Utterly spectacular. This must be the year of brilliant finales because much like The Vampire Diaries, Desperate Housewives, and Grey’s Anatomy, Nikita went out on top this year with one heck of an exhilarating (and might I add game-changing) hour.
There was so much to love about this finale (which book-ended a marvelous season) that I just don’t know where to begin. I think I’ll start with the episode’s big game-changing twist: Team Nikita is now in charge of Division. The beauty of this outstanding twist is that it makes perfect sense given the context of the season. No other option makes better sense; Nikita is the only one who can use the corporation for good and they’re going to need all the resources at Division’s disposal to maintain world order. Although I was surprised that Ryan would be the one running the agency, it will undoubtedly be Nikita’s expertise at the helm. I am just so proud that the show went there and completely flipped the premise of the show. It reminded me of Alias‘ “Phase-One” episode where the status quo was completely altered halfway through the second season. It’s hours like these that completely usurp your expectations and cement a show as something truly special and extraordinary.
Β The finale also saw the demise of one of the show’s core characters: Percy. I honestly thought this was a fantastic decision from a storytelling perspective. They’d done all that they could with the character and Amanda just serves the show better as the ultimate big bad. She’s much more layered and infinitely more terrifying. Percy’s final beat-down of Nikki was particularly horrifying culminating in his awesome death drop.
This episode also saw the demise of Rowen who seriously terrifies me to no end. He got a creepy send-off himself after a brutal fight scene where he practically decimated Sean and broke Alex’s arm. I was literally on the edge of my seat throughout expecting any one of the three to bite the dust so of course I was pleasantly surprised when our favorite terminator got fried to death.
Finally, I must discuss the ending which rightfully returned focus to Nikita and Alex’s relationship which is at the heart of the show. I adored Nikki referencing the pilot and telling Alex “here we go..again.” Goosebumps I tell you. Had the show been cancelled this year, I actually wouldn’t have minded this ending because it leaves the show on a kickass final beat. Of course, I’m glad that did not happen because I have high hopes for season three and I have a feeling Nikita will not disappoint.
Bits & Bullets
– Loved the opening flashback of Nikita’s original Division escape.
– Alex impaling the Division agent with a freakin’ rake? Badass.
– Well Percy sure duped us all with that satellite threat. Well done.
– I quite liked the moment when the Division agents helped Nikita get to Percy.
– Brilliant speech by Percy over the Division intercom.
– Loved Percy shooting the agent and telling Nikki he’s “in a hurry.”
– Nikita always said “the last word they’ll breath before the end will be my name.” And that’s exactly what Percy did. Can I love this show’s attention to detail any more?
– I’m still loving Sean & Alex. Their playfulness really lit up the hour.
– I literally cheered when Amanda came up on my screen (and put a bullet in the hacker’s skull).
– For any Dark Angel fans out there, Nikki’s speech to the Division agents was especially similar to that show’s season two finale. Thankfully, Nikita won’t be suffering a similar fate and ending this season.
– Epic flashes of moments throughout the series that come to Nikita and convince her that taking over Division is the right thing to do. Perfectly selected.
– The final Mikita scene with the sunlight was beautifully filmed and wonderfully acted. Maggie Q broke my heart and completely convinced me as she spoke of never having a home.
– Birkoff kissing Sonya: HA!
Nikki Notables
Percy: There’s nothing common about me.
The President: What if I say no?
Percy: Don’t say no.
Nikita: I finally realize what I hate about this place, it’s the hum.
Nikita: Alex & Sean are on it.
Percy: The Princess and the seal? There’s a circus act if there ever was one.
Hacker: What kind of secrets are these?
Amanda: The kind that kill.
Conclusion
An outstanding finale that laid some spectacular groundwork for season three. Nikita has proven itself as one of the strongest shows on the air and this finale was no exception. Masterful television.
Nad Rating
A+
Great reviews for the season, Nad! Finally! You now are truly ready for the next. π
Team Nikita now has a different perspective; they are now the Hunters with lots of resources at their disposal. It would be great if Ryan starts to be trained by both Nikita and Michael. Those training sessions would be awesome. Ryan, the new Boss, getting butt-kicked by Nikki would be one entertaining thing to watch. hahaha. I would really hate the show's writers if they make Ryan a bad guy. May they we warned… :p
Here's looking forward to a much anticipated season 3. Kudos for your reviews, Nad. Have a nice day!
Thank you PlatinumRosebud for your support always. Looking forward to discussing season 3 with you!
Utterly spectacular finale and definitely one of my FAVORITE hours of television ever. My god, this is surely THE most entertaining show I have ever seen!!!
It's incredible how this hour single-handedly flipped the show's entire status quo while still staying very true to the characters. What really makes Nikita so special and different from all the other “brainless fun” action/thrillers out there is that the characters come first. And hey, the fight sequences are spectacular, of course.
I can't tell you just how much I LOVE the Nikita running Division storyline. I'm sure it's going to be epic next season, but the fact that Homecoming (brilliantly titled, btw) killed off two major characters (Percy and Roan) in satisfying fashion is very impressive. Thank God they didn't drag out Percy forever like any other show would've done (Malcolm Merlyn comes to mind, for some odd reason).
I was really on the edge of my seat for the entire hour. And I loved that I caught the fact that Percy's very last word was NIKITA – after all, our badass always said “the last word they'll breath before the end will be my name.” Superb attention to detail indeed, Nads. Wow.
“- For any Dark Angel fans out there, Nikki's speech to the Division agents was especially similar to that show's season two finale. Thankfully, Nikita won't be suffering a similar fate and ending this season.”
Ohhh you're right!! Did not catch that. Amazing!
Just one last thing (again): after Percy dies, how stunningly impressive is it that we don't get a “happily ever after”? I was surely expecting a montage of sort, followed by a speech by the President saying something along the lines of “there was a secret black ops program called Division, and I'm glad to announce its master has finally died” then we cut to Team Nikita celebrating while still in hiding. It's THE way to end a season on any other show (at least that's what we're used to), so the fact that this hour doesn't insult our intelligence like that and actually shows us the predicament that Nikki is in after killing Percy (the US marines still going after Division agents) is just beyond magnificent.
I know many people probably love it for its action or Maggie Q (both of which are good enough to reasons to love it), but I still find myself fascinated by this attention to detail and realism.
I'm stunned that it took me so freakin' long to watch this show. And woohooo I finished season 2 just in time for New Year's hahhaha π
As always, very appreciative of these reviews, I love them! Glad there's a very homey place for me to share my thoughts with you! π