Nikita – Season 1

Note: Season’s not done at time of review.

This version of Nikita, franchise revamped by the CW Network, follows spy assassin Nikita — now played by Maggie Q — as she sets out to bring down the secret government agency that made her what she is today.

There are a few inherent issues with revamping Nikita for the CW Network. The main one is… the CW Network, created after The WB disappeared and sprung to decent popularity when UPN disappeared. The network was and is known for shows like Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill and The Vampire Diaries… basically teenage girls and young women, a whole lot of young people.

This is an issue because people interested in the French La Femme Nikita tend to be people a little bit older than The CW demographics. Because of this, show decisions would be made to make the show more pleasing for those audiences. Don’t get me wrong, the idea of revamping the show with Maggie Q in the lead was an interesting idea. The fighting and action sequences are more often than not tight. One moment you wouldn’t think Q has it in her to kick butt because she looks fragile, yet she flips in one second and is holding the gun.

There’s a lot of potential with the show if it decides to keep some of the grit it’s been showing and decides to step it up a bit. Let the show be more Jason Bourne than James Bond, but because of its network’s demographic there are already talks and rumors about love interests for their female leads.

Even though the show is doing well for the older male demographic — how can it go wrong with Maggie Q, Lyndsy Fonseca, and Melinda Clarke — they feel they need to amp the male eye-candy for the women who watch the show. But really, who can blame them when Shane West’s face — once a decent teen idol — keeps dropping by effects of gravity.

Let’s just hope the show doesn’t sacrifice ass-kicking for sexual tension, which there’s loads of whenever Amanda interrogates anyone from Alex and Nikita. It must be those seldom guest stars she did as Lady Heather on CSI.

Rating: ★★¾☆☆ 

Ghost Writer

Here. There. Everywhere. Punished soul that usually watches what nobody wants, but sometimes gets lucky.

5 Responses

  1. linda says:

    I am wondering whats meant by saying Shane West’s face is dropping by effects of gravity.
    please explain.

    • Ghost Writer says:

      @linda, there are a few people whose faces are structure in a certain way, and as they get older… no matter how old they are, their cheeks fall considerably. West is considerably young to have it happen to him.

      It’s happened to the likes of Paul McCartney and Hugh Grant. The bulldog face factor.

  2. julili says:

    I’ve seen some episodes of this (while bored at work) and I just can’t… such a waste on Maggie

    • amy says:

      @julili, I have a love/hate relationship with Maggie Q on screen. LOL They should make Melinda Clarke the bad guy full-time

  3. I’ve got to say when I first saw the previews for this I was reasonably upset. I’m sick of Hollywood remaking every living thing under the sun!!! Where’s the originality?!? Not only is it a mistake to assume that anyone can recreate something that’s already been proven innovative (thus, sucking the originality out of the show/film), it shows a complete lack of original thought, leaving everyone pissed because everything looks like it’s been done before (hence “remake”, because everything HAS already been done before).

    As a fan of the original La Femme Nikita (sneaking to watch it when I was much younger on HBO), I’ll have to stay away from this one –no matter how sexy Ms. Q seems in heels and a leotard…it just won’t work for me. :(

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