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2.14 Double Date Nikita: "A psychotic killer and a sadistic wife beater?" Operations: "Most operatives start out flawed in one way or another." It's one year later, and David and Lisa Fanning are back. Fanning is now a Section operative, desperate to get out. And he's figured out Michael's weakness. Douglas O'Keeffe, who played David Fanning, was such a hoot in this episode. The opener where he needled Michael and Nikita about their relationship was just hilarious. ("When you guys go on a mission or you're on standby, how often do you have sex?") Nikita was mad enough to spit nails, while Michael just got even more expressionless, if such a thing was possible. The Fanning/Nikita part of the "double date" was just as interesting as the Michael/Lisa debacle. Fanning treated Nikita like a guy when he wasn't treating her like Michael's possession. I think it was because Nikita refused to cringe before him. But this episode was mostly about Michael, who showed a streak of utter ruthlessness that was just stunning. Michael knew how fragile Lisa was, and how much she had loved him. He knew that Lisa was more afraid of David Fanning than anything else on earth. And he didn't hesitate for a moment to seduce Lisa again, and sacrifice her to Fanning for Nikita. Yes, he also gave her the means of freeing herself, but if that isotope hadn't been so handy, what would he have done? Given her a stiletto to hide in her boot? Lisa did change during the past year, but not enough. She knew all along that Michael was up to something, but she still couldn't resist another taste, could she? My favorite Michael moment was when he finally reverted to type and injected Lisa -- checkmate. It was partially because we knew he'd been stringing her along and we were just waiting for it to happen. And partially because she just had him beaten and it didn't feel like such a mondo betrayal at that point. But it was mostly because Michael is such a freaking contradiction. Yes, he was cruel, but he's doing it to save Nikita, after all. The Birkoff scenes were also a lot of fun. He deceived Operations, and I never get tired of that. And we got another great example of Michael doing Section terse, with Birkoff, in the cafe: Michael: "Security's been breached. Kusco's still alive." Birkoff: "That's impossible. Satellite intel picked up the explosion and our sources confirmed..." Michael (pointedly): "Security's been breached. Kusco's still alive." Bits and pieces: -- David and Lisa Fanning were in the season one episode, "Obsessed." "Double Date" even started with the same music they used in "Obsessed." ("I will die for you.") -- Fanning said that it was common knowledge in Section that Michael and Nikita were a couple. Funny how this keeps happening, despite the fact that Michael has tried very hard to make it clear that he and Nikita are not a couple. -- One of the "twins" was in the internet/game cafe, sitting at one of the computers. I thought they were following Michael or Nikita, but it appeared they were also shadowing Birkoff. -- During the Michael/Lisa love scene, Lisa was wearing some seriously extreme red undies. Speaking of love scenes, it's a lot harder for a guy to fake it. Michael must be able to compartmentalize pretty damned well. -- Did Michael really walk into a bar and order milk? -- We don't get to see David's horrible death, but we can certainly imagine it. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy. Michael's version of marriage counseling might very well work; at least Lisa won't need bodyguards any more. -- Would a million bucks be enough to pay ten full-time bodyguards, ad infinitum? Quotes: Fanning: "Request permission to take a leak." Nikita: "Permission denied." Birkoff: "You can trust me." Michael: "If you betray me, I'll kill you." Birkoff: "That's why you can trust me." Nikita: "You know, you're either insane, or the cruelest man who ever lived." I loved the fun bit with Lisa's seven foot tall bodyguard. Michael: "There's something in it for you." Bodyguard: "What's that?" Michael: "I'll give you back your gun." Bodyguard: "You don't have my gun." Michael takes his gun. It's always a good time when Michael seduces someone. Four stars, Billie |
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