Nikita and Michael: Two mega-hot badasses

I know I’m not a heavy curser, but that’s all I did during this week’s episode, especially during Nikita’s final half hour. It went something like this: “Damn. Michael has the most intense passport photo ever. Damn. Michael and Nikita have hot chemistry. Damn. A cooking pan? Nikita’s a bad ass. Damn. He shot him after extracting intel? Damn, Michael’s a badass. Damn. Percy’s devil could give Ray Wise a run for his money.”

Obviously, I thought last night’s episode rocked steady, kicked ass, and slam dunked. There were shaky parts, but overall the action, Michael-Nikita connection, and strong writing developed. This week, Michael tracked the terrorist who killed his family. But, because the episode focused on Michael, Michael-Nikita, Nikita-Alex, and Alex-Jaden, I’ll address each part/character individually (including the good, the bad, and the mega-hotness).

Michael
Once again, the writers have taken the USA’s adaptation and expanded it. Although USA’s Michael was a former student activist (who accidentally killed civilians), he had two wives. The first died – leaving him hollow, while the second died leaving him a child. And, both Michaels share an empty blind rage which causes them to unquestioningly follow their chiefs.

I have to hand it to Shane West. He played his Michael’s triple emotional arsenal (anger, anguish, and angst) well. Unfortunately, he occasionally interprets Michael’s intensely unbreakable exterior as a conceit, when it isn’t. However, his playing Michael as a broken character, tempted by Nikita’s warmth, yet still driven by his family’s death was amazing. Percy’s offer? Michael’s torture? The scene at the plane? All AWESOME.

Michael and Nikita
Nikita and Michael’s crazy hot connection served as another bit of awesomeness. Seriously. While Alex and Nikita rock the party, Michael and Nikita rock the neighborhood. The looks? The glances? The wordless interaction? Fucking hot.

But, the entire operation screamed setup to either remove Michael, Nikita, or both from the equation. Without Nikita, this was Michael’s suicide mission. He just didn’t notice. Because, really? Percy suddenly receives information on Michael’s biggest terrorist (which he never obtained in the past 5-10 years)? Percy somehow requires operational permission he never requested before? Percy easily creates a smash and grab team, that he claimed he couldn’t, that still shot up the international terrorist’s house? Percy checking up on Michael’s non-Division operation? Percy waiting for Michael to return home with open arms? Without Nikita’s assistance, Michael had a 25% survival shot: He’d either kill the guy and return home, kill the guy and then shoot himself; kill the guy yet bury his Division self afterward; or get wounded/killed, catching his mark. Percy played the odds well and he won the match.

Nikita
Speaking of blind devotion, while I love Nikita, I’m increasingly concerned about her awareness. Although she connects with Michael on the instinctual and emotional level, she doesn’t quite understand his broken rage. Michael deliberately hollowed himself out. And, although Nikita partially fills him, his guilt and the betrayal of a friend drive him to self-detrimental ends, which Percy understands. While Michael struggles with his attraction, his concern for Nikita seemed more like that of a father than of a lover at the kill site. I wonder if he unconsciously connected with Nikita and Alex because of his daughter.

After her Division hatred, Michael serves as Nikita’s second blind spot. And, I believe it worked against her this week. She unnecessarily placed Alex at risk for a non-anti-Division mission. She knew Michael’s target, she knew the target’s city, and she knew the target’s target. She didn’t need Alex’s assistance. Plus, considering her operation’s first day constituted flirting with Michael over her “baby” (her gun) and her “weapons” (her legs), she had time to check in with her protégé, to see if all went well, but did not. What happens when Alex (the world’s worst liar, but a kickass improviser) starts to reconsider her unyielding support?

By the by, guys, if a smoking hot woman sits beside you, ask yourself the following questions:  Are you slightly tubby? Are you into illicit activities? Are you in a strip club? If the answers are yes, yes, and no, then she’s a spy. You’re welcome.

Alex and Jaden
A new friendship I liked? Jaden and Alex. Why did I like it? First, Jaden no longer rocks the hideous hair. Second, Jaden no longer rocks the baby Tee abs. Third, their covert competition-allegiance is the reluctant match-up I wanted.

The Good, The Bad, and The Mega-Hotness
All I can say is I loved last night’s episode. Although it constituted rough patches, it encompassed awesome parts as well. The Michael-Nikita chemistry? Nikita’s throwaway fight scenes? The shadows in the vines? The flip knockout kick? The plane’s fade to black and white as Michael’s mark disappeared contrasted with Michael’s full-color rage? Michael’s soundless shooting? The firefly lights as Nikita ran to the kill zone? Two words: Fucking Awesome. Seriously, I have never advocated or cared for the People’s Choice Awards, but this show is way better than I could have hoped for. While the CW does a good job of advertising on its network, more people need to know about a kickass show that just keeps getting better.

Quotes:

“What are you the CIA?” – Michael (learning about Division)
“Nothing that obvious.” – Percy

“If these two are on the same page, it has to be true.” – Amanda (on Jaden and Alex’s team-up)

“I knew you’d gone rogue. I didn’t know you’d gone delusional.” – Michael

Clacked by An Nicholson
on Nov 12, 2010 @ 12:00 EST5EDT