Maggie Q Stakes Out All-Too-Familiar Territory in CW's Nikita
Television Review: Nikita, "Pilot"
by R.J. Carter
Published: August 25, 2010
Re-published: September 9, 2010
There's something about Nikita that keeps bringing creators back to tell the story. In this latest incarnation from the CW, Nikita is portrayed by Maggie Q ("Operation: Endgame"). For years she's been on the run from the covert government agency that trained her and others to become assassins -- and Nikita was nothing if good at her job.
The agency -- referred to cryptically as the Division -- recruits from teenagers, using as its selection pool those arrested for violent crimes. Nikita herself was rescued from death row and given her new life in the service of dealing death. And while Nikita has been in hiding, the Division has kept apace with acquiring new teenaged recruits, the newest of which is Alex (Lyndsy Fonseca from "Kick-Ass" and "Hot Tub Time Machine") upon whom is given much focus -- and for a good reason as viewers will learn at the conclusion of the pilot episode.
Maggie Q as Nikita. |
As Alex adjusts to life within Division, Nikita has her own agenda as she begins her series-long quest to shut down Division for good. Out to stop her is Division's top agent, Michael (Shane West, "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen"), a character who's more complex than initially revealed. Although often seen as ruthless, his past relationship with Nikita exposes some of the chinks in his armor. Less personable is Division's chief, Percy (Xander Berkeley), who exudes all the cold-bloodedness of a hungry crocodile, weilding the clout to put even the senators who are his ostensible handlers in their place.
Lyndsy Fonseca and Shane West in the
CW's new action series, Nikita. |
Melinda Clarke (The Vampire Diaries) is also on hand as the manipulative Amanda. Amanda's job is to groom the young delinquents into being super-charming and seductive. She has her work cut out for her with Alex, who is naturally determined to escape.
I'm unsure how to feel about Nikita. I don't think there's enough action, and I'm less than impressed with her skills. Someone with her training shouldn't be someone who announces herself, thus setting herself up for failure. She shouldn't say, she should just do. But then, where would be the dramatic build-up in that? Additionally, the whole rogue-agent-out-to-bring-down-the-system is slightly overdone -- and, in fact, better done with things like James Cameron's Dark Angel series. To make Nikita pay off, the producers are relying on the sexual tension between Nikita and Michael, and the suspense angle of the role Alex has to play in all this. At this point, I'm remaining cynical about the series' success.
Nikita premieres September 9, 2010 on the CW Network.
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