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Date Posted: 11:00:57 04/16/02 Tue
Author: Karen A. Hay
Subject: HayK Original Comments to "Noise"

Dear Listees:

As I mentioned before, the computer people at my office stumbled on a batch of my old e-mails when they were updating the software .., that they had told me they'd lost during the LAST time they updated! Anyhoo, here are my original comments on "Noise."

After briefly scanning my comments I don't think I did too badly considering Joel Surnow kept changing LFN history on me!


Karen (HayK)


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Dear LFNers:

See below for my thoughts on "Noise."


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1. I had never thought about it before, but it looks like Section takes up at least four levels. When Nikita goes to visit Birkoff -- as she walks down a hallway you see the number 4-___ (don't remember rest of number). I think this indicates the floor level. Also, when she is talking to Birkoff about his work she's says "I just know we need you back UPSTAIRS." Since we all know that recruits live at Section while training, and that Ops can call a close-quarters mission (where everyone stays at Section till the mission concludes) -- they have to be living someplace. I think that Section has one whole level devoted to living quarters. OR, one level for recruits and another level for Operatives (which would make better sense).

2. Birkoff had a crush on Nikita!!! I think it's over now, but I bet he's carried the torch for quite a while. Matthew Ferguson plays the scene where he tries to hit on Nikita so well! The look on his face when he realizes that she thinks of him as a 'little brother' is priceless -- like "S**T!! I KNEW she was going to say that!" [Like he REALLY thought he had a chance while Michael is around! I think he just decided to 'strike while the iron was hot' -- and Nikita was feeling 'caring' -- the little devil!]

He kind of infers that the reason he lied about killing his sister (TOLD you he didn't) is that he wanted to 'impress' Nikita. Also, it seems that he STILL thinks that Nikita killed a cop. I bet that means that Section still has that down in her file (don't you KNOW that Birkoff has hacked into Nikita's fact file ((ESPECIALLY if he had a crush on her)) .., and I wonder if that means that the only person who knows (or cares for that matter) that Nikita didn't kill the cop is Michael, and maybe Madeline (but if Madeline knows, she's keeping it to herself for some reason). I don't think Ops knows (and he definitely doesn't care). [[Okay, this was before we saw Season Three that told us Nikita had been framed .., and that Operations and Madeline knew this info.]]

3. OK, Chris Heyn has said that Birkoff is between 18-20. In "Noise," Nikita says that Birkoff has been at Section for 'seven years.' That means that he was recruited when he was between 11-13! This leads me to the following conclusions:

(a) Birkoff doesn't have a family, or if he does, its like Nikita's 'family.' No way would any type of family (except for the most disfunctional) release a 11-13 child that, in essense, would disappear from their lives forever.

(b) I think Birkoff is like the main character in the movie, "Hackers." I wonder if he was traced and arrested after he released a major computer virus, or caused a major computer crash .., something 'out of the ordinary' that would bring him to Section's attention? I do NOT think it had anything to do with murdering anyone. We can start to see how Section operates. They pull their needed 'specialists' from various places of correction (hackers probably from youth detention, for the most part; con artists/thieves from jails; killers from death row or lifers (which Nikita was)). I have noticed that most of their computer techs are young (except for Simon - SJOTW [Section Jerk of the Week], who isn't red-shirted, darn it (why do the jerks always live)?) [[Again, this was before we found out in Season Four that Birkoff and his 'twin' were born in Section.]]

4. SECTION AND RELATIONSHIPS: Ok, at the end you see Birkoff make a date with another Section Operative (Gail). I've been thinking on the whole relationship thing and I've come to the following conclusion: Section doesn't condone PURELY sexual relationships. I think they DO encourage serious, monogamous relationships, which makes sense. The worst thing that can happen to any agency, armed forces, etc. -- and ESPECIALLY Section with its high head count of wackos -- is to have your operatives/workers/soldiers playing musical beds. This can lead to a host of bad feelings: jealousy, hatred, etc. But, if you condone and/or encourage long-term, serious relationships you have the other side of the coin -- where Operatives watch out for each other, are able to read each other in dangerous situations, etc. You know, like Michael and Nikita.

