We want you at The Briefing Room's LFN S2 DVD discussions
The Briefing Room also hosts discussions for: * 24 * ~ * Alias * ~ etc.
"No one from the outside can understand who we are." ~ M to N in Escape
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NIGHTJESSI |
LFN on DVD: Old Habits |
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Just in case I don't make it here for the kickoff of this discussion tonight, I wanted to get this thread going. I hope to see you all again soon.
~*~ Keeper of the Nocturnal Flame ~*~
We want you at The Briefing Room's LFN S2 DVD discussions The Briefing Room also hosts discussions for: * 24 * ~ * Alias * ~ etc. "No one from the outside can understand who we are." ~ M to N in Escape |
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Unregistered(d) |
Re: LFN on DVD: Old Habits | ||
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I know this isn't a fan favorite for many however I love this episode's darkness.
My favorite scenes are Nikita beating the crap out of that sicko and the tag when first the sicko gets knocked off by that cool assasin and Nikita symbloically wiping her hands as if she has just discarded the trash while throwing Micheal's lie back at him with one of her own. |
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Unregistered(d) |
Re: LFN on DVD: Old Habits | ||
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A good episode, worthy of a feature film. Very dark, but compelling.
The opener takes place on a beach in the Middle East. A Section operative is watching as Bright Star digs up a landmine to use for suicide bomb parts. In the usual way, for some reason, the terrorists are still European, which is really draws attention to the writers' fear of ever really using Muslim extremists as real terrorists on the show. The Section op is of course discovered and shot. BANG! Start show. We start with a Section briefing, and then Nikita is sent to meet the false ID maker Formitz. She goes to a bar, sees two girls, once of which is being roughed up by her pimp, and Nikita stops him by breaking his arm. He runs off to never be seen again. Formitz, instead of thanking N for running off the girl's protection, gets all whiny, but loosens up a little when Nikita shows off her grace and charm. Ok, she threatens him. Heading back to Section, we find out Walter is going to marry Belinda. YAY Walter! Next day, N tries but fails to stop a suicide bomber in Hamburg. One does wonder why M didn't shoot the window out to try to get some people out, but then again, there wasn't much time. So, later, N waits for Foamnutz and he doesn't show. She runs into the smaller girl, Danielle, who says her friend is missing. So she goes to Foamnutz's apartment. There she finds out he's not just rude, he's watched Silence of the Lambs too many times and is a serial killer. Being Nikita, she reacts by beating the stuffing out of Formitz. Back at Section, she is reminded that sometimes you have to lose a few to gain hundreds. Nikita is not much for risk assessment, and as she was on the streets before she entered Section, one has to wonder, other than for the perverse pleasure of messing with N, why they didn't get another operative from the get go. But, they send her back with a rare Jubilee stamp, and Formless agrees to help, but only if he can kill the girl. Nikita of course tells him No. She heads back to the bar and intercepts Fizzbin trying to take Danielle, and then she hides Danielle at a hotel. She comes back to Section to find a bombing has been stopped and a woman is in custody. A scary woman, who snaps her own fingers rather than apologize or help. M and N go back to Formitz and try to strike a deal, but he wants his brunette hottie. N says forget it, they walk. When she comes back, she's told, the bomber talked and they have a mission profile. N is to work with Birky. It is at this point we find out Walter's new bride died, and Walter, in an excellent turn, is about to blow away Ops. I like Eugene Robert Glazer, but I was siding with Walter here. That was just wrong. The mission runs smooth, the SOTW gets picked up, but then we find out Formitz helped. N runs off to find out Danielle is gone, and she corners M when he gets back, who denies knowing what happened. Next shot, we see SOTWs friend kill Foamnutz. Yes, as you can tell, I REALLLY didn't like this guy. Great writing in making him a creep I was soooooooo happy to see get blown away. M asked N if she had anything to do with it, and in the same voice M had used, she says no, and the shot closes with Peta giving that really dangerous look of hers that lets you know yup, she got that hideous murderous bastiche back and her only regret is that she could only have him killed once. |
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blackcondor1 |
