preventing Henry from using her powers.
In “Impulse Awakenings,” the boundaries between reality and illusion blur, creating a gripping and thought-provoking narrative that explores the complexities of identity, memory, and the human condition.