Safe and Sound?
Once back in DC, Agent Keaton goes to see Shepherd. He wants to know why she warned them. He asks to know the real reason why Shepherd betrayed her country. A flashback shows us the real reason. She got a phone call from Tal years ago telling her if she did not tell him the names of those pursuing him, he’d kill her daughter. There was a live feed of her daughter’s whereabouts and the daughter was seemingly unaware. She had seconds to decide.
She explains she would do anything to keep her daughter, Hannah, safe but she wants to catch Tal. Then, she explains that the number of rogue spies in America has skyrocketed in the last few years or so. Keaton wants to know why; what do they want to do? She does not know but knows that they must work together to stop whatever is being planned.
Our final scene of the episode is Ana Cruz in the hospital talking to Tal; she says she is in. We, the audience see she is working from the inside, but our team does not. The episode fades to black.
Thoughts:
- I was very excited when I saw that Chris Ord and Matt Corman were working on this show with Ken Woodruff. I’m a big fan of their work (The Brave, Covert Affairs), so I was hoping for three shows in a row that I adored. But, I’m not so sure this show hits that mark yet. I’m a firm believer in giving a show more than one or two episodes before deciding if I like it, so I’m not casting it away yet. There are several positives.
- First and foremost, for a show that is based on a spy narrative, it is very easy to follow. Sometimes shows which have this arc can be confusing or a bit wordy. I found the flow of the episode simple enough. It was a bit slow in the beginning, but it shaped up to a more thrilling second half.
- I personally am a huge fan of Noah Mills, so it was very exciting to see him back on my TV screen. Even more exciting is to see his character has a military background in that of an Army Ranger. I wonder how that will come into play in future episodes.
- Our cast is diverse. I enjoy a show that has a diverse cast in any shape or form. It isn’t so often in a show like this that your two main characters are a black man and a woman. That is exciting, as is the diversity within Agent Keaton’s team. It should pose for an interesting set up later.
Other thoughts:
- That said, I’m not thrilled with the cast choices if I’m honest. I don’t see a lot of chemistry between Agent Keaton and Shepherd. I don’t really feel Keaton’s hatred. The only time I feel it was remotely real was when he flipped the chair in the detention center and physical acts of anger only go so far in my opinion. If you can’t sell me on your character without that, you’ve already lost of me as viewer.
- I think Jennifer Carpenter is doing well in her role. Her expressions are a bit more detailed and I feel as if she speaks well without speaking. That is something I enjoy as a fan of any show.
- Some of the show aspects seem repetitive, like it’s been done before. See: chase scene, mole in the office. I’m hoping over time these flesh out a bit and are less cliché, but only time will tell.
My one major WTF:
- I don’t know if I’ve seen too many shows, or read too many books, or what – but I called Ana Cruz being the mole from the moment she popped up alive. It was by far the most predictable part of the episode and as a viewer, I’m even annoyed that the showrunners told us so early on. One of my favorite parts of television is talking with fellow fans about theories and ideas. Sure, the rest of the characters on the show have no idea she’s a traitor, but we as the viewer have to now watch and lose that element of surprise ourselves. It would’ve been more fun and less cliché if the fans were also in the dark on who it was.
Overall:
- I think its fair to give the show a chance. I am a fan of several people on the show and in the background, so I’m hoping that it picks up. There are some glaring areas of improvement, but off the pilot, I would say give it a few more episodes. Sometimes shows get off to a rocky start. Hopefully the Enemy Within does not become the enemy within itself.
Will you keep watching? Let us know in the comments below or visit our Facebook page for more!
Stay connected with So Many Shows:
Leave a Reply