Re: LFN on DVD: Old Habits | ||
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Well, I am a few hours late, but I have finally managed to finish my report. It is a bit long, so bear with me my fellow operatives
:La Femme Nikita meets Jack the Ripper and nothing is what it seems in this high-octane episode of our favourite series. As usual for Operations, he sacrifices one of Section contacts in order to protect a bigger asset: a document forger for Bright Star. The forger, Gregory Formitz, the way Madeline describes him to Nikita, likes a taste of danger. In the meantime Walter and Belinda joyfully inform Birkoff that they are getting married the next day. Yet he knows something that Walter does not, so, understandably he is so startled that he congratulates them only when practically prompted. He approaches Nikita, and tells her that the next day Belinda is scheduled to go on a suicide mission in Rio. Nikita suggests he do something, but Birkoff tells her that he had already taken Belinda out of abeyance once (you were right on that point, Pattyko he didnt just change her termination ranking as I have previously thought), but that Operations noticed. Nikita then advises that Birkoff tell Walter nothing, and let the couple have whatever amount of happiness together they had left. I really liked the scene preceding Nikitas first contact with Formitz. The club/bar (or whatever it is) looks modern, the techno music is really cool, and Nikita is wonderful at beating up the cowardly dirty pimp who has been beating up one of the ladies of the evening.         At this point I must comment that for someone who is supposedly attracted to danger, Formitz doesnt appear to be so brave from the beginning. He almost bolts on Nikita when he realises that she is his contact, and Nikita has to threaten him with an even bigger public scene. Unfortunately, the way things turn out, Formitz becomes an even more important contact to Section after the bus depot tragedy. That is when Nikita properly meets Danielle, and finds out that Danielles friend Erica has been missing since the previous night and that girls have been disappearing and then getting found murdered and mutilated. On her unscheduled visit to Formitzs apartment Nikita is about to leave after getting the names of the terrorists, when she notices Ericas scarf. Surprisingly, Formitz agrees to show Erica to Nikita just the look on his face when he says Why not? is so insane! At this point I must admit that when I first saw this episode, I thought that by leading Nikita into that dark room he was going to try to kill her: not that Nikita could not kick his a$$. When she sees Ericas body and hears the forgers crazy rambling about how this means something to him, she practically beats him to a pulp. Naturally Nikita does not want to have anything to do with this asset any more. But Michael orders her to see him again. This time she goes up to Formitzs apartment wearing one of her dark sunglasses, I can imagine to hide her eyes and make her forced apology to the monster easier. She gives the SOTW a very valuable stamp. He looks at it, and then announces that he is glad that he now has someone to share his propensity with. Whats more, he tells Nikita that he has decided on his next victim and that it is going to be Danielle. Nikita has to physically chase Formitz away from Danielle when he pretends to offer her $200 for one hour. She hides Danielle in a hotel room. I have really liked Belindas serene acceptance that she was not going to survive the mission on which she had been sent. When she approaches him with a message to give Walter, Birkoff still does not want to tell her the truth, but she is open with him about the fact that she knows it. I think her quote is a classic: Tell him that he is the best man I have ever known. I love him And its not such a bad thing to die on the best day of your life. Meanwhile Section manages to actually capture one of the Bright Star terrorists, but the woman Nikita tries to interrogate after even Madeline gives up, is unbreakable and quite insane. (I could hardly watch the scene where she was breaking her own fingers Eek!) The matter becomes even more urgent and complicated when the intel indicates that the Bright Star are starting to use other forgers and may not need [Formitz] for much longer. Operations wants to send Nikita to persuade Formitz to actively set up the next meeting with Halir. Michael comments that Nikitas relationship with Formitz is not without problems. Madeline adds that it is so because she became aware of his propensities. Naturally, Operations is not a happy camper: She has a job to do. I would hate to feel that she is regressing. Becoming sentimental again. -- That is so classic of Operations! Michael