Charlie Jade: The Enemy of My Enemy

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
–old adage

I’ve been out of town, and so I’m posting this review a little late. I received an e-mail from Denis McGrath, the writer of last week’s ep; apparently, he sometimes reads this site. If anyone else associated with the show happens upon my reviews: you have one of the best shows on television, genre or otherwise.

This episode explores the implications of torture, terrorism, and other activities typical of action heroes.


Title: “The Enemy of My Enemy”

Cast

Jeffrey Pierce as Charlie Jade
Michael Filipowich as 01 Boxer
Tyrone Benskin as Karl Lubinsky
Michelle Burgess as Essa Rompkin
Marie-Julie Rivest as Jasmine/Paula
Patricia McKenzie as Reena
David Dennis as Sew Sew Tukkars
Danny Keogh as Julius Galt
Rolanda Marais as Blues Paddock

Plot:

As Jade deals with the consequences of his acts last week, and his situation, we learn that someone else may be moving between universes. Meanwhile, 01 Boxer and Julius Galt find they share at least one common goal. Jasmine finds a way out of her dilemma, and Reena and Charlie finally meet.

The show hints at MK-Ultra-style brainwashing that actually worked in Alphaverse, which has affected Reena. Just maybe, it also offers a possible explanation for 01 Boxer’s personality shifts.

High Points:

“Very convincing, Julius. You should do summer stock.”
–01 Boxer

The genuine intensity of the scenes with Charlie and Reena, in the funhouse-like abandoned building. They took something out of a videogame and made it dramatically powerful….

Low Point:

…And then diminished it somewhat by intercutting scenes from the plot involving 01 Boxer and Julius Galt. In terms of pacing, this was wrong.

The Scores:

Originality: 5/6. Show me anything else like this on television right now. And few American television writers would dare devote so much time at present to exploring the fact that terrorists have motives that make perfect sense to them.

Effects: 6/6.

Story: 5/6. The last few episodes have moved the story arc in some interesting directions. As I’ve written previously: the story works well, but large portions of it would make little sense to anyone who has not viewed the show from the beginning.

Acting: 5/6. Good, as always, though Keogh’s indirect comments about Porter played like a bad Mafioso impersonation.

Emotional Response: 5/6

Production: 6/6.

Overall: 5/6.

In total, “The Enemy of My Enemy” receives 37/42

Additional Comments

This season features at least one more episode. In addition, a special recap/clip episode, “Can of Worms,” will air on Space July 28.

5 replies on “Charlie Jade: The Enemy of My Enemy”

  1. Great show, it’s good to be here.
    I can’t wait for your next synopsis of the “Charlie Jade” show. We are here 1,5 month later with the show, so I’m very curious how the story is developing.
    The show is great, like nothing I’ve seen before.
    I’m looking forward to your next info, and for the next episode of CJ.

    • Thanks!

      Thanks for your comments. I do, however, have a few questions: Where is here? Are you at an earlier point in the show, or a later point? And how did that whole Dark Phoenix thing work out for you?

      • Awwww, I messed up…

        Thanks for your comments. I do, however, have a few questions: Where is here? Are you at an earlier point in the show, or a later point? And how did that whole Dark Phoenix thing work out for you?

        Sorry for being so unclear, I meant we’re late here. I’m in Poland (Europe), and I’m to watch ep. 09 tomorrow (nope, today – in 18 hours). So – we’re light years behind you people. Ehem… I guess I tend to write non- sense at 2 am, so I promise to improve on that.

        :-) I’m almost trough with the “dark side of me”, although sometimes this tough life just brings out the worst in me… (So, 01, I almost understand your twisted psyche.)

        Good job you’re doing here. And great job is the series. It’s worth every rand they’ve put in the production. So far so good, I’m genuinely delighted, and expecting even better.

  2. Reena
    Charlie’s analysis of Reena’s "condition" is interesting. But it also brings up a few questions. If she’s being programmed, then who is feeding her instructions? Or am I reading it wrong, and her motives are always the same but that her "other side" just gets certain jobs done that her conscious mind won’t do? I was kinda hoping Reena would work closely with CJ, but I think the show is WAY more interesting with her acting as a rogue agent & occasionally crossing paths with our protagonist(s).
    And what the hell is up with the Man In Black? He totally makes me reach for the tinfoil hat.

    • Re: Reena

      I’m thinking that she was programmed for a specific assassination– which she resisted. However, her treatment also left her with the kickass “survival/assassin” personality, which kicks in when she’s in danger. If you wanted someone to work as a killer, you’d probably give them that edge so that they could survive to take out their target. That’s how I’m reading it, at present, but we may learn otherwise. It’s not far from what the CIA attempted with MKUltra, though, so far as we know, all they succeeded in doing in our real world is leave several subjects totally fucked up. Of course, talk to conspiracy theorists of the Tinfoil Hat School, and they’ll give you a different story.

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