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Episode Guide/Season 3 |
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Episode Guide/Season 3 |
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All the Section One witnesses to Nikita's defiance when Adrian was brought to Section are all being killed on missions, leavingonly Nikita alive. And, sure enough, Operation and Madeline make sure things go awry on Nikita's next mission (not led by Michael, but by a operative named Chris Ferrera (Raoul Trujillo)) which almost costs Nikita her life. Afterward, Nikita frantically tracks down Michael (who continues to be mysteriously absent from Section), in hopes that he can help her stay alive. But even Nikita isn't prepared for what she discovers when she finally does find Michael. Meanwhile, Operations and Madeline try to keep "George" (David Hemblin) from Oversight away from the truth about the Adrian fiasco. Elena: Samia Shoaib. Adam: Evan Caravela.
The Section continues trying to reel in Elena's (Samia Shoaib) terrorist father, Salla Vacek (Hrant Alianak), who may be one of Section's biggest targets. So Operations and Madeline use Michael and Nikita, and the vast resources of Section, to try and arrange a meeting between Vacek and his estranged daughter, Elena. Misha Barenz: John Bourgeois. David Henderson Williams: Barry MacGregor.
To flush out Vacek (Hrant Alianak), Operations and Madeline order Michael to poison Elena (Samia Shoaib), but Michael can't bring himself to do it. So Section poisons Elena anyway while Michael is out on a mission, and her survival will depend on whether Vacek has enough conscience to visit his daughter in her time of need. Meanwhile, Section moves sleazy informant Nick Shtoppel (Carlo Rota) in as Nikita's neighbor. Misha Barenz: John Bourgeois. Adam: Evan Caravela.
After effectively losing his wife and son forever, Michael's performance begins to seriously suffer. So as Nikita seeks to restore Michael's will to live and to protect him from Section's latest enemy, Operations and Madeline bicker over what is the best strategy to handle fragile Michael. Meanwhile, Birkoff goes to Walter about a file Birkoff discovers, a file that contains incriminating evidence on Operations.
Nikita is sent on a mission against Ivan Chernov (Eugene Lipinski), an enterprising sort who is kidnapping and training children as terrorists and then selling them to the highest bidder. But when Nikita is finally in Chernov's clutches, it turns out his plans for her are even more sinister than that (and Section's plans are more sinister still!). Meanwhile, Birkoff is threatened with death by a Section operative named Felix, after Birkoff's bad evaluation of the operative leads to Felix's being put in "abeyance", and it's causing Birkoff to become paranoid and stressed.
An operation is launched against Nikolai Markali (David Mcllworth), a politician who may have ties to a terrorist group, but who is undeniably married to Operations' (nee: Paul) former wife Corrine (Cherie Lunghi). So when this operation involves using Markali's wife Corrine to get to him, Nikita (and Madeline, and virtually everyone else) suspects that Operations' motives may have more to do with personal vendettas than with counterterrorism.
Nikita's tormentor (James Faulkner) from "War" (episode 1.17) is back, and he has an interesting plan this time: he captures Nikita and replaces her with a lookalike (named Abby). By threatening to kill Michael, the man gets the real Nikita to give instructions to her doppleganger, in hopes of learning how Section operates. But can Nikita figure out a way to warn Section before it's too late?
Attempting to obtain a terrorist registry named "The Cycle", Section frames a man with a photographic memory named Faulkner (Christopher Bolton) for murder, in a way that bears a striking resemblance to the crime Nikita was framed for. So Nikita begins to investigate the circumstances of her frame-up, while training Faulkner to be a Section operative. Meanwhile, Birkoff has two people to deal with: his new flirtatious assistant Tatiana (Lara Rhodes), and arch-nemesis Greg Hillinger (Kris Lemche; last seen in episode 2.15) who is working with Birkoff on locating "The Cycle" and whom Birkoff still doesn't trust.
In a shocking turns of events, Michael give Operations a poison that degrades Operation's mental faculties, in an apparent scheme to take control of Section One himself. Soon enough, Operations has turned Section inside out looking for an old (and dead) nemesis of Section's. As Operations gets more and more out of control, Nikita begins to organize an insurrection to take Operations out of the command structure. But is Nikita's insurrection playing right into Michael's plans?
Nikita is assigned to 'play' the fiancee of a terrorist named Karl Peruze (Val Venis) whom the Section has captured and subsequently 'memory wiped', in order to get to Karl's terrorist brother Simon (Alan Van Sprang). But she is suddenly and inexplicably attracted to him (even though he rationally finds him, and what he has done, repugnant), so Nikita suspects that Section is playing with her mind too. Meanwhile, Birkoff discovers that a terrorist whom Operations is scheduled to have a meeting with (along with George (David Hemblen) from Oversight!) has killed Operation's only son (see episode 1.18), and Birkoff (and Madeline) are afraid of what Operations might do.