tells Operations he will go along. Of course, Operations and Madeline make contingency plans as well. At the meeting, Formitz agrees to set up the meeting, but only if Nikita gives him Danielle. Naturally, Nikita refuses to tell Michael where the girl is. Michael acts as if he agrees, which is actually credible it would be very hard to believe Michael would tell Nikita to give Danielle to Formitz. The scene is interrupted by Madeline who announces to Nikita that the prisoner broke after all. It is an obvious lie and at first Nikita does not believe it, but Madeline tells her that her suggestion of an interrogation technique worked. Operations gives Nikita the details of the mission, and tells her that she will assist Birkoff with tactical overview in Section. The next scene is explosive! (Sorry, guys, but I feel the need to actually transcribe it.) The mission is about to start when Walter finds out that Belinda is dead. Poor Birkoff cannot handle this on his own and calls Nikita. The two operatives hurry into Munitions just as Walter, mad with grief and hatred, loads his gun. Birkoff tries to talk to Walter, but Walter simply shoves him out of the way so hard that Birkoff kind of stumbles against the wall. Nikita: Walter, what are you doing? Walter (trying to push Nikita out of the way): He asked for it, now he is going to get it. Nikita (Holding him as hard as she can to stop him): You are not going to shoot Operations? Walter: Right between the eyes. Get out of my way! (He tries very hard to push her out of the way, but she holds her ground and even manages to push him back a bit. Later it is noticeable that Walter is now actually against a wall.) Nikita: Walter, I am sorry Belinda is dead. I am sorrier than I can say. How many times you told me not to take the Section personally? Walter: I dont care what I told you! (Still doing his best to push Nikita out of the way: eyes very mad.) Nikita: It is pointless. Theyll kill you, too! (In a slightly quieter voice, and with an expression which is a bit sad.) Walter (Yells): I dont care! Nikita (Covers his mouth with one of her hands and yells): Well, I do! So does Birkoff and so do a lot of other people here! (A bit quieter): We need you Walter. I need you. (Walter calms down, and Nikita takes her hand off his mouth, but his eyes are still mad.) Nikita: What would Belinda tell you to do? Would she tell you to throw your life away? Or stay here for the people that need you? Walter (Breaks down and cries.): Its not fair. It is not fair Nikita: Youve gotta go on, Walter. Youve gotta go on. Thats what she would want. Voice of Operations and his footsteps as he enters munitions: Walter (Then, as Operations enters and sees Nikita and Birkoff. He does not sound too happy to see this crowd.): Whats happening here? Nikita (Disarming Walter and quickly hiding his gun under her jacket, and speaking in a surprisingly even voice.): Nothing. Were just talking. (Walter quickly wipes his tears off with his hand as Nikita still partially blocks him from Operations line of vision). Operations: You and Birkoff should be at your terminals. Nikita: I know. Were going now. (Exeunt Nikita and Birkoff and Walter ends up face to face with Operations, who approaches Walter.) Operations (This sounds weird coming from him, considering he was the one who put Belinda in abeyance in the first place.): Walter I am sorry about Belinda. (The look of shock on Walters face is replaced by the look of burning hatred. Operations nods, and exits.) The mission goes as planned, and Michael and his team get Halir, but then Nikita sees the face of the courier and recognises Formitz. She immediately knows that something is wrong. She hurries to the hotel where she left Danielle, but the door is open and the room is empty Nikita goes to see Michael at his office and questions him about Formitz, but Michael gives her the official official story. She does not believe it. She knows that Madeline distracted her while Section found Danielle and gave her over to Formitz. Michael denies Section was involved. Nikita: I want the truth, Michael. Did the Section give Danielle to Formitz? Michael ( In his usual fashion, lying with a straight face. Or maybe he genuinely does not know ) : No. In the meantime, Formitz comes home to see a lovely Asian lady sitting at his desk. (Bright Star obviously was an international terrorist group with members from all different ethnicities.) He is very surprised. She declares that they know everything of his betrayal, including the names and dates. Gets up and steps forward from behind the desk, puts gloves on, takes out her gun and executes him. This time the roles are reversed. It is Michael who comes to see Nikita at her station in Section. He informs her of Formitzs death and questions her, but she gives him the same evasive answers he gave her about Danielle. Michael (In his usual cool way.): This is important, Nikita. I want the truth. Did you give him up? Nikita (Lying with a straight face. - What a classic!): No. This episode shows Nikita in yet another light. After all, as they say: old habits die hard! "Sometimes all we have is our dreams." Michael Samuelle
