LFN on DVD: Hard Landing

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NIGHTJESSI	LFN on DVD: Hard Landing	Lead	[-]
Posts: 11666 (03/27/05 17:59:25) Hopeless Romantic Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Tags : None This is my favorite LFN episode of all time for so many reasons, and it floors me each time I watch it. I love that during the commentary executive consultant Joel Surnow, director Jon Cassar and Michael Loceff actually go silent for bits and pieces because they, too, are getting caught up in the action. Seeing M and N finally get back together after such a long and painful separation was amazing. And I love how TPTB left the love scene's details to our imaginations. That's part of what I always love about this show -- how it doesn't do what other shows do and it also allows us to embelish some of the stories in our heads. ~~ 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 * ~ * MI-5 * ~ * Alias * ~ etc. Don Francks fans, My Dad The Rock Star (also featuring Lawrence Bayne) is on Nickelodeon weekdays "No one from the outside can understand who we are." ~ M to N in Escape
Unregistered(d)	Re: LFN on DVD: Hard Landing	#1	[-]
Posts: 0 (03/27/05 18:08:11) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hi Jessi! ITA about the love scene. My imagination is much more powerful than cable tv! I love the way Michael takes her. That was HOT. But I especially liked the beginning, when Michael can't get Nikita out of his mind. And then starts imagining he's seeing her. And he's not sure if that was her behind the flames. The love and relief in his eyes...ahhh. I haven't caught the commentaries, yet. I have a hard time watching the action, and listening to the explanation/comments. But the deleted scene, I can see why it was cancelled. That was just corny with those aluminum foil looking suits. The director, Cassar, said it was their first time in camo. Am I crazy, I thought they wore camo in S1 when they went after Glass Curtain?? "It took me four days to find Nikita. That leaves eleven" We want you at The Briefing Room's LFN S2 DVD discussions
NIGHTJESSI	Re: LFN on DVD: Hard Landing	#2	[-]
Posts: 11666 (03/27/05 18:14:10) Hopeless Romantic Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Elevendaze, how did I know you were going to be the first one to respond to my post? It's great to see you here. You're right about the teaser. Depeche Mode's "Love Thieves" was just the perfect pick to bridge us from Mercy to Hard Landing, and it's so sad how disjointed Michael is. You can see it in the look in eyes, his movement, etc. Out of sync, indeed! One of my favorite scenes has always been when M sees N through the flames. It's mentioned in the commentary how N almost looks ghostlike through the flames, and this was definitely a much better moment than the daytime shot of M and N's eyes meeting. As far as the camo question, I'm unsure of the answer but maybe someone else here can help. Given what we saw in the deleted scene, though, that would have been the first time for a daytime camo scene like that. It was good that it wasn't used in the final cut because it was cheesy all the way. Those gun shots sound like popcorn being made, and I think I saw one of Section's ops get shot and killed more than once! ~~ 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 * ~ * MI-5 * ~ * Alias * ~ etc. Don Francks fans, My Dad The Rock Star (also featuring Lawrence Bayne) is on Nickelodeon weekdays "No one from the outside can understand who we are." ~ M to N in Escape
webweevil	Hard Landing	#3	[-]
Posts: 296 (03/27/05 18:20:09) Comm Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	This is my first time joining in on the discussion of an episode, so I'm not quite sure how it is done. I scribbled some notes down while watching the episode today and just thought I would post them directly. Great opening scene with Michael! Flashbacks of Nikitas supposed death. Michael mistaking another operative with long hair as Nikita. Hes out of sync (breaking the recruits leg), which speaks more of his feelings for Nikita than we ever see from him. We find out Nikita has been gone for 6 months. Freedom League newest terrorism group. Poor Michael is not leading the team on this mission. Must be those pesky emotions for Nikita that are affecting his job performance. The men in the diner inciting the argument with Nikita - perhaps an advance Freedom League team getting a better look at her. She has more patience with them than I would have had! Great first scene with Madeline. The camera pans up to her from floor level through the eyes of the poor beaten terrorist. The look between Michael & Nikita when they see each other after 6 months! Directors choice of fading out during the love scene good idea considering. After waiting all this time, nothing they wrote could