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My Own Worst Enemy

(Rated TV-14, Drama, Starring Christian Slater, Alfre Woodard, Mike O'Malley, Where to watch: NBC, DVD)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 14, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 14.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Sophisticated drama packs too much heat for kids.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 14–18

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Henry and Edward share the same body, but they're worlds apart when it comes to how they think. Henry loves his wife and family and, in general, tries to do the right thing, but Edward is his polar opposite.
  • Violence:

    Weapons of every sort, including guns, bombs, knives, and plastic bags used to suffocate hostages. Scenes also depict explosions and shootouts in which people get shot, and blood pools and splatters everywhere.
  • Sex:

    Adult characters engage in sexual situations that steer into steamy territory, although no sensitive body parts are shown. Men are sometimes shirtless, and women are occasionally shown wearing only lingerie. In one scene, a male character slams a female character up against the wall in the throes of passion. They're later shown in post-coital conversation.
  • Language:

    A character might call someone a "bastard" or a "dick," but, for the most part, it's relatively mild. There's also some cheeky sexual banter. For example, when two guys are talking about another woman, one claims, "I'd tap that like a Mafia phone line."
  • Consumerism:

    The show has a cross-promotion deal with General Motors: Each of Slater's alter egos drives a different type of Chevrolet. Henry drives a sensible SUV, while Edward sports a racier model. Other GM vehicles are featured, too.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Adult characters drink alcohol in social settings. One character takes a shot when he can't sleep; another guzzles a bottle of champagne.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About My Own Worst Enemy

Parents need to know that graphic violence is the primary concern here. There's some eyebrow-raising sexual content, too, but it's far less pervasive. Characters live in a generally dangerous world and use guns, bombs, and knives to get what they want, rarely stopping to think twice before they kill someone. When a character dies in a manner that involves blood, such as a shooting, you'll see plenty of that, as well. There are also explosions, and characters use a bit of salty language and drink.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the moral and ethical implications of altering someone's brain to give them two distinct personalities. Do you consider Henry and Edward to be two halves of the same person, or are they two completely different people? Do you think the technology already exists to perform this type of procedure on human beings, or is it purely the stuff of fiction? If the technology did exist, do you think it would be OK to use it? If so, under what circumstances? How does this show compare to other TV dramas? Is it more violent? How does that type of content affect viewers?

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