Nikita (TV series)/Characters

Nikita Meers
""I was the first recruit to get out, and I'm going to make certain I'm not the last."

Played By: Maggie Q"

A junkie from the street, Nikita Meers was pulled from Death Row and trained as a spy and assassin for secret government agency, Division. However, after Division murdered her fiance she turned rogue and is now on a mission to take them down.


 * Action Girl: But also a Guile Hero.
 * Anti-Hero: Nikita starts off wanting revenge, then moving towards wanting redemption. In Season 2 she wants to destroy Division only so they will stop chasing her and Michael. Her reasons are more complex than just to do the right thing.
 * The Atoner: Pretty much defines her character.
 * Badass
 * Back-to-Back Badasses: With Michael.
 * Battle Couple: With Michael.
 * Broken Bird
 * Crazy Prepared: Nikita generally suceeds in achieving this.
 * Dark Action Girl: Nikita before her Heel Face Turn.
 * Dark and Troubled Past: Contributed to her Broken Bird status. She did NOT have an easy time in the foster system.
 * Dead Fiancee: Daniel, Death by Origin Story included.
 * Deadpan Snarker
 * Determinator
 * Femme Fatale
 * Genre Savvy: Nikita, knowing that if she helped Gogol they would merely take over when Division fell.
 * Heel Face Turn: Pre-series.
 * The Hero
 * Lady in Red: Nikita moves between this and the Woman in Black while on a Mission.
 * Lady of War
 * The Lancer: Moves in and out of this position with regards to Michael, especially in Season 2.
 * The Mentor: For Alex.
 * Ms. Fanservice
 * The Protagonist
 * Omniglot: Nikita can speak a lot, including English, French, Cantonese (Which Maggie can speak in real life due to her experience in the Hong Kong entertainment industry), Russian, Czech, Polish and Arabic.
 * Shoot the Dog: Not afraid to do this (see: )
 * Spy Couple: With Michael.
 * Star-Crossed Lovers: With Michael.
 * Teacher-Student Romance: Michael was her instructor at Division when they fell in love.
 * Teacher-Student Romance: Michael was her instructor at Division when they fell in love.

Michael
""I knew you'd gone rogue, didn't know you'd gone delusional."

Played By: Shane West"

A former US Navy intelligence officer, Michael is a highly ranked member of Division who is tasked with bringing Nikita in. However, his past with her and his own moral code means he's often conflicted.

Toward the end of season 1, Michael joins Nikita's cause after discovering that his boss is behind a tragic event in his past. He also enters a romantic relationship with her.