have lived up to our expectations. Stunt doubles: Michael running around in Freedom Leagues compound. Nikita opening the man-hole cover to sneak back into compound. For this first episode, the stunt double scenes were kept short and darkly lit. Later on in season two, the scenes get much more obvious. I cannot image how they let later scenes get by its all in the hair. How hard is it to get a realistic wig! This is one of those things that I will mention in upcoming episodes. Its my worst gripe about La Femme Nikita. Love the shoot out with Michael rolling across the room on the chair! Michael beating Nikita up without any words being spoken. Sweet in an odd way. Ahhh! Birkoff is happy to see Nikita alive! Metal gadgets attached to neck and wrists of Aikerman (sp?) - they looked and sounded very realistic. Perhaps the crew working on props in the Matrix should have stolen this idea. They were much more realistic than the metal fastenings used in Matrix. Nikita: You went through a lot of trouble to bring me back in here. I want to know why. Michael: Be patient. Looking forward, does Michael ever really give a reason? I dont think so, its more of a I will not let you become my weakness. Excellent music: Our beloved theme song & Love Thieves by Depeche Mode. I cannot say enough about the music chosen for La Femme Nikita! Jonathan Sceats eyewear Wardrobe: Diesel male & female clothes Charles David Nikitas shoes Rene Rofe Nikitas white lingerie Undergirl Nikitas lingerie Sylvia Heisel Nikitas dressier clothes (although she didnt dress up much for this episode - perhaps the hooded coat?) Overall a great season opener!
Unregistered(d)	Re: Hard Landing	#4	[-]
Posts: 0 (03/27/05 18:33:08) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	webweevil, *Quote:* The camera pans up to her from floor level through the eyes of the poor beaten terrorist. - Yeah, like he could say anything more! *Quote:* Stunt doubles: I feel totally disillusioned now! Jessi - ofcourse! "It took me four days to find Nikita. That leaves eleven" We want you at The Briefing Room's LFN S2 DVD discussions
NIGHTJESSI	Re: LFN on DVD: Hard Landing	#5	[-]
Posts: 11666 (03/27/05 18:35:19) Hopeless Romantic Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* This is my first time joining in on the discussion of an episode, so I'm not quite sure how it is done. You did great, webweevil, and it's great to see you here. Thanx so much for your thoughtful contributions. It broke my heart when M saw the blonde in Section and thought it might be N. It's no wonder he broke that op's leg after realizing it was someone else. Had he been anyone other than M, I think Section would have cancelled him long ago. But because he's such a good operative, even when he's off, he's still functional to a point. I really do think Ops and Maddy were relieved when N was brought back into Section because they knew that M would be back to full force. I never thought about the men in the diner being an advance team from Freedom League, but that is certainly a thought. After all, they could see what her frame of mind is and get a feel for the setup of the diner and who else might jump in to stop the extraction of her. Hmmm ... Given how much her co-worker wanted to jump in initially to help N, I'm surprised that he let her take a break with the guy in the black coat. Then again, N kept her cool and didn't let on that it might be dangerous so how was he supposed to know something was wrong? I love Maddy's way in the White Room, and it was so perfect to have her asking the SOTW if he had anyting more to offer when he very clearly probably was dead or close to death. Again, I love how we don't see everything leading up to why he's in that manner because then it just gets the wheels turning in our head about what she could have possibly done to him. *Quote:* Stunt doubles: ... Its my worst gripe about La Femme Nikita. ITA. If you're not looking for it, it might not be that obvious. But for me, I tend to notice those things all the time. When I was rewatching my DVD today for this discussion, it jumped out even more to me and especially when I was watching the commentary track and even the commentators were talking about it. I get that there was no way to have the principal actors in every shot, but it's still tough when it's more than obvious that it's not Roy or Peta. It loses some of the mystique of the show for me. *Quote:* Love the shoot out with Michael rolling across the room on the chair! This is another classic shot for me, and it's one of those shots that you imagine on a greatest hits reel of scenes from LFN. How can you not love the hero taking out all the baddies in an unconventional way? Classic! *Quote:* Michael beating Nikita up without any words being spoken. Sweet in an odd way. While he often doesn't show any emotion, I saw