My Own Worst Enemy

Offered as a spy thriller about a super-secret and utterly ruthless American intelligence agency capable of operating anywhere in the world, the series featured a secondary story line about a seemingly average middle class family with relationship issues-- clearly meant to rope in the ladies. With the action lurching uneasily from one to the other, the two story lines didn't quite marry up.

The casual violence of the major plot was bound to turn off women viewers far more than they would be attracted by the domestic scenes featuring white bread blonde Madchen Amick. Many also would not "get" the references to major international issues that concern this shadowy and sinister Agency. These also put a date-stamp on the series.

Christian Slater is a Jack Nicholson sound-alike who also has Nicholson's sharp, worldly cynicism. Add the gritty physical intensity of a young Robert Blake, whom Slater generally resembles, and you have a great talent. There are some steamy love scenes between the 5'8" Slater and stunning English model turned actress Saffron Burrows--six feet tall and an avowed lesbian off-screen--who plays a psychiatrist on the staff the Agency. This match-up looks ludicrous on paper yet in action it is convincing. In the ironic intelligence of the writing and in its tribute to classic British fiction of the nineteenth century this series owes a debt to "House", the hit medical series on Fox Network.

The ads and trailers for My Own Worst Enemy were exciting and intriguing to say the least. One guy, Christian Slater, seemingly two different people who are clueless as to their lots in life. Henry, the family guy accountant, and Edward, the egocentric assassin. How were they going to pull that off so it was new, fresh? But pull it off they did.

But there were scripting and conflict issues with Henry v. Edward. I found myself yelling at Henry when in difficult situations because of his utter stupidity for self preservation. Laughing at Edward when he diddled with the wife and she was suddenly a very, very happy stay at home mom.

As the season went on, I wasn't sure how long I could put up with Henry's stupidity....then there was a plot turn, a scripting turn and it all came together. It then hit me -- Henry, though lovable family guy -- was *supposed* to be the clueless wonder. The company made sure of it. The military/intelligence orgs' programming of people is already good, but the premise of this show brought that to new heights. Kicking that kind of behavioral programming up to that notch, Henry was what they made him -- a pencil pusher, number cruncher who was afraid of his own shadow, and above and beyond the call of the perfect rube if it all went bad.....the uber ultimate in plausible deniability. He couldn't have behaved any other way.

Henry also is a good person, good to the bone, the best of the best ethics, and in recent episodes, we finally find out how that trait (among others) benefits the big picture.

So now, when all the questionable scripting and plot points come together in a fluid manner -- as I imagine it was intended -- NBC realizes that they stuck the show in the middle of two ratings nut busters that have been duking it out since they went head to head (CSI: Miami and Boston Public)......so seems to me that NBC is the ultimate idiot. And the public looses out....again.

If NBC really thinks their mid-season replacement is going to get them the ratings push they want or need, they are even dumber than I said previously. Another hooray for us on the receiving end.

For those of you who haven't watched all or any of the show, time to download it, watch it realtime on the various places on the web, and/or get it all On Demand and watch it from beginning up to now. I promise, you will be just as disgusted and infuriated as I am right now.

Once everyone is caught up, let me know and we can all storm NBC together and demand they bring it back, put it in an honest time slot and then make them step away.

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.

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.