NOTES OF INTEREST:

5. The music played in the first scene is by the group Morcheeba. The song is "Tape Loop," and it can be found on Track #4 of their CD, "WHO CAN YOU TRUST?"

6. Did you notice that the outfit Nikita wears in the above-noted scene (at the night club) is the exact outfit she wore on the Conan O'Brien show?

Later,

Karen (HayK)


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Dear LFNers:

Responses / Answers to various "Noise" Questions. First the Spoiler --


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Melissa asked:

What the heck were all those stares about at the end of the ep
between Maddy, Ops, and Nik?

Nikita was checking to make sure that Madeline and Ops had cleared Birkoff off 'held in abeyance.' The small nod from Madeline told her they had -- hense her return smile.


Kelli wrote:

I loved this episode, but I am a little disapointed that they didn't explain how Birkoff got into the section. Oh well, another show perhaps. I just want to know, how old is Burkoff supossed to be. Nikita mentions that he hasn't been out of the section in 7 years.

Actually, our 'spy' in the producer's office (Chris Heyn) said that Birkoff was between 18-20. That means he came to Section between 11-13.


Tarrant wrote:

Did anyone else notice that Birkoff seemed more concerned with being killed himself than with the fact that he had just killed someone for the first time? He was quick enough to lash out at Nikita in anger labelling her as a cold-blooded killer of a cop (even though we know she was falsely accused and didn't kill until being brought to the Section). But what really seemed to upset Birky was the fear of being hurt *himself*--he assumed the other agents would protect him!

Good catch! I didn't pick up on this, but you are right. This might be his age (as in lack thereof) showing. Also, Birkoff has been protected from the outside world for most of his life -- most of which he has only been concerned about himself, his computers and Section. He probably has a cyncial/analytical outlook on killing, having spent his 'formative' years around -- lets face it -- cold-blooded killers.

Nikita's morality seems more altruistic; she worries most about innocents being harmed. Her own death doesn't seem to scare her that much: "Death's easy--you don't have to do anything. It's life that's hard to face."

You must also remember that Nikita spent the same part of her life surviving on the streets, while Birkoff spent his being cocooned at Section. Nikita learned very early how easy it was to die -- and how HARD it was to live. I'm just surprised that she was able to keep so much humanity and concern for 'innocents' about her.

Which do you think preoccupies Michael, Madeline or Operations more (if *eithe r* does), having to kill others, or the possibility of being killed? And if it is *being* killed, is the underlying motivation personal fear, or loss of "material" to the Section?

I don't think they ever really think along these lines. I asked my 'expert' (i.e., father who is retired Navy pilot), and he said that if you thought about dying every time you went up you'd either go nuts or crash the plane. It was kind of interesting (and scary) listening to him talk about this subject. We were actually watching a WWII movie about a group of young, army GIs that were picked for this particular unit due to their high intelligence. Their commander, however, instead of accessing their intelligence sent them out as scouts (which had the highest number of casualties/deaths). Well, we were watching when my father noted that this scenario would never have happened "in the real Armed Forces." When I asked why, my by-the-book, always-follow-orders father informed me that the commander would just have been killed and listed as a sniper casualty! I'm sure glad he hadn't 'shared' these thoughts with me when I was a teenager. I would have gone around with expectations of being shot every time I angered him (which was around 85% - 90% of the time).


Karen (HayK)

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Replies:

[> HayK, how wonderful to post these comments to NOISE, even so long after the original airing. I began to watch at the end of Season 2, and didn't go to message boards for a long time; thus missing out on the discussions. Also, following the cancellation of LFN and subsequent inactive boards, it's good to see a long post again! Thanks. -- Gretchen, 13:29:24 04/16/02 Tue


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[> Speaking of Gail...isn't she in Joydrop? I've been listening to that CD a lot lately and thinking back to the old LFN days. Enjoyed reading the post! -- PJ, 14:03:33 04/16/02 Tue


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