hints in his eyes and demeanor about how painful it was to do this to N. Yes, it was necessary, but how can you justify even to yourself about beating up the woman you love? And it's even more intense when he asks, "Enough?" and she says they have to not take chances and make it more believable. Oh the things they have to do. It breaks my HR heart. *Quote:* Nikita: You went through a lot of trouble to bring me back in here. I want to know why. Michael: Be patient. Looking forward, does Michael ever really give a reason? I dont think so, its more of a I will not let you become my weakness. I think M can't give a reason, but his actions much more down the line speak for themselves. He's always been cryptic, but it's obvious how much he loves N in this episode. Otherwise, he would have never made love with her. And while she wants them to be together immediately, that really is not possible when it comes to Section. They just have to take what they can get. *Quote:* I cannot say enough about the music chosen for La Femme Nikita! Me neither. Music has always been like a sixth main character to me. The combination of Blaine Johnson's music choices and Sean Callery's score is exquisite, and I love how the commentary mentions how SC could take an OK scene and really make it sing with his music. ~~ 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 * ~ * MI-5 * ~ * Alias * ~ etc. Don Francks fans, My Dad The Rock Star (also featuring Lawrence Bayne) is on Nickelodeon weekdays "No one from the outside can understand who we are." ~ M to N in Escape
Unregistered(d)	Re: Hard Landing	#6	[-]
Posts: 0 (03/27/05 18:39:20) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Nicely complete recap webweevil! I think my favorite scene was during the ambush where Nikita "pulls a Michael" shooting those men and then disappearing. I also liked the commentary where Joel said "I shot the love scene roughly and the fight scene tenderly", the fight scene being where Michael has to punch Nikita to simulate torture. The only thing that would bother me in retrospect is this was the beginning of Nikita and Michael being able to get away with things. I suppose this had to happen to avoid repetitiveness, but it seemed to soften Section from being the all-powerful organism we saw it as in Season One.
NIGHTJESSI	Re: LFN on DVD: Hard Landing	#7	[-]
Posts: 11666 (03/27/05 18:46:49) Hopeless Romantic Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* I think my favorite scene was during the ambush where Nikita "pulls a Michael" shooting those men and then diappearing. Yes, it was M-like, QuiGonJ. I'm sure M wanted to immediately talk to her but obviously couldn't given the circumstances. It really shows, though, how much the connection between them is still there. Instead of just running off after she escapes from Freedom League, she goes to the mission to make sure that M is OK. And as soon as he gets a chance, he's trying to contact her once again. What a relief it is when she finally responds to his electronic query with "Yes." *Quote:* I also liked the commentary where Joel said "I shot the love scene roughly and the fight scene tenderly" What I thought was wild was how Jon Cassar mentions that he shot the love scene even more violently than what we saw but Joel Surnow softened it up. I wonder what that could mean. In any case, it is a nice contrast to once again have not what you expect. That's the beauty of LFN, for sure. *Quote:* The only thing that would bother me in retrospect is this was the beginning of Nikita and Michael being able to get away with things. I suppose this had to happen to avoid repetitiveness, but it seemed to soften Section from being the all-powerful organism we saw it as in Season One. Section is supposed to be all-knowing, but M and N are two of its top operatives so its not inconceivable that they could get away with things that others couldn't. Besides, this isn't the first time that Section has been more vunerable than we would think it would be. Look at S1. Not only was the directory stolen, but N's past was used against her in Friend to almost manipulate the death of Mijovich. ~~ 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 * ~ * MI-5 * ~ * Alias * ~ etc. Don Francks fans, My Dad The Rock Star (also featuring Lawrence Bayne) is on Nickelodeon weekdays "No one from the outside can understand who we are." ~ M to N in Escape
Unregistered(d)	Re: LFN on DVD: Hard Landing	#8	[-]
Posts: 0 (03/27/05 18:51:28) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Good points, and yes, M might be one of the few who can get away with it. One change though in Season Two. In S1, Nikita was a "Full Operative", equal to every other agent. In S2, they came up with "Class 2" agent for Nikita and "Class 5" for Michael. Did they ever explain where this rating system came from?
