******
- Verified Buyer
Since he created the storyline back in 1990, the Luc Besson story of the young woman being converted into an assasin has had four treatments--Besson's own "La Femme Nikita", the Bridget Fonda vehicle known alternately as "The Assassin" and "The Point Of No Return" in 1992, the USA Network series of the late 1990s that starred Peta Wilson, and "Alias", which drew from the "Nikita" storyline in its five-year run. Warner Brothers has loved the storyline, which is why it now gets its third treatment, this time on the CW. I mentioned "Alias" in the opening paragraph because, as the Jennifer Garner series drew from the "Nikita" legend, this version of the "Nikita" tale draws both from "Alias" and its television predecessor. One could see this version drawing from the Peta Wilson series as sort of a continuation of the story it started back in the day, but the core motivation of this Nikita--to destroy the rogue black ops unit; "Division" in this piece because of the murder of her lover--draws from Sydney Bristow's desire to destroy SD6 in "Alias"; with the protagonists even having their deceased lovers both named Daniel. This iteration of "Nikita" also follows "Alias" much more in terms of action--with 20/20 hindsight, "LFN" seems a precursor in terms of style and posing to "The Matrix". Of course, what really makes this version of the Nikita story take off...is Margaret Denise Quigley. If I start off by saying that Maggie Q is gorgeous, here's the reaction I would expect-- "You got THAT right..." "Oh, really??!? I didn't notice..." "Well, DUH..." The fact that Maggie brings the action chops along with her beauty--she's a younger version of the great Michelle Yeoh in many ways--cannot be dismissed when this series is discussed. She knows what she's doing in the action sequences, which adds to the watchability of the episodes. The supporting cast is very good. Shane West's Michael is surly, mean, and a professional; stuck between his duty to Division and his attraction to Nikita. Melinda Clarke's Amanda--the psychological operations specialist--is handled well, Clarke bringing some of her iciness and control from her "Lady Heather" character from "CSI" to Amanda. Aaron Sanford's Birkoff is much more fun and snarky than Matthew Ferguson's take on the character from the USA series. Because so much of this series happens within the training areas of Division, the two students--Ashton Holmes' hard-charging Thom and Tiffany Hines' unstable Jaden--are key in the season. There cannot be enough said about Xander Berkeley's Percy, other than to call him "Arvin Sloane on steroids". There is NO pretense of loyalty with Percy, and the snarl that Berkeley gives to him is done without quarter. This leads me to the key performance and character of the first season--Lyndsy Fonseca, and her turn as Nikita's friend/student/mole within Division, Alex. Many of us know Fonseca as the nerdgasm from "Hot Tub Time Machine" or "Kick-Ass", obviously lighter fare. The addition of Alex, and getting her placed within Division, initially starts off as an added part of Nikita's attempt to destroy the organization, but as the season goes on, we realize that there is more here--specifically, WHY Nikita chose Alex, and who Alex is, and her own relation to the sordid history of Division--especially Nikita's own past within Division. In many ways, Alex's story becomes more intriguing to the season than what we consider the primary story. It is an interesting and far more complicated load that Fonseca has ever had to carry, and Lyndsy pulls it off very well. Season 1 is very much an establishment of the two storylines and draws the lines in this battle--Nikita wanting Michael to help her bring down Division and his wavering between loyalty to Division and aiding Nikita, Nikita's loose group of people aiding her--the rogue "Guardian" Owen (Devon Sawa), the low-level CIA analyst Ryan Fletcher (Noah Bean)...and Percy's designated hitman, the "Cleaner" only known as Roan (Rob Stewart, considerably cleaned up and toned down from his "Sweating Bullets" days). The guest turns here don't have a lot of big names--there is Ray Park's turn as a Guardian in "Into The Box", and seeing the long-time martial-arts artist and actor ply his craft here is a treat. But the interesting casting comes in the season finale, "Pandora", which upsets the apple cart in setting up the storyline for Season Two. The veteran actor Harris Yulin portrays a member of "Oversight"--which controls (supposedly) Division--but more interesting is the casting of Alberta Watson to play another member of Oversight, Madeline. For those who remember the cast of "La Femme Nikita" from the USA Network, Watson played the director of psychological ops in the Peta Wilson-led series...and yes, her character was named "Madeline". One wonders if Danny Cannon and Craig Silverstein will play on this connection as the series continues. This take on the "Nikita" story is much more action driven, certainly closer to its "Alias" cousin in that regard than any of the true "Nikita" predecessors. Maggie Q and Lyndsy Fonseca make it easy on the eyes to watch, but having McG directing the action--and Maggie's considerable skill in the action sequences--makes this series a kick. Add in the subtle complications of the storyline, and the CW has a winner. Highly recommended.
