The CW’s update of La Femme Nikita starring Maggie Q became one of the highlights of the last TV season, and as of this week, the first season is now available on DVD and Blu-ray formats.
My relationship with Nikita as a series seemed to evolve as the series went along. To be honest, when the show premiered I was much more interested in Lyndsy Fonseca’s Alex and had no real interest or emotional connection with Nikita herself – mostly because I don’t think I could identify with the whole assassin thing. I also didn’t quite understand how and where Michael fell in the scheme of things, though I felt Shane West and Maggie Q both did admirable jobs. What I did know for sure is that it was a really good looking show, and the action never disappointed.
The show also had a character I just loved but didn’t get enough of – Amanda, played by the always-wonderful Melinda Clarke. I’d watch the former Julie Cooper in just about anything. The other “recruits” rounding out the cast as well as recurring guests like Devon Sawa also brought the game up a bit.
But, going back to the series’ beginning… although I know the La Femme Nikita movies and first TV series came before Alias, I kept mentally making comparisons, and it’s no Alias. Having a handler named Michael and a dead fiancee named Daniel didn’t help much. But that’s also part of a recurring problem I still had throughout the season with Percy, the show’s supposed “big bad.” Although Xander Berkeley is, again, a fine actor, he’s no Arvin Sloane. Arvin Sloane scared me. I still don’t feel I totally understand Percy’s motivations, aside from that it seems he thinks he is doing the right thing. (It’s interesting to note on the featurettes it is mentioned that Alias was an influence)
As the season went on, my opinions of the show changed a bit. Nikita and Michael started working together, and their chemistry and interactions popped. Flashback episodes fleshed out the characters a bit more – I love the early episode that shows Nikita earlier in her “career” – and I actually started to feel Nikita and Michael even more than the Alex storylines. Which is not to say Alex didn’t have some interesting interactions within Division. But I think – and this is no offense to anyone who worked their butts off on the early episodes – it took a little while for Nikita to find itself, and by the end of Season 1, it became something very strong.
That “something very strong” is thankfully leading into a second season, which premieres in three weeks, on September 23. I’m really happy that the show is going to get more of a chance to expand its story and to shine. The right elements were always there, and I think anyone who purchases this DVD set will likely agree with me that the show got better and better.
This DVD set is full of extras. There are deleted scenes from more than half of the episodes – “Rough Trade,” “The Recruit,” “Phoenix,” “One Way,” “Dark Matter,” “All The Way,” “Free,” “Echoes,” “Covenants,” “Into the Dark,” “Glass Houses,” “Betrayals,” and “Pandora.” Commentary tracks are on “Phoenix” and “One Way.” Both commentaries have executive producer/developer Craig Silverstein; on “Phoenix” he’s joined by David Levinson and episode writer Jim Barnes, and on “One Way” he’s joined by co-producer/episode writer Albert Kim. I’m a little disappointed that the series stars weren’t on the commentary tracks; considering their interactions with fans on Twitter and their accessibility to always promote the show, it must have just been a timing issue. (Thankfully, the stars are on the featurettes)
There’s a really good featurette about creating “The New Nikita” which is one of those things that just gets you more excited and primed to watch. Actually, I could go so far as to say the extras on Nikita: The Complete First Season are among the best I’ve ever seen on a series set. “Executing An Episode” is just as good, and profiles on Nikita, Michael, Alex, and Percy feature interviews with the respective cast members and make for a good viewing experience.
These extra features also do a fantastic job of “selling the show” while at the same time not spoiling what’s coming on the show. I might even recommend watching the featurettes first; because watching them get you so much in the mood and primed to watch more. Knowing the intentions of the creative team, hearing them talk about the kind of show they want, gives a perspective that shows this is an intelligent, talented crew and cast with a plan to put this all together. If you’ve seen Nikita and are already spoiled for what’s coming, it’s a treat to have it all here. I definitely recommend this set. Give it a watch, marathon through it all, and then catch Season 2 when it begins on September 23.
The only real complaint I’d have about the presentation of Nikita on DVD is the cover art. I never liked this promotional campaign and I don’t think it represents the show very well and may even alienate potential buyers. Yes, we get that Nikita is sexy and dangerous, and both of those things are illustrated in the cover art. But this cover art almost makes her look slutty – something Nikita is not – and I think there are far better ways to show someone, especially a female buyer, that Nikita is a sexy, strong, smart woman without showing off a whole lot of skin.
Nikita: The Complete First Season was released to DVD on Tuesday, August 30. Order yours from Amazon.com at a discounted price and support this site! DVD – Blu-ray
