MovieChat Forums > Nikita (2010) Discussion > List the 5 Things You Would Have Changed

List the 5 Things You Would Have Changed

posted 8 years ago by EmperorOfLatveria
16 replies | jump to latest

First off, I love Nikita, especially the first season, when Alex was still the division mole. Second one was extremely good too.

But, if I would have changed something about the show, I always wished these would have happened. Would have made everything so much better.

1. Not kill Percy off. He was a great villain. I wanted him to be the guy they beat at the very end. So brilliant. Amanda was halfway decent to me, but just not in the same league as Percy to me. Don't believe me? It was only Percy who was nominated in the IGN awards as the best tv villain two years running - not Amanda. As a consequence, I feel this may have been one of the biggest problems with the last 2 seasons, and might have had an even better finale.

2. Alex actually give a crap about her family legacy. Not just because it would make her rich, but primarily angry that she just turns her back on all of it. She chose not try to wield it for good. This would have opened up so much great possibilities. Makes me think sort of like Batman/Bruce Wayne, or Green Arrow/Oliver Queen, double lives which they can use to their advantage. My disappointment isn't so much just these lost possibilities, but how she seems to so causally disrespect her own family legacy. Even if it was built on blood; For instance, how most every great country in the world was probably built on the blood of those they took it from. It just so long ago that no one seems to remember. Does that make them bad now? She seemed to care somewhat when she shot that trafficker in s01 and said "I am Alexandra Udinov", and we also didn't get to see her becoming what she was afraid of becoming. It was like a forgotten plot line.

3. More episodes that centered around the awesome duo of Nikita/Alexandra - that was practically the foundation of the show early on. Then they went so far away from that. When they brought it back together, it had a different feel to it. They never seemed to be codependent on one another like the were early on, but usually on their own unless they had to work together for one thing or another.

4. More backstory, and relevant episodes about Birkhoff. They always referenced his crimes, like when the Pentagon, etc tracked him down and caught him (before being saved from Division). We had the history catch up to him, but we never saw much of what it was. There was some good possibilities there.

5. No shop. They were kind of the stupid villains. When I saw Percy trying to join the group, and David S. Lee playing a mysterious character, I had high hopes for it. But then, the execution, writing and the stupidity of what they made of it (like the shop) turned out to be a big mistake.

[–] doitlikenikita 8 years ago

I think Amanda is a far superior villain than Percy, but I agree with your other points.

The only things I'd change are centered around the ending.

I would've killed off Michael and had Nikita end alone. Or I would've liked it better if Nikita killed herself in order for Amanda to die too. The ending was a bit too happy for me, but I understand why it had to happen completely, since the season was cut short.

Overall, the only other thing I'd change was the network. If Nikita had been a show on Cinemax like Banshee we would've had a bit more violence and sex - not that it was needed as Nikita definitely pushed the boundaries for what the CW was broadcasting: I hate when people say The 100 is the first "dark and adult" show for the CW when Nikita was there for 4 seasons, but since it was stuck in the death slot it seems the entire fanbase is comprised of non-CW viewers.

The fans are largely international or discovered the show after it ended through Netflix.

I was always in awe at the ability of the writers to juggle up so many storylines and plot twists, since Nikita is one of the only shows I've seen where the entire 73 episodes are NOT comprised of mission of the week or procedural episodes - instead it's one whole huge movie that lasts for 4 seasons and each episode is crucial. That was Nikita's biggest strength for me.

[–] EmperorOfLatveria 8 years ago

There are plenty of other shows that are one long script, instead of mission of the week style with good plot twists and overlap. 24, before it got repetitive (probably because they started off throwing the kitchen sink in early, and what next?). Game of Thrones is a big one that people like to watch. I mean to say, that quality isn't rare. It just isn't the standard format.

I can't say I have ever considered the impact of the network. For sure, being on a lower tier network automatically drops some quality. But I can't say I have heard the "first dark show on CW" before. Smallville for one had a dark season or two. I agree, it would have been awesome to see it on something like Cinemax, heck I would have settled for ABC, as they would have probably done it a bit better. Would have had to do more, because they cut shows sooner as they have to have a larger audience. I think it would have been a success though, and better for it.

I don't understand how people would ever think Amanda had more than Percy as a villain, best TV villain nominations aside. But to each his own I guess. I will admit the final 4-5 episodes with him, he doesn't seem to have that brilliant persona that he made so good. I love how he outsmarted everyone at the end of s01, and was almost in the air of "I planned all of your actions", etc. He was fun. I found Amanda somewhat generic, a 7.5/10, where Percy was closer to a 9.2 for me. I think his decision to try to fight Nikita like that was a wtf moment that was OOC, just to make a death. He knows Nikita would take most everyone in a fight, so what was he trying to do? Also, with a nuclear disaster imminent, why the heck don't the troops break it up? Sure, let the man fall to his death that may be the key to stopping it. Just don't interfere, lives be damned. Kind of strange to me. The entire sequence was out of sorts.

Still, the last few episodes don't change my opinion of the character in general. Amanda had even more moments like that were I was like, what? Argh....

In regards to the ending with Amanda, etc being a bit too happy, I don't know. I sort of like the conclusion to be happy, to bring an end to it. Just my preference I guess. But in regards to this show, I was meh about how they dealt with Amanda. I wouldn't call it bad or good, just acceptable.

