There are shows you watch for the story, some you watch for the characters and some you watch because you want to see serious action scenes. I enjoy espionage thrillers because they are packed with action, intriguing storylines and scenes that keep me on the edge of my seat. Even more, I love shows led by badass actresses who know how to deliver on adrenaline pumping performance.
Maggie Q is one of such actresses and her performance in Nikita (2010 - 2013) made the show a hit. When I watched this series a few years ago, I expected a fairly straightforward action but soon enough, with all the spying, shooting, and fightings, I became more invested in the plot and characters.
Nikita is an American spy thriller that aired on CW and ran for four seasons from 2010 to 2013 based on the adaptation of Luc Besson's French film, La Femme Nikita. It stars Maggie Q, Shane West, Lyndsy Fonseca, Dillon Casey among other actors.
The opening voice over by Maggie Q sets the stage for the show:
Six years ago, I was taken out of prison and forced by a covert unit of government to be an assassin. Three years ago, I escaped and have been hunted ever since. I was the first recruit to get out. I'm going to make certain I'm not the last.
Division is the name of the secret organisation that trains young vulnerable people to become spies and assassins. Once Nikita discovers the truth behind the organisation, she escapes and returns with the mission to burn it down to the ground. Can she succeed on this mission alone, or will she require the help of others to take down Division?
My Review And Rating
The plot is a common one in most action shows—an agent goes rogue and returns to take down the organisation at all cost. But the storytelling and the cast bring out the best in this series. The focus is not only about taking down the bad guys but also about what happens when people are manipulated and controlled to become what they do not want to be. Division takes people with troubled pasts, trains and reshapes them into useful weapons. Nikita becomes one of their best, making it easy for her to inflitrate them later on. She refuses to accept that her past has to determine her future. This idea runs through the series as other characters struggle with their choices and loyalties.
Maggie Q is the biggest reason the series works for me. She's impressive as an actress and embodies this character perfectly. She gives Nikita a toughness that is admirable. Nikita is beautiful, highly trained and dangerous but also carrying some emotional baggage. She has been used by people who claimed to be helping her and much of her journey in this show is about taking back control of her life. I love her boldness and how she weaponises everything including her beauty to achieve her goals.
Her chemistry with her handler, Michael Bishop (Shane West), is one of the best I've watched. Their onscreen connection feels so real you would think the two actors are partners in real life. Their relationship brings plenty of complicated emotions into the middle of the espionage and violence. I like that their relationship does not take over the story but is a side plot that adds some spice to the series.
Another lead character I find particularly interesting is Alex Udinov (Lyndsy Fonseca) because her story gives another perspective of Division. Watching her grow alongside Nikita through the four seasons adds another to the show.
The action is one of the series' biggest attraction. The shootings and fightings are fast and well coordinated. Maggie Q handles the physical side of Nikita very well. I understand she does her own stunts and that is impressive. Beneath all the twists, the show portray the themes of freedom, loyalty, identity and redemption in a relatable way.
Though this show is not perfect, it is entertaining and easy to get hooked on. I binged watched all four seasons within a few days. Maggie Q makes a convincing lead and I like that the female characters are strong and not playing damsels in distress. They make plans, take risks, make mistakes and deal with the consequences.
Rating this show, I'd give it 8 out of 10 stars. It's the kind of series I'd recommend when you want action with enough character drama to keep you invested after the shooting and explosions stop.
All images above are screenshots from IMDB
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Rating: 80/100
Originally posted through scrobble.life/tv.