Michael (Nikita character)
Encyclopedia
Michael is a main character and the tritagonist
of the the CW
television series Nikita
, portrayed by Shane West
. He is the primary romantic interest to Nikita, and was recruited by Percy after the death of his wife and daughter by previous "low-level snitch" Kasim Tariq. At the start of the story arc concerning Tariq, Michael originally believes that they were killed by Tariq so that he could enter Al Qaeda, having been told so by Percy. Percy and Michael met as Michael was trying to commit suicide
, by an overdose of morphine
, but is stopped by Percy, who instead persuades him to join him at Division.
Michael then agrees, and takes up the position of a high-ranking agent due to his military training. He receives the job of greeting new recruits, processing them when they are first taken out of prison
. He meets both Nikita
and Alex this way. Michael discovers that the death of his family was actually due to the man who saved his life (Percy), who persuaded Tariq that Michael would be an ideal target to gain the approval from Al-Qaeda
. Upon learning this, Michael joins Nikita
in her search for Percy's secret-containing black boxes.
, Tariq leaves a car bomb intended only for Michael in a car with Michael's wife and daughter, leading Tariq to kill both of them instead of Michael. Michael joins Division in 2001 and works for them until 2011, when he joins Nikita and her cause after finding out the true reasons behind the death of his family. Later on in the episode, we see him recovering in a hospital bed.
Percy enters and gives him a position in Division, thus cementing the relationship they have today.
He joined Division hoping that they will assist him in locating Tariq soon, so he could get his revenge. Almost achieving this in "One Way", Michael plans to stab Tariq with a shiv
in a public airport after assistance from Nikita, unbeknownst to her. Nikita foils this plan to save his own life.
Concerning his relationship with Nikita, he seems to not completely understand her intentions (both past and present) when they work together. It is ambiguous to Michael as to why Nikita acted the way she did in saving him from being killed by Kasim Tariq's bodyguards.
In the episode "Alexandra", he questions her about it, claiming that had she never acted he could have gained revenge and expresses anger that she did so, to which Nikita retalliates with an unfinished excuse, in which she trails off before regretting something. In the episode "Covenants", Michael leaves Division and joins Nikita. The two have since become romantically involved.In episode "Looking Glass", it is learned that Michael fathered a son with Cassandra (played by Helena Mattsson).
Michael was also in charge of processing new recruits, and telling them that they have been taken out of prison and been given a new life by Division. He breaks the news to Alex in the first episode, telling her that the public now will believe her to have committed suicide in prison. As a field agent, he played a similar role to that of Amanda, who were both high-ranking yet with some psychological leanings in their positions.
It is also heavily implied that everyone, even Amanda and Percy, in Division know of Michael's implied affair with Nikita. Both Amanda and Percy have mentioned this to him, Percy rather more bluntly and Amanda stating that "Percy doesn't need to know everything that goes on here."
He also has a platonic relationship with Alex, whom is first processed into Division by Michael in the Pilot episode, and he instructs her on the training she will receive, thus learning how to properly "serve her country". This reflects six years prior, when he instructed Nikita of the same duties. This leads Michael to be more protective of Alex. He later finds out that she is Nikita's mole by matching the sounds of her phone calls to him to the echoes produced by Nikita's apartment
. This is how he is able to track Nikita down. Alex, Nikita and Michael work together to track down Percy's black boxes for a very brief length of time towards the end of the first season, Nikita often in this time asking Michael to help Alex out of sticky situations at Divisions that may compromise his cover by doing so.
, the character of Michael was highly-anticipated by fans who had previously watched La Femme Nikita. Part of this anticipation balanced on the idea of Michael and Nikita's romantic relationship (as had been portrayed in most former incarnations of the tale) and if West
and Q possessed a good enough chemistry to play the two.
The character was well-received by critics in his own right, yet not as well-received by fans of Roy Dupuis'
Michael in La Femme Nikita. West stated that, concerning Dupuis, he "always actually liked his work". However, there are some who have expressed negativity at the portrayal of the character; Dustin Rowles of Pajiba said that "Shane West has all the charisma of a toenail". Regardless of this, the character was generally well-received and West was praised for his performance as the first season continued.
West won the Teen Choice Award
for "Choice TV Actor Action" in 2011.
Tritagonist
In literature, the tritagonist is the third most important character of a narrative, after the protagonist and deuteragonist. In Ancient Greek drama, the tritagonist was the third member of the acting troupe....
of the the CW
The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
television series Nikita
Nikita (TV series)
La Femme Nikita is a Canadian action/drama television series based on the French film Nikita by Luc Besson. The series was co-produced by Jay Firestone of Fireworks Entertainment and Warner Brothers. It was adapted for television by Joel Surnow...
, portrayed by Shane West
Shane West
Shane West is an American actor, musician and songwriter. West is best known for portraying Eli Sammler in Once and Again, Landon Carter with Mandy Moore in A Walk to Remember, Darby Crash in What We Do Is Secret, and Dr...
. He is the primary romantic interest to Nikita, and was recruited by Percy after the death of his wife and daughter by previous "low-level snitch" Kasim Tariq. At the start of the story arc concerning Tariq, Michael originally believes that they were killed by Tariq so that he could enter Al Qaeda, having been told so by Percy. Percy and Michael met as Michael was trying to commit suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
, by an overdose of morphine
Morphine
Morphine is a potent opiate analgesic medication and is considered to be the prototypical opioid. It was first isolated in 1804 by Friedrich Sertürner, first distributed by same in 1817, and first commercially sold by Merck in 1827, which at the time was a single small chemists' shop. It was more...
, but is stopped by Percy, who instead persuades him to join him at Division.
