Television - La Femme Nikita #2 ~ The world outside these walls is an illusion.

Meredith44 · 05-05-2005, 10:34 PM

La Femme Nikita

In the words of Nikita: I was falsely accused of a hideous crime and sentenced to life in prison. One night I was taken from my cell to a place called Section One, the most covert anti-terrorist group on the planet. Their ends are just, but their means are ruthless. If I don’t play by their rules, I die.

Thus starts her complex and emotional story. After receiving two years of training from a Level five operative named Michael, Nikita is given a test. Upon passing, she is released into the outside world and given a new code name, “Josephine.” Despite being a part of Section One, Nikita has not lost all traces of her humanity, which often causes conflict with the head of Section One, Operations, and his second-in-command, Madeline. While this show does have the gadgets (courtesy of Walter, the munitions expert) and technology (courtesy of Birkoff, the resident computer genius) one would expect from a spy show, its strength lies in the relationships between the characters and all of the angst and conflict that result. In her stay at Section, Nikita has been deceived, beaten, tortured, brainwashed, and sentenced to death...and that was by the "good" guys! Well acted, well plotted, well designed, this show is worth checking out. (Seasons 1 & 2 are currently on DVD, with season 3 set to release at the end of June.) Just a word of warning...This show is addictive once started!

Surprisingly enough, for a show that has been off of the air for awhile, it still has a fairly loyal fanbase. The two predominant "ships" in this fandom are the "Hopeless Romantics" (Michael/Nikita) and the "Twisted Romantics" (Operations/Madeline). There are a number of interesting websites related to the show still floating around in cyberspace.

Some Websites of Interest

Show Related
Section intel
LFN forever which includes a LFN encyclopedia and a LFN songbook
Episode transcripts
Fire and Ice: a LFN gallery
The Michael Files
Michael and Nikita ship manifesto

Livejournal Communities
lfn_fans
lfn_icons
lfn_slash
Peta Wilson fans

Actors
Peta Wilson Online
Roy Dupuis Online
Official Alberta Watson page
Official Eugene Robert Glazer page
Don Francks online

Fanfic
LFN story archives
Polyamorous Recommendations (choose La Femme Nikita from the drop down menu)
Delle's Relishing the Burn HR (NC-17)
Darkness Shall Cover Us HR
Jaybee's Fanfic Mostly TR

Just for Fun
Lots of fun little LFN things including an Idiot’s Guide to Section One
LFN Kill Reports and Viewer’s Guide
—At last count (4.22), Michael is at 221, and Nikita is at 158.
Random Pieces of Madness including a drinking game and convenient plot devices

Last Thread

Meredith44 · 05-05-2005, 11:20 PM

Okay, I posted this in my last post in the other thread, but in case you come straight here...

The first post is something that I came up with late tonight (God, it is already almost 2:30?!?!?) and needs some work. I know that Steph promised to make a real banner when her classes are done, so that part will be taken care of. My other problem with the opening post is the story summary. I don't really like it, but I cannot get my brain to function well enough to come up with something better. I'll give it a fresh look/edit tomorrow, but if anyone has any suggestions (additions? subtractions? changes?) let me know. Also, if anyone feels that I left out something that should be added, speak up about that as well.

Otherwise, just enjoy our pretty, shiny, brand new thread!

-Coral- · 05-06-2005, 05:55 AM

Just wanted to pop in and say hey!

I used to love this show so much, (even though I completely missed the first two seasons.)

They just started rerunning the 4th season here, so I thought it might be a good time to post here.

Thanks for the links Meredith, I've been looking for a good screencaps site for ages!

weird_angel · 05-06-2005, 06:35 AM

Nobelia!

New thread!

Good intro!

X-6_494 · 05-06-2005, 07:29 AM

new thread! *splash*

OMG Meredith, what a wonderful job! I waltzed in here not expecting anything yet, and there you go..

Ooh, our pretty intro. With links! Can't wait to add more and more to it! About the intro bit - you don't like it? I think it mentions everything fine except all the moral ambiguity the show had that just isn't on tv anywhere else.

And I love that banner! So we can have two.

I pimped LFN, BSG & Spooks/MI-5 on my LJ a few weeks back, but I didn't go into detail as I still want to do that mega-LFN-post-with-pictures-that-will-hook-everybody. The little snippet I wrote is this, if you want:

Quote:

La Femme Nikita: I can't stress this enough. RENT, WATCH, BUY NOW!! S2 comes out the 15th, S1 is out.

LFN is basically everything you ever wanted on Alias fleshed out. Michael, Nikita, Madeline, Operations - you have an amazing core group of complex characters and fascinating dynamics in every corner. Manipulations, manipulations again, seduction, big fat moral ambiguity, missions, subtleties, politics and the infamous torture twins - you get it all. Tis by the creators of 24 so unlike JJ shows, LFN doesn't pussyfoot around. I won't go into details here as I still really want to type up a big post that'll incite ALL of you to finally get up and get addicted to it. If you need to see one show out of these three, take LFN. I just can't praise it enough.

Woah. I sound like an assurance saleswoman.

Oh, yes. We can add how LFN was before Alias and the latter isn't as original as you think - and to hook all the disgruntled-by-alias people, LFN has never tanked in such a bad way.

X-6_494 · 05-06-2005, 07:32 AM

welcome Nobelia!

Quote:

(even though I completely missed the first two seasons.)

Whuh? You need to catch up, about right now.

S2 is my favorite, with S1 behind..(although I didn't see the rest yet, lmao. But I'm spoiled till the end.)