NIGHTJESSI	Re: LFN on DVD: Hard Landing	#9	[-]
Posts: 11666 (03/27/05 18:56:24) Hopeless Romantic Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* In S2, they came up with "Class 2" agent for Nikita and "Class 5" for Michael. Did they ever explain where this rating system came from? It seems that this was part of the refining of Section. As with many things in LFN, we don't really get a full explanation. I think it was one way, though, to distinguish how important someone is. M has been there a long time and is obviously capable of leading missions and even taking over for Ops when Ops is away. N, on the other hand, is still a relative newbie despite how good of an operative she is. Ops certainly wouldn't turn over the reins of Section to N if he had the choice, and she wouldn't even be his choice to replace Maddy if it came to that. ~~ 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 * ~ * MI-5 * ~ * Alias * ~ etc. Don Francks fans, My Dad The Rock Star (also featuring Lawrence Bayne) is on Nickelodeon weekdays "No one from the outside can understand who we are." ~ M to N in Escape
Unregistered(d)	Re: LFN on DVD: Hard Landing	#10	[-]
Posts: 0 (03/27/05 19:11:24) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hello, all! JESSI -- *Quote:* And I love how TPTB left the love scene's details to our imaginations. That's part of what I always love about this show -- how it doesn't do what other shows do and it also allows us to embelish some of the stories in our heads. I don't mind that the show allowed us to embellish the stories in our heads...and I didn't mind the way they handled the love scene in this particular ep, but after a while...I DID wish TPTB would give us at least ONE completed love scene! It got a bit frustrating after three or four years! *Quote:* You're right about the teaser. Depeche Mode's "Love Thieves" was just the perfect pick to bridge us from Mercy to Hard Landing I liked how TPTB used music to bridge powerful "arc" eps together like MERCY/HARD LANDING and OPENING NIGHT JITTERS/GATES OF HELL. It really connects them in viewers minds emotionally whenever they hear those tunes. *Quote:* One of my favorite scenes has always been when M sees N through the flames. It's mentioned in the commentary how N almost looks ghostlike through the flames, and this was definitely a much better moment than the daytime shot of M and N's eyes meeting. I couldn't agree more. That scene lacked impact in the daytime and there was just something missing between them...the emotion wasn't there the way it was shot or something. It was just soooooooo much more intense in the as-aired version! *Quote:* Me neither. Music has always been like a sixth main character to me. I agree! That's why I was so upset at the thought of a song being replaced on the s2 set! *Quote:* Ops certainly wouldn't turn over the reins of Section to N if he had the choice, and she wouldn't even be his choice to replace Maddy if it came to that. He wouldn't have chosen her to take out the garbage if he could help it! elevendaze -- *Quote:* I love the way Michael takes her. That was HOT. I agree...that was the most passionate we ever saw Michael in the ENTIRE series! *Quote:* But I especially liked the beginning, when Michael can't get Nikita out of his mind. And then starts imagining he's seeing her. Those images in the teaser are so powerful. He looks so lost. *Quote:* The love and relief in his eyes...ahhh. I like it when he closes his eyes for an instant as he's waiting for a reply on the PDA...like he's praying briefly for an answer. *Quote:* Am I crazy, I thought they wore camo in S1 when they went after Glass Curtain?? They went after Glass Curtain in SIMONE. No camo in that ep, as far as I recall. $:\$ webweevil -- *Quote:* Love the shoot out with Michael rolling across the room on the chair! Only Roy could pull this off and not make it look cheesy! *Quote:* Metal gadgets attached to neck and wrists of Aikerman (sp?) - they looked and sounded very realistic. Must've hurt! Couldn't happen to a nicer guy...well, maybe Hillinger or Zalman from BEYOND THE PALE! *Quote:* Nikita: You went through a lot of trouble to bring me back in here. I want to know why. Michael: Be patient. Looking forward, does Michael ever really give a reason? I dont think so, its more of a I will not let you become my weakness. I think he might have if Jurgen hadn't sidetracked him...it's hard to know. Her petulance was a big distraction. $:\$ QuiGonJ -- *Quote:* I also liked the commentary where Joel said "I shot the love scene roughly and the fight scene tenderly", the fight scene being where Michael has to punch Nikita to simulate torture. Yes...I thought that put the scene in perspective very well! The first time I watched this ep, I was FLOORED when Michael first hit her because I had NO idea what the he11 he was doing! I had to rewind the tape after the first hit to make sure I saw it right! 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
NIGHTJESSI	Re: LFN on DVD: Hard Landing	#11	[-]
