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Herc Finds Himself At Odds With NBC’s MY OWN WORST ENEMY!!
SPOILER ALERT !!
I am – Hercules!!
An existential-crisis tale about a fellow who comes to learn he doesn’t really exist, “My Own Worst Enemy” stars Christian Slater as a superagent given a government-engineered split personality.
Henry (Spivey, not Jekyll) is the happily married suburban dad who sometimes “dreams” of being a secret agent. Edward (Albright, not Hyde) is a womanizing spy-assassin who uses Spivey’s body to perform derring-do on behalf of the U.S. government.
No doubt inspired by the amnesia-driven Jason Bourne movies as much as Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Jekyll & Hyde,” “Worst” sounds plenty intriguing as a logline (I know I was excited to hear about it), but expanded into an hour of teleplay (never mind a series) it doesn’t make a lick of sense.
In the case of both “Jekyll” and “Bourne,” any amnesia was an unintended consequence. Why would a government agency bother to spend so much time, money and effort to create for a top asset like Edward Albright an alter ego that would leave Edward’s body so vulnerable to enemies?
I kept waiting for the newly (if accidentally) clued-in Henry to put these questions to Edward’s superiors, but he never thinks to do so. So we don’t even get a lame explanation.
I was also confused as to why Edward’s bosses would choose to house Henry even temporarily in Edward’s bachelor pad, with Edward’s stuff. Certainly Edward wouldn’t (and doesn’t) like it, and the place, not unsurprisingly, turns out to be full of sensitive material Henry shouldn’t be seeing or touching. A locked cell would make far more sense, but then we wouldn’t get the stupid scene with Henry indulging a joyride in Edward’s Chevy Camero SS. (Henry drives a Chevy Traverse, also part of the product-placement agreement struck by NBC-Universal and General Motors.)
The pilot was scripted by Jason Smilovic, who did far better work on “Karen Sisco” and “Kidnapped,” though Smilovic will not serve as series showrunner.
Smilovic throws a couple funny lines to fellow secret agent Tom Grady, played by Mike O’Malley (the bald guy from “Yes, Dear”), but there’s too little good to compensate for all the elements that don’t work, like the clumsy and cliché-riddled opening that shows jerky superspy Edward at work in the field.
Smilovic’s replacement as showrunner is “WIOU” creator John Eisendrath, who under J.J. Abrams’ supervision had his name on some quite good early episodes of “Alias” – but I’m not sure Abrams himself could redeem this premise.
USA Today give it one and a half stars (out of four) and says:
… Badly conceived, badly executed, and woefully, ridiculously overcomplicated … Enemy wants you to ask yourself why Edward and his compatriots (including Yes, Dear's Mike O'Malley) would agree to this chip-split personality, but the show never even approaches the real stumbling block: Why would the government go to all this trouble? You can understand why we might want to turn ordinary guys into spies, but why turn spies into ordinary guys, a process that allows Edward to hide from no one but himself? … To make matters worse, or worst, Slater simplifies the division for us by making Edward an unrelieved snot, which means that the only character with whom we have sympathy is the one who isn't real. …
Entertainment Weekly gives it an “C-plus” and says:
… Slater plays out spy-story clichés that were campy on The Man From U.N.C.L.E. 40 years ago. (Edward speaks 13 languages! He can hold his breath underwater for five minutes!) To pull off stuff like this, you need to acknowledge that you know it's been done before, and bring an extra something: not a wink, not irony, but an airy authority that says, ''You ain't seen it done like I'm gonna do it.'' (What do I mean? Go rewatch the pilot for Alias.) Slater is solid: He rarely slips into his Jack Nicholson Jr. voice, and, as timid Henry, does a nice little yelp when he pops a champagne cork that sounds like a gunshot. But at one point in the premiere, a rattled Henry says to Edward — i.e., himself — ''You bastard! You slept with my wife?!'' Many viewers may resume sleeping with CSI: Miami if the smart fellows behind Enemy don't improve this show. …
The New York Times says:
… “Worst Enemy” has a convoluted premise that is cleverly wrought and holds up well, and Mr. Slater does a remarkable job of only subtly signaling each personality …
The Los Angeles Times says:
… Slater, who in his twenties, anyway, seemed to specialize in creating cult films, is in rare form here. Which is a good thing since the show's success or failure rests solely on his dramatic agility and general appeal. … there is the nagging question of how creator Jason Smilovic is going to turn what could easily have been a two-hour feature film into a television show, but let's assume for the moment he has a plan. …
The Chicago Tribune says:
… "My Own Worst Enemy" starts out quite melodramatically, echoing the kind of overly serious spy drama that NBC's charming spy comedy "Chuck" spoofs. Still, the first episode of "Enemy" ended up being a relatively compelling hour of television. As competent as it is, though, it's hard not to think that the premise contains some holes. First of all, why would any espionage outfit go to such lengths to give a spy a humdrum cover? Why bother making him forget his daily life as Henry when he's Edward, and vice versa? …
The Washington Post says:
… The show is the TV series equivalent of Frankenstein's monster, built from scraps of various cadavers and plodding along at a logy and poky pace. "My Own Worst Enemy" ends up seeming like a pale digital copy even of itself.
