Nikita 2x04 Review
Jan. 5th, 2012 06:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
iariaPartners
There was a lot I liked about this episode, and the idea was good, but unfortunately the execution was lacking which left me feeling disappointed.
• The main issue I had was the Nikita/Kelly relationship. The show failed in the most basic way by being all tell and no show about them.
We’re told that they were the closest of friends at Division, Michael and Birkoff even have a conversation about it, but we never get to see it. Not one flashback to them meeting or being friends or going on missions or relaying on each other. Because of that their interactions lacked depth. I felt no attachment to them, to Kelly’s sense of betrayal or to Nikita’s final choice. I understand what the show wanted there – a choice between her former partners – but they really needed to build up the Kelly/Nikita relationship a lot more in order for it to have had any effect. I’m really dissatisfied about it because it had so much potential and is actually a huge thing – Nikita had a close friend at Division! – and it’s kind of thrown out there and presumably will be forgotten. Sigh. I hope at least we’ll get to see Kelly in some flashbacks.
• I was also disappointed that Nikita killed Kelly. It didn’t work for me. I get that it was a fight, there was adrenaline and split-second choices and Kelly had a gun on Alex. But... they had Kelly out-numbered, Nikita is a crack shot, and she knew that Kelly needed Alex alive. It was unnecessary and I was unimpressed.
• I liked the confirmation that even though Alex and Nikita are technically on opposite sides they aren’t enemies. Hopefully Nikita’s sincere apology means they’re on the path back to being partners. Nikita acknowledging not only to Alex but to herself that she didn’t treat Alex as a true partner is an even more important step in that.
• The lack of Michael/Alex interaction felt a little weird. After the fight Michael immediately goes to Nikita and we get an exchange of glances between him and Alex but neither of them says anything to the other. It’s as if they have no relationship of their own which just isn’t true. Both of their relationships with Nikita are far stronger, true, but they did have their own separate relationship in season one and I’d like to see more of that. How have things changed now between them? I’d love to see them forced to work together perhaps to save Nikita.
• I really liked the first Alex/Amanda talk. Alex has grown so much. She still has the brashness that’s very much a part of who she is but it’s backed up by confidence now and it’s great to watch. I loved how unapologetic she was. I also like how Amanda deals with Alex.
• Ari tells Semak that ‘someone got her out’ but why wouldn’t they immediately assume that Division purposefully didn’t kill her? Perhaps planning all along to take control of Zetrof at a later date. I mean Alex is working for Division now and they sent her after Koshenko so it’s a logical supposition. Her being conveniently saved by someone else and ending up working as an assassin for Division later seems more contrived.
• I find myself hoping that Ari ends up wanting to help Alex to her ‘rightful’ place heading Zetrof. He seems loyal to Semak but I don’t think he seemed convinced or supportive of Selmak’s order to have Alex killed on sight. Also Semak says in this episode that Gogol was created to ‘protect Zetrof and its interests’ which I think leaves it open for Ari to decide that’s Alex not Semak.
• “Will you be willing to let this one fly away? Or are you going to make her chew her own foot off like Nikita did in order to escape you.” – Percy. Hmm. I really want more on the Nikita/Amanda relationship.
• “She’s an assassin.” I know that’s what Division agents are but it’s not how I usually think of them so it was interesting to hear Alex described that way.
There was a lot I liked about this episode, and the idea was good, but unfortunately the execution was lacking which left me feeling disappointed.
• The main issue I had was the Nikita/Kelly relationship. The show failed in the most basic way by being all tell and no show about them.
We’re told that they were the closest of friends at Division, Michael and Birkoff even have a conversation about it, but we never get to see it. Not one flashback to them meeting or being friends or going on missions or relaying on each other. Because of that their interactions lacked depth. I felt no attachment to them, to Kelly’s sense of betrayal or to Nikita’s final choice. I understand what the show wanted there – a choice between her former partners – but they really needed to build up the Kelly/Nikita relationship a lot more in order for it to have had any effect. I’m really dissatisfied about it because it had so much potential and is actually a huge thing – Nikita had a close friend at Division! – and it’s kind of thrown out there and presumably will be forgotten. Sigh. I hope at least we’ll get to see Kelly in some flashbacks.
• I was also disappointed that Nikita killed Kelly. It didn’t work for me. I get that it was a fight, there was adrenaline and split-second choices and Kelly had a gun on Alex. But... they had Kelly out-numbered, Nikita is a crack shot, and she knew that Kelly needed Alex alive. It was unnecessary and I was unimpressed.
• I liked the confirmation that even though Alex and Nikita are technically on opposite sides they aren’t enemies. Hopefully Nikita’s sincere apology means they’re on the path back to being partners. Nikita acknowledging not only to Alex but to herself that she didn’t treat Alex as a true partner is an even more important step in that.
• The lack of Michael/Alex interaction felt a little weird. After the fight Michael immediately goes to Nikita and we get an exchange of glances between him and Alex but neither of them says anything to the other. It’s as if they have no relationship of their own which just isn’t true. Both of their relationships with Nikita are far stronger, true, but they did have their own separate relationship in season one and I’d like to see more of that. How have things changed now between them? I’d love to see them forced to work together perhaps to save Nikita.
• I really liked the first Alex/Amanda talk. Alex has grown so much. She still has the brashness that’s very much a part of who she is but it’s backed up by confidence now and it’s great to watch. I loved how unapologetic she was. I also like how Amanda deals with Alex.
• Ari tells Semak that ‘someone got her out’ but why wouldn’t they immediately assume that Division purposefully didn’t kill her? Perhaps planning all along to take control of Zetrof at a later date. I mean Alex is working for Division now and they sent her after Koshenko so it’s a logical supposition. Her being conveniently saved by someone else and ending up working as an assassin for Division later seems more contrived.
• I find myself hoping that Ari ends up wanting to help Alex to her ‘rightful’ place heading Zetrof. He seems loyal to Semak but I don’t think he seemed convinced or supportive of Selmak’s order to have Alex killed on sight. Also Semak says in this episode that Gogol was created to ‘protect Zetrof and its interests’ which I think leaves it open for Ari to decide that’s Alex not Semak.
• “Will you be willing to let this one fly away? Or are you going to make her chew her own foot off like Nikita did in order to escape you.” – Percy. Hmm. I really want more on the Nikita/Amanda relationship.
• “She’s an assassin.” I know that’s what Division agents are but it’s not how I usually think of them so it was interesting to hear Alex described that way.
