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La Femme Nikita: Half Life

"I was mistaken when I said you were still alive."

The best part of this episode wasn't the pathetic L'Heure Sanguine; it was the bits and pieces we finally learned about Michael's past. He was a student activist who was so filled with the anger of youth that he went too far, which absolutely fits his personality as we've come to know it. We also learned that he was arrested during the student protests in Paris in 1984, and it's now 1998, so that was fourteen years ago. Which would have made him twenty, perhaps, when he went to prison?

Rene talked about what Michael was like back then: "With Michael aboard, you will understand the meaning of the word 'commitment.' There's no one like him. There never was." The thing is, Michael was still the same. His level of commitment to Section was extraordinary. Discovering that Michael was once essentially a terrorist himself made his commitment to Section easier to understand. He was making amends for the mistakes of his youth. His work in Section gave Michael a purpose in life. No, more than a purpose. A calling.

Nikita stalked Michael again, and it seemed to be okay with him. I was surprised that he wasn't angry at her for giving up Rene and that he finally relented and confided in her, but on second thought, it made sense. Michael had to know that it would end the way it did. Maybe he was relieved that Nikita took the decision out of his hands. Michael so rarely shows emotion that when he does, it's almost shocking; he was so sad when Rene died, but not angry. And again, that made sense.

In other news, Operations gave Madeline jewelry, and it wasn't even her birthday. And finally, we know: they were once lovers. ("Let's not open things up again.") Sexual harassment in Section? How very intriguing.

Bits:

— It was implied that Michael and Rene were speaking French, not English. It was also implied that Michael's real name is Michel.



— Operations and Madeline had a working breakfast. That was new. Makes them a little more human.

— Madeline again showed consideration for Michael by offering to take care of Rene herself.

— Michael's parents are dead. He was raising his younger sister when he was arrested. She is now married to a chef and has a young son. In that final scene, Michael put up the car window between himself and his sister: again, the symbolism of look, but don't touch.

— Nikita was shown alone in her apartment literally playing with fire (putting her hand over a candle flame). A little metaphor fire, there?

— European license plates again, and they were driving when they left Section. I think this means Section is in Europe.

— Birkoff had new glasses, rectangular instead of round.

Quotes:

Nikita was almost petulant again. "You should try talking to me next time, Michael. Maybe you'll get better results."


Rene: "You once said a person defines themselves by what they are willing to die for. I will die for a belief. You will die because you have none."

Operations: "It might seem farfetched, Nikita, but you have a future with Section One."
Does she really? What does Operations have in mind?

Two and a half stars,

Billie
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Billie Doux loves good television and spends way too much time writing about it.

4 comments:

  1. An excellent character-driven episode that proves to be both poignant and satisfying, in that it achieves the difficult task of providing an effective and fitting backstory for LFN’s most mysterious character. Though the episode begins with an explosion, no convoluted plot or complicated action sequences follow. Instead, the drama of this episode comes from Nikita and then Section forcing Michael to confront his past loyalties. Because of the guest star’s sympathetic portrayal and Dupuis’ moving performance, the audience shares Michael’s anguish as he tries and fails to avoid having to betray someone he thinks of as a friend.

    Spoilers follow...
    When Michael gives himself away by identifying the type of bomb during the opening sequence, Nikita rightly assumes that he is hiding something. She gets to show off her spy skills in this episode, noticing Dian’s odd behaviour at the bomb site, then “liberating” Section equipment to mount surveillance on Michael. (I will assume that Michael must have been really distracted by Rene resurfacing in order not to notice he was being followed.) After Nikita tags and identifies Rene, Michael is confronted by Operations and Madeline about taking care of the situation. Michael’s utter control in Madeline’s office is impressive, in spite of probably feeling betrayed by Nikita and having to hide the fact that he had tried to protect Dian earlier.

    From the timeline, Michael must have been serving Section for almost 15 years. What is really the most disturbing is that Operations and Madeline are still testing him: “Michael was thrown off balance by Rene, but he was quick to adjust, as we knew he would.” And even though Operations smugly assures Nikita that there is “No move you’ll make we don’t anticipate”, Michael’s final betrayal of Dian was a much closer call than Operations realizes. Still, Operations is more than scary enough to rattle Nikita, who practically blurted out that she had attempted to protect Michael. Need to work on that poker face, honey!

    Favourite Scenes:
    When Michael bares his soul to Nikita at her apartment: their friendship here is far more intimate than passion would have been, and is accompanied by Sean Callery’s hauntingly beautiful score.

    After Nikita saves Michael’s life: the pain on his face, and the almost wistful “You should have let him do it.” Though the audience knows Michael believes in working for the greater good, we finally get a glimpse of what it costs him to be the “perfect” Section operative. Looks to me like he’s already paid for his youthful mistakes a million times over.

    Continuity Issues:
    Glove-mounted bomb-detection devices? This type of fanciful technology is a little too much of a stretch for a “near future” setting – more ST:TNG than LFN.

    Nikita’s attitude is not consistent: at first she covers for Michael, then she rather childishly rats on Dian, then she is back to being a caring friend. I think Wilson was off on her delivery, but the line she was given was very poor (“You should try talking to me next time, Michael. Maybe you’ll get better results.”). Nikita should have instead said to Michael that he had not given her a good enough reason to protect a terrorist who might strike again – she would have sounded much less petty and much more responsible.

    ReplyDelete
  2. "The best part of this episode wasn't the pathetic L'heure Sanguine; it was the bits and pieces we finally learned about Michael's past."

    Billie, I absolutely agree with this statement.

    "An excellent character-driven episode that proves to be both poignant and satisfying, in that it achieves the difficult task of providing an effective and fitting backstory for LFN’s most mysterious character."

    Serena - I totally agree with your statement as well.

    My favorite scenes do coincide with yours:

    1.) When Michael bares his soul to Nikita at her apartment: their friendship here is far more intimate than passion would have been, and is accompanied by Sean Callery’s hauntingly beautiful score.

    2.) After Nikita saves Michael’s life: the pain on his face, and the almost wistful “You should have let him do it.” Though the audience knows Michael believes in working for the greater good, we finally get a glimpse of what it costs him to be the “perfect” Section operative. Looks to me like he’s already paid for his youthful mistakes a million times over.

    I agree with your insights into the characters and their relationship.

    One of my favorite episodes in Season 2.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Michael's backstory is really well done and, as you say, fits his character beautifully. I felt for him when Rene died.

    Gorgeous scene in Nikita's apartment. These two can make holding hands hot!

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is the first time that we actually see a terrorist that has converted to antiterrorism. Everyone else so far appears to be just people who have killed.
    It makes Michael seem much more valuable in understanding their motivations, operational protocols and contacts he has "in the community".

    ReplyDelete

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