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We get a flashback to Nikita’s first mission

Every time I want to write 'Nikita' off it surprises me. This week’s episode featured a sizzling Nikita-Michael flashback with Russell Wong guest starring.

- Season 1, Episode 4 - "Rough Trade"

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

  • I’m beginning to believe my theory that you only get great hair when you become a full-fledged active spy with the flashbacks featuring Nikita in the worst wig possible.
  • While I could buy Maggie Q as age 20 in the flashback, I couldn’t buy her as any younger than that. Plus, I’d find myself suspicious of a 17-year-old full-time au pair with impeccable references.
  • Once again, we have Nikita at the end of Michael’s gun – paralleling Nikita saving Michael through her sniper lens in episode two.
  • I love seeing Nikita and Michael interact. They work well both together and apart. I’m fine if they continue to separate the two in modern-day while exploring their past interactions. I don’t want to rush the relationship which has so many ways to go.
  • Seriously? Russell Wong? Vanishing Son? Joy Luck Club? ‘90s Abs of steel? Awesome.
  • Great. We’re returning to varied locations again.
  • I don’t get it. What is Percy’s master plan? While he still did ‘good,’ back in Nikita’s day, why is he amassing so much power and funds?
  • I love the Alex-Thom history repeating itself; but, I wonder if Thom’s loyalty to Division might run thicker than Michael’s.
  • Seriously, the commercials make the episodes seem way worse.
  • It almost felt as if the flashbacks to old-school Nikita featured a couple old school movie screen fade outs and 1930s screen flickers.
  • The house’s explosion seemingly referenced Nina’s first mission (outside training) in Point of No Return.

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.”

Photo Credit: CW

Categories: | Episode Reviews | Features | General | Nikita | TV Shows |

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