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'Nikita' review: The CW goes rogue with a classic story

By Carina Adly MacKenzie

    

September 8, 2010 11:25 PM ET

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nikita-maggie-q-05-320.jpg"Nikita" may be a remake with a familiar premise, but it's uncharted territory for The CW. Expanding on the world of "La Femme Nikita," this new series details Nikita's (Maggie Q) adventures after she escapes The Division and goes rogue.

Now she's determined to take down the organization that shaped her into one of the most deadly assassins in the world -- even if it means destroying people she once cared for.

In order to attract The CW's younger-skewing viewers - most of whom have become accustomed to tuning into the network for their weekly dose of attractive teenagers doing debaucherous things - we've got a second, much younger protagonist in Alex (Lyndsy Fonseca), The Division's latest recruit.

After a burglary gone horribly wrong, Alex finds herself in jail... and then suddenly wakes up in an unfamiliar place with Nikita's onetime trainer, Michael (Shane West) hovering over her bed, telling her he faked her death. Traumatizing, yes... but there are worse people to wake up to than Shane West. We're just saying. From there, she enters Division training, where she meets fellow recruits and the experts who will mold them into beautiful little killing machines.

Maggie Q is undoubtedly a breakout as the title character - even the clunky-but-essential exposition that bogs down most television pilots sounds graceful coming from her, and the stunts, which she does herself, are effortlessly precise. We're impressed with her ability to balance emotional vulnerability with a skillset that makes Nikita nearly immortal.

The Good:
  • Through Nikita and Alex, we are able to see two sides of The Division: the origin story and the post-traumatic output. It makes for an interesting balance and a new twist on an old classic.
  • Melinda Clarke is perfection as the Fairy Godmother of assassins. Her strength and capability is palpable, despite the fact that her own fate seems to be out of her hands. "The elevator doesn't lead to freedom, just another room," she says. "The more you try to get out, the more you realize there will always be another room."
  • The production value is extremely high - the pilot episode is comparable to some of the best action movies. If subsequent episodes can maintain the well-executed stunts and special effects, plus the authentic-looking sets, we'll be very impressed.
  • Alex's fellow recruits, played by Ashton Holmes and Tiffany Hines, are well-cast and charming. In a world where everyone speaks in hushed tones and cryptic metaphors, it's actually refreshing to hear some teenage banter, as sharp-edged as it may be.
The Bad:
  • Though the fellow recruits bring an occasional laugh, there's an inescapable hopelessness that clouds the show. Both leads are perpetually overwhelmed by painful memories and a future that is dismal and lonely at best. Is there really a light at the end of this tunnel?
  • We hate to say it, but as gorgeous as he may be, it's hard to buy Shane West as an expert assassin. We keep waiting for his character, Michael, to throw himself at Nikita's feet and beg her to run away with him while Switchfoot's "Dare You To Move" plays in the background.
  • A lot of "Nikita" just reminds us how much we miss "Alias." The similarities are inevitable and "Nikita" does a lot of things right, but... "Alias" did most things better.
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Photo credit: CW


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 |  Comments (12)

sounds A lot like Dollhouse & we all know what happened there.

jod | September 9, 2010 12:51 PM

La Femme Nikita came before Dollhouse and Alias. People should be bowing before Nikita, not hoping it's that crap from Alias.

Star | September 9, 2010 2:12 PM

Maggie Q is ok but no-one can compare to Roy Dupuis as Michael.

Margaret | September 9, 2010 2:24 PM

There's nothing else on at the moment, I'll have a look; if its a bunch of teeny-bopper, I'll be hitting the delete button very quickly

katlover | September 9, 2010 3:15 PM

Nah, it reminds me how good Peta Wilson was as Nikita. And how good THAT Nikita's "Michael" is in comparison to this cast.

Mike | September 9, 2010 4:16 PM

I don't know what the CW was thinking when they remade this show. La Femme Nikita did it perfectly. Why mess with that?
I won't tune in. I wish they had gone with the show The Changelings...now that is one I would have been happy to tune into.

Netty | September 9, 2010 5:30 PM

I also loved Le Femme Nikita and in comparison, CW's version is beyond bad. No one can beat Peta Wilson or Roy Dupris in the roles of Nikita and Michael...don't waste your time on this mess.

Elaine | September 9, 2010 9:08 PM

"Why mess up with perfection"
I agree it just make me miss Roy Dupuis and Peta... I can let go pass this pretty skeleton of new Nikita Maggie wherever... but this guy as Michael is just bad... I hope this shows does not pass first season, but probably will.
And by the way, Alias was long after La Femme Nikia, and I will give credit to Jennifer Gardner, she at least look the part, she does look strong, I like her in Daredevil and the other movie she make, she does look sexy, dangerous and strong. This new Nikita look sexy, famine, and breakable.

KR | September 10, 2010 2:56 AM

"We keep waiting for his character, Michael, to throw himself at Nikita's feet and beg her to run away with him while Switchfoot's "Dare You To Move" plays in the background."

Oh my god. That had me cracking up for like a minute straight. Anyways, just saw the premiere, I LOVE it. Maggie Q. is stunning! I still can't get over how gorgeous she looked walking around in that loft.

Nikita Rocks | September 10, 2010 4:29 AM

Watched it last night. Has potential, but casting director did a poor job on some of the major characters. Both Michael and Birkoff are seedy in the new rendition of Nikita.

The new Michael is no longer classy and doesn't look comfortable in a suit. He would look happier wearing a black eye patch and a parrot in a pirate movie. He talks out of the side of his mouth. He doesn't evoke discipline. He is weak.

The new Birkoff is no longer a computer genius hiding a tender heart. This one would look more in place spread out on a couch with a beer and a bag of chips watching a game on tv. He comes across as a sloppy alcoholic.

Neither would have survived long in an organization where every move and emotion is monitored.

Then there is the character filling the role of Amanda/Madeline. Anne Bancroft did a better job in "Point of No Return" Albert Watson was perfect in "La Femme Nikita". Even Cindy Dolenc, who played Quinn after Madeline died, would have done a better job than Melinda Clark, who doesn't have enough conviction to play the role of an ice-cold sociopath who believes whole heartedly that anything she does to accomplish the goals of Division is perfectly justified.

Other than those three characters who come across as losers, let's see how it goes.

glori | September 10, 2010 6:49 AM

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