Jennifer Carpenter carries The Enemy Within, but not enough to save it from being yet another The Blacklist knockoff

The Hollywood Reporter

"The new drama The Enemy Within marks NBC's latest fairly unsuccessful attempt to copy whatever NBC executives interpret to be the template that turned The Blacklist into a hit," says Daniel Fienberg. "It isn't the worst in the network's line of dramas featuring generic intelligence operatives forced to team up with morally and ethically compromised partners best kept in containment. But somebody at NBC keeps insisting that what viewers responded to in Blacklist was, well, the 'list' and from Blindspot to Blacklist: Redemption to Taken, the network has steadily drained the fun from the premise and The Enemy Within is surely the most dour and joyless entry in this mini-genre. The Enemy Within — the title calls to mind NBC's My Own Worst Enemy, which the network surely would have relentlessly Xeroxed if only it hadn't failed — also represents the biggest drop in interest between pilot and subsequent episodes that I've experienced for a while, so if you find yourself at least somewhat intrigued by Monday's premiere, be cautious."

ALSO:

• Jennifer Carpenter’s performance is the show's saving grace, which is sharper and more subtle than the show itself ever gets
• The Enemy Within is great at showcasing Carpenter's range of talents, but it's a generic FBI show with a generic title
• The Enemy Within's first five minutes are absolutely batty, but then it begins taking itself too seriously
• Creator Ken Woodruff explains why his show is different from other spy shows: "First, The Enemy Within isn’t a show about spies — it’s a show about spy hunters. That immediately changes the dynamic. Our characters aren’t trying to steal microfiche from an embassy. They’re hunting down the Jason Bournes and James Bonds of foreign countries."
• Carpenter on joining The Enemy Within: "I just couldn’t believe the emotional acrobatics that it was asking of an actor"