The San Francisco Chronicle says:
… The first 15 minutes of the much-hyped spy series (do you remember those relentless ads during the Olympics?) are pretty laughable. The idiotic dialogue might have been enough to get [Smilovic] fired. But then in the rest of the first hour (which is all NBC sent) of the pilot, "My Own Worst Enemy" gets compelling before becoming almost completely incoherent, so it's hard to say on what grounds NBC was annoyed with Smilovic (or vice versa). Bad, then decent, then confusing. That's not exactly the trajectory you're looking for in a pilot. …
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says:
Given NBC's recent track record -- Was the world really clamoring for a new "Knight Rider," inferior even to the low standards set by the original? -- you'll understand my shock that the new Christian Slater drama "My Own Worst Enemy" actually turns out to be an entertaining, coherent drama. … It's too early to tell if the "Enemy" premise will hold up week after week. The premise might have been better suited to a one-shot movie, but Smilovic makes a convincing case for aspects of the dual characters that can be explored for weeks and years to come.…
The Boston Globe says:
… just plain stupid. … tonight's episode is illogical and pointless, and Slater's dual performance isn't nearly as much fun as it should be. If there's any potential in this show, it is unrealized in the pilot. … I've seen twin-sibling performances on daytime soap operas that had more nuance. …
Variety says:
… There's definitely a series here; how it fares depends on which aspects of the show's split personality triumph. … a rapid pace here is key to obscure lapses in logic …
The Hollywood Reporter says:
… hits the ground feeling at once vague and oddly captivating. … If this all sounds spectacularly, absurdly far-fetched, well duh! But "My Own Worst Enemy" holds our interest despite its utter preposterousness because if there is anything Slater knows how to do, it's present a believable head case. And if you check that disbelief at the door, it's possible to foresee an intriguing journey of internal anguish in the weeks ahead. …
10 p.m. Monday. NBC.
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based on the premise which sounds good, sorry to hear the final project isn't as goodwhat's going on over at NBC, chuck is at the moment, the only standout good show right now
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and this show just plain sucks. I wanted to like it because I was happy for Slater to land something like this given his recent acting drought, but there just isn't anything redeeming about the premise or the execution. The original pilot of Bionic Woman was more believable then this show, and thats saying something as that show featured freakin' cyborgs and hot chicks banging nerdy professors.
Hopefully this show will bomb miserably, and NBC will move Life back to Monday nights. -
Not very compelling, especially since they dodge all of the interesting complexities of having a life of fake memories, knowing you'll cheat on your wife and kill people.
It would have been more interesting if the two personalities were at odds. Have the secret persona go rogue and start assassinating people while his other self keeps taking over to sabotage his plans, and vice versa. Sorta like Fight Club. -
that we don't give a shit about Sidney's suburban life?
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Anyone see that movie recently where he played a downtrodden office worker who wanted to shoot everyone in his office dead?I love me a bit of Slater and so I'll tune in just for him. He's a good actor and, if this show works at all, it'll probably be because of him.
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...to mention that this is a rip-off of the Geena Davis movie the Long Kiss Goodnight in this talkback? How did it take so long?
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for no other reason this could be a hit.....
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Honestly that's all I could think of when I first heard the premise. Didn't even think of Bourn or Alias. Still looks like it'll suck though.
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I'll check it out, but I'm suddenly very skeptical. The joyride in the Chevy Camaro scene sounds cringe-able. To devote an entire scene to GM product placement shows you where the Network's priorities are. Yuck.
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I die a little on the inside...
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as She Spies?
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You ah nod you - youah me!
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...don't forget Total Recall, cause that's what i thought of when i saw the premise.
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I was quite keen to see this until I read the article. Not so keen now but will try it anyway.
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As I said during the user-unfriendly Olympics coverage that NBC visited upon us in the midst of ad after ad for this show ad nauseam, no way in hell am I watching this or any NBC series this season. Try again in 2012.
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I'd watch this if Clare Danes was in it.
Sounds less like Jekyll and Hide, more like bizzaro Fight Club. Instead of anarchist Tyler Durden, you get government agent while other personality sleeps. I wasn't wildly enthusiastic about this show before this article, and less so now. I'm sure there will be something else on the tivo. -
Sounds like a remake of the Spy neighbors show.