Michael then agrees, and takes up the position of a high-ranking agent due to his military training. He receives the job of greeting new recruits, processing them when they are first taken out of prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
. He meets both Nikita
Nikita (Nikita character)
Nikita Meers, better known as Nikita, is the primary protagonist and eponymous character of Nikita, an American action and drama television series, which debuted in September 2010 on The CW Television Network. She is played by American actress Maggie Q...
and Alex this way. Michael discovers that the death of his family was actually due to the man who saved his life (Percy), who persuaded Tariq that Michael would be an ideal target to gain the approval from Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
. Upon learning this, Michael joins Nikita
Nikita (Nikita character)
Nikita Meers, better known as Nikita, is the primary protagonist and eponymous character of Nikita, an American action and drama television series, which debuted in September 2010 on The CW Television Network. She is played by American actress Maggie Q...
in her search for Percy's secret-containing black boxes.
History
Michael reiterates the current knowledge of the backstories of the main cast (apart from Alex), as little is actually known about his past. It is known that Michael was also in the Navy, working as Naval Intelligence officer. In the first season episode "One Way", Michael tries to find the man who killed his wife and daughter and has flashbacks to the event itself. Tariq poses as a "low-level snitch", feeding Michael information. When in YemenYemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
, Tariq leaves a car bomb intended only for Michael in a car with Michael's wife and daughter, leading Tariq to kill both of them instead of Michael. Michael joins Division in 2001 and works for them until 2011, when he joins Nikita and her cause after finding out the true reasons behind the death of his family. Later on in the episode, we see him recovering in a hospital bed.
Percy enters and gives him a position in Division, thus cementing the relationship they have today.
He joined Division hoping that they will assist him in locating Tariq soon, so he could get his revenge. Almost achieving this in "One Way", Michael plans to stab Tariq with a shiv
Shiv (weapon)
A shiv is a slang term for any sharp or pointed implement used as a knife-like weapon. However, the word in practical usage is frequently used when referring to an improvised bladed weapon. Shivs are commonly made by inmates in prisons across the world...
in a public airport after assistance from Nikita, unbeknownst to her. Nikita foils this plan to save his own life.
Relationships and personality
Michael is introverted in his relationships and is shown to have a closer circle of associates than the other agents. He is, however, shown to be friends with the likes of Seymour Birkhoff and Alex.Concerning his relationship with Nikita, he seems to not completely understand her intentions (both past and present) when they work together. It is ambiguous to Michael as to why Nikita acted the way she did in saving him from being killed by Kasim Tariq's bodyguards.
In the episode "Alexandra", he questions her about it, claiming that had she never acted he could have gained revenge and expresses anger that she did so, to which Nikita retalliates with an unfinished excuse, in which she trails off before regretting something. In the episode "Covenants", Michael leaves Division and joins Nikita. The two have since become romantically involved.In episode "Looking Glass", it is learned that Michael fathered a son with Cassandra (played by Helena Mattsson).
Michael was also in charge of processing new recruits, and telling them that they have been taken out of prison and been given a new life by Division. He breaks the news to Alex in the first episode, telling her that the public now will believe her to have committed suicide in prison. As a field agent, he played a similar role to that of Amanda, who were both high-ranking yet with some psychological leanings in their positions.
It is also heavily implied that everyone, even Amanda and Percy, in Division know of Michael's implied affair with Nikita. Both Amanda and Percy have mentioned this to him, Percy rather more bluntly and Amanda stating that "Percy doesn't need to know everything that goes on here."
He also has a platonic relationship with Alex, whom is first processed into Division by Michael in the Pilot episode, and he instructs her on the training she will receive, thus learning how to properly "serve her country". This reflects six years prior, when he instructed Nikita of the same duties. This leads Michael to be more protective of Alex. He later finds out that she is Nikita's mole by matching the sounds of her phone calls to him to the echoes produced by Nikita's apartment
Apartment
An apartment or flat is a self-contained housing unit that occupies only part of a building...
. This is how he is able to track Nikita down. Alex, Nikita and Michael work together to track down Percy's black boxes for a very brief length of time towards the end of the first season, Nikita often in this time asking Michael to help Alex out of sticky situations at Divisions that may compromise his cover by doing so.
Reception
As was the character of Nikita as portrayed by Maggie QMaggie Q
Margaret Denise Quigley , professionally known as Maggie Q, is an American-born actress and former fashion model. She currently stars as the titular character on the action-thriller TV series Nikita.-Early life:...
, the character of Michael was highly-anticipated by fans who had previously watched La Femme Nikita. Part of this anticipation balanced on the idea of Michael and Nikita's romantic relationship (as had been portrayed in most former incarnations of the tale) and if West
Shane West
Shane West is an American actor, musician and songwriter. West is best known for portraying Eli Sammler in Once and Again, Landon Carter with Mandy Moore in A Walk to Remember, Darby Crash in What We Do Is Secret, and Dr...
and Q possessed a good enough chemistry to play the two.
The character was well-received by critics in his own right, yet not as well-received by fans of Roy Dupuis'
Roy Dupuis
Roy Dupuis is a Canadian actor best known for his role as counterterrorism operative Michael Samuelle in the television series La Femme Nikita...
Michael in La Femme Nikita. West stated that, concerning Dupuis, he "always actually liked his work". However, there are some who have expressed negativity at the portrayal of the character; Dustin Rowles of Pajiba said that "Shane West has all the charisma of a toenail". Regardless of this, the character was generally well-received and West was praised for his performance as the first season continued.
West won the Teen Choice Award
Teen Choice Awards
The Teen Choice Awards, are an annual awards show that air on the Fox cable channel, that honor the year's biggest biggest achievements in music, movies, sports, television, fashion and more, voted by teen viewers aged 14 through 17. Winners receive an authentic full size surfboard designed with...
for "Choice TV Actor Action" in 2011.