Although La Femme Nikita had a devoted following almost from the beginning, it never became a ratings powerhouse. But the 22 episodes of the 2000 fourth season reflect the best aspects of this trendsetting show, which featured themes and labyrinthine plotting that would later be effectively employed in hit shows such as Alias. Picking up on the previous year's most surprising plot twist, the fourth season opens with trained assassin Nikita (played by the sublimely sexy Peta Wilson) still showing the effects of her “reprogramming” at the hands of her enemies: “Getting Out of Reverse” finds Nikita not only uncharacteristically ordering the elimination of a fellow Section One operative but also endangering the lives of children during a mission. Fellow operative and lover Michael (Roy Dupuis) spends several episodes trying to get her back to normal (or, at least, what passes for normal in Section One). My favorite hour from this group is “No One Lives Forever,” in which Nikita is finally granted her freedom on the condition that she never again have contact with anyone from Section One—which would seem like an easy condition for her to accept…until she is offered the chance to eliminate “Operations” (Eugene Robert Glazer), the man who killed her father. Another corker is “Line in the Sand,” pitting the espionage unit's best operatives against a sinister, deadly Red Cell agent known as “The Cardinal.” Seen here in its penultimate season, La Femme Nikita remains a terrifically engaging show. DVD extras include a pair of audio commentaries, deleted scenes, and a gag reel. Recommended. (E. Hulse)
La Femme Nikita: The Complete Fourth Season
Warner, 6 discs, 975 min., not rated, DVD: $99.98 September 18, 2006
La Femme Nikita: The Complete Fourth Season
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