Meredith44 · 05-06-2005, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nobelia*

Just wanted to pop in and say hey!

Hey back! Come and join in!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nobelia*

I used to love this show so much, (even though I completely missed the first two seasons.)

Wow, you loved it without the build up of the first two seasons? I agree with Steph that the second season is my favorite.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nobelia*

Thanks for the links Meredith, I've been looking for a good screencaps site for ages!

It's funny. I didn't really know of many sites until I researched for the opening post. Then I just kept finding site after site! I poked around on them for a bit, but I can't wait until I can do a more extensive exploration.

Quote:

Originally Posted by X-6_494

new thread! *splash*

OMG Meredith, what a wonderful job! I waltzed in here not expecting anything yet, and there you go..

Ooh, our pretty intro. With links! Can't wait to add more and more to it! About the intro bit - you don't like it? I think it mentions everything fine except all the moral ambiguity the show had that just isn't on tv anywhere else.

And I love that banner! So we can have two.

I'm glad you liked it! I spent a heck of a lot longer setting things up than I had planned to do.

I am frustrated with parts of the green and blue parts of the banner. Instead of just quickly cobbling together something, I actually spent some time on it and still couldn't get it to look like I wanted. (Side benefit, I actually got Operations to cooperate, so I have a few new icons!) Moral ambiguity. Yup, I should definitely find a way to work that in somehow...

Quote:

Originally Posted by X-6_494

I pimped LFN, BSG & Spooks/MI-5 on my LJ a few weeks back, but I didn't go into detail as I still want to do that mega-LFN-post-with-pictures-that-will-hook-everybody. The little snippet I wrote is this, if you want...

I haven't gone back to edit my post. I think I need some space to be able to evaluate it. I will definitely keep your post in mind. I can't wait for your mega-LFN post. I would love to do something like that, but I only have a handful of LJ friends, and one of them is you, so it probably wouldn't be useful!

Can anyone else think of anything I should add?

Quote:

Originally Posted by X-6_494

Oh, yes. We can add how LFN was before Alias and the latter isn't as original as you think - and to hook all the disgruntled-by-alias people, LFN has never tanked in such a bad way.

I thought about it, but I figured it might be too petty. (I actually contemplated a "Ways Alias ripped off LFN" or "Reasons why LFN is better than Alias" section, but then I decided not to.

)

Subject · 05-06-2005, 03:32 PM

Wow! Great intro.

-Coral- · 05-06-2005, 04:00 PM

Hey

Quote:

Originally Posted by X-6_494

welcome Nobelia!

Whuh? You need to catch up, about right now.

S2 is my favorite, with S1 behind..(although I didn't see the rest yet, lmao. But I'm spoiled till the end.)

I know!! I so wish I could!

A year ago they aired the last 3 seasons, (which was when I got hooked.) and now they're airing the 4th again... very random I know... stupid channel.

So anyhow, I can't really get a hold of the DVDs, (do they even sell them worldwide? not sure I could afford them anyway), so I can't catch up, and that totally sucks!!

Quote:

Wow, you loved it without the build up of the first two seasons? I agree with Steph that the second season is my favorite.

Yes I did!! This show is frickin' brilliant!!

I managed to download 'Not Was' from bittornet, so that's the only eppie I've seen from the 2nd season.

And I agree with you all, with all due respect to Alias - and even without seeing the two seasons, I can say that LFN is far better, heck, it's the best female-action-hero show ever! And I may risk some rotten tomatoes being thrown my way, but IMO it was even better than Buffy.

**blueschild007** · 05-06-2005, 08:11 PM

Meredith- great job on starting the thread. I LOVE the intro.

ami_07 · 05-06-2005, 10:33 PM

Oh the wonderful prettiness of the banners

X-6_494 · 05-06-2005, 11:03 PM

OMGSQUEE MEREDITH THAT IS THE COOLEST ICON IN THE WORLD!

Subject · 05-07-2005, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nobelia*

And I may risk some rotten tomatoes being thrown my way, but IMO it was even better than Buffy.

Wait a second... I don't think you can really compare the two. The shows themselves have different genre to follow. As for Nikita vs. Buffy for title of best female-action-hero show ever. It doesn't matter who would that fight... because Aeryn Sun from Farscape wins the title.

-Coral- · 05-07-2005, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Subject

Wait a second... I don't think you can really compare the two. The shows themselves have different genre to follow. As for Nikita vs. Buffy for title of best female-action-hero show ever. It doesn't matter who would that fight... because Aeryn Sun from Farscape wins the title.

Now hold on... ahh... well, never mind, I have no idea who's Aeryn Sun anyway.

X-6_494 · 05-07-2005, 10:12 PM

Buffy jumped the shark around S4, so I guess in terms of quality, definitely LFN.

As for female-lead kickass show, that's a personal opinion - IMO, the setting and dystopian atmosphere of LFN is what made it that good, plus the amazing set of characters, of course. Buffy was set in normal school ect with vampires extra and the FS gang was on a ship, living or not.

The only setting I find as compelling as LFN was Dark Angel's post-apocalyptic Seattle.

Quote:

because Aeryn Sun from Farscape wins the title.

I've only seen a few eps of FS, but Aeryn is well on to becoming my favorite character. *g* Of that show anyway.

But...as for who would ultimately kick who's ass, Madeline could out-maddy anyone(out-maddy psychologically, hah) and Alias' Irina Derevko would just own ANYONE IN THE WORLD because she is that cool.