Product Details

• Actors: Maggie Q, Lyndsy Fonseca, Shane West
• Format: AC-3, Box set, Color, Dolby, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: Portuguese (Stereo), English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 5
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Warner Bros.
• DVD Release Date: August 30, 2011
• Run Time: 1012 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (105 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B003UD7JEE
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,615 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Nikita: The Complete First Season" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

In Nikita, the CW Network has developed another resounding hit on its roster of solid dramatic series that do a nice job of grabbing viewers from a variety of demographics. With season two starting in late September 2011, this slick package of the 22 episodes of season one is a great way of diving into a show that's among the best looking, most tightly produced, and intensely cinematic on the small screen. The title and the premise both come from the 1990 French feature film and early style-setter from writer-director Luc Besson, La Femme Nikita. The character of Nikita was a beautiful, troubled young criminal who was essentially abducted from prison and inducted into covert intelligence to become a sleeper assassin used at the will and the whim of the government. There was an American remake in 1993, Point of No Return, starring Bridget Fonda, then a TV adaptation in 1997 that used the original French title and ran for just over four seasons on the USA Network. This reworking maintains the basic premise of a black ops organization that has largely gone rogue from US government control, with the title character of a dangerous, sexy assassin having escaped its clutches and gone rogue herself. After six years as its most expert operative, this Nikita (Maggie Q, who is very dangerous and very sexy) uses all her training and black ops wiles to destroy the unit known only as Division. Division is run from a high-tech bunker by the evil, calculating Percy (a steely-eyed Xander Berkeley) as a kind of top-secret consulting firm for the high-paying interests of those in need of murder, protection, or other sundry cleanup or coverup services. It employs a stable of young, buffed, highly trained male and female "recruits" who, like Nikita, have been plucked from prison and indentured to lives dedicated to Division's devious details. But the pilot episode reveals that Division's latest recruit, Alex (Lyndsy Fonseca), is Nikita's mole, and she runs Alex from the outside, getting intel on Division's nefarious operations in her effort to bring it all down. The depth of Nikita's (and Alex's) malice toward Division is revealed over the course of the season, along with her ambivalence toward Percy's lieutenant, Michael (Shane West). Their cat-and-mouse includes a fair amount of personal heat within the missions that Nikita tries to disrupt, especially the one that becomes Division's top priority: eliminate Nikita. Michael has his own mixed feelings for his former protégé, and even as the intrigue among Michael, Nikita, Alex, and the other assorted characters both within and without Division becomes more elaborate, it's clear that there's a lot of gray for everyone. Except Percy, that is, who remains deliciously black throughout. The final episodes set up a suspenseful scenario of character maneuvering, compromised loyalties, and convoluted conspiracies that bodes very well for a new season.

Every installment of Nikita is paced and plotted like a mini thriller, with production values and heavily styled good looks to match. As series creator Craig Silverstein and many other behind-the-scenes contributors confirm in the extensive supplemental materials, incredible attention is given to the details of art direction, design, wardrobe, cinematography, scoring, etc. in order to make what are essentially mini action movies. And action is definitely a key word. There is gunplay aplenty, with a level of physical violence that's about as powerful as anything on TV these days. But all of it is expertly staged and carefully motivated to serve the needs of brainy, quick-witted scripts. Maggie Q certainly has the background chops to bring integrity and authenticity to her smooth martial arts moves; that's really her chopping and shooting up there. She is eminently appealing not only for her beauty and grace, but also her soulful stare. Silverstein admits that the CW Network was looking for a shoehorn series to capture not just action fans, and they all thought the Nikita brand could be adapted into a version of something like Alias. It makes sense with all the secret agent stuff going on and with Maggie Q making herself a rousing antidote for Jennifer Garner fans. But she's also uniquely Nikita as she guides an exciting show that gives equal weight to brain and brawn with a precise combination of restraint and exuberance. --Ted Fry