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blackcondor1 |
Re: LFN on DVD: Old Habits | ||
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anansiimoj,
Quote: Yeah, that's a classic! "Sometimes all we have is our dreams." Michael Samuelle
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blackcondor1 |
Re: LFN on DVD: Old Habits | ||
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QuiGonJ,
Quote: Quote: That scene in the episode almost made me sick. Quote: Yeah. That scene is a classic! it shows that Nikita still has not lost her "sentimentality" as Operations calls it. "Sometimes all we have is our dreams." Michael Samuelle
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Unregistered(d) |
Re: LFN on DVD: Old Habits | ||
Quote: Quote: Nice comparisons there!! Quote: I liked Nikita on this one, giving M a taste of his own medicine Quote: Quote: More like : Poor Wlater The first time I saw the episode I thought this was so cute and I was yelling at the TV wondering if they can get married, why cannot M commit to N. Now...my opinion drastically changed. Each time I see it, I'm taken aback by this: marriage in Section????? Quote: I'm sure those windows are bullet proof and that is why he didn't bother. Quote: We like long gives us more to comment upon! Quote: Yeah.....she sounded SO convincing there!! Quote: Nice euphemism. Quote: Ops was waaaay out of line on this one: when was N NOT sentiental???? At the briefing in the teaser... N looked at M as if she were upset with him. I wonder what was that about? And knowing about Jack the Ripper's "hobby", why did they send Nikita?? Michael saying "hell": it takes me by surprise evrytime. It's almost a curse coming from Michael. I think it's the first and only time we see M like this. I also like Michael's Jedi mind trick on Nikita: "You will go back. You will not kill him." It cracks me up! And another thing that kinda bothers me is when Maddy lies to N that the prosoner cracked to keep her busy. You'd think she'd find a more plausible excuse and like this weren't enough, Nikita buys it too!!! I'm surprised she didn't smell a rat. I was convinced this was all a lie from teh first time I saw the episode! ![]() |
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blackcondor1 |
Re: LFN on DVD: Old Habits | ||
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Pattyko,
Quote: I think he was actually ordering her to go back. Quote: Ditto. Madeline can twist everything around her finger to get Section some advantage over the terrorists. And she usually does. "Sometimes all we have is our dreams." Michael Samuelle
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loan31 |
Re: LFN on DVD: Old Habits | ||
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What was up with the heavy eye makeup
He could only walk away . I guess the good in her makes N believes , instead of taking a moment to" SMELL THE RATS "They do come back to bite her in the a$$ everytime |
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Unregistered(d) |
Re: LFN on DVD: Old Habits | ||
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Pattyko --
Quote:That's my favorite scene in this whole wretched ep! blackcondor -- Quote:Yes, he was ordering her. ![]() GOTTA HAVE MICHAEL'S JOYSTICK! I have command. ![]() NIKITA: "You're going to kill me?" MICHAEL: "No. I'll shoot you in the leg and carry you back. But, it'll be easier for both of us if you can walk." "In life there is always some evil, some good. Between the two of them, we just have to do what we can." -- Michel Gagné (Roy Dupuis) in Scoop III "Love is not the neat thing you expect it to be. Love doesn't make things nice. It might ruin you. It makes things a mess. And it's never perfect." -- Thomas Schumacher (Roy Dupuis) in Waiting for Michelangelo |
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NIGHTJESSI |
Re: LFN on DVD: Old Habits | ||
