Finally, there was something awesome about Nikita this week. Possibly the fact that “Clawback” gave lots of screen time – and lots of story – to many of the show’s underused characters, and those people ran with it.
Let’s review, shall we?
- Ryan Fletcher (Noah Bean): I know many people don’t share my opinion, but I actually liked Ryan when we met him last season, and was glad to see him back – even if it was in prison going all A Beautiful Mind. He’s always given a little extra edge to a character who could’ve easily been a run-of-the-mill stuffed-shirt type. Ryan’s problem was that he kind of didn’t have anywhere left to go: he obviously wasn’t going to hook up with Nikita, and out of the CIA he didn’t have too much use as an asset, either. The writers solved this by having Amanda fake his death and offer him a chance working with her to topple Oversight. This is either going to be a great idea or completely wreck his character. I have no idea which, but I’m game.
- Sean Pierce (Dillon Casey): While he might look a lot like Suburgatory‘s Jeremy Sisto, Sean’s character bears a very obvious resemblance to season one Michael. This week we learned that he was in the Navy (as Michael was), and that he’s starting to question what he’s doing (as Michael did), while sort of bonding with Alex (as Michael bonded with Nikita). We know that Sean is intended as a love interest for Alex, so the writers are going to need to be really careful not to make his story look like a case of deja vu. Having said that, I’ve liked what I’ve seen acting-wise from Casey, so I’m hopeful he could really do something if given that kind of long-term character development. Plus, the fact that Alberta Watson’s his mom? That’s going to get really interesting.
- Madeline Pierce (Alberta Watson): Firstly, I love that the Nikita writers named Alberta Watson’s character the same thing as her La Femme Nikita character. But she’s obviously a very different woman – a Senator who is part of Oversight and has now been revealed as Sean’s mother. The character has a lot of dramatic potential, and we LFN fans know just how great an actress Ms. Watson is. Now let’s hope the writers really use her, particularly to screw with Amanda, because an Alberta Watson vs. Melinda Clarke showdown would be fantastic entertainment if nothing else.
- Roan (Rob Stewart): Continues to turn skulking around looking menacing into a niche, but unfortunately has yet to be caught standing anywhere near Joey Greco.
Nikita introduced a lot of great supporting characters in the first season, and the show would be wise to tap into that cast in the second, but only if they’re going to write them well.
The main characters took a back seat in terms of development this week, with the charge being led by Alex, who got a lot of things off her chest when she interrogated someone from her past, and ended up right back where she started – in another Division holding room. Lyndsy Fonseca really ramped up the waterworks this week, and kudos to her.
I’ve still got a big question mark over my head when it comes to Michael and Nikita, though. Now that Michael knows Max is his son (and wasn’t that a quick reveal?), he’s cranky and deservedly so. Shane West plays bitchy like nobody’s business. I just don’t feel enough tension between our supercouple. If the writers were going to drive that wedge between them, I wanted to see a serious divide, one that would make dealing with that plot twist worthwhile. I don’t think we’re there yet. And since next week seems to be all about Cassandra, I’m nervous that the next episode might undo this one’s goodwill.
But at least for now, Nikita has righted itself. Let’s hope it stays that way.
Photo Credit: The CW
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