Plot was a spy had a suburban lifestyle. Then his nemesis moves next door. The families don't know what each does for a living.
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So mild mannered Chuck creates superspy Charles Carmichael.
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...looks like it's hiding Kelly Bundy's wrinkles...
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Oct 13, 2008 11:08:59 AM CDT
Since Fringe and Life on Mars have been highly praised letdowns.
by shermdawg
I've got my fingers crossed critics are wrong about this one too.
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Thanks a lot for spoiling Fight Club! I have been avoiding spoilers and now you just ruined it for me. Thanks. I will watch MOWE simply for Slater. I like him as an actor, so I will tune in to see what he does with this. It seems like a vehicle for him like SHARK is for James Woods -- you don't watch it for the old plots, but to see a good actor chew on scripts.
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But of course, so is CHUCK. Everything involving the intersect and the handling of Chuck makes no goddamned sense once you think about it beyond "these things exist." And yet, CHUCK is one of the most consistently engaging and entertaining shows on network television.
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I actually felt sorry for everyone involved when I first saw these promos. They just look...bad. bad idea, bad casting, wrong look, wrong everything. but I guess once you've put so much money into something, you have to promote the hell out of it. which is why we're seeing more and more of these awful commercials. oh well. at least we'll probably only have to deal with them for a couple of weeks.
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But Chuck doesn't take itself seriously, whereas this looks like it's trying to be "gritty and edgy". I think Slater's agent said, "Hey you've sunk to direct-to-DVD, so why not series television?
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or whatever he says in the teaser instantly turned me off. I usually like Slater, but just the way he said it made do a Will Smith "Awww Hell no!"
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I just hope this one is good. Because fuck, Chuck sucks ducks.
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but at 8pm on monday night Chuck is the best thing on TV......
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The delivery of this line on all the promos makes me want to hate this show already. Hopefully this sentiment isn't shared by others.
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I always kind of like Slater.
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How about Boston Legal?
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...that having him go into a "no nothing" cover mode makes no sense explained like so: If he's in operative mode and captured he's basically toast anyway. When he's not in operative mode he still poses a threat to security (if he were bagged) so why not just turn him off? Then if he *is* ID'ed on the street and picked up he can't damage the company [?] Or is there something I'm missing? Definitely going to tune in tonight - nothing on at 10 and I've always liked Slater.
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Hahaha, making shrimp and pecking out a talkback doesn't work - I of course meant KNOW. Ya know?
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I thought the exact same thing when I was looking at the guide tonight - you don't hear much about it, but I guess it's still chugging along (Shatner and Spader still on it?)
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I likey.
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SCREW YOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!
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do well in a high budget movie. Unfortunately, it looks, feels and plays like a slightly better than average network TV series. Just another show that doesn't live up to the premise. And yeah, there were far better ways they could have approached the competing personalities issue. I'll probably give it a few more episodes though.
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And groom him as a replacement for Kiefer.
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Quick answer to the "why would a government agency bother to spend so much time, money and effort to create for a top asset like Edward Albright an alter ego that would leave Edward’s body so vulnerable to enemies?" question: he was never meant to come home and live in this country. Edward was always meant to be overseas and Henry would be an instantly activated identity in the event of capture. He would pass any polygraph and have a plausible cover in the US. Something screwed that plan up, maybe Henry meeting someone that couldn't be erased. That's how I'd approach the answer, anyway.I agree that the product placement was obnoxious, but no more so than 24 or Terminator. However, again, as an answer to why Henry was put in Edward's apartment, maybe Mavis just felt like fucking with Edward.All in all, I'm intrigued enough to come back next week, although, like everything else this season, I'm not hooked. Fringe bored me quickly (3 episodes on DVR and counting), Terminator seems interminable and the shows I have enjoyed in the long term are not making for must see TV. I think the strike did more damage than the networks realized.
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...no. When Kiefer leaves 24 should stop. No follow up, no prequel, no agent-in-training. Jack's gone? So is the show.
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Yes. Both people are still on it. The writing is still sharp and the stories are well worth it. Apparently it must not be your thing, but as far as I'm concerned Boston Legal is much better than this piece of garbage.
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I enjoyed it immensely, despite its ridiculous premise. Of course this means it will be cancelled forthwith.
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of course it didn't do and explain everything and deal with "all the complexities of dual personalities" in those 40 minutes. Crazy how people take any show and move the goal post until it's far enough that it can't be reached. If it did all of that, you'd complain that there was too much stuff crammed in an hour (which some critics apparently did say)
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'course seeing the Giants loose was better...........
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some parts of it was good. Nothing horrible.
