Nikita

When "La Femme Nikita" hit the big screen back in the 90's, the French film powered its way into our hearts.

The story of a pretty female felon, rehabilitated against her will and trained to be a government assassin, captured our imaginations. No wonder several knockoffs were made by the American film industry, including the movie with Bridget Fonda and TV show with Peta Wilson.

When I heard that another TV series called "Nikita" was in the works, I thought, oh no, not another! But how wrong I was.

With the stunning and talented Maggie Q at the helm, the new version is a knockout. The writers have made some nice changes in the original plot. Instead of Nikita being the helpless victim who strives unsuccessfully for freedom, Maggie Q is the epitome of woman empowered! She is not only free of the government bullies, but she is out for revenge against them.

Maggie Q is a beauty, no doubt. Her Asian features make her an original-looking Nikita. But more importantly, she has the ability to shade her character, making the female protagonist at once believable and vulnerable: we root for the rebel as she takes on the bad guys. In fact, most of the time, I find myself saying, "You go, girl!"

The first two episodes are exciting and gripping, full of nonstop action and good character development. If the series continues to excel, this viewer will have to recommend it to all TV buffs.

So, in between Glee, Mad Men, and few other favorites, consider watching Nikita. You won't be disappointed.