Episode 108 - Escape

The first offer for Nikita of a Freedom Save by Eric. He is the first to let her know that there are ways out of Section. Poor boy had a crush on her but who can blame him. Nikita having had by now developed some skills and gut instinct to suspect that anything resembling something good is usually bad, goes to Walter, the guru of Section for some sage advice. You can always count on Walter and in this case he did not disappoint. Walter, donning his biology teacher hat although I am sure he would prefer anatomy gives an interesting comparison of Section to an organism.

Now on to the surprise lecture of the day from our resident psyche teacher, Madeline. About Michael to Nikita. Plus that was one of the coziest chats I have ever seen those two ladies have. I love it. She sees right to the heart of the matter. Doesn’t she but as usual leaves Nikita with more questions than answers. It would actually be an Emotional Save on Madeline’s part because we all know there was more to her psyche analysis of Michael as is proved later on in the season.

All right here it comes the hand dance THUD! Oops! Did I fall off my chair and lose consciousness? Now where was I hmm oh yes, the hand dance (as I grip the desk for life itself) if that isn’t a Love Save I don’t know what is. Lets not even go on to the kisses or the hand coming up her thigh or the words. Oh my, is it hot in here? Anyhow Michael succeeds in keeping Nikita in Section, alive. He can try that on me anytime. One last thing the look on his face as his eyes close in frustration when they get interrupted by that mind reading phone, oh boy I am losing my grip on the desk.

Now when Nikita realizes that Michael did that to prevent her from being cancelled the girl is far from grateful. In fact infuriated maybe putting it mildly. She has to realize that he couldn’t go out on a limb like that for anyone. Plus he probably knew, from Operations and Madeline that this test was taking place and he tried in his own way to prevent her from failing. His non-response is one of those silent Michael answers that need to be deciphered. Sometimes I don’t think that girl thinks things out and just picks the closest person (Read Here Michael) to blame.

On a final note. Nothing to do with a save but these people sure take meeting interruptions lightly. Madeline and Operations both had looks of humoring Nikita on their faces, leading one to think it was a big test all along and that Michael knew it was as such. Scary People!

Episode 109 - Gray

Nikita tries a Twisting the Mission Profile Save attempt for Gray when she tries to keep him out of the meting with Mick. Operations and Madeline identify the attempt at the save and actually Michael takes on the brunt of Operations displeasure for Nikita’s actions. Michael does Section Politics Save on behalf of Nikita just by affirming that Nikita is clear on the parameters of the mission.

Poor Michael, no rest for the valiant, for after Operations leaves and Madeline moves in for the kill. Tag team wrestling what a lovely sport for that couple to play. You know what they say about the couple that plays together! Michael does a lovely SPS when Madeline inquires whether Nikita has formed an attachment and he denies it. Although I believe he could see it coming if not he was hanging out on the isle of denial. Then she hits him with an Emotional Save about the day that Nikita actually becomes attached to another man. Michael denies it will affect him but we all know that was a blatant lie.

Madeline forks over the SWUCA for Nikita pertaining to her degree of involvement with Gray with a little Emotional Save thrown in. Madeline is trying to protect her from future heartache, surprisingly. But perhaps Madeline has already been through it and is speaking from experience.

Saddest moment though is a solitary Michael watching Nikita go into Gray’s but what did he expect Nikita do wait around until he decided to voice something to her?

Episode 110 - Choice

Well, the scene with Michael coming to visit had to be a SWUC of gigantic and drastic proportions. She was non-too thrilled to see our boy, who was looking who was looking rather put out himself. How was he to know that she had not been kidnapped again a la Friend? Then we have the unseen yet you know he did a Section Politics Save her by not reporting her inactive phones.

Michael lets out one of his not so subtle Michael’s warnings about not even being able to have an hour to oneself in Section is impossible. Walter does a Section Emotional Save lecture about love and sex that held my attention but the girl doesn’t listen there either. Upon the return from the mission BTW the girl’s muscles after that stint under the laser alarm must need a muscle relaxant, Nikita tries to get Michael to let her debrief tomorrow. Now she is being nice to Michael! Michael in turn forks over a SWUCA by telling her she is just like everyone else and therefore stuck with the same standards and rules, no exceptions. That one smarted though I know. Though I am sure he was jealous.

Then Madeline tries again with a combo SWUCA and Section Logic by telling her the truth about relationships outside of Section with the infamous: "The worlds outside these walls is an illusion. It is not really there for us. We’re ghosts." Oh brother someone give Nikita a clue this is all leading to something very bad!

Nikita does not heed all of these warnings and as a result misses a mission. Yet she gets an EMS for not abandoning the child. Although I would have been calling Carla 911! Which results in a thunderbolt from Zeus king of Section, Operations, in a SWUCA put simply, break up with Gray.

Still not really listening (what does this girl need a 2 by 4 block of wood) until Gray comes in with his tale of the near miss does she break up with the boy for a Love Save. She saved his life. Though I have to point out that she should have known better and he would never be in that situation if she would have listened.

Michael does a Love Save/Emotional/SPS for Nikita when he convinces Operations and Madeline not to kill Gray. He knew that Nikita could not have lived with herself if she was responsible for his death and his daughter being made an orphan.

Extra: "The whole I love him and not you" I think that the lady doth protest too much and I believe Michael indicates this in his reply through tone and inflection alone.

Hold the phones people the episode is actually about saving an operative (I didn’t say which one) from Section, no mission with world catastrophe or saving the world from terrorists. The mission is about an operative. Incredible!

Let’s begin with Michael getting shot in what appeared to me to be rather painful. I don’t need to see that again. Nikita has to be restrained physically from jumping off of transport to go after him an attempted EMS on her part. Upon return to Section she attempt to work a SPS with Operations to get Michael out. She does not succeed has not reached the smooth level that Michael has achieved at this kind of save. But is denied due to the numbers.

On her way to pummel Birkoff I am sure, Birkoff admits that he fudged the numbers already and the odds of successful rescue were way worse. Birkoff did his own SPS. Yeah!

Surprisingly Operations decides to send a team after Michael. The bells should have been ringing in Nikita’s head at this point particularly when she finds out who is going with her. Madeline goes and fakes a heart attack to get them in the hospital, which I think is going beyond the call of duty. And scared the heck out of me. But all does not go well on the mission Madeline gets caught. Nikita saves Madeline from the baddies with a Mission Save and they get away from Petrosian’s goons.

Angie gets a save for taking care of Michael while he is tending to his own wounds. Yet another scene I could have lived without the whole gunpowder thing oh brother. He has stamina. Michael meanwhile EMS Angie cause you can be sure that Section believes in this case innocents are expendable but he is an honorable man. They both escape from the apartment. Then Nikita does a MS for Michael and Angie by hitting the guards with the car.

Then poor Angie does the mega Sacrifice Save by sacrificing her life, we all know this was motivated by the crush she had on Michael. This action on her part salvages the mission. Allowing Madeline, Nikita, Michael, and Petrosian the real operative to be saved to escape.

Madeline gives Section Logic to the alleged Save Michael Mission. Nikita is about to go off on her and gets a "Leave it alone" from Michael, an Emotional and SPS on his part. Nikita returns the favor not two seconds later when Petrosian criticizes and insults Michael. It appears that Michael is going to go after him when Nikita gives her own "Leave it alone" to Michel. Great scene! A double save in seconds! Then Nikita tries to get Michael to talk about the Angie in a Soul Save maneuver.

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