My Own Worst Enemy

Network: NBC; Genre: Action/Adventure; Content Rating: TV-14 (violence and some sexual content); Perspective: contemporary (star range: 1 – 4);

Seasons Reviewed: Complete Series (1 season)

Henry (Christian Slater) is an efficiency expert with a wife and two kids. He's such a nice guy, his life is so normal and ordinary that you just know he has to be a secret agent. He just doesn't know it. When called onto assignments, a secret government agency activates hardware in his brain that temporary wipes out Henry and loads in the personality of secret black ops badass assassin Edward. When returning Henry to his normal life false memories are implanted to explain any cuts or bruises. But we've got a problem. Henry/Edward is now broken. He starts snapping back and forth between personalities at random moments bringing Edward into Henry's home life and Henry for the first time into the high stakes world of Edward's.

I love this show. What a great idea. What a crisp and fun execution. What a deliciously entertaining series. "My Own Worst Enemy" is an imaginative shot in the arm for the spy series, putting a new spin on the classic double life storyline by keeping the agent himself in the dark, putting him at odds with (as the title so aptly describes) himself. I'm not even divulging my favorite little twist in the show, suffice to say it surprises from the beginning when the origin of the digital personality split is revealed.

Due to its at-home-on-cable complex premise, the show never caught fire with an audience and NBC is too cheap to keep it around until it could. That's a shame because had it been seen by more eyes this could have been a Kiefer Sutherland-level comeback for Christian Slater. Slater is terrific in dual role, playing both Henry and Edward with slightly different mannerisms and voices, fully vested in both the bumbling family man and the ruthless womanizing killer. Edward takes pleasure in sleeping with Henry's wife when he takes over but can't stand the domestic duties like buying his daughter a dress for the school dance. Henry freaks out when he wakes up in the bed of the company psychiatrist (Saffron Burrows) who Edward is sleeping with or in the field on a mission. None of this is played as cheesy, from Slater or in the show's unblinking treatment of material that goes along way to make material work that so easily could have fallen into camp.

The show also works, both on the home front stories and as an action series ride with Henry/Edward's cell phone recorder serving as a bridge by which the two personalities communicate (and threaten) each other. This is more than can be said for the more procedural, less cinematic spy thriller "the Unit", which still juggles domestic and black ops story lines awkwardly.

Mike O'Malley really surprises as Edward's partner, Raymond, another agent in the program. The wife of his alias, Joe, has grown suspicious leading her further to the truth. O'Malley is unrecognizable as the ruthless Raymond. This guy would eviscerate his "Yes Dear" character without thinking twice. On the other side is Alfrie Woodward as the program's overseer, who after her jump the shark performance in season 2 of "Desperate Housewives" could not look more lost or uninterested with everything going on. Acting fireplug James Cromwell also appears as her gruff superior office –a role Cromwell could do in his sleep.

Like "The Unit", "Enemy" isn't a "24"-level thrill ride. We never feel things won't work out for our heroes. The fun is in seeing how. What resourceful way will Henry keep to his core human principals while trying to dispatch an international terrorist? But the missions are nothing compared to the battle between the two men. That's where the show's imaginative playground is. How far will Edward go to push or even get rid of Henry? The action hits all the right notes here. This isn't serious spy stuff. It's pulpy Jason Bourne over-the-top movie spy stuff. Extremely entertaining spy stuff at that.

* * * ½ / 4

I like Christian Slater and I think he does very, very well portraying both Edward and Henry. The whole premise is very interesting and the first few episodes peaked my interest as to where they would be taking this. Then they made a fatal error and allow Tom to be too visible and then the very fatal error of involving his wife. It was one thing to have Henry/Edward's wife involved, she at least is an essential character. But to involve Tom's wife well who cares! So now I don't know what to do about this show. Like Journeyman, of which I was a big fan, I wish the writers would do a better job and I wish the networks would give the shows a fighting chance by insisting on tight scripts. But I know it's all about the money and low rating means no money so good and potentially good shows are canceled. I fear the same thing will happen here if the writing and the ratings don't pick up.

When this show first started, I really liked the idea. Christian Slater was believable in his transitions, and the pilot steered clear of frenetic camera work and Paul Greengrass-style editing. But the more it plays, the more I see it making the same mistakes that FX made with "The Riches." It's becoming somewhat joyless to watch. The plots dig down into a sort of hopelessness that requires Henry to be constantly bailed out by some hitherto unknown ally or circumstance.

All in all, it has great potential, but takes itself far too seriously, and stays too dark. "24" was constantly dark, but it stayed popular by offering up some escapist thrills and a very likable protagonist. Right now, "My Own Worst Enemy" is dark, but not nearly as likable.

Superb Drama with excellent Cast!Christian Slater is Superb in this Role.Mike O'Malley is an excellent fit as well.Very well written with fantastic actors.This program flows from the very first episode.I cant wait to see where the the next episode places Edward and Henry.I have Followed Christian Slater for Years as one of my favorite actors.Excellent Choice for this Role.the premise of the show flows into our lives as we can all be Our Own Worst Enemies at Times.its something that we can all relate to.We sympathize with Henry and Edward in our on ways,and fear for them as well.The Dark and the Light within us All.Excellent Product Slater and NBC.Thank-You.and please give this show a chance

Henry Spivey a expert consultant working for a big company, is happily married with two children, seems to have a life most men would envy. And then there is Edward Albright a C.I.A. agent, who has his own pleasures of taking out the enemy, he pretty much is the next best thing to James Bond. Now these two men should have nothing in common, but they do, the fact that there the same man. Henry is a secret duel identity that was created for Edward, so Edward is like sleeping when Henry takes over. And Henry has no memory of Edwards action. But then Henry soon becomes aware of Edwards existence. How will these two personalities come too adjust?

I just watched the first episode, and it seems to be an enjoyable action spy thriller. I hope it lasts about as long as Alias(2001-2006) did. The writers of the show I hope are brilliant if they can have a show about a man with duel personalities going for years, but if they don't, we'll they deserve credit for trying anyway. The Jekyll and Hyde part is interesting, you get the Henry and Edward part. Christian Slater is great and convincing has both personalities. He plays it has the same man from two different universes. I liked the series so far, I hope it will last a while, but if it doesn't, like I said thanks for trying anyway.