Posts: 11666 (03/27/05 19:29:49) Hopeless Romantic Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* Hello, all! Ah, kg, I knew you'd make good on your word. It's great to see you here, and I look forward to your comments in this weekly discussions. After all, you are commentator extraordinaire in MR, and that can only enhance our banter here. *Quote:* after a while...I DID wish TPTB would give us at least ONE completed love scene! It got a bit frustrating after three or four years! I think it did become quite the struggle as time went on particularly in later episodes like 507, but that's a discussion for another time. WMS, while an HR's dream for many of us, is something that we could insert even if it wasn't there in the love scene. Yes, it made our imaginations work a little harder, but it was better than no romantic scenes at all. *Quote:* I liked how TPTB used music to bridge powerful "arc" eps together like MERCY/HARD LANDING and OPENING NIGHT JITTERS/GATES OF HELL. It really connects them in viewers minds emotionally whenever they hear those tunes. Another great bridge is Garbage's "No. 1 Crush" between Obsessed and Double Date. Talk about sweeter than sweet! *Quote:* It was just soooooooo much more intense in the as-aired version! Yes, the more intense, the better then it comes to LFN. Anything that wasn't ratched up to 10 didn't seem to do it for me in the show, and I like how TPTB were always pushing the envelope and striving to make things better. It wasn't just about the story, but it was about the setting, the lighting, the unspoked action, etc. Wow! *Quote:* That's why I was so upset at the thought of a song being replaced on the s2 set! Having anything replaced when it comes from the original broadcast on USA to the DVDs is painful. I'm still mourning the fact that we don't have the USA opening to the show on these DVDs. And it saddened me when it was indeed true that a song had been replaced from the first version of S2 to the DVDs that were released last week. *Quote:* He wouldn't have chosen her to take out the garbage if he could help it! No kidding. What was Ops' beef with N anyway? It's like he's had it out for her since day one. Yes, she does things different and has a mind of her own, but still, it's not like she didn't perform when needed to. *Quote:* I like it when he closes his eyes for an instant as he's waiting for a reply on the PDA...like he's praying briefly for an answer. This is another little touch that really sells the scene. You can feel that hope and it just draws you in even more than you are already. "Please, oh please," you're thinking and he's thinking, "BE THERE." *Quote:* They went after Glass Curtain in SIMONE. No camo in that ep, as far as I recall. $:\$ Ah, I knew someone here could help us out. Thanx. *Quote:* Only Roy could pull this off and not make it look cheesy! On paper, this probably sounded more than cheeseball, but the execution of it is great. Jon Cassar really knows how to direct and having someone like Roy, who's good at what he does, just makes it that much more easier. On the commentary, it's mentioned how Roy helped to let directors know how to direct him just as Peta did for Nikita. I love that the directors didn't let ego get in the way of producing a masterpiece. *Quote:* Her petulance was a big distraction. $:\$ I got where she was coming from, but I found it hard to deal with what essentially amounted to immaturity. Sure, one taste of finally being with M would make it tough to then have to pull back. But given the way she was brought back in and what he did both to get her out of Section and help her return, she should have known better. *Quote:* The first time I watched this ep, I was FLOORED when Michael first hit her because I had NO idea what the he11 he was doing! I felt the same way. I was like, "What is the matter with this man?" Then when N said they had to make it look believable, it finally clicked for me. In the meantime, though, ouch! ~~ 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 * ~ * MI-5 * ~ * Alias * ~ etc. Don Francks fans, My Dad The Rock Star (also featuring Lawrence Bayne) is on Nickelodeon weekdays "No one from the outside can understand who we are." ~ M to N in Escape
Unregistered(d)	Re: LFN on DVD: Hard Landing	#12	[-]
Posts: 0 (03/27/05 19:34:02) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	kg - I love reading your comments! *Quote:* I DID wish TPTB would give us at least ONE completed love scene! It got a bit frustrating after three or four years! I completely agree, but could they have done this to the fans' expectations? It would have been nice had they tried a little more, though. *Quote:* They went after Glass Curtain in SIMONE. No camo in that ep, as far as I recall. Maybe face makeup or something. I just don't remember clearly. "It took me four days to find Nikita. That leaves eleven" We want you at The Briefing Room's LFN S2 DVD discussions
NIGHTJESSI	Re: LFN on DVD: Hard Landing	#13	[-]
Posts: 11666 (03/27/05 19:38:55) Hopeless Romantic Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* I completely agree, but could they have done this to the fans' expectations? I don't think they could have, elevendaze, and the commentary track even says that. We all have our own versions of how we'd like to see M and N together, so anything less than what we had built up in our minds would be a disappointment. Still, it would have been fun to have more opportunities to see love scenes. Then again, in the world of Section, it's all about the missions first and the romance later. Speaking of the commentary, I found it interesting how Joel Surnow said that above all, it was the M and N story that hooked viewers and that hooked the whole show. I love how it's mentioned that the connection on screen between Peta and Roy and the characters of N and M was evident from the first episode filmed, Love. And it's great how TPTB also realized that everything, in the end, was about getting M and N together. ~~ 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 * ~ * MI-5 * ~ * Alias * ~ etc. Don Francks fans, My Dad The Rock Star (also featuring Lawrence Bayne) is on Nickelodeon weekdays "No one from the outside can understand who we are." ~ M to N in Escape
webweevil	Question about the boat	#14	[-]
Posts: 296 (03/27/05 19:41:35) Comm Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I wonder how Michael & Nikita decided on meeting up on the boat. Was there any mention of a boat in Season 1?
