MovieChat Forums > The Enemy Within (2019) Discussion > Disappointing

Disappointing

posted 5 years ago by PrimeMinisterX (8289)
6 replies | jump to latest

Network TV tends to suck so I didn't have a lot of hope for this show, but I did think that the trailer looked above-average for network television and the concept seemed interesting.

I watched the pilot last night and thought it was pretty bland, with a story that felt disjointed and shallow. It was basically just the FBI chasing an ill-defined villain while Jennifer Carpenter's character acted like she had superpowers of deduction.

Maybe it will get better. Perhaps its unfair to judge the show from a single episode. But based on the pilot it just comes across as more network TV claptrap, with the only advantages being that it has some nice visuals and effects, and Jennifer Carpenter seems game to try to give a good performance.

Sorry, Dexter's sister. This one doesn't look like a winner.

[–] exatera (3942) 5 years ago

I am watching it for now, but mainly only because of Carpenter. She is one of the television greats.

And her acting is like head and shoulders above everyone else's in this series.

Frankly, she is wasted on this material. I am not sure why she didn't get better offers than an FBI procedural.

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8289) 5 years ago

You have to wonder how much of Carpenter's position in the industry is dictated by her look. She's not un-attractive, but at the same time I don't find her especially attractive either. She has kind of a peculiar look about her.

Before this show, the only thing I had even seen her in since Dexter was Cell Block 99. Looking at her IMDB, I see she was also in the TV adaptation of Limitless, but I just passed over that one.

[–] exatera (3942) 5 years ago

Yeah, she has a very angular, Pinocchio-like kind of bone structure.

[–] exatera (3942) 5 years ago

For what it's worth, though, I don't think it's because of her looks. Just look at the opportunities afforded to women like Edie Falco or Sandra Oh. Or that overweight and not even pretty woman that seems to be in everything now - Allison Tolman.

Or look at Lauren Cohan who is more conventionally attractive, but is currently starring in the stupidest show.

[–] SammiWin (1112) 5 years ago

I thought the Pilot was OK, but the other two episodes have been "dull" - is it too much to ask for Carpenter's character, Erica to show some interest in what's happening? Erica looks pissed off all the time and I get they want the mystery or whatever about her character, but it's no big mystery why she gave up the agents names - to protect her daughter as it was mentioned from the 1,000 promos I've seen. The show is making it seem like there was more going on, but they arent given us any answers to grip onto each week. Carpenter has so much more potential to be a lead and not a shadow.. .at last that's what I'm seeing.

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8289) 5 years ago

I didn't even make it past the pilot, but if the follow-up episodes have been even worse than the pilot then I can't see there being much of a future for this show. The concept seems worth exploring, but the show falls flat on the execution.

I just looked at at the ratings and it looks like the last episode that aired pulled in 5.18 million viewers. That's not bad, but it's not great either, especially for a show that's brand new. Just as a comparison, on its third episode Manifest (another NBC show that premiered recently) pulled in about 7.5 million viewers for its third episode.

Unfortunately, it looks like another network TV fail. I don't know what it is, but network TV just very rarely scores a home run. The only show I'm watching right now that's not on cable is This Is Us.