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4.4 Into the Looking Glass

Madeline: "You're not afraid to die. Are you, Michael?"
Michael: "No. You've seen to that."

This episode was like a complicated chess game. Michael, the master manipulator, finally checkmated Operations and saved his queen. Sympathy, fear, love -- yes, let's stimulate those obstructing emotions. For awhile, I was afraid they'd disappoint us and Michael would go for fear or sympathy. But no.

Michael put in some serious time here nursing Nikita, and very tenderly, too. He even had to spit medicine directly into her mouth. (I loved that; I could just watch it over and over again.) And of course, passionate sex in an isolation chamber takes health care to a whole new level. They've always danced around the love scenes before and let us use our imagination; this was the first time they gave us an erotic, explicit Michael/Nikita love scene, and it was something special. Nikita appeared to be submissive (well, she was still in a lot of pain), and Michael a lot more intense and controlling than we've ever seen him in other sexual situations. I think I was right about him being a top.

While Michael was channeling his inner nurse, Birkoff and Walter were channeling Michael in the field. (Walter: "Relax. Breathe." Birkoff: "I think I'm going to throw up.") They did beautifully, too; this may have been their finest moment. Loved the hat.

The title was a reference to "Alice in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass," of course, but I also think it was about the glass barrier "look but don't touch" imagery they use so often to symbolize the way Section keeps Michael and Nikita separated. Michael did finally get through Nikita's barriers, though, and hallelujah.

And now, Nikita has to play robot girl. How long will it be until Operations and Madeline figure it out?

Bits and pieces:

-- We got another Michael/Nikita fight scene. And later, he managed to remain completely expressionless while she squeezed the bullet wound in his arm. How stoic. Typical Michael.

-- I loved the way Michael got out of the handcuffs as much as the med spitting and the isolation chamber love scene. And Walter and Birkoff and the hat. And Michael and Nikita surrepticiously touching fingers in the end.

-- When Nikita told Madeline she had faked responding to Michael (sort of like faking an orgasm, but more so), I thought for a moment that it might be true. And then I remembered that she had a gun on Michael at one point. She certainly would have killed him if she had been faking it. She wasn't faking it.

-- Michael managed to come up with two more vehicles: a van and a motorcycle.

-- It was very kind of Adrian to send that message. Gene coded. Scary.

-- Who did Michael get to impersonate Nikita? Not important, I guess.

-- The sleeveless shirt of goodness was back.

-- The Devos returned, and they had a new season four look, too. In the teaser, Nikita actually made a yummy face while observing torture. I found the contrasting pigtails to be rather funny.

-- Peta Wilson was wonderful in this episode, by the way.

Quotes:

Walter: "You scared?"
Birkoff: "You can't imagine."

Nikita: "I'd rather die than go back now."
Michael: "Don't say that."
Nikita: "Why?"
Michael: "Because I can't live without you."

This episode is an absolute gem. It's also my favorite in the entire series. Five out of four stars,

Billie





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