NIGHTJESSI	Re: Question about the boat	#15	[-]
Posts: 11666 (03/27/05 19:45:46) Hopeless Romantic Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Well, after M and N had the electronic communication, they must have said something about meeting at the boat. It's unclear where she's been and how long it takes from the time they have the communication to when they meet. I don't think the boat was ever discussed before. They must have just come up with that because M found that it was a secure location, or perhaps N knew it was safe. ~~ 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 * ~ * MI-5 * ~ * Alias * ~ etc. Don Francks fans, My Dad The Rock Star (also featuring Lawrence Bayne) is on Nickelodeon weekdays "No one from the outside can understand who we are." ~ M to N in Escape
Unregistered(d)	Re: LFN on DVD: Hard Landing	#16	[-]
Posts: 0 (03/27/05 19:48:01) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Jessi - I did see that commentary in S1. It was nice that the TPTB knew how to feed the audience's desires on what is almost an equal scale (ofcourse more HR is always good). If the whole series had become this mushy, love novel, I wouldn't have gotten so hooked. I watched for the quest of passion, the action, and to see this star-crossed couple try to make it in Section. "It took me four days to find Nikita. That leaves eleven" We want you at The Briefing Room's LFN S2 DVD discussions
NIGHTJESSI	Re: LFN on DVD: Hard Landing	#17	[-]
Posts: 11666 (03/27/05 19:52:50) Hopeless Romantic Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* If the whole series had become this mushy, love novel, I wouldn't have gotten so hooked. I watched for the quest of passion, the action, and to see this star-crossed couple try to make it in Section. I know what you mean, elevendaze. It's the chase that hooks us. We want to see what obstable our beloved couple will conquer next. We really want them to be together, but part of the rush is the journey and the struggle. I, too, don't think I would have stuck with the show as much if it was all about M and N getting together every week. That would have been too much even for an HR like me. ~~ 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 * ~ * MI-5 * ~ * Alias * ~ etc. Don Francks fans, My Dad The Rock Star (also featuring Lawrence Bayne) is on Nickelodeon weekdays "No one from the outside can understand who we are." ~ M to N in Escape
Unregistered(d)	Re: LFN on DVD: Hard Landing	#18	[-]
Posts: 0 (03/27/05 20:30:21) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	JESSI -- *Quote:* Ah, kg, I knew you'd make good on your word. It's great to see you here, and I look forward to your comments in this weekly discussions. After all, you are commentator extraordinaire in MR, and that can only enhance our banter here. Thank you! That's high praise, indeed...I hope I can live up to it! *Quote:* I think it did become quite the struggle as time went on particularly in later episodes like 507, but that's a discussion for another time. Where and when? *Quote:* WMS, while an HR's dream for many of us, is something that we could insert even if it wasn't there in the love scene. Yes, it made our imaginations work a little harder, but it was better than no romantic scenes at all. Well, there was plenty of THAT in s4, as well...but that's also a discussion for later on. *Quote:* It wasn't just about the story, but it was about the setting, the lighting, the unspoked action, etc. Wow! Most of the credit for the "unspoken action" has to go to Roy, from what all of the commentaries seem to say! I've always said that he has AMAZING INSTINCTS! *Quote:* I'm still mourning the fact that we don't have the USA opening to the show on these DVDs. You're right. That's also lamentable. *Quote:* No kidding. What was Ops' beef with N anyway? It's like he's had it out for her since day one. Yes, she does things different and has a mind of her own, but still, it's not like she didn't perform when needed to. I can sum it up for you in one word: Michael. *Quote:* "Please, oh please," you're thinking and he's thinking, "BE THERE." It's almost unlike Michael, and yet...not. *Quote:* Ah, I knew someone here could help us out. Thanx. You're welcome. *Quote:* On paper, this probably sounded more than cheeseball, but the execution of it is great. Jon Cassar really knows how to direct and having someone like Roy, who's good at what he does, just makes it that much more easier. On the commentary, it's mentioned how Roy helped to let directors know how to direct him just as Peta did for Nikita. I love that the directors didn't let ego get in the way of producing a masterpiece. I wonder if the chair thing was actually in the original script? Jon Cassar said in the commentary, "This is me just having wwwaaayyy too much fun!" I wonder if they came up with it on the