 * Anti-Villain: Before his Heel Face Turn during Season 1.
 * The Atoner: Becomes one in "Pandora".
 * Badass
 * Back-to-Back Badasses: With Nikita.
 * Battle Couple: With Nikita.
 * Dangerously Genre Savvy: There are many clues given that Michael had an inkling that Alex was working with Nikita before the events of 1x16 but that he chose to ignore them. Also, mistrusting Kelly, Nikita's old Division partner, in 2x04 and immediately questioning Cassandra about Max's paternity also show this trope.
 * Dating Catwoman
 * Deadpan Snarker
 * Death Glare: Or "goatee of intimidation", as Birkhoff calls it.
 * The Dragon: To Percy, later The Lancer to Nikita
 * Dragon with an Agenda: Michael often goes head-to-head with Percy over his running of Division, and the only reason he's even working for them is to get revenge for his family.
 * Determinator: Especially where Nikita or his family are concerned.
 * Genre Savvy: Knowing that the hot girl with dark hair and long legs in a towel girl uniform was Nikita undercover definitely counts as this.
 * Guttural Growler: Michael's voice is gravily and incredibly sexy. Lampshaded by Nikita in 1x09, Nathan in 1x14 and Alex in 1x16.
 * Heel Face Turn: During Season 1.
 * Hidden Depths: As the Series has progressed, more and more of Michael's abilities and personality traits are hinted at and shown - the fact that he always stands like a soldier, his hand-to-hand combat, his chosen pistol, his ability with weapons, his background in Naval Intelligence, his hints of being the Spymaster and the Trainer for Nikita - but they always leave the hint that there is more to him.
 * Hot Dad: Yep. He is.
 * Knight in Sour Armour: Michael wasn't completely happy with Division, but truly believed that he was acting in America's best interests.
 * The Lancer: In an interesting inversion of this trope, Michael and Nikita move in and out of this trope in regards to each other.
 * The Mentor: to Alex. And Nikita pre-Series.
 * The Mole: Following his Heel Face Turn
 * My Country, Right or Wrong: For much of the first season, this was his attitude towards Division, because he believed Division to be eventually acting in America's best interests.
 * Only One Name: It's been two full seasons and still no last name for Michael.
 * Patriotic Fervor: Has brought back all the good of this trope and none of the bad. Michael sincerely believes in his country and that Division - if run by the right people - is a necessary force for good in the world. Probably comes from being a former Naval Intelligence Officer.
 * Nikita allows that the only way Division could ever be worth saving is if Michael was in charge.
 * Perpetual Frowner: Especially during Season 1. Nikita even lampshades this, adorably, in 1x18.
 * Slap Slap Kiss: With Nikita. Quite a lot since the episode "Echoes".
 * Star-Crossed Lovers: With Nikita.
 * Tall, Dark and Snarky: Nikita even calls him out on this in 1x09. "Tall, smokey voice, very sexy."
 * Teacher-Student Romance: Nikita was his student at Division when they fell in love.
 * Yanks With Tanks: Was a Naval Intelligence Officer assigned to investigate the USS Cole bombing.

Alexandra Udinov
""I am Alexandra Udinov, daughter of Nikolai Udinov, and this is your reward."

Played By: Lyndsy Fonseca"

The daughter of a Russian ogligarch, Alexandra Udinov ended up as a junkie prostitute after being smuggled to America. Nikita rescued her, got her clean, befriended her and trained her up to be a mole within Division.

At the end of season 1, it is revealed that the Division agent who killed Alex's father was in fact Nikita, and Alex subsequently joins Amanda to take down the man who ordered the hit. She acts in an antagonistic role in season 2, before forgiving Nikita and joining her again.


 * Action Girl: While not in Nikita's league, she's definitely earned this.
 * Becoming the Mask
 * Broken Bird
 * Cassandra Truth: Seems to do this quite often.
 * Deuteragonist: the second Hero of the show, after Nikita.
 * Double Agent
 * Fallen Princess: Sort of. Her father was  Lampshaded in "Alexandra",.
 * Fallen Heroine
 * Genre Blind: Doesn't see that her using Division to get revenge for her family's death exactly mirrors Michael's story. Look what happened to him.
 * I Just Want to Be Normal: She really doesn't want to run Zetrov.
 * Mafia Princess: It is implied that her father was not precisely "innocent".
 * Given that Gogol is a subsidiary company of Zetrov, this is very likely.
 * My Name Is Inigo Montoya: Pulled off in the eponymous episode "Alexandra."
 * The Mole: To Division, in Season One. She tried to be a mole to Nikita in the Season Two opener, but Sean Pierce spoiled that plan.
 * Not So Harmless
 * Omniglot: Alex can speak English, German and Russian.
 * Revenge Before Reason: Alex has a significant stumbling block when it comes to Zetrov, although she's started to get better.
 * Sex Slave: As a part of her Dark and Troubled Past, which she has to confront.
 * Supporting Protagonist: For most of Season 1 and until Michael's Heel Face Turn.
 * The Masquerade Will Kill Your Dating Life:
 * Took a Level In Badass: Was a washed out junkie when Nikita met her a year ago. Is now a Division agent, and very dangerous.
 * We Used to Be Friends: With Nikita; their relationship falls apart at the finale of Season One.
 * Wild Card: Her obssession with taking down her father's murderers plus lingering moral qualms makes her an unreliable ally for both Nikita and Division.
 * You Killed My Father
 * Wild Card: Her obssession with taking down her father's murderers plus lingering moral qualms makes her an unreliable ally for both Nikita and Division.
 * You Killed My Father

Percival 'Percy' Rose
""People want to believe God has a plan for them. They don't want to know that anyone else does."