[–] johnnymike91 8 years ago

Put it on FX or Showtime

[–] Freya_Mikaelson 8 years ago

I would've liked to know more about Sonya, she wasn't in the finale nor do we know why she was in division in the first place. I also wouldn't have put Owen and Alex together, felt too forced. As much as I loved percy I think it was right to kill him off halfway through the series, Amanda was a great villain

[–] illimattic 8 years ago

I would have changed the last 6 episodes into 13 episodes total.....and maybe fix a few episodes in late season 3. I'd keep the very ending relatively the same....

The Shop group was fine and I like that they were just rich people. Because its true to life, the rich people control this country...and benefit when we go to war.

Good God Gurl Get A Grip!

[–] mistashock-74762 8 years ago

1. I would have had Nikita eat a few sandwiches. Although her fight scenes looked pretty authentic, it started to look ridiculous as this 50 pound chick is knocking "thugs" out with one punch. In Rockford files, Jim Rockford about 6'2" and about 230 lbs used to grab his hand after punching someone.
2. The no camera, no supervised, no detection zone that gave Alex free reign to contact Nikita seemed a bit foolish when all the recruits are criminals.
3. The fake permanent scowl of Michael really started to grate on me. Always looked like he was trying too hard to look tough which made him look look not tough to me.
4. Her "disguise" has to be more than a pair of glasses, unless this is Metropolis
5. With all the "secrets" and ghost protocol, seems funny that they didn't follow/track the recruits once they left the Division location

[–] Asylum_runaway 8 years ago

1. Keep Ryan alive.

2. No mutiny. Keep Division. Division under Ryan's command could have been used to do a lot of good. Alex leading the mutiny was kind of stupid too. I didn't like that.

3. More missions with Nikita, Michael and Alex as a team. Their chemistry is amazing.

4. ...

Actually, I think that's it. Can't think of anything else I would change. :)

"You're an idiot." - Irisa Nolan, Defiance (2013)

[–] Natalia-Alianovna-Romanoff 8 years ago

1. Have Nikita on Netflix. That streaming service is good for TV and I think it might have had more seasons had it been on Netflix.

2. Have Amanda be more cerebral and less wrathful. Amanda seemed too smart to go off the rails as we saw her go a few times.

3. Kept Division evil for a third season...or at least half of the third season. I'd of love to see a longer Team Nikita/Division feud.

4. Not have Ramon sell his soul or at least have him redeemed. Even after Percy crippled him, it felt out of character for someone like him who believed in freedom who is akin to V from V For Vendetta would easily bend to a man like Percy.

5. Keep Alex/Sam but make it develop more. I kinda felt it was too rushed because the series was ending. They should have alluded to them becoming an item in the future.

[–] matt_russo 8 years ago

I must be the only one who loves the fact that Nikita was a short show. Who the F needs a never-ending show? One with 10 seasons and going. I personally effing HATE THAT!!!!

Nikita had a mission to take down Division. She did that. And had they wrapped things up nicely at season two, that would have been enough. Season three started off a little weird because they took over Division but they now had the "dirty 30" and that was a little much for me. I twas still god and enjoyable but then "the shop" comes in and there is YET ANOTHER something to defeat.

Nikita's mission was not to become supreme ruler of planet Earth and cleanse it of all evil. As far as I'm concerned she over did it by continuing on with all the other sshhh that kept coming up. I love the show from start to finish BECAUSE IT ENDED. If the show was still happening right now, I would absolutely have hated all these other subplots they kept coming up with.

I wish all shows were like Nikita. 3 to 4 seasons and call it a day. Nothing good ever comes from overkill. Look at all the movie franchises where they just keep making more movies like SAW and Friday the 13th etc. They got worse over time.

[–] ehopatolegal 8 years ago

YES, matt_russo. That is EXACTLY the way I feel, thank you.

73 episodes also is not a short show. Nowadays most seasons are 13 episodes long. Hell, Game of Thrones is gonna finish up at the 73 episode mark as well.

I was a fan of Supernatural during Season 1 and 2. Now that they're on Season 89 it's disgraceful the lenghts some showrunners will go to in order to stretch their show. In MY opinion, it absolutely kills it.

Nikita's first season is her alone against the world. It then builds on the second season as she forms her family and defeats her enemy. In season three, we see the consequences of their achievement and season three in itself was already a "sequel" to the original premise - the show builds again for the final confrontation with the main enemy, who was there since Episode 1, Amanda - and season four is that epic final battle. And then it ENDS. It is PERFECT.

[–] matt_russo 8 years ago

"season three in itself was already a "sequel" to the original premise"

100% true. Had the Amanda plot ended in season 2 as well along with Percy, the show would have been just fine like that. Would there have been things here and there such as division agents who left etc? yes, but Nikita's mission was always to take down division and season two did that.

On a slightly different note, a few years ago, I started watching that Once upon a time show (don't judge me) and it has literally GOTTEN WORSE WITH EVERY SEASON. I'm literally watching it now cuz it's there and i roll my eyes every three minutes. The thought of that happening to a great show like Nikita is upsetting.

See, in my opinion, the advantage of a TV series vs a movie/film is that you can really develop the characters and tell a deeper story than meets the eye (main plot). The "advantage" should NEVER be to make it as long as you can possibly run it until nobody is watching it anymore. That's gross. LOL

[–] kenburke (2280) 6 years ago

I agree. I remember the old Dallas show ran so long it became predictable.

[–] kenburke0627 7 years ago

I would have had Percy and Roan escape and hitch up with the Shop; Amanda would ally with Gogol; Nikita would take control of Division and use it to thwart the bad guys and gals plans.

[–] matt_russo 7 years ago

This sound very interesting and promising. But it also sounds really complicated. How many seasons would it have needed to make that happen in a nice way? 5-6? NO thanks.

[–] kenburke0627 7 years ago

I would have enjoyed it!