set? Also, I believe the comment was about Roy and Peta teaching them how to write for them, not how to direct them...although I'm sure it applied to a cooperative direction process as well...in some cases, at least. Don't forget that at the end of NIKITA, Jon and Peta were having an argument and that's what led to her death glare into the camera during the tag! *Quote:* I got where she was coming from, but I found it hard to deal with what essentially amounted to immaturity. Sure, one taste of finally being with M would make it tough to then have to pull back. But given the way she was brought back in and what he did both to get her out of Section and help her return, she should have known better. Her "one-note wonder" routine was getting annoying, but we DO have to factor in her age here. She's a lot younger than Michael and probably not all that experienced in "serious" relationships...particularly ones that volatile. Yes, she was extremely immature and foolish...but it's not entirely unexpected if we think about her background, either. $:\$ *Quote:* Then when N said they had to make it look believable, it finally clicked for me. In the meantime, though, ouch! Exactly! It wasn't until SHE said, "No, we have to make it believable" that it dawned on me what was going on! *Quote:* I don't think they could have, elevendaze, and the commentary track even says that. We all have our own versions of how we'd like to see M and N together, so anything less than what we had built up in our minds would be a disappointment. I DO think they could have gone further along in some of the later seasons' scenes than they did as far as the "set-up" goes. NOLF, for example. They were all the way across the room from the camera, for chrissake! Let us SEE them, at least! *Quote:* Speaking of the commentary, I found it interesting how Joel Surnow said that above all, it was the M and N story that hooked viewers and that hooked the whole show. I think they lost that thread somewhere in mid- to late-s4, unfortunately. *Quote:* And it's great how TPTB also realized that everything, in the end, was about getting M and N together. Except at THE end, apparently. *Quote:* It's the chase that hooks us. We want to see what obstable our beloved couple will conquer next. We really want them to be together, but part of the rush is the journey and the struggle. I don't remember who it was who said it, but there was an interview back during the run of the series in which someone behind the scenes -- Joel Surnow, possibly -- said that for the fans, it was all about the mindf#ck. That's not an entirely "out there" statement! elevendaze -- *Quote:* kg - I love reading your comments! Thanks! I'm a little out of practice! *Quote:* I completely agree, but could they have done this to the fans' expectations? It would have been nice had they tried a little more, though. I don't know...I think by s3 or s4, they might have given it the "old college try!" *Quote:* Maybe face makeup or something. I just don't remember clearly. DEFINITELY no camo make-up on Roy! That looked really ODD to me in the HARD LANDING deleted scene! 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
NIGHTJESSI	Re: LFN on DVD: Hard Landing	#19	[-]
Posts: 11666 (03/27/05 20:49:08) Hopeless Romantic Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* I hope I can live up to it! You sure can, kg. I don't have any doubt on this from everything I've seen of your episode commentaries so far. *Quote:* Most of the credit for the "unspoken action" has to go to Roy, from what all of the commentaries seem to say! I've always said that he has AMAZING INSTINCTS! Thanx for catching my typo. Uh oh, my editing skills are slipping. In any case, I love how less is more when it comes to Roy and how, even though his approach was unorthodox, TPTB gave him a chance to make it work. Could you imagine what the show would have been like if M didn't turn out to be as big of a character as he was? It would have been a tragedy indeed! *Quote:* I wonder if the chair thing was actually in the original script? Jon Cassar said in the commentary, "This is me just having wwwaaayyy too much fun!" I wonder if they came up with it on the set? Good point. Maybe Chris Heyn's book will clear up how much was from script and how much was improvised. Then again, maybe someone who has the Hard Landing script can shed some light on this one for us. Anyone? *Quote:* I believe the comment was about Roy and Peta teaching them how to write for them, not how to direct them...although I'm sure it applied to a cooperative direction process as well...in some cases, at least. Good catch. This is what happens when I comment from memory instead of doing notes. Still, I love how TPTB were open to the actors contributing instead of just telling them what to do and how to do it. *Quote:* Yes, she was extremely