Played By: Xander Berkeley"

Percy is the ruthless creator of Division, acting as its head during season 1. He's discovered many damaging government secrets during his long career, and has stored them in several 'Black Box' data carriers. He cannot be simply killed due to a surgically implanted chip that'll send a signal that will release the information if he dies, therefore plunging the world into chaos.

He's deposed from power by his subordinate Amanda in season 2, and imprisoned below Division. However he continues pulling strings, and has now escaped his cell to wreak havoc and eventually retake Division.


 * Badass in Charge
 * Big Bad: For Season 1 and the latter half of Season 2.
 * Crazy Prepared: Percy has many plans.
 * The Chessmaster: In "Betrayals", he compares his battle with Nikita to a chess game.
 * Deadpan Snarker: Probably the most triumphant example in the series.
 * Faux Affably Evil
 * Genre Savvy:
 * Knight Templar: Seems to have shades of this.
 * Hannibal Lecture: His new weapon of choice now that
 * Manipulative Bastard
 * Man of Wealth and Taste
 * New Powers as the Plot Demands: Photographic Memory - he's a walking Black Box himself
 * Sealed Evil in a Can:
 * Sharp-Dressed Man: Even when he, once he gets to put on his suit again, we know he is back in the game.
 * Smug Snake
 * The Spymaster
 * Torture Technician: Does this to
 * Villainous Breakdown: Has a mild one in "Pandora" after his Batman Gambit is ruined.
 * Wicked Cultured: During his imprisonment asks for books in exchange for his help. And to discuss matters with Amanda over A Nice Cup of Tea.
 * Smug Snake
 * The Spymaster
 * Torture Technician: Does this to
 * Villainous Breakdown: Has a mild one in "Pandora" after his Batman Gambit is ruined.
 * Wicked Cultured: During his imprisonment asks for books in exchange for his help. And to discuss matters with Amanda over A Nice Cup of Tea.

Seymour Birkhoff
""I'm not a spice girl, and I was never ever obscure. I was elusive, and a little dangerous. I was a legend."

Played By: Aaron Stanford"

Once an infamous cyber-criminal, Birkhoff was brought on as Division's head technician. He remains loyal to Division despite his growing misgivings about the nature of the agency.

He leaves Division before season 2, and somewhat relunctantly joins Nikita's cause.


 * Combat Pragmatist: In the fight in "383 Walnut Lane" he surprises the agent he's fighting with some computer parts, and then goes for the eyes.
 * Deadpan Snarker
 * Jerkass: Becomes more a Jerk with a Heart of Gold in the second season.
 * Minored in Asskicking: In Season One, a CIA grab team attempts to snatch Birkhoff; the first two men are taken by surprise at how prepared Birkhoff is to defend himself, and he almost escapes. (Until the third CIA agent grabs him from behind.)
 * Later, in Season 2, he fights off a trained Division agent using just some computer parts. He loses, but he puts up enough of a fight to stay alive long enough for Nikita to finish off the Division man. "Shadow Walker" shows him sparring with Michael.
 * Mission Control
 * : Leaves Division after Season One, and eventually allies himself with Nikita and Michael.
 * Insult of Endearment: Nikita often calls him 'nerd'. It started as her way of insulting him but as they worked together they became friends so now it is her way of showing him affection. She is the only one he allows to call him that.
 * Non-Action Guy: Initially. Averted in "383 Walnut Lane".
 * Not So Harmless:
 * Pet the Dog: His brief friendship with the Engineer. Also his friendship with Michael
 * When
 * Punch Clock Villain: During season 1.
 * Revolvers Are Just Better: Despite having access to high-tech weaponry, his personal gun is a big revolver.
 * Averted after Division kidnaps him; he switches to a semiautomatic, possibly because it's easier on his injured hand.
 * Sour Supporter:
 * The Smart Guy
 * Strangled by the Red String:
 * Techno Wizard: "I own Division." If it's networked, Birkhoff can hack into it.
 * Took a Level In Badass: Between Seasons One and Two, and again after he was kidnapped and tortured by Division. He now keeps a gun close by at all times.
 * Uncle Pennybags: Was the somewhat reluctant financier of Team Nikita throughout Season Two,