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The acting was good here and there but in general, it was too… cavalier for material that begs for something more polished and serious. Slater in particular was hit and miss. I’m not certain he’s quite grasped the dual characters and how each character is wrestling and dealing with the issue of the other personality. A much stronger contrast is warranted. Whatever the case, he needs to bring a lot more to the role. Without Slater nailing this, the whole premise (and thus the show) falls apart. Though to be fair, he’s pretty good at times and it’s a tough role for network TV so he deserves a few more episodes to settle in to character. Alfree Woodard isn’t bringing enough gravitas to her role which is important to counterbalance the issues of instability to Slater’s character. She’s a good actor but I think she’s miscast here. The bald, middle aged spy also plays an important role to reinforce the dual role of Slater’s characters, and he’s not bad, but he and Slater could do a bit more. Kids shouldn’t be in the show period. Mostly because it’s hard to find great kid actors and they almost always ruin credibility. As far as the writing goes, there were parts which were well written but I think the acting, lighting, directing missed the mood/tone/feel Smilovic was going for, which is a shame. The lighting, while professional, didn’t achieve the effect that was needed for Smilovic’s material. The directing was good, but like the lighting, didn’t achieve what it needed to do. While I’m critical of the people involved, I think the show deserves a few more viewings and I can’t really place blame and say anyone was really at fault. This is the type of show that would fair far better when the artists aren’t constrained by the time, budget and censorship of network TV.
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i might watch next week with the new showrunner
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I'M GONNA DRILL YOU SUCKA!!! I'M GONNA GRIIIND YOU UP!!!!
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Fringe and Life on Mars got lots of praise, but they were both really lame. It's hard to know how this show will turn out, but the pilot was interesting. I disagree with whatever reviewer said this was all cliche or whatever. Sure we've had split personality characters before, but not done quite like this. I LOVE the scene where Henry notices the message that Edward left on his palm. As for why would the government go to all of this trouble, isn't that part of the mystery of the show, Herc? Would you have preferred it if they gave up all of the Lost islands' mysteries in the pilot episode?
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"An existential-crisis tale about a fellow who comes to learn he doesn’t really exist, “My Own Worst Enemy” stars Christian Slater as a superagent given a government-engineered split personality.
Henry (Spivey, not Jekyll) is the happily married suburban dad who sometimes “dreams” of being a secret agent. Edward (Albright, not Hyde) is a womanizing spy-assassin who uses Spivey’s body to perform derring-do on behalf of the U.S. government."
Edward doesn't use Henry's body. Edward is the original owner of the body, Henry is the new personality construct. That was a MAJOR point in the first episode. I don't know if you just misspoke or arent' paying attention. Everyone has there days, and I appreciate your reviews, even though AICN has wussied out on SAMCRO, but you need to keep your eyes open on this stuff.
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Oct 14, 2008 6:39:18 PM CDT
And as far as the quality, I disagree with the
by grammaton cleric binks
media reviews. I really like the show. But, I don't know how they can keep up the pace. I guess I'll wait and see.
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the nerve and absolute stupidity a person would have to have to say chuck "is the best thing on TV" at any hour of any day....stop doin drugs..if all u losers that like chuck took your hands off your dicks watchin the blonde and actually watched an episode u would see how retarded a show it is...ill take back journeyman or for that matter surface any day over chuck.....btw ENEMY was a great season premiere...why do i say that ? because i was able to get thru the whole hour without changing the channel...couldnt make it past 30 min with chuck...
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The hell.Yep, I enjoyed the hell out of it, and I don't care who knows.
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Why would they need to create a split personality in the first place? Mike O'Malley's character has a dual role as regular guy and spy guy without the need of chip in his head, or whatever. That scene where they show him talking on the phone to his wife while loading his gun just shows how flawed the concept is.
The show would be more interesting if it was about one man balancing his spy life with his cover life, except its the same person, not one guy with two personalities. -
Don't seem like mysteries. Leaving Henry in Edward's apartment was reckless on the agency's part and not realistic. Having a supporting character who leads two lives without the aid of a split personality while the lead does so with a separate personality is lame.
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NeoAngelus makes a good point. I enjoy the show despite some glaring flaws. One of the biggest, though, was the character of Raymond/Tom. My impression going into the show was that Edward/Henry was part of a large program with a number of operatives undergoing the same split personality thing. And that Raymond/Tom was one of them. I think that would've been a stronger choice. Instead, by having Raymond only faking to be Tom, it really kind of dragged you out of the premise. I was still entertained, though. I'll give it some more chances to see where it goes.
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It would be pretty impractical if everybody in the orginization were like Edward wouldn't it?I doubt Raymond is normally sent into the field, but in this case the agent he was assigned to was abducted.
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except for the Russian guys he just blew away.
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