This grabs you from the start with the poignant Enigma music (which I had never previously heard) and won't let go until the very end. In fact, poignancy is the theme for this episode. The guest-star who plays Angie is wonderful! Nigel Bennett is always great. Peta's acting is exceptional here. Even Michael is written with a rare shred of almost humanity. Kudos to the writers. And to the unsung casting director who picked all the talent. Of course, the person who made the music selection for the show is due big credit, but the music is always named as responsible for the success of this series. Not so much is said of casting directors, without whom shows easily tank.
There are so many moments in this episode. When the big reveal at the end is done, Peta has her Nikita give Michael a look that says it all: it says what we were all feeling, as viewers. Basically "WTF?" But Peta does it so well. One look. A motion from her neck. A pinch from her lips, and she always expressed so much with her facial expressions. Her acting was phenomenal in this series. (I don't understand what happened in every subsequent project where, from what I've seen, that was no longer the case.) There's also the look Nikita gives Michael at the end, when he expresses restrained emotion, with his final sentence. Wow! This represents what was the very best of this series, way before they (I'm guessing) switch to different, cheaper writers and went on nonsensical arches that lasted way too long. Haunting. The story. The characters. Angie. The music. Peta's performance. A show that stays with you, long after the credits roll. Kudos to the production. This title is gold. A solid 10/10.
