Nikita - Episode 1.04 - Rough Trade - Recap

'Rough Trade' was the fourth episode of the new CW action packed show Nikita.

This week, we dived into the past of Nikita and looked at her first mission as an assassin with Division which involved her infiltrating a family as a nanny for their baby. We quickly learn that the father, Victor, works for the government in Homeland Security. While out for a walk with the baby, Nikita reluctantly hands the baby over to Michael and is forced to take a replica doll which is actually a bomb back to the home of the family. Nikita leaves the family home, the doll blows up killing Victor.

In the present, Nikita returns to the mission. She visits Victor's wife, Lisa, and informs her she is finishing off Victor's work by destroying a slave labour factory owned by a Chinese Mafia 'The Red Circle Mafia' that Victor was investigating at the time he was killed. She sends Lisa and her child off somewhere safe while Nikita investigates. She is successful on destroying the factory and manages to free the people working in the factory. Nikita then goes to the Mafia's club to speak to the boss only to find that the boss is actually Victor, the man she supposedly killed on her first mission six years ago. I loved this twist! It was something I was not expecting and certainly added an "OMG" moment to the show.

Michael then shows up and is just as shocked to see that Victor is still alive. Michael and Nikita have a show-down and Nikita manages to escape and makes her way to Hong Kong to track Victor down. Michael is soon to follow after Percy reveals to him that the Government approached Division asking them to take down Victor but faked his death in case of a backlash from the Chinese Mafia. In Hong Kong, Nikita is taken down and taken away to Victor's location. Nikita is surrounded by the Mafia and seems to have no escape. Victor then reveals to Nikita that he had a fling for her and kisses her on the lips. Nikita, as usual, is one step ahead however and has placed peanut butter lipstick on her lips, Victor is allergic to peanuts. This causes a bit of chaos and a great fight scene between Nikita and the Mafia.

Nikita seems to have defeated the men but becomes distracted trying to get Victor in the car. We see a large man stand up and aim to shoot her, it seems Nikita has no escape. Michael then shows up out of the blue and shoots the man down and lets Nikita escape, again. I love the whole Michael and Nikita story. There is a lot of chemistry between them and I am looking forward to seeing how their story develops. I so ship this couple! Nikita returns Victor to the government and his identity is revealed. Lisa thanks Nikita and forgives her for what she did. I love a happy ending.

This episode also takes a look back into the past of Alex. During an exercise with Michael, Alex has a panic attack and has to be pulled out by Tom. Alex is then taken to Amanda who talks to Alex. She doesn't get through to her so she drugs her. When Alex wakes up she is in a straight jacket with no escape until her heart rate drops below 51! This scene made me shudder so much. The thought of being constricted like that is horrible, it was an excellent scene and very well acted by Lindsey. Alex finally tells Amanda what is wrong. She reveals that her and her parents were in a car crash, the car was sinking in water and they could not escape. She watched both her mother and father die. The flashbacks we saw however were much different. Alex was hiding under a bed, surrounded by fire. We see what looks like her father get shot by, could it be, Nikita? The boots did possibly resemble her. Alex manages to fool Amanda and Alex is allowed to retake the mission and completes is successfully.

I really enjoyed this episode, it is arguably the best episode so far and I think it is an episode a lot of the audience who were sitting on the fence were waiting for. I think we needed to take a closer look at the main character's past and this episode allowed us to do that while still continuing with the present day storyline and seeing lots of kick-ass scenes! The story had a great twist when it was revealed Victor was still alive, it was something I don't think much of the audience were expecting.

The episode opened up some major questions and great storylines. Amanda is now suspicious of Alex, will she figure Alex out and realise her and Nikita are working together? Is Percy becoming suspicious of Michael? Michael has had more than enough opportunities to kill her but he always lets her go, this also makes us wonder about romance that may exist between the two of them. We saw in a flashback that the two certainly have some romantic chemistry. We also saw Nikita and Alex drift a bit in the episode after they both hide things from each other, could Alex turn her back on Nikita?

I really did love this episode. The preview of next week's episode also looks great. I hope the ratings stick for Nikita! It has some tough competition from the likes of Grey's Anatomy, Fringe and The Office however.

What did you guys think?