Product Description

The complete first season of this highly rated, cult favorite USA Network original series is now available on DVD. Condemned to life in prison for a vicious crime she didn't commit, Nikita (Peta Wilson) reluctantly chooses to live as a secret government assassin whose life is controlled by a mysterious agent (Roy Dupuis) and his colleagues. Based on the characters created for the film Nikita.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1292 in DVD
• Brand: Warner Brothers
• Released on: 2003-07-08
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Box set, Closed-captioned, Collector's Edition, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Subtitled, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, Spanish, French
• Number of discs: 6
• Dimensions: 1.50 pounds
• Running time: 978 minutes

Amazon.com
Longtime La Femme Nikita fans and newcomers alike will enjoy this six-disc boxed set, which compiles the syndicated television series' entire first season, and shows why it garnered a devoted audience throughout its five-season run (1997-2001): it's a fast-paced, action-packed mixture of sex appeal (thanks to the statuesque form of its star, Australian actress Peta Wilson) and intricately plotted espionage thrills. Producers Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran (who later created 24) hewed the series' framework closely to its inspiration--Luc Besson's 1990 theatrical feature of the same name--save for one change. Where the movie Nikita is a drug-addicted thug, Wilson's Nikita is a street-savvy homeless woman. The pilot, "Nikita" (on disc 1), details her introduction to the underground spy network known as Section One: facing a death sentence after a trumped-up murder charge, Nikita is approached by the mysterious Michael (Roy Dupuis), who offers her a new identity as an anti-terrorist operative. The subsequent 21 episodes in the set offer plenty of action and suspense, as well as a compelling character in Nikita, who struggles constantly with the deception and bloodshed that are unavoidable aspects of her assignments. The set concludes with a dramatic season finale, disc 6's "Mercy," which forces Nikita to deal with some hard truths about her future and her feelings for Michael.

If having the complete first season in one set doesn't please series fans, the supplemental features will surely satisfy even the iciest armchair operative. Disc 1 offers commentary by Surnow, Cochran, and director Jon Cassar on "Nikita" as well as commentary by Surnow for deleted scenes from several episodes (also on discs 2, 3, and 6); disc 6 features Surnow's comments on "Mercy," as well as "Section One Declassified: The Making of La Femme Nikita," which features interviews with the cast and creators. --Paul Gaita

Customer Reviews

some of my favourite parts of the episodes
i have to say they seemed to pay a little more attention to the music in the first series, especially the first episode they ever made which actually is on disk 2 called 'true love'.

disk 2 series are probably some of my favorite episodes on season 1 as well. im not into film directing so i dont know all the lingo, but the opening scene in 'obsessed' was very well done. nice little camera & editing tricks along with great timing with the music ( i think known as film scoring).

they have different directors and you can kind of tell which ones did which episodes as some of them seem to have certain 'styles'. as i said im no film expert or even amateur.

i do have to say peta is very very good with this character, alot of her character and emotions comes out through her eyes. if you can look at the first episode of series 1 compared to the first episode in series 3, you'll notice just how far developed nikita & most likely peta's character familiarization really comes into play.

roy on the other hand delivers just ok, he's great when he playing real cool & slightly ruthless but some times his acting just doesn't deliver. the other actors seem to fit in their characters pretty well, no real complaints.

madeline & nikita seem to have slightly more mutual affection for each other in the first series. you dont get to learn too much about the other characters but in the next few series you do. i think the first & last series are probably my favorites, altho there are other episodes i liked in the other middle series.

One of the best series to ever grace television!!!
First, let me say there are not enough stars to rate this show. It was amazing and kept you tuned in each and every week, waiting on the edge of your seat. I have been a HUGE fan of this show ever since it came out on USA Network (9pm on Sundays.....never missed an episode!) You will not be disappointed in buying this DVD set. I re-watch mine often. The story lines a great, the actors and actresses are amazing (I especially like it for Roy Dupuis...he is very very sexy), and this is one of the few DVD sets out there where you will want to buy all of the seasons.

More than a cult/spy-adventure show: A hard look at the realities of relationships mirrored by the microscopic world of Nikita
First, I want to state that I did not watch Nikita on television, so my comments are limited to my viewing the Season One box set. Second, I find it sad, but not surprising, that recent reviews have panned the show or the dvd quality. In an entertainment world over 10 years later, Nikita lacks the "luster," the "non-stop explosives," and the "mindless CGI effects" that viewers today take for granted. Moreover, since Nikita has a more "cold war" feel to it, I am sure those who didn't live during the cold war or did not learn their history lessons, may find it hard to understand that "terrorism" existed in abundance prior to our country's current activities. Third, like many, I wish the show was in wide screen formate, but if reviewers and buyers read the description (and do a little research), they will learn that the show was not filmed in that formate. Fourth, and most important to me, I take exception to reviews that pan the show for "poor storylines, poor acting, poor production."

Sadly, I purchased the Alias series--which I really like--first, so I found myself dismayed at the "copy cat" nature of Alias. Nikita is truly a much superior show: the writing is tighter; the directing and editing excellent; the themes and story lines are fuller and more realistic; and, perhaps most importantly, the look is genuine--the producers utilized Toronto very convincingly; (I almost always felt like they were really on location, having lived in Europe for three years). Peta Wilson was perfect for the show, her performances were generally outstanding, and over-all, award worthy. While I personally did not care for Roy Dupuis' character, the actor's portrayals should not be confused with the character. And Roy's portrayals are very commendable. Together, Roy and Peta had great "chemistry"--as they say. Thus, I can state, with all due respect, that in my opinion the show does in fact have great story lines, superb acting, and amazing production (which was on a "shoe string" budget, even for the time).

All of that said, what really distinguishes Nikita is the fact that I find the episodes to be about relationships, not spies, sci-fi, terrorism, theoretical "ultra-secret" governmental agencies (albeit, I am sure the Bush administration would really enjoy the freedom of Section One), or any thing else. It is a microscopic look at the way people interact (both in 1995 and today). That is, through the established structure of the fictional Section One, relationships between people are highly controlled and well defined. One wrong move and you are "dead;" figuratively or (from the view point of the show) literally. One misunderstanding between two people can cascade into all sorts of outcomes. Lies and truths are intertwined (granted, in exaggerated excesses), driving the various relationships. Trust is a commodity that is elusive and even harder to maintain; games are habitually used. And POWER is the key to all relationships, interactions/actions, and motivations--either directly or indirectly; with or with out awareness.

Watch Nikita, and look for yourself in the mirror that it holds up for us to look at our own lives. I truly doubt that the creators and staff of Nikita intended to create a reflection of how relationships work, and I am not one to claim I know how they work. However, having a Ph.D. in both Sociology and Anthropology, it is my opinion that this is the strength of the series, Le Femme Nikita. For those interested in readings that influence my professional position, I recommend the following books in particular: The Homeless Mind: Modernization and Consciousness by Peter Berger, et al; Valuing the Self by Dorthy Lee (not available from Amazon); From Max Weber: Essays in Sociology by Max Weber (or any of his other works); Mind, Self, and Society by George Herbert Mead; and The Power Elite by C. Wright Mills.

As one final note, I would like to present MY personal opinion and position concerning the topic of Nikita: terrorism. As a former military officer with considerable experience in security, intelligence, and anti-terrorism in mid 1970s, I believe that Nikita's portrayal of how terrorism must be dealt with is much more realistic than our so called "War on Terrorism." Terrorists must be fought with terrorists: not hard working, patriotic soldiers of our fine military. Terrorism is NOT war; and rhetoric cannot change that.