The Michael Files - 211 Psychic Pilgrim

211 - Psychic Pilgrim
Writer/Director	Michael Loceff / René Bonniere
Michael's POV Onscreen: 14 minutes	Michael and Nikita ‘play house’ to set up Joaquin Armel, a terrorist’s attorney and link to the outside world. Nikita pretends to be a psychic who can contact Armel’s dead son. Michael tells Nikita that he specifically selected her to pose as his wife for this assignment. Later back at their ‘home’, Nikita manages to trap Michael into making love to her, which he does, carefully shielding her from the hidden cameras in the house. Next morning whilst seemingly talking for the benefit of Armel’s cameras, Nikita lays down a few ground rules for Michael. After successfully breaching the security at Armel’s house, Michael leads a team there. Back at Section Michael admits to Nikita that he felt ‘conflicted’ about their posing as a couple and rebuffs her offer to talk, hinting at things in his life that she knows nothing about.
Michael Moments	Hearing what caused him to injure his back in the first place! Michael The Wimp when Armel’s men attack the house – ‘Don’t hurt us!’ Wonderful, caring facial expressions as he watches Armel try to persuade Nikita to contact his son Armel’s recognition of Michael at the end of the raid The exchange with Nikita at the end of the episode
Words of Wisdom	"I should report you for that kind of cruelty." "I love you too." "I thought it would be an opportunity for you to improve your field mechanics." "We’re convincing as two people in love." "If you need to relax tonight ...... " "It was a mistake." "I’d love to, but what you need to hear, I can’t tell you yet…. You know a lot about me Nikita, but not everything. There are things that have to remain hidden, and it has nothing to do with how I feel about you."
Performance Rating	Seemingly any episode directed by Rene Bonniere is a sign that we can expect, in addition to yummy close-ups, a fine performance from Roy – Quebecois empathy maybe? No other LFN director appears to be able to work so well with Roy in portraying ‘un-Michael-like’ performances. Combine that with a cracking script by Michael Loceff, and Roy teases the audience in the opening scenes with an image of how loving and open Michael could have been in a different life. Roy switches with complete believability between Michael pretending to be loving and caring, Michael the supreme Section operative, Michael the true lover of Nikita, and Michael not yet ready to commit (and we have to wait till the beginning of Season 3 to find out why). This was also the episode where the fans hatred of the Season One Ugly Tie was acknowledged!