Amanda
""I've done this before. All the drug addicts that wind up here as recruits, I'm practically running a rehab clinic."

Played By: Melinda Clarke"

Known as the "Inquisitor", Amanda is responsible for mentally breaking down recruits before manipulating them into giving their loyalty to Division. She often acts as an advisor to Percy.

In season 2 Amanda desposes Percy as head of Division and allies herself with Alex. She attempts to rob Percy of the power he still holds by finding the Black Box master drive. She is


 * All Love Is Unrequited: She had a thing for Percy, but he believes that she's incapable of love.
 * Big Bad: For a good chunk of season 2.
 * The Chessmaster
 * The Consigliere: In the first season. Percy even refers to her as such as part of a long season 2 Hannibal Lecture.
 * Creepy Monotone
 * Deadpan Snarker
 * Dragon Ascendant
 * Manipulative Bitch
 * More Deadly Than the Male
 * Psycho Psychologist
 * The Sociopath: Percy accuses her of being this, although she does seem to show genuine emotion once in a blue moon.
 * Stepford Smiler
 * Torture Technician: When she appears, Nikita is terrified.
 * Unholy Matrimony:
 * Wicked Cultured
 * Wicked Cultured

Thom
""You'll be ok, Alex. You're strong... Stronger than me. I knew it the day I met you."

Played By: Ashton Holmes"

A young Division recruit on the verge of becoming a full agent. He tries to take care of new recruits and soon develops a romantic interest in Alex.


 * All Love Is Unrequited: For Alex.
 * The Mentor: For Alex, at first, and other recruits.
 * Pensieve Flashback
 * The Stoic
 * UST: With Alex.
 * UST: With Alex.

Jaden
""What do you think I'm doing? I'm kicking your ass!"

Played By: Tiffany Hines"

An aggressive Division recruit, Jaden often clashes with Alex and develops a heated mutual rivalry with her.


 * All Love Is Unrequited: Had a thing for Thom.
 * Bare Your Midriff
 * Dark Action Girl
 * Deadpan Snarker
 * Evil Counterpart: to Alex.
 * Hot-Blooded
 * : In "Glass Houses" by
 * The Rival
 * Took a Level In Badass
 * Took a Level In Badass

Sean Pierce
""I got a merit badge in lying."

Played By: Dillon Casey"

A Navy SEAL and agent of Oversight, the council in charge of Division, Sean is sent to keep an eye on Amanda to ensure she doesn't become out-of-control as Percy did.


 * Commanding Coolness: It's eventually revealed that Sean is a Lieutenant Commander in the US Navy.
 * Deadpan Snarker
 * The Dragon: To Oversight.
 * Dragon with an Agenda: Sean does start to question Division and Oversight for some of their "questionable" methods, and he planned to get back to the Navy
 * Even Bad Men Love Their Mamas: How "bad" he is is debatable, but he obviously cares very much about his mother, and the only reason he's still working for Oversight is because she's a member.
 * Heel Face Turn: After Oversight is eliminated, he becomes allied with Nikita.
 * Jerk with a Heart of Gold
 * Mr. Fanservice
 * The Political Officer: Is supposed to be this towards Division; unlike most examples, he isn't as annoying, due to being an operator himself.
 * Sharp-Dressed Man: Very often seen in nice suits.
 * Yanks With Tanks: Was a Navy SEAL until he was assigned to be Oversight's fixer - specifically SEAL Team Six.

