What I’m Watching: Nikita

Nikita: Season 1, Episode 19 “Girl’s Best Friend” (B)

This episode had an interesting setup, and while it didn’t play out perfectly, I’m glad to see some decent plotting going on here. Double missions are always exciting, and I flashed back to all the times on “Alias” when Sydney Bristow was operating with her partner on one level and carrying out an entirely separate operation via earpiece (the great music score throughout helped as well). Planning to have her die was an additional thrilling twist, and I also liked the idea for a second season of a new Division led by Michael that might not be so evil. “Alias” did survive the takedown of SD-6 midway through its second season, at which point it moved on to other things, so maybe this show could too, even if we’re not at that point yet thanks to the petering out of the mission thanks to Jaden’s inability to work well under pressure and not shoot people. Percy is made out to seem like a very nice guy when he congratulates Alex on a job well done, and it’s that reassurance that totally negates her desire to leave Division and escape to a life free from everything. Percy using Jaden as a spy is clever and definitely a bad thing for our heroes, and they’re going to have to get their acts together and start trusting each other. Percy telling Alex and Jaden that there is no one else reminded me of Richard Walsh’s profiling of Jack Bauer’s importance in the “24” pilot, though admittedly this show has never been anywhere near as awesome as that.