Nikita – 4.06 –Canceled – A to Z Challenge – Day 14

“Parting is such sweet sorrow.”

‘I do the very best I know how - the very best I can; and I mean to keep on doing so until the end.’
- Abraham Lincoln

Prologue

Today, I'm discussing the series finale of Nikita, episode 4x06: Canceled. I was sad to see this show go. I was most perturbed by the fact the show only got six episodes to wrap up their story (I mean even Gossip Girl got 10 episodes).

When I was a kid, I spent a lot of my time watching cable TV (that honestly hasn't changed much), more specifically, the USA Network. I loved Highlander and La Femme Nikita. Those two shows were my JAM! I loved the TV show so much so that I even did a little leg work and watched both films that the show was based on. Now, that's dedication, at least what an 11 year old is capable of dedicating their time to a TV show between cello lessons, ballet recitals and archery tournaments.

When it was announced that The CW was going to be 'reimagining' the show I was excited. I loved all of the casting, especially Shane West. I was surprised to see him not only on the small screen but on The CW no less. But most shockingly, in a spy thriller. From the pilot I was hooked. It was a good mix of procedural, serialization, character development and action. When the ratings started to slip, I knew it was the beginning of the end. But I enjoyed the ride and was glad they show was given a chance to wrap things up for the fans who had stuck by the show throw all the twists and turns and ups and downs.

About the Show

Seasons: 4| No. of Episodes: 73
Premiere Date: 09/09/2010| End Date: 12/27/2013 |Status: Off-Air
Genre(s): Action, Spy fiction, Thriller

Story in a nutshell: The series centers on a secret government-funded organization known as Division, who recruit young people with troubled backgrounds, sometimes directly from prison. Division erases all evidence of their past lives and molds them into efficient spies and assassins. The recruits generally do not have the freedom to leave the agency. While in the previous series, recruits are warned they may be "cancelled" (killed) if their progress is deemed unsatisfactory, in the new series, Division also implants in them tracking devices along with kill chips. Having broken away from the government, Division now performs operations for their own gain, hurting their country if need be. However, Nikita, a Division agent, has gone rogue after her civilian fiancé is killed by Division. She makes it her mission to bring down Division.

Best Reason to Watch the Show: By now, you should be well aware that I love a show with a strong female lead. The fact that Maggie Q did all of her stunts was very pleasing. It was fun but at the same time the plot was an endless wonder of where the mythology could go. At the beginning of each season you literally never knew where the season was going to end and I love when a show can keep me guessing.

The Best Thing about This Episode: It starts off focusing around a love story but there is so much more to the show than that. It had some of the best action on TV and the characters were very fleshed out but at the same time you wanted to dig as deep into their background as possible to see the ‘how and why’ their lives lead them to Division.

Here’s What You Need to Know: At the end of the third season Nikita goes rogue all on her own, leaving the team behind. The first episode of the final season picks up a few months down the line where Nikita is being framed for the murder of the President. It is soon discovered that Amanda and the Group have created exact human replicas of high-power government officials, dubbed the "Doubles", who are subject to the group's rule. Nikita and the team try to clear her name leaving destruction behind. Michael and Nikita's relationship has hit a rocky patch. Alex is on a mission to save the world and also clear Nikita's name, encountering old enemies along the way.
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Title: Canceled| Writer: Albert Kim & Carlos Coto| Director: Eagle Egilsson
Episode Summary: The episode starts with a flashbacks of Nikita and the time she spent in Division.

Nowadays, after witnessing Ryan Flecher's death, Nikita is even more vengeful and convinced of the need to kill all members of "The Group", including Amanda. With the marines on their way to stop Nikita and start shooting, Michael alongside Birkhoff and Sam, tries to convince her to back off. However when Nikita kills the rest of "The Group", Alex is forced to attack her from behind in order to save her life.

After Alex, Birkhoff and Nikita are arrested, Michael and Sam decide to team up in order to save them and get them out by tracking down and releasing "The Group"'s imprisoned victims whose imposters are under Amanda's control throughout the world. While she is arrested, Nikita is visited by Amanda who reveals that she has full control now that all members of "The Group" are dead.

However, Nikita gets free and locks Amanda, revealing to her that she didn't kill the members of "The Group", she only used them to track down Amanda. Nikita leaves Amanda locked up alive in the prison, in a place where nobody can find her, but will be kept alive for life. Nikita walks out saying, "Welcome back to the basement, Helen", referencing Amanda's childhood where she was used as a lab rat for her father's inhumane experiments--in a season 3 episode.

In the end, Alex and Sam start a relationship, Birkhoff reveals more information about Shadownet to the public, while Michael and Nikita — who are happily married — reside to Mompiche, Ecuador with both of them vowing to keep going on missions.
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Awards

Character of the Night
• Nikita

Best Character Interactions
• Nikita & Alex
• Nikita & Michael

Most Memorable Moment
• Nikita’s locks unlock and Amanda begins to realize she has lost.

Best Line
• Alex: You know if you want to invade the moon, I’ll find the next rocket ship.

Best Scene
• The montage of the gang’s ‘happily ever afters’

That Awkward Moment Award
•That awkward moment when you’re yelling and screaming at your TV because there is only 10 minutes left and there is still so much to ground to cover.

The ‘Best Resolution Possible with the Time Allotted’ Award
•Nikita was only given six episodes to conclude its final season. For five weeks, the whole entire Nikita fandom was wondering how the show could possible bring all of things that were happening to a head. The cast and crew really did an amazing job with the little time they were given. I was very much satisfied with everyone’s “happy” endings (except for Amanda, I really did want Nikita to kill her).



Miscellaneous

Favorite Main Character
• Alex

Least Favorite Main Character
• Michael

Favorite Side Character
• Birkhof

Least Favorite Side Character
• Owen

Did You Know?
•Maggie Q did all of her stunts.
•The show has won two Primetime Emmys in the category of ‘Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series’.

Fun Fact: The series borrows many characters, or at least their names, from the 1997 television series La Femme Nikita.
Tasty Tidbit: The series is said to be more closely tied to Luc Besson's 1990 French film Nikita than the 1997 television series, La Femme Nikita, at least originally.

Side Note: The pilot episode drew 3.57 million viewers on its initial broadcast. The CW broadcast an encore of the pilot the following day, which drew approximately 2.6 million viewers
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Grade: A
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Comparable Shows
If you are interested in finding more shows like Nikita then I recommend you watch one, some or all of the following shows: Alias, Covert Affairs and/or Le Femme Nikita.
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Up Next: Tomorrow I will be writing about one of my favorite episodes of the Netflix break out hit, Orange is the New Black.