An old acquaintance of Nikita's from the neighborhood, a cocky guy named Jamie (Gabriel Hogan), is a new Section recruit, but Nikita is only partly inclined to help him, until Jamie makes her an offer: if Nikita helps him with his Section training, he'll tell Nikita where to find her long-lost mother, Rebecca Worth (Margot Kidder). Nikita soon determines that her mother has hired investigators to find Nikita (whom Rebecca does not believe is dead), which puts Rebecca's life in danger if Section finds out. So Nikita enlists Michael's help to keep her mother safe. Meanwhile, Walter tries to find out information about an old paramour in Belize, but Madeline is way ahead of him.
Nikita and two other operatives (who are lovers) are sent on a mission against Simon Crachek (Adam Ant) and Caroline (Guylaine St. Onge), the two heads of a new terrorist organization Black March. But the mission goes sour, one of the operatives is killed, and the other, a guy named Mark, gives information about the security of a Section One substation. After Nikita and Mark try (and fail) to eliminate Crachek and Caroline themselves, Mark goes to Operations to admit that the security breach... was Nikita's doing! Will Madeline and Operations believe Nikita, or the liar Mark? Meanwhile, Walter blames the mission's failure on himself, and gets cranky.
Operations passes over Michael for Chief Strategist in favor of a smarmy Section operative by the name of Zalman (Jamie Harris), and Michael is so furious that he plots with Nikita to escape from Section One. Indeed, after stealing a Section One 'Field Router', Michael and Nikita successfully disrupt a mission against new Red Cell leader Vincent Tomas, and make their escape. But Zalman is going to take the fall for Michael's and Nikita's escape, and he will stop at nothing to find them.
On an operation to get industrialist and terrorist financier Charles Meyer (Marjean Holden), Nikita is sent to a "modeling agency" run by Amalin Anagar (David Ferry), which is, in reality, not just a brothel but also an arena where beautiful girls are forced to fight each other to the death in a place called "The Pit". While undercover at Anagar's, Nikita tries to protect a naive young girl named Sandra (Kristin Booth) from fighting in "The Pit", while also trying to figure out a way to save all the girls at Anagar's (an objective which is not in the mission profile!). Meanwhile, Madeline appears to be jealous of Renee (Brioni Farrell) from Oversight who is visiting Section One. And she may have reason to be, as Renee immediately puts moves on the very willing Operations.
This time, Section is out to get an outfit by the name of The Alliance, and Section's way in is a psychotic courier by the name of Jan Bailin (Juliet Landau). But Bailin has other plans and she kills herself before the Section can use her. So, as a backup, Section employs a meek, terminally ill lookalike for Bailin by the name of Sarah Gerrard (Juliet Landau, again). But as she trains her, Nikita starts to get suspicious: did Section purposely make Sarah ill to make it easier for Section to convince Sarah to work for them? And if so, will Section even let Sarah live if she completes the mission?
After an operation against a terrorist group, Michael brings one of the terrorists back to the Section for questioning. But the "capture" is a plant, and he knocks Madeline out during interrogation and runs amuck in Section One's HQ. Before Michael finds and eliminates the man, he successfully uploads many of Section One's crucial files, including the Registry (which is at least encrypted, and will take the terrorists several days to decipher) and the exact location (unencrypted) of Section's HQ (which turns out to be in Paris!). So Operations orders the evacuation and destruction of Section One's HQ. With Section in temporary quarters, Operations takes over the counter-operation personally, and goes out on a mission with a less than thrilled Nikita. Will Operations be able to find the terrorist base before the terrorists decode The Registry?
[Editor's note: Section's location in Paris seems to me to contradict some of the earlier "Nikita" episodes which implied that Section One was located either in the U.S. (specifically Washington, DC) or in Canada. On the other hand, it's location in Paris would explain why Nikita and Michael seem to be able to get to their European missions so fast.]
With the "situation in the Balkans" again reaching critical, Operations is called off on a consulting job in the field by "The Center" (whoever they are! I wonder if they know where Jarod The Pretender is!), and he turns over (temporary) full control (lock, stock and barrel!) of Section One to Michael (with Madeline to serve in her usual second-in-command/advisor capacity). But Operations leaves Michael with one warning: George (David Hemblin) from Oversight wants a full-scale campaign waged against terrorist financier Luigi Bergomi, but Michael must resist this as Bergomi is too strong and would overwhelm Section forces. But after meeting with George, Michael has a change of heart, and decides to launch an operation against Bergomi, despite Madeline's (and later Nikita's) strong objections. Has the absolute power of running Section One gone to Michael's head? Meanwhile, now that they are 'officially' lovers, Michael promotes Nikita as his lieutenant over another agent named Wallace, and when Wallace turns up dead after an operation against Bergomi, Nikita wonders if Michael is playing favorites, and trying to protect her.
