Nikita is like a bad date. One weekend, it’s awful and you wonder why you showed up. The next weekend, you can’t get enough. This week featured a peek into Nikita’s back story as a trainee including her connection with Michael and more knowledge about Alex. While part of me wishes Nikita would stop playing with me, I totally forgive the production crew for last week’s episode, especially when they showed up on Thursday with Russell Wong as an apology. Because of the show’s multi-character time jumps (which it handles incredibly well), I’ll focus on each part separately.
Old School Nikita
After seeing Maggie Q rock Nikita’s awesome hot coolness for the past three weeks, it felt almost disturbing to watch the old school eager, hopeful Nikita return. Kudos to the writing/production staff on reconstructing Nikita’s original naivete. Whether they watched the old iterations or not, this reminded me of the Nikita who always asked questions, who possessed an innocent warmth that gained a mark’s trust, and who couldn’t prevent her emotions from interfering with missions.
Old School Nikita and Michael
I can’t electronically type in enough adjectives to describe their sexy hot chemistry. The crux of this show (and past variations) included the Michael-Nikita connection. I loved Point of No Return’s intense handler-trainee connection which USA continued. I wasn’t certain if Shane West could bring it, but he brought it, Gabriel Byrne-style. The scene where he pushed Nikita to the bed? Hot. Their sparring? Hot. The play of emotions on Shane West’s face throughout the flashback (reminiscent of the Shane West I loved in Once and Again and A Walk to Remember)? Mother ‘effin hot.
Present-Day Alex
With the muting of “Spy Girls: Sorority Edition,” my investment in Alex (and Jaden) re-awakened. For the past couple weeks I wondered why no one ever noticed the Alex-Nikita connection, or that missions typically went wrong (or revealed) with Alex around. I felt Alex lacked subtlety (considering her sudden lab bolt without a decent explanation) and wondered why Nikita hadn’t trained her at all (who drinks what Amanda gives them without suspicion?); but, her ability to lie to Amanda under pressure changed my mind. Plus, I liked that Amanda clearly suspects something. I couldn’t stand to watch a repeat of S1-3 of USA’s Nikita where Nikita’s subversive acts went unnoticed (although the writers changed that later). If an uber-secretive, hyper-suspicious organization didn’t notice Alex’s actions or her similarity to Nikita, it makes sense Percy could covertly change the Division’s mission. Although we will never see Jaden clothed or combed, they calmed her jealousy to a normal competitive level and acting-wise, we see Lyndsy Fonseca’s talents channeled through Alex’s desperate rage.
Present-Day Nikita
While I love the cunning, cool strategist that Nikita has become by necessity, this episode featured a few cracks in her all-knowing mask. Considering tons of contemporary shows incorporating penance-seeking characters (Xena, Angel, etc.), I high five on the right hand side the writers for Nikita stating she didn’t want penance. Yet, her around-the-corner facial emotions and her child-like naivete at Victor’s willing abandonment of his American family, briefly slipped old school Nikita to the surface. Luckily she snapped back to her old (or “new”) ingenuous plotting self by orchestrating her capture and Victor’s peanut-soaked lipstick downfall. And, high five with a twist to her wicked police baton scene. While this episode showed Nikita flying without a booster seat for the first time, I definitely feel she needs more intel outside of Alex. Although Division surprisingly hasn’t changed their lab protocols, anything could happen to Alex. While having a partner gives Nikita confidence, she needs to rely on herself more or have another backup plan.
Additional Thoughts
Quotes
Birkhoff: “Keep your eyes on the models. You know how she likes to dress up.”
Nikita (to triad leader): “You in prison being man-raped — that’d be different.”
Clacked by An Nicholson 
on Oct 01, 2010 @ 14:00 EST5EDT
