Tonight, we found out who was going to die (or at least who’d be the first to die) on Nikita. Sean (Dillon Casey, above) lost his mama, Senator Madeline Pierce, to a car bomb planted by the revenge-motivated Nicholas Brandt, who really just wanted to get Nikita’s attention. Basically, Sean’s alignment with Nikita got Mama Pierce killed. Ouch. Double ouch when you consider that deprives us of further appearances by Alberta Watson, who back in the day defined the dark/nail-biting/sometimes disturbing vibe that made USA’s La Femme Nikita so distinct for its time.
Of course, things have changed since LFN went off the air in 2001. What I’ve seen on shows like Dexter, Homeland and even 24 has been more graphic. Yet when I go back to watch LFN on DVD, there remain moments where I still get chills or start counting to make sure I have all my fingers.
This made me start thinking. While “Wrath” was a good enough episode, I didn’t find myself as afraid or bothered by the sequences of Nikita being tortured as I thought I should be. I had the same feeling when seeing the bloody mess she’d left Brandt as in another of Nikita‘s many flashbacks. So I started to wonder: why wasn’t I unsettled by seeing the lead character electro-shocked and screaming in pain? Why wasn’t I upset when Madeline was killed off? Was it because I’ve just seen so much worse on TV? What made La Femme Nikita scare me while Nikita didn’t?
After a bit of thought, I’ve begun to wonder how much has to do with the networks the shows are on. Obviously what one can show on a broadcast network (like The CW) is much different from what you can show on cable (like USA) and that’s far different from what you’d see on premium cable (such as Showtime). La Femme Nikita could show me just that much more of Division’s disturbing ways, like that creepy white torture room where Madeline turned the screws on everyone. If Nikita were on a cable network, would it be able to push the envelope more? Could it do more ambitious stories? Possibly. It’s an intriguing thought.
But speaking of that torture room, La Femme Nikita didn’t have to show me everything Madeline was doing to make me really uncomfortable. What was implied was just as disturbing, aided by the fact that Alberta Watson played her in such a way that often made me feel as if she was completely soulless. While Melinda Clarke has been good (see last episode), she’s not giving me any nightmares.
If anything, “Wrath” made me want to see Nikita push itself into more La Femme Nikita territory. It highlighted again that the show has a fine cast. That basement scene between Shane West and Maggie Q was incredibly touching, in addition to them both being capable of excellent action work, and I’ve seen both Aaron Stanford and Xander Berkeley play other roles with plenty of badassdom that they could bring to the show. I love that Nikita has so much heart to its interpretations of the characters, but that doesn’t mean they can’t also have bite and darkness to them. Especially if this might be the end of the show, why not completely unleash the actors?
What would you like to see at the end of Nikita season two and/or in a potential season three?
Clacked by Brittany Frederick 
on Apr 21, 2012 @ 00:53 EST5EDT
Bravo! I love this article; thank you for your comparison of Nikita to La Femme Nikita. I agree with everything you pointed out, and yes, it is quite disheartening to see Alberta Watson go. We shall miss Senator Madeline Pierce in all her intimidating-yet-elegant austerity!
Thanks for the article, we will miss seeing “Madeline” on Nikita but it was a logical reason for her to be killed off, to advance the plotline and the characters. RIP Senator Pierce….but it wouldn’t surprise me along the way to find out that she’s really not dead…LOL
I think the main reason Madeline on LFN was so scary was that the violence never had to be shown, she could terrify you with just her calm smile and a few words. “Butane Torch” anyone? And the walk around the White Room chair while the chosen victim wondered what she was doing was classic, along with the Torture Twins and their briefcases. Madeline gave us all the heeby jeebies and we all looked forward to what she had to say/do to the bad guys each week.
Thank you for this review, Brittany, it’s great!
Sorry she was murdered, this loss was weird and awkward made, just too quickly, 10 steps and footage from London Calling. My penfriend writes it was another actress (not Alberta) who atually did those 10 steps… If it’s true, it’s a shame in my opinion…
Speaking of La Femme Nikita: As I read somewhere – it’s symbolic to kill a nod to La Femme Nkita and “to demostrate her grave” – this is so freaking sad…:(
Ahhh, such a brilliant review, how could I miss it?!:) thanks for the great work, the best 2.19 recap for sure! :)
It’s very sad for old fans (who started watching after Watson was brought here) they killed Madeline again and I have nothing more to say.;)) Unfortunately, “spectactors of the show always staying low” (c)
to LadyW: I didn’t watch “Wrath”, but if your penfriend is right about Watson’s absence…mmm… that’s very weird IMO..
Nice to see Nikita’s other side which she has denied.
Hey just a quick question. Did I miss something in the WRATH episode? How did Nikita break free before killing Brandt? Seemed too easy.
Here’s the answer from the writer of “Wrath” Albert Kim on twitter:
Thanks Carla and Albert for the response!!!
I love this article, great work!
Hey, guys, look what I found (May, 2011):
https://www.tvguide.com/News/Nikita-Finale-Lyndsy-Fonseca-1032976.aspx
What was it like working with the special guest star, Alberta Watson who played Madeline on the Peta Wilson-starring series La Femme Nikita?
Fonseca: She’s a really nice lady and it was cool to hear stories from someone who has done a similar series before. She says she loves our version and that when our show started, a lot of fans of her and Peta’s show had rallied together against Nikita and were like, “We’ll never like this show because you’re the original.” But when Alberta came to guest-star, she told her fans, “Listen, let’s band together. We have to like this show. I’m going to be on it, and it’s OK, we can love both.” She was trying to get everyone to be happy together, you know? It was really cute.