The truth behind This Is Not My Life

I'm not going to lie to you guys: I'm really enjoying This Is Not My Life. The locally produced show is appointment viewing at my place and has been getting better and better as the story unfolds. It's well written, well produced and highly ambitious. There's a lot to like.

The only problem is, I have questions.

When it comes to serial shows, I think that leaving me with a question or two at the end of each episode is a good thing - and if the question is interesting enough, I'll keep coming back again and again (this is how I ended up a Lost fan, by the way). But at the same time, questions need answers. More specifically, I want answers. I want the truth! I can handle the truth!

To help me figure things out - and help you out too - I emailed This Is Not My Life writer/producer Gavin Strawhan and asked if he'ld answer a few of the quirky questions I had after the last couple of episodes, as a kind of preview to tonight's episode.

Fortunately Gavin is more like Alec than Dr Collins and was glad to help out.

So here are five questions I've had about This Is Not My Life, some background to each one, and my notes on what Gavin replied. Post your own ideas and questions about the show in the comments section below.

QUESTION 1: Are there really "haves" and "have-nots" in Waimoana?
On the one hand, it certainly seems like there are - while our main characters Alec (Charles Mesure) and Jessica (Miriama McDowell) seem to have been put in Waimoana against their will, others like Callie (Nurse Caroline!) and Jessica's stalker Gordy seemed to have volunteered to move to the "best little place on earth". But on the other hand, last week's episode showed us that Gordy had no recollection of this: even the so-called "haves" have had their memories wiped, and might not be too thrilled about the situation.

I asked Gavin if the "haves/have-nots" theory might be worth keeping an eye on. All he would say is that "we will learn that in Waimoana, not everyone is equal (or equally unaware.)" In other words: trust no one.

QUESTION 2: Is The Big Flu real? What about reports on the news?
Jessica's friend Louie and his cougar girlfriend both made reference to "The Big Flu", which happened before they moved to Waimoana (and was seemingly supported by the existence of "contaminated areas", as seen last week). A news broadcast announced that America had shut its borders and India was in a standoff with Europe.

When I asked Gavin about these events, he was a little cagey. "These memories and news items may or may not be true, either way they serve the purpose of keeping the population happy with Waimoana as a lifestyle 'choice' ... Having a sense of a more dangerous world 'out there', certainly helps the residents feel better off where they are. But as to the truth... Well... Time will tell..."

QUESTION 3: Who, or what, is Gaulton?
Dr Collins mentions transferring Kyle to Gaulton for replacement, and it's hard to ignore the little Gaulton marker pole Alec runs past in the opening credits sequence. When I asked Gavin about Gaulton he simply said "Big clue: Francis Galton is considered the father of eugenics."

According to Dictionary.com, eugenics refers to the study of improving the qualities of a human population by basically controlling breeding, or in the case of Waimoana, selectively allowing people into the community. So, if Gaulton is an organisation that runs Waimoana, then is Waimoana a community embracing the ideology of eugenics? Wait a second ... is Gaulton the name of the old guy in Becky's dreams? Uh oh - more questions!

QUESTION 4: Are there other places like Waimoana?
Dr Collins refers to a process called "transfer and replacement" ... but where are people transferring to? According to writer Rachel Lang, in a behind the scenes video on the show's website, there are six communities like Waimoana. Easy!

... until you remember that Kyle was sent for "transfer and replacement" and was found dead in the contaminated area Gordy and Alec went to last week. How did he end up there if he was meant to be shipped out to another community? Maybe "transfer and replacement" doesn't actually refer to transferring to another place like Waimoana after all ...

QUESTION 5: There aren't any Lost polar bears in Waimoana, are there?
I hope not. I'd rather stab myself in the leg with a rusty steak knife than go through that kind of confusion and misdirection again.

Luckily, Gavin says "I can't give away too much, but I am pretty confident that there are no tangents that don't lead back in some way to a consistent and coherent 'reality' ... By the end of the series, most of your questions will be answered, but not necessarily how you expect them to be answered."

By the way, This Is Not My Life is on at the later time of 9.15 tonight, due to international netball coverage. You're welcome

Are you watching This Is Not My Life? What do you think is going on? What lingering questions do you have about the show?

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