Product Description

In this sexy and suspenseful series, NIKITA has gone rogue. Division is an ultra-secret government agency whose operatives are recruited young people with severed ties to family, friends and society. Trained to be invisible assassins, no one ever leaves Division -- except the charming and deadly Nikita, who has managed to escape, making it her mission to undermine the now-corrupt organization. A force to be reckoned with, the rogue Nikita taunts Division, staying on their radar, but always one step ahead. Yet as determined as Nikita is to bring down her former agency, there are those just as determined to stop her, including Division's newest recruit Alex, a beautiful young woman who seems destined to replace Nikita as their next top operative.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

82 of 89 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Nikita is a winner for the CW! Think Alias meets Dollhouse April 7, 2011

By Clarissa Bowen VINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD

Nikita (starring Maggie Q and Shane West) is one of the better shows to debut on the CW in recent years. It provides something a bit grittier and mature than what we're used to seeing on a network that mostly caters to the younger viewers (with a few exceptions of course, like Supernatural and Smallville) while still pleasing the female demographic with two strong female leads. It is a sexy, edgy remake of La Femme Nikita and I couldn't be more hooked. It feels like a mini action-packed movie every week I tune in with no signs of slowing down. It is well acted, smartly written, fast-paced and incredibly addicting. It keeps me on the edge of my seat and I really hope the fun continues on past this amazing first (and hopefully not last) season.

74 of 81 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Nikita Deserves More Than One review April 23, 2011

By David McEldery

Format:Blu-ray

I felt kind of bad just seeing just one fan review for Nikita. I disagree with the other reviewer to the extent that I wouldn't describe the two female leads as strong, I'd describe them as absolutely LETHAL! My wife and I gave up watching some of the other CW fare, like Vampire Diaries. That's a series caught in an endless and boring loop. Maybe we're in the "Too-Long-In-The-Tooth" demographic to appreciate some of these programs, but Nikita is an exception. Having come of age during the Cold War, I like Nikita for the nice, old Spy vs. Spy/James Bondian feel, the 50s and 60s cloak 'n dagger stories, framed in new technology. It also has a bit of the 1940s noir feel, too. Both female characters are sympathetic and likable, as well as being fine athletes and potent martial artists. I was also pleased to see the "thing" between Nikita and Michael come to fruition. So many scripts drag out the love connection and sexual tension and never come to any conclusion. ABC's Castle looks like its going that direction with its principals. The writers seem to be developing the characters in Nikita, and that makes them fun to watch. They change, they grow. I only gave my review 4 stars because I didn't want to seem too gushy. It's a guy thing.

50 of 56 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars You should definitely be watching this show! April 29, 2011

By L.A. Roberts

Format:DVD

I think Nikita may be the most underrated show on TV right now. Back in September critics hailed it as one of the season's best new shows, and that is what caused me to give it a try. Since episode one I have been totally hooked! I can't believe that the CW has already renewed 90210 and the rapidly declining Gossip Girl, but not Nikita! I watch all three of these shows, but Nikita is by far my favorite, and the only one I would be particularly sad to see cancelled. It has everything you would want in a show - action, romance, mystery, a solid backstory, suspense, passion, and humor! It really is unlike any other show on TV right now. I hate to see it get lost in a sea of cop shows, forensics shows, reality shows, and primetime soap operas. So many shows today are procedural, where you can skip episodes and still know exactly what's going on when you return. Nikita is the first show in a while to keep me hanging on the edge of my seat week after week. So much happens in every episode; you wouldn't want to miss one! It kind of breaks my heart that the ratings are not where they need to be... And I worry that it will be hard for Nikita to pick up new viewers because it's the kind of show where you really want to start at the beginning of season one rather than tuning in late. On the plus side, full episodes are available on Hulu.com, so new viewers can catch up there before season two (hopefully!!) premieres in the fall. If you have never watched, I implore you to do so immediately!!

If you liked any of the following, definitely try Nikita: Veronica Mars, Buffy, Vampire Diaries, Dollhouse, Angel.