Carla Bennett
""Sometimes you have to put what's right ahead of your personal feelings, for the greater good."

Played By: Erica Gimpel"


 * Genre Blind
 * Good Counterpart: To Amanda.
 * Horrible Judge of Character: The only person she seems to completely trust is
 * She also seems to have been friends with, of all people.
 * The Mentor: to Nikita.
 * Too Dumb to Live:
 * Well-Intentioned Extremist

Nathan Colville
"Played By: Thad Luckenbill"

Alex's new neighbour following her graduation and subsequent move into a civilian apartment.


 * Cassandra Truth: Returns to Alex's apartment after she tells him she is a government assassin. Thinking this is her trying to break up with him in a cruel way, he leaves. When he returns, Jaden is in Alex's apartment and he mockingly asks if she is "another government assassin." This, arguably unexpectedly ends in
 * Dysfunctional Family: Alex's hallucinations in "Echoes" shows her subconscious desire to settle down, as they are, in that particular dream state, married with a daughter. Played rather humourously when Alex asks if he has "seen a little girl" (asking about her younger self that has been running around her subconscious with her) and he merely states that he was perfectly capable of looking after their daughter.
 * Nice Guy
 * UST
 * What the Hell, Hero?: Reacts badly to

Owen Elliot
"Played By: Devon Sawa"

Originally a 'cleaner' for Division, Owen was later made into a Guardian. As a Guardian, he's responsible for keeping one of Percy's many black boxes safe and secure. While on mission, he fell in love with a civilian who was subsequently killed by Division. He now works to bring down Division while sometimes assisting Nikita.


 * Anti-Hero
 * The Atoner
 * Badass: For a Guardian, that's a job requirement.
 * Brought Down to Normal: Used to be chemically augmented like other Guardians into a Lightning Bruiser, before he managed to detox from the Regimen. This makes taking on other Guardians a risky proposition - he and Michael were barely able to defeat one Guardian themselves. Still, even while off the Regimen, he remains a Badass.
 * The Big Guy
 * Dead Girlfriend: Of a Disposable Woman variety.
 * Enemy Mine: Attempted to do this with, but Ari turned the tables on him.
 * Estrogen Brigade Bait
 * Functional Addict: Initially this; all Guardians use the Regimen, a specialised series of chemical supplements that turn them into Lightning Bruisers. Withdrawl tends to make them nuts, but Owen successfully goes through detox.
 * Heel Face Revolving Door: First he was Division, then worked with Nikita, then
 * He Who Fights Monsters: His Roaring Rampage of Revenge is steadily turning him into this.
 * Roaring Rampage of Revenge
 * Wild Card
 * Wild Card

The Engineer
"Played By: Jon Gries"


 * Eccentric Mentor: to Birkhoff.
 * One Episode Wonder
 * Techno Wizard
 * You Have Outlived Your Usefulness

Ryan Fletcher
"Played By: Noah Bean"

A junior CIA agent and analyst who was attempting to uncover Division, which was regarded as an urban legend among his peers. After discovering the truth, he becames an ally of Nikita.


 * Awesomeness By Analysis:.
 * Butt Monkey
 * Determinator: Of the crusading kind.
 * Nice Guy
 * Screw the Rules, I'm Doing What's Right: In "Pandora", he helps Nikita, despite knowing he'll probably be sent to jail for the rest of his life.
 * Took a Level In Badass: See above.
 * Took a Level In Badass: See above.