immature and foolish...but it's not entirely unexpected if we think about her background, either. $:\$ I wonder what N's other relationships were like. I'm thinking back to Charity and how she naively fell for the SOTW and later in Gray and how she fell for him. Somehow I don't think she had much time on the streets to fall in love and have a serious relationship, so M could be considered her first big relationship even if it wasn't a romantic relationship by conventional means. Yes, there were elements of romance involved in Charity and with Gray, but those relationships were under false pretenses whereas her relationship with M was between two people who really knew each other. *Quote:* I think they lost that thread somewhere in mid- to late-s4, unfortunately. While late S4 is when I got into LFN, it was tough to later go back and watch those S4 episodes and see how much TPTB were trying to cater to those who were doubtful that the M and N relationship could still be the heart of the show. S4 had some of the cheesiest episodes by far of the series, but also had some of the strongest. Goodness gracious! Talk about toggling from one extreme to another. *Quote:* I'm a little out of practice! If this is you out of practice, I can't wait to see what happens when you really get going. Look out! ~~ 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 * ~ * MI-5 * ~ * Alias * ~ etc. Don Francks fans, My Dad The Rock Star (also featuring Lawrence Bayne) is on Nickelodeon weekdays "No one from the outside can understand who we are." ~ M to N in Escape
Unregistered(d)	Re: LFN on DVD: Hard Landing	#20	[-]
Posts: 0 (03/27/05 21:17:04) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	JESSI -- *Quote:* You sure can, kg. I don't have any doubt on this from everything I've seen of your episode commentaries so far. Merci beaucoup! *Quote:* Thanx for catching my typo. Uh oh, my editing skills are slipping. You're welcome! You're off duty, it's okay! *Quote:* In any case, I love how less is more when it comes to Roy and how, even though his approach was unorthodox, TPTB gave him a chance to make it work. Could you imagine what the show would have been like if M didn't turn out to be as big of a character as he was? It would have been a tragedy indeed! Imagine if they'd gone with their original decision to kill him off? We'd have missed out on the powerful s2 opening arc...the s3 opening arc...the s4 opening arc... *Quote:* Good point. Maybe Chris Heyn's book will clear up how much was from script and how much was improvised. Then again, maybe someone who has the Hard Landing script can shed some light on this one for us. Anyone? Can't wait for that book! I have a few s2 scripts...I'll have to check and see if HARD LANDING is among them. *Quote:* Good catch. This is what happens when I comment from memory instead of doing notes. Happens to the best of us. *Quote:* Still, I love how TPTB were open to the actors contributing instead of just telling them what to do and how to do it. I'm sure the actors agree with you! *Quote:* I wonder what N's other relationships were like. I'm thinking back to Charity and how she naively fell for the SOTW and later in Gray and how she fell for him. Somehow I don't think she had much time on the streets to fall in love and have a serious relationship, so M could be considered her first big relationship even if it wasn't a romantic relationship by conventional means. Yes, there were elements of romance involved in Charity and with Gray, but those relationships were under false pretenses whereas her relationship with M was between two people who really knew each other. I wouldn't be surprised if Michael was the only "real" relationship she ever had in her whole life. Again, she was pretty young when she came into Section, so any relationships she'd have had before she lived on the street would have been the "childhood sweetheart"-type at the most...if even that. And she did seem to fall pretty quickly for anyone who was nice to her...and in Michael's case early on, not even so nice to her! *Quote:* S4 had some of the cheesiest episodes by far of the series, but also had some of the strongest. Goodness gracious! Talk about toggling from one extreme to another. They were kind of trying to be "all things to all people" and it didn't really work well, hence the cancellation of the series. If they had stayed with the original formula, they might have had a better shot at maintaining "credibility" with the network and could have gotten renewed for s5. Then again, maybe not. Who knows? *Quote:* If this is you out of practice, I can't wait to see what happens when you really get going. Look out! Thank you so much! 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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LFN on DVD: Hard Landing

LFN on DVD: Hard Landing