Madeline has decided that Michael's romantic involvement with Nikita is affecting his performance, and so she sets about putting pressure on Michael to halt the relationship. Soon enough, Michael is no longer in charge of Tactical Oversight (so he loses his office!), and is no longer running missions: he's replaced by Davenport (Lawrence Bayne), a decent guy who's now in charge of field operations. Can Michael give up all the power he's earned in Section One for Nikita? And will Nikita let him give it all up, even if he wants to?! Meanwhile, a sultry operative by the name of Valerie (Soo Garay) is putting heavy moves on *both* Walter and Birkoff, which soon enough puts a strain on their friendship.
After Birkoff chokes in the middle of remotely directing an operation (and is then promptly upstaged by arch-nemesis Greg Hillinger (Kris Lemche) who pulls the frying pan out of the fire and saves the mission),Operations promotes Hillinger to Birkoff's job and reassigns Birkoff to his first field operation. Birkoff's mission is to infiltrate and perform reconnaissance on a mercenary terrorist organization 'Soldat de la Libert', run by a man named Jean-Marc Rousseau (Andrew Gillies) who employs brainwashing on young people to fill the ranks of his organization. Birkoff is convinced that Operation's real objective is to set him up with an impossible mission, so that Operations can eliminate Birkoff and permanently replace him with the more obsequious and pliable Hillinger. And sure enough, once inside the group Birkoff discovers ties between Rousseau's organization and the infamous Red Cell, and Operations refuses to extricate Birkoff preferring to leave him in place to gather more information. Can Nikita help Birkoff get out of the origination before Birkoff is totally brainwashed by Rousseau? And is Operations really out to eliminate Birkoff?
During an operation, Hillinger's (Kris Lemche) goofing off costs an operative his life, and Hillinger pleads with Birkoff to cover for him, which Birkoff (inexplicably) does. Hillinger doesn't return the favor, however, when Birkoff is sent out to direct a mission from the field, and Hillinger deliberately tries to get his rival Birkoff killed off once and for all. But the joke's on Hillinger when Birkoff exposes what Hillinger did. Sure enough, Operations puts him in abeyance and Hillinger's days seem to be numbered. At the same time, Operations is acting more and more viciously toward Madeline (whom he's treating as a virtual slave). But Operations' timing is terrible, as George (David Hemblin) from Oversight is turning up the pressure on Operations, just as he's acting out with Madeline. Will Madeline get even with Operations by betraying him to George? [And keep on eye on the ending of this one: it has more twists and turns than the Pacific Coast Highway!]
3.21: "Playing with Fire" (Part 1)
Literally playing with fire, Michael and Nikita are setting up clandestine rendezvous on Section missions as a way to get around Operations and Madeline's ban on their seeing each other (see episode 3.18). But Operations and Madeline still suspect Michael and Nikita of seeing each other on the side, so Madeline starts sending Davenport (Lawrence Bayne) along on Michael's and Nikita's mission to spy on them. Meanwhile, Madeline orders Birkoff to sweep Michael's and Nikita's computer panels for secret communication, and when Birkoff does indeed discover communications between the two, it implicates Walter as their go-between. Will Birkoff turn in Walter? And, if so, what will happen to Michael, Nikita and Walter? Mic Schtoppel: Carlo Rota. Part 1 of 2.
3.22: "On Borrowed Time" (Part 2)
Michael and Nikita are sent on an operation to find out who a pharmaceutical plant owned by a company named Genefex (and a supplier of Red Cell) is selling a biological weapon named Gandium to. But, unbeknownst to Michael and Nikita, the operation has a secondary objective: to end Michael and Nikita's love affair once and for all. So once the mission objective is achieved, Nikita is sent to another part of plant, where Madeline is waiting to 'reprogram' Nikita to eliminate her feelings for Michael. Meanwhile, Operations finally does the unthinkable: he sends Walter to 'retirement' (and what *does* happen to people in Section 'retirement' anyway?...). But Birkoff has other ideas, and he immediately sets about sabotaging Walter's replacement, a young and innocent chap by the name of Giles (Andrew Kraulis). Damon Arel: Elias Zarou. Part 2 of 2.
Taken from: http://members.aol.com/IJBall/WWW/TV.html