Nikita returns Friday with new episodes, and odds are you have heard of this show but never watched an episode. You are not alone. The low ratings (low even for The CW) indicate that few are watching the sophomore spy drama. Why? Well, your television schedule is most likely full, you think a CW show is not for you, or you refuse to watch another remake of Luc Besson's 1990 film, Le Femme Nikita. Yes, Nikita is based off of the film and television series which premiered in 1997, but it marches to the beat of its own drum. It has paved its own path and deserves a chance to be on your television watch list. Here are four reasons why you should watch Nikita:
Impressive fight sequences. Television does not have the luxury film does to spend days choreographing elaborate fight sequences, however the crew on Nikita manages to produce cinematic shootouts and close combat scenes each week in a fraction of the time. No action show presents hand-to-hand combat scenes like Nikita because no show has an actor like Maggie Q. She is the real deal. Maggie Q has trained with Jackie Chan's team of martial arts experts in Hong Kong, and starred in several action films prior to entering television. She is the perfect choice to play the rogue spy agent and some of her maneuvers are so impressive that you have to allot a second viewing. Maggie Q is America's Michelle Yeoh.
Strong female characters. The girls call the shots this season. Amanda, Division's resident interrogator, moved up the ranks to serve as director of Division while Percy continues to be locked in his glass cell, and new character Madeline Pierce is a powerful senator and member of the organization that oversees Division. The show's female characters are commanding, intelligent and mission driven. They are leaders and the men around them recognize that power and support it. Nikita's team is comprised entirely of men who help her each episode to get one step closer to taking down Division.
The heroine has a new look. The CW gave Nikita a fresh makeover when it cast Maggie Q, an Asian American, as the iconic character traditionally portrayed as Caucasian, first by Anne Parillaud, then by Peta Wilson. The series breaks the mold, allowing a minority to play the female protagonist.
A search for home. Underneath the layers of deceptions and spy operations lies the basic search for a home and family that many can relate to. Nikita formed a small family with Alex, her protégé, in season one but the bond disintegrated when Alex learned the truth about her family's demise. Now, Nikita is desperately holding onto the family she has formed with her team of rogue Division agents, which includes her love interest, Michael. She wants more than anything to establish roots but she cannot move forward until she completes her mission and finds the family she was born into. Finding home is a theme present in other characters as well, such as Michael, who is torn between living with his son or with Nikita, Percy, who wants to regain his home from Amanda, and Alex, who returns to her family's estate in Russia. The series is founded on this human quest for the place where one belongs.
Have I convinced you? Will you watch Nikita's return on Friday, January 6? No one enjoys seeing his or her television show get cancelled so help the fans improve the ratings. Do not be the viewer who lets a series perish without ever having watched an episode. Have you ever had that experience where you discover a short-lived show on DVD and wish you saw it on television? Perhaps Firefly, Joan of Arcadia, Arrested Development, Pushing Daisies and Veronica Mars come to mind. Do not let that happen with Nikita. Give it a chance before it is too late.
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I do not compare it to the La Femme Nikita series, and I loved that series & still watch it, & listen to the music all the time.
with this show I have seen many of the actors on this that also were guest stars from LFN. also I seem to see many of the names in the credits that were involved with LFN making & or in volved one way or another.
I like seeing the ariel veiws of the city's in Canada & I also in joy seeing so many of the places , churches, & beautiful homes & business again in this newest Nikita.
I must admit I liked all of the Nikita Movies & the series as well. made & Produced by others.
I'm just looking at the big picture, & glad to see it on TV
I hope Nikita continues !!!
RIGHT ON SISTER!!..NO ONE TELLS IT LIKE YOU DO!!!...LOL...YOUR PAL NYCG01
You mentioned Firefly (the new head of Division, Amanda, is played by Melinda Clarke, who was on "Heart of Gold") - a better cancelled Joss Whedon show to compare Nikita to is Dollhouse. Same strong female characters, conspiracies, secret underground facilities, and action scenes, though less futuristic tech (even the tech guy, Birkhoff, reminds me a lot of Topher from Dollhouse).
I've been watching since day one and would hate to see this canceled! Hopefully views will pick up more after Chuck (sadly) ends.
Stories are there to be told and re-told.
CW's Nikita plots are wonderful, complex; you have to pay attention. The characters grow over the episodes, change, learn. The political, conspiratorial aspects are really carefully treated. It's not a show you watch to ship Michael and Nikita, and not more (you can do it, many people do it... but you'll miss a lot if you do so).
Totally agree with Maria Romero (and yes, Maria, you should watch USA La Femme Nikita too). Alberta Watson is wonderful in this version (the Senator Madeline you name... you should really name the actress who plays her, too). But you all should see her as Madeline in La Femme Nikita! -one of the more complex characters in the story of TV series, in great part, merit of Watson's work itself.
But about the haters... they will always hate. Let them alone with their bitterness.
Wish this series was in Fox or other network not so teen-oriented -the ratings would have been amazing.
Don't mistake "Haters" with people who have refined taste and appriciate originality, intelligent,thoughtful and creative writing,producing,directing and especially acting.I don't like people who use the word "Hate" so indiscriminately and loosely..I certainly don't. The fans of the phenomenal original series are simply and RESPECTFULLY, telling it like it is...not making personal attacks and name calling as you seem to enjoy doing.
Oh and one more thing...if you would take a moment to educate yourself on the subject..M.Besson,was consulted many times in the early stages of development by the producers of the original La Femme Nikita tv series and it was with his blessing that the show's progress continued.He was also very impressed at how his ideas were expanded and developed for American viewers during the course of the original series.
Almost every person I have asked to give the series a chance has been pleasantly surprised by how suspenseful and tight the story writing was and that the finale of Season 1 absolutely delivered. Potential viewers should give it a chance...just watch it because its a great action show and excellent entertainment. Disregard the naysayers, or comparisons to old versions. Check it out for yourself. Its an exciting, well-done show.
As I said, the only bright spots are Amanda, Alex, and Owen. I can't get into Michael and Nikita and their drama because the writers rushed their relationship too fast. I don't care about them separately much less together. If one of them died today in the series, I'd not feel a single thing. I didn't finish all of season one, but I do know that the Alberta Watson, who played Madeline on LFN and the actor who played Kessler in the LFN episode Gambit reunited in the finale for Season 1. Sorry, nothing would entice me to continue to watch - short of the miracle of either Peta or Roy guest-starring. And even then, only for that/those episodes they chose to star in. Guest stars won't get you ratings (for long).The series is a disappointment, and shame on CW/WB for having made such an inferior series compared to LFN. It's time to pack it up. Stop trying to improve on an amazing show when you broke the mould with LFN.