My favorite imaginary couples - 3. Michael and Nikita, La Femme Nikita TV series

Dedication, self-sacrifice,mutual trust and equality – this is what makes me passionate about these two characters, performed by Roy Dupuis and Peta Wilson. And these are the things I've always sought in relationships.

In the TV series that I enjoyed so much as a high-schooler, they represent two top-skilled assassins of Section One, a secret government organization which counters (in quite dubious ways) terrorism and other major threats and has nothing to do with the romantic image some films tend to build.    

 The first episode tells us about  the misfortune that threw the heroine into the hands of Section One. Convicted of a murder she never committed, deprived of her identity, the young woman becomes a slave to this organization and has to kill to be kept alive. The tragedy of Nikita is that people targeted by her bosses are not always bastards with a "dirty bomb" in their pocket.  

 The seemingly ruthless and cold Michael Samuelle becomes her trainer and tutor, making her undergo a series of hard and nearly-impossible trials. As Nikita succeeds, they become counterparts, friends, and consequently, lovers. Under Nikita's subtle but permanent influence, Michael gradually gets more humane and reveals us his personal drama that has been hiding for many years behind his icy attitude. (Who else can boast of such teenage crush as I used to have?)  

 But Section One is not the kind of the office that encourages romance and family values. On the contrary, they avoid letting their “modern shinobi” get too close. More than once Michael and Nikita see each other in danger and have to save each other's lives, but have to hide their feelings from their bosses. This secrecy just steams the things up, and the rare love scenes look really touching without be too explicit. In fact, a quick gaze or a hand touch exchange in this show is really worth all the sex scenes in the Game of Thrones. As one of the reviewers accurately wrote, “this show says more with a moment of silence than most shows say in an hour of dialog.”    

 What adds even more charm to our heroes, being smart and strong does not make them invincible; on the contrary, the permanent conflict between what they have to do and what they really are makes them pretty vulnerable. Besides, their looks, though magnificent, have nothing in common with the glossy photoshop beauty of the 2000-s.  It's quite easy to imagine Peta Wilson kick some asses and believe that her arms won't break from holding a gun. But what's nearly impossible - it is to believe that Peta ad Roy haven't been lovers in real life

After watching even two episodes, can you imagine these two brawling upon unwashed plates, an evening movie or the girl/boy next door? I can't, because when any second of your life may be the last one, you learn to appreciate life and the ones who love you, more than once this simple truth is brought to focus in the series.  And another important lesson we can learn from this story: love doesn't like showing off, while a reticent smile is a way sexier than a hungry “i-want-you-right-now” gaze.