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| 405 - Man In The Middle |
| Writer/Director |
Lawrence Hertzog / Ted Hanlan |
| Michael's POV Onscreen:
25 minutes |
Michael and Nikita assume the
identities of a couple of drug dealers in order to infiltrate the party circle of
playboy-turned-Red-Cell-arms-supplier Helmut Volker, now hosting ‘quiet evenings
in’ in the house formerly occupied by the luckless Wickes (Mother). Helmut
appears to be as interested in developing a Nikita/Anna habit as he is in buying
Michael’s/Freddie’s heroin, and the two males indulge in some amusing chauvinist
strutting around the female. When Helmut proposes a marriage of convenience to Nikita, the
mission profile is changed from sabotaging an imminent deal with Red Cell to preserving a
more long term association. Michael continues to try to wreck the deal, to discredit
Helmut in Red Cell’s eyes and thus make the marriage unnecessary, but Davenport foils
his attempt. Michael can only watch powerless as Nikita and Helmut fly off to Buenos Aires
to be married. |
| Michael Moments |
In the alley, inviting Nikita
to move in with him
Freddie reclaiming his ‘property’ when Helmut and Nikita are having a private
party
Freddie outsmarting Helmut on the shooting range
Freddie the party animal in brown leather trousers, causing heads to turn
Watching Nikita’s plane take off for Buenos Aires |
| Words of Wisdom |
"We’d have more privacy"
"I’m a little out
of practice."
"Beginner’s luck"
"It’s a lot of
heroin, Helmut." |
Performance Rating
 |
After the narrow focus of the
opening arc, Roy gets to explore a wide range of expressions here. His proposition to
Nikita in the alley shows Michael at last relaxed and almost playful in this relationship.
Needless to say, it is short lived as Nikita is manoeuvred into marriage, and Roy’s
closing look of wistfulness is reminiscent of the end of Gray. In between though,
Freddie is played a bit like Michael with a cooler wardrobe (and a hint of Dominique
Samson thrown in for good measure), and Helmut is allowed to take a couple of swipes at
the repressed character beneath. Roy, however, has his share of the humour and underplays
it to perfection. A very satisfying performance. |
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