# My Own Worst Enemy **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 14, 2008, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-own-worst-enemy/467877 "2008-10-14T15:31:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-own-worst-enemy/467877/21 "2008-10-15T19:15:09Z")
> [@Merkwurdigliebe](#): > > But yeah, why the hell would a super-spy drive a Camaro? At least go for the 'vette, man! Because today’s Camaro is a pretty kick-ass muscle car. The Corvette screams 'porn actor from the ‘70’s’. ---
**Author:** ![Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-own-worst-enemy/467877/22 "2008-10-15T19:20:16Z")
The way they pronounced Spivey drove me crazy the entire episode. It’s SPY-vey. Like Spivey’s Corner, North Carolina. Trust me, I know how to pronounce this name! ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-own-worst-enemy/467877/23 "2008-10-15T19:43:04Z")
Or like Drexl Spivey from “True Romance”? ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-own-worst-enemy/467877/24 "2008-10-15T19:48:15Z")
> [@drillrod](#): > > I thought is was good enough to give a few more episodes. > > I’m embarassed to say that although it was on the tip of my tongue, so to speak, it took me almost the entire episode to finally get that his names, Henry and Edward = Dr. Henry Jeckyll and Mr. Edward Hyde. Never in a million years, would this have occurred to me. Thanks for the education **Drillrod.** ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-own-worst-enemy/467877/25 "2008-10-16T19:36:36Z")
> [@drillrod](#): > > I’m embarassed to say that although it was on the tip of my tongue, so to speak, it took me almost the entire episode to finally get that his names, Henry and Edward = Dr. Henry Jeckyll and Mr. Edward Hyde. They should have reversed the names then. Henry Jeckyll was the original personality, while Edward the spy is the real one on the show. ---
**Author:** ![Iggins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Iggins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggins)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-own-worst-enemy/467877/26 "2008-10-16T20:11:53Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > I had no interest in watching until I noticed in the paper that Madchen Amick (played his wife) was in it. She’s been one of my celeb-fantasy crushes ever since “Twin Peaks.” > > I lost interest pretty quick when I realized she was not gonna get much screen time. > I may check back next week. She is the whole reason I recorded it. I haven’t watched the premiere yet, and if she really doesn’t get some face time, I’m pretty sure I won’t watch the show! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-own-worst-enemy/467877/27 "2008-10-16T21:05:30Z")
I see a reason for the split personality. When a killer super spy is not on a mission, they’d need to be “underground”, and how much further can one be than have that personality totally gone? It could also serve as a “rest period” for the Edward’s spy mind and conscience, he may not be an actual psychopath, he may use the “Henry time” to avoid guilt and normal reluctance that normal people feel. Edward never sleeps (per dialogue, anyway), so his scary subconciousness can’t get him. ---
**Author:** ![Pollux\_Oil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/858c86/32.png) [@Pollux\_Oil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pollux_Oil)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-own-worst-enemy/467877/28 "2008-10-16T23:53:18Z")
I liked the premise of the show. I’ll keep watching but I doubt it will last a full season. I was also surprised at how bloody the premiere was. The head shot in the opening minutes really surprised me. ---
**Author:** ![unstrung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a698b9/32.png) [@unstrung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unstrung)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-own-worst-enemy/467877/29 "2008-10-17T00:43:13Z")
> [@Baldwin](#): > > Why wouldn’t Henry be able to hold his breath as long as Edward can? They’ve got the same body. One way they could justify this is that holding one’s breath takes a certain amount of willpower in addition to lung power. Edward’s been trained to be able to force his body to its limit; Henry hasn’t. Or it could be a gaping plothole. Either way, I’ll probably watch at least one more episode… ---
**Author:** ![Skara\_Brae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Skara\_Brae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skara_Brae)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-own-worst-enemy/467877/30 "2008-10-17T13:22:18Z")
I finally watched this last night. Its funny, just this week I was wondering if they would ever make a American version of Jekyll… I don’t think Edward is a true psychopath. He seems to have normal emotions. The in-charge lady at the beginning stated that he killed the girl because he developed feelings for her, and didn’t want her to be tortured. ---
**Author:** ![TJVM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b38774/32.png) [@TJVM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJVM)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-own-worst-enemy/467877/31 "2008-10-17T15:00:50Z")
I agree that it’s hard to understand why the split personality would be desirable; I think you just have to accept that as part of your suspension of disbelief (much like believing that spies, in general, spend their time jetting around the world getting into car chases and shooting people). My own fanwank explanation: It’s not for the agent’s benefit, it’s for the agency’s benefit. A personality like Edward’s is useful for espionage work, but he’s probably a pain in the ass as well. This is a way to keep a guy like that “on ice” until he’s needed; they can take him out, send him on a mission, and then put him away when he’s done. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-own-worst-enemy/467877/32 "2008-10-17T15:31:54Z")
> [@TJVM](#): > > This is a way to keep a guy like that “on ice” until he’s needed; they can take him out, send him on a mission, and then put him away when he’s done. Yup, and if he does get captured while he’s “on ice”, he can’t reveal anything. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-own-worst-enemy/467877/33 "2008-10-17T17:46:46Z")
> [@BarnOwl](#): > > Never in a million years, would this have occurred to me. Thanks for the education **Drillrod.** Me either since I couldn’t have told you Dr. Jeckyll’s and Mr. Hyde’s first names to begin with. ---
**Author:** ![Merkwurdigliebe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-own-worst-enemy/467877/34 "2008-10-17T18:44:03Z")
Well… IMDB seems to think they’ve got 13 already. I don’t know if this means they’re already in the can or not, but here’s the link: > **[My Own Worst Enemy (TV Series 2008) - Episode list - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1217239/episodes/)** > > My Own Worst Enemy (TV Series 2008) - Movies, TV, Celebs, and more... Doesn’t mean they can’t dump it. ---
**Author:** ![Skara\_Brae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Skara\_Brae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skara_Brae)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-own-worst-enemy/467877/35 "2008-10-17T19:15:50Z")
Oh man, that was Saffron Burroughs as the therapist. I thought she sounded familiar… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-own-worst-enemy/467877.md?page=1)