Paul and Madeline

[swatkat]

Since we were talking about harshness - are we, the Michael/Nikita fans, too harsh when it comes to Paul and Madeline? Even those of us who actually like and admire them (including myself)? We're always going on about their cruelty and how Michael or Nikita (Nikita for me *g*) would've done a better job as Operations - why is that so? Now that we know all about Oversight and Centre, wasn't what Paul and Madeline did for their own survival, just like the way Michael and Nikita fought to survive in Section? And what is the guarantee that Michael and Nikita wouldn't do the exact same things when they got the power? Your thoughts here. *g*

Nell, tell me why Nikita wouldn't fall in the same trap as Paul in order to survive.

Comments

Hmmmm

[jaybee65.livejournal.com]

And unless you are proposing that Paul and Madeline were treating Nikita as a special case from day one, I’ve always assumed that her access wasn’t especially unique – that Operations and Madeline were that involved with the training of all their operatives.

Actually, Nikita *was* treated as a special case from day one, and Madeline cited that fact in NOLF as a major piece of evidence in her attempt to persuade Nikita that Operations was her father.

But insane daddy (and boy do I agree with you on that) didn’t replace Paul – as you point out below – or permanently bar him from Center. He also didn’t mandate Madeline’s death. Paul, lost in his own depression ran out wily-nily on a live mission with almost no back up, and apparently, no Kevlar. Madeline chose to end her own life. Daddy had no direct control over either of those events. I have always assumed, in both cases, that Paul and Madeline gave up their lives because they each felt utterly bereft of support and rejected by those they expected to impress – and without any support or power base from below they felt unacceptably helpless in the face of their apparent reversal of fortune.

That's an assumption I definitely don't share -- but I'll spare us all another tangent. LOL.

[nell65.livejournal.com]

Actually, Nikita *was* treated as a special case from day one, and Madeline cited that fact in NOLF as a major piece of evidence in her attempt to persuade Nikita that Operations was her father.

Madeline was lying to her in NOLF.

And Nikita was used as a lab rat (the phasing shell) and then sentenced to abeyence in her first year. What was 'special' about those things? Beyond the fact that they indicated that Madeline and Paul were perfectly happy to lose her services?

That's an assumption I definitely don't share -- but I'll spare us all another tangent. LOL.

I know. I have read, and at the time, found incredibly convincing your version of what was going on for Madeline - and, though I'm less clear on this one, for Paul as well. But your views haven't sunk in yet, or at least not enough to erase my original impressions...so that's what I'm going with for now. :)

A bit more

[jaybee65.livejournal.com]

Madeline was lying to her in NOLF.

About Paul being Nikita's father! But pointing out that Nikita had had unusual treatment and access to the higher-ups was what she used to make the lie potentially convincing -- it thus had to be an obvious truth.

And Nikita was used as a lab rat (the phasing shell) and then sentenced to abeyence in her first year. What was 'special' about those things? Beyond the fact that they indicated that Madeline and Paul were perfectly happy to lose her services?

The specialness was in the level of contact and exposure she had to the upper-level command.

ITA

[mscyanide.livejournal.com]

And on the issue of Paul and Maddy's posistion's post review also.