Quote:It's so dark, anansiimoj, even down to the dark eye makeup N is wearing. Quote:While we know LFN is known for its twists, QuiGonJ, I still like how instead of being appalled at what just happened to the mole, Ops is ecstatic that things are on schedule. The entire episode is about sacrificing something small to save more peoples' lives, so this was a perfect beginning. Quote:I thought the same thing but then figured that we were seeing things a bit in slow-motion, even though the effect wasn't there, and the bomb went off much quicker than one would expect. Quote:I think the reason was twofold. First, Section is testing N to see if she has let go of her sentimentality, as Ops mentioned. Second, Section knew that N would likely rough up Formitz, and he's that perverse that he would probably get some pleasure out of N being so tough on him. Quote:What a heartbreaking scenario! And I hate how confrontational Ops is. Yes, he's the leader of Section and abeyance ops die all the time, but you would think he could be slightly more human to Walter, someone with whom he obviously has a deep history with. Jerk! Quote:While it was hard knowing what was coming, blackcondor, I do think N made the right decision for Walter. At least, he could have one brief moment with his bride before it all went downhill. Quote:That was indeed sick, and I'm still amazed that N somehow didn't just kill him right then and there. Quote:Poor Birky, being charged with passing on the message from Belinda. Maybe if there had been more time, she could have recorded the message for Walter so he could play it over and over again. Then again, access to a file like that would probably make him dwell on not having Belinda anymore and I'm sure she wanted him to be at peace with what was about to happen to her. Quote:We know how M operates and he knows N. I do think he was lying to her, but they both knew he was lying. Is this what everybody else thinks? Quote:Yeah, Pattyko, you always have to root for N when she's kicking a$$. Quote:Anyone else have any theories? Quote:Loan31, I think N just wanted things to be over, and so she was willing to buy that somehow her idea worked and Section found another way. Had she had more time to think about it, she would have seen through the holes in this one but the mission was under way. Quote:Isn't he always, kg? ~*~ Keeper of the Nocturnal Flame ~*~
We want you at The Briefing Room's LFN S2 DVD discussions The Briefing Room also hosts discussions for: * MI-5 (Spooks) on DVD * "No one from the outside can understand who we are." ~ M to N in Escape |
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Unregistered(d) |
Re: LFN on DVD: Old Habits | ||
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KG--
Quote: Please forgive me for not mentioning where I got it from. I knew I had it from somewhere, but didn't remember exaclty. I read your comments again and realized it was from you, but I had already written my response+ ppl answered Quote: Bad idea! It would have been even more painful. Some things are better left in the past, ESPECIALLY in Section.Quote: What can I say? She's my role model in that respect. I love her kicking bad guys' a$$. Of course M kicking a$$ is even more fun to watch, for obvious reasons ![]() |
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blackcondor1 |
Re: LFN on DVD: Old Habits | ||
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Pattyko,
Quote: Hmm, actually they both seriously kick a$$, especially when they are on the missions together. "Sometimes all we have is our dreams." Michael Samuelle
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Unregistered(d) |
Re: LFN on DVD: Old Habits | ||
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JESSI --
Quote:I think he had to be lying, only because he left no room for the possibility that Section might have been doing something without his knowledge. If he'd left room for doubt, I'd be more inclined to believe him. Quote:Yes and no. I think by this time in their relationship, he tries to reason with her when he can. However, he knew that reasoning with her on this particular point would get him NOWHERE! Pattyko -- Quote:I don't care about the credit! I was just clarifying for blackcondor! Michael's very graceful when he kicks a$$. ![]() GOTTA HAVE MICHAEL'S JOYSTICK! I have command. ![]() NIKITA: "You're going to kill me?" MICHAEL: "No. I'll shoot you in the leg and carry you back. But, it'll be easier for both of us if you can walk." "In life there is always some evil, some good. Between the two of them, we just have to do what we can." -- Michel Gagné (Roy Dupuis) in Scoop III "Love is not the neat thing you expect it to be. Love doesn't make things nice. It might ruin you. It makes things a mess. And it's never perfect." -- Thomas Schumacher (Roy Dupuis) in Waiting for Michelangelo |
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Unregistered(d) |
Re: LFN on DVD: Old Habits | ||
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KG--
I know, but I usually give credit so ... didn;'t want you to think it was intentional ![]() |
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Unregistered(d) |
Re: LFN on DVD: Old Habits | ||
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Pattyko -- No problemo, chica! Thanks for usually giving credit.