Patrick Miller
"Played By: William deVry"


 * The Brute
 * Elite Mook
 * Undying Loyalty
 * Undying Loyalty

Daniel Monroe
"Played By: Sebastien Roberts"


 * Death by Origin Story
 * Nice Guy: From what we saw.
 * Posthumous Character

Cassandra Ovechkin
"Played By: Helena Mattson"


 * Working with the Ex:
 * Working with the Ex:

Senator Madeline Pierce
"Played By: Alberta Watson"


 * Casting Gag: Alberta Watson played Madeline from La Femme Nikita.
 * The Chessmaster
 * Iron Lady
 * Mama Bear
 * Mama Bear

Roan
"Played By: Rob Stewart"

Percy's loyal right-hand man and the most notable "cleaner" working for Division. He's often engaged for Percy's most personal and sensitive missions.


 * The Brute: His role in Season 1.
 * Cleanup Crew: Roan's main job in Division,
 * Creepy Monotone
 * Deadpan Snarker: Whenever he says more than two words, that is.
 * Determinator: One devoted to Percy. Birkhoff even refers to him as "the Terminator" at one point.
 * The Dragon: In Season 2.
 * Four Eyes, Zero Soul
 * Good Scars, Evil Scars: In "Pandora", Nikita splashes him with his own "cleaning" acid, and he's later seen with burns all over the right side of his face.
 * : In the Season 2 finale.
 * Laser-Guided Karma: See above. He got splashed with his own cleaning acid.
 * Licked by the Dog: Carla tenderly touches Roan's face and asks him sympathetically what happened to him. His answer? "You met her."
 * Made of Iron: After a missile wipes out a Division assault team he is leading, he just gets up and dusts himself off.
 * Earlier, he gets his ass kicked by Owen and tossed over a railing, falling several stories. The next time he's seen, he's no worse for wear.
 * Pet the Dog: Incredibly minor, but he closes Nikita's eyes when he thinks she's dead. An odd show of professional respect.
 * Professional Killer
 * Psycho for Hire
 * The Quiet One: Except for a couple episodes, what he's said could fill an index card... double spaced.
 * The Stoic: The only time he ever shows any real emotion is when
 * Villainous Friendship: Seems to have one with Percy
 * Villainous Valour
 * Undying Loyalty: for Percy.

Sergei Semak
"Played By: Peter J Lucas"


 * Bad Boss
 * Corrupt Corporate Executive
 * Enemy Mine:
 * Klingon Promotion:
 * The Man Behind the Man
 * Klingon Promotion:
 * The Man Behind the Man

Sonya
"Played By: Lyndie Greenwod"


 * Evil Counterpart: to Birkhoff in Season 2.
 * Not that evil.
 * Foe Yay: With Birkhoff
 * Mission Control
 * Non-Action Guy
 * Strangled by the Red String:
 * Worthy Opponent: Birkhoff acknowledges this at one point.

Kasim Tariq
"Played By: Haaz Sleiman"


 * Becoming the Mask:
 * The Mole
 * The Mole
 * The Mole

Ari Tasarov
""If I wanted you dead...you'd be dead."

Played By: Peter Outerbridge"


 * Affably Evil
 * Bilingual Dialogue: He can speak English and Russian.
 * Bodyguard Betrayal: He
 * Dangerously Genre Savvy: When he and his superior have to meet with Sergei Semak to explain why their security failed to stop an assassination, he makes sure that there is a loaded gun within easy reach of Semek. He then makes himself look like the competent one and waits for the inevitable You Have Failed Me and a promotion to his superior's freshly vacated position. He figures out who Alex really is with only a few clues and takes immediate action.
 * Deadpan Snarker
 * The Dragon: To Sergei Semak.
 * Dragon with an Agenda
 * Evil Counterpart: to Percy and with Gogol as the Evil vs. Evil counterpart of Division.
 * Manipulative Bastard
 * Unholy Matrimony:
 * Smug Snake
 * The Starscream
 * Wicked Cultured
 * The Starscream
 * Wicked Cultured