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'Nikita': Shane West on Michael's past, potential romances
"Nikita's" Shane West finally gets to show the other side of his character Michael, and let's just say Nikita (Maggie Q) isn't the only one with a grim past."This felt like a good time to get into why Michael is as dark and violent as he can be," West tells Zap2it about Thursday's (Nov. 11) episode "One Way." "Yet he still seems to have a heart and have feelings for Nikita and his job caring for the recruits."
At Division, Michael is second only to Percy (Xander Berkeley) and possibly the mysterious Amanda (Melinda Clarke). He once trained and harbored feelings for the recruit Nikita before she went rogue and now trains Alex (Lyndsy Fonseca), who, unbeknownst to him, is Nikita's mole. Behind his dedication is the tragic story of what brought him under Percy's command.
"In this episode we get to see flashbacks of when he was younger and happier with his family before he was ever at Division," West says, adding that someone close to Michael betrays him. "That's what fuels Michael's fire. We'll be going back and forth from the past to the present. In the present that person comes up on the grid again, and now that Michael is part of Division, Percy has allowed him to do this on his own."
The flashbacks occur about a decade in the past, so expect to see a different Michael from the current one.
"My hair looks tremendously different, let's put it that way," the actor says with a laugh. "I do not have a wig but my hair is styled differently and colored differently with wash-out coloring. Also, in the flashbacks I'm clean-shaven."
As we can see from the promo, Nikita and Michael team up to find the person who betrayed him.
"He doesn't just call Nikita. She follows him and gets herself involved," West explains. "She knows who this person is and what he means to Michael, who'll be a loose cannon. Michael's always in control, but he's not in control in this episode because this person took away his life. It's not something that he's come to terms with at all."
Although the chemistry looks promising in the preview, don't expect a happy romantic interlude between Michael and Nikita just yet.
"One of the important things about this episode is that it drives a stake between the two of them," reveals West. "It brings them together but it doesn't end well. I hope the audience will be upset in a good way about it.
"It's not hard get Michael and Nikita together," he continues. "It's hard to keep them apart. This is going to make it a little easier to keep them apart for a while because that is, in truth, where the love story is."
And even though West doesn't know exactly what the writers have in store relationship-wise, he does have strong opinions about who shouldn't be together.
"I don't think they should go that way with the Owen character that Devon Sawa is playing," says West. "I feel it's a horrible idea because they've already written in that he killed her love, and he had his wife shot in front of him. It's just stupid. That just needs to be a friendship thing."
Also, despite the obvious chemistry between Michael and Alex -- even Amanda has noticed his compassion for the pretty recruit -- West doesn't want their relationship to become romantic."As much as I love that idea of a storyline, my one disagreement with Michael and Alex together is that it might just be cheapening Michael and his feelings for Nikita," he says. "Because what, does Michael fall in love with another recruit every time? Is this what he does? It's a little gross."
Check back for more of Shane West's interview when he answers Zap2it's Celeb Slam Book questions.
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Photo credit: The CW
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Well, I truly hope he doesn`t have a say with this storyline.
I`d love to see a bonding relationship between Nikita and Owen on screen. It would truly make a great storyline to see these characters overcome all those obstacles and the past in the long run.
Despite his opinion I think a relationship between Michael and Alex wouldn`t be cheapening. These Characters have so much more chemistry together and they would have to overcome their own obstacles - him being her supervisor etc.
Please writers go there !
Nikita and Michael together is not where the love story is - this would be just plain boring .
Michael an Alex FTW !
Right, Michael, come right out and say it- I don't think it would work if they went the Michael/Alex road.
I don't necessarily need Michael/Nikita together (just yet), because what he's said in this interview sounds very promising for darn good tv, but I will always believe that Michael has feelings for her, and they just don't go away when a new recruit happens to remind him of Nikita.
So yeah, looking forward this this episode- and the rest of the season!
I LOVE how he feels about Micheal & Nikita. Such a Mikita shipper. I so agree with everything he said in this article esp the Malex and Nikita/Owen stuff.
"It's not hard get Michael and Nikita together," he continues. "It's hard to keep them apart. This is going to make it a little easier to keep them apart for a while because that is, in truth, where the love story is."
EXACTLY! Great article. Thank you!
HOLY SHIZ!!!
Now i love him even MORE!!!
Him and Maggie are Mikita shippers #1!!!! I flove it!!
I agreee 100% with him... The love story and backbone of the series is the Michael/Nikita love story!!! Period.
And I know they'll have obstacles, but it should all be regarding Division and Percy/Amanda's mission to keep Michael under control and away from Nikita.. Not all these stupid other love interests that like Shane said, would only cheapen their love!!
It always was, and it's always going to be Michael/Nikita. They are who they want to be with each other, know each other like no one else, and simply complete each other.
Shane you are so right. AMEN BRO! AMEN! LOL.
Wow. Didn't expect him to say it so bluntly.
But i guess it's a good thing... He's honest. And in this case I completely agree with him. The main and only love story is Michael/Nikita. And that's the way it should be.
I do not know if Shane could have said so. I'm reading some forums, that many Malex fans will stop watching the show. With the ratings dropping from week to week, this news for Michael / Alex fans was overwhelming.
very happy nikita and michael are together in tonight's episode
I think it's good that he was honest about it. Plus, majority fanbase I think for any remake/retelling/whatever of "Nikita", will always be for Michael/Nikita. Because as he said, they are the true love story.Personally, I am all for them too. And also think, that any of those other pairings mentioned are just, weird.
The age difference between Michael/Alex is particularly weird. Nikita is 27 (i think it was mentioned in the pilot), meaning Michael is at least 30+... and Alex is 18. Nahh... doesn't quite work imo.
But thats actually irrelevant, I see why ppl who may ship outside of Michael/Nikita, might be ticked. But I also think, they should have been prepared.
Cause it's always been Michael/Nikita. It's a classic love/angst story. It will always be them.
I dont know...there are many Michael & Alex fans. It's not good for ratings!