![]() GOTTA HAVE MICHAEL'S JOYSTICK! I have command. ![]() NIKITA: "You're going to kill me?" MICHAEL: "No. I'll shoot you in the leg and carry you back. But, it'll be easier for both of us if you can walk." "In life there is always some evil, some good. Between the two of them, we just have to do what we can." -- Michel Gagné (Roy Dupuis) in Scoop III "Love is not the neat thing you expect it to be. Love doesn't make things nice. It might ruin you. It makes things a mess. And it's never perfect." -- Thomas Schumacher (Roy Dupuis) in Waiting for Michelangelo |
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Unregistered(d) |
Re: LFN on DVD: Old Habits | ||
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KG--
![]() |
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Unregistered(d) |
Re: LFN on DVD: Old Habits | ||
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Micheal's two halves definitely came into play in this ep. Midway through the ep., he calls Nikita in to tell her about the woman Section captured. He obvioulsy did this to put her mind at rest, knowing how much she loathed having to meet with Formitz. However, he then lies to her and asks her to be truthful with him. It's funny how Micheal actually expected the truth from Nikita knowing that Nikita knew it wasn't reciprocal.
Another thing that bothers me is Micheal telling Ops that the terrorist meant to go into the Bus depot. It seemed to me like the terrorist, unable to reach his objective which was the conference(?) did run into the depot as a fall back option. Nikita's admission to Walter about how much she needed him provokes the question as to who the real rock of her existence in Section is? Walter or Micheal? |
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Unregistered(d) |
Re: LFN on DVD: Old Habits | ||
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Anansiimoj--
Quote: This parallell situation is funny indeed. But I'm not sure he expected the truth. He must know her better by now... And I'm sure he didn't like the feeling of being lied to with a straight face Quote: You know..I thought the exact same thing, but I just let go of it when Ops said it was indeed his intended target and didn't pay more attention to it. But now that you mention it...it came back to me ![]() |
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Unregistered(d) |
Re: LFN on DVD: Old Habits | ||
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Pattyko --
anansiimoj -- Quote:Maybe that's how it was scripted, but not how it was shot? Could be a continuity flaw. Quote:Considering Nikita called Walter her "anchor" in s5, it was probably Walter. With Michael, she never knew when he was going to turn around and manipulate her for Section's ends. He never liked it, but he did it anyway. At least she knew Walter was always straight with her. He'd withheld information from her from time to time, but I don't recall him ever lying to her. ![]() GOTTA HAVE MICHAEL'S JOYSTICK! I have command. ![]() NIKITA: "You're going to kill me?" MICHAEL: "No. I'll shoot you in the leg and carry you back. But, it'll be easier for both of us if you can walk." "In life there is always some evil, some good. Between the two of them, we just have to do what we can." -- Michel Gagné (Roy Dupuis) in Scoop III "Love is not the neat thing you expect it to be. Love doesn't make things nice. It might ruin you. It makes things a mess. And it's never perfect." -- Thomas Schumacher (Roy Dupuis) in Waiting for Michelangelo |
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NIGHTJESSI |
Re: LFN on DVD: Old Habits | ||
Quote:Anansiimoj, M would have no reason to lie in this scenario, and I think he was right that the terrorist was misleading Section by making the ops think he was heading for the delegates, when he wanted to make an even bigger impact by targeting completely innocent people. Quote:It sure seemed like Walter, at least in this episode. Thank goodness she was there to help him through such a difficult time. ~*~ Keeper of the Nocturnal Flame ~*~
We want you at The Briefing Room's LFN S2 DVD discussions The Briefing Room also hosts discussions for: * MI-5 (Spooks) on DVD * "No one from the outside can understand who we are." ~ M to N in Escape |
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