| “ | Go back inside. Tell your colleagues to do the possible. Then the impossible and then the unthinkable, until he's out of danger. Because when you're finished, Doctor, that room will contain either four living men or four corpses. Do you understand? | ” |
–Madeline to Section One doctor, New Regime | ||
Madeline is a main character on the 1997 USA Network television series La Femme Nikita. She was portrayed by Canadian actor Alberta Watson.
Biography[]
History[]
Madeline had a sister named Sarah. After a dispute over a doll, she pushed Sarah down a flight of stairs in a struggle over the toy. Sarah died as a result of her injuries.[1] Their mother seemingly never got over her daughter's death and might have never forgiven Madeline for her role in it.
Recruitment to Section One[]
The reason behind Madeline's recruitment to Section One is never revealed during the course of the series. During her early years in Section, she met and married fellow operative Charles Sand.
Training[]
As the executive strategist for Section One, Madeline is Operations' closest ally and confidante. The ultimate personification of Section One's ideals, she is cold and efficient in the execution of her duties, which often involve using torture to acquire information from captured terrorist subjects.
Plot[]
Season One[]
Madeline presents herself as a mother figure to a newly recruited Nikita.
Madeline's introduction is as Nikita's "new mother". She is to be a maternal figure who will guide Nikita during her two year training period. She also served a crucial role in educating Nikita in deportment. Madeline offered both encouragement and pragmatic advice to Nikita during this time. Nikita and Madeline have the opportunity to work in the field together on a mission to help recover an injured Michael in hostile territory. Madeline induces a heart attack to ensure that they have easier access to hospital records they need. Nikita is appalled at the lengths Madeline will go to for mission closure, despite Nikita's own strong desire to help rescue Michael.
Season Two[]
The history and closeness between Madeline and Operations is further elaborated on. Operations flagrantly disobeys his own protocols when Madeline is kidnapped by former green listed terrorist, Dorian Enquist. He goes as far as to order the use of extreme measures, including cancellation of Michael to prevent Madeline's death at Enquist's hands. She is calm and collected, during her detainment, going as far as critiquing her kidnappers torture techniques. For her part, Madeline is unsympathetic to Operations' emotional attachment to her. "We serve a greater entity. We're not here for each other. In no scenario do we put ourselves before the unprotected public," she lectures Nikita. When Nikita tries to counter Madeline's words but pointing out Operations' own break in protocol, Madeline is unmoved. "His mistake doesn't justify yours."
Operations comforts Madeline as they both deteriorate from a deadly virus.
Madeline kills her husband Charles, confusing Nikita.
When Madeline's long thought dead husband, Charles Sand, appears during a mission, she ruthlessly cancels him due to her concerns about him being compromised.[2]
Operations pursues Madeline romantically, hoping to rekindle an old relationship with her. He mistakes her sleeping with him once more as mutual agreement. She did so because she felt the foreplay between them was becoming a distraction and affecting his work and decisions and in turn affecting hers. "What we had has been over for years. The other night doesn't change a thing. I think you need to face that," she tells him cooly.
Season Three[]
Madeline's "Type One Directive" against Michael and Nikita's romantic partnership will kick off a chain of events that even Madeline is unable to predict, events that will force her to make a fateful choice that will have major repercussions on the future of Section One.
Season Four[]
Madeline spends a significant amount of time helping to maintain the Gelman Process' levels on Nikita while she is still critical. She is also the first to detect when Nikita is no longer under the influence of the Gelman Process.
Madeline is the first to be evaluated by Mr. Jones and Nikita. She is insulted by the conclusions they make about her. "How dare you two have the presumption to judge my contribution to this organization on one single event," Madeline tightly tells them. Nikita tells her that the relationship between her and Operations is what concerns them. "You two do not compliment each other," Nikita tells her. Madeline rises from her chair and addresses Nikita. "I really don't need to hear what some ad hoc internal affairs bimbo thinks of my work. Get to the punch line." Mr. Jones wants Madeline cancelled but Nikita does not. "There's no place for her here," he tells Nikita. "Maybe not in Section, but she does have assets." Mr. Jones asks Nikita if it's a personal plea. She confirms that it is. Mr. Jones tells Madeline the that decision is his and his alone. "No, you understand. I'll make my own decision regarding my fate."
Madeline removes a hidden pill from her hair. Quietly defiant, she sits down, chews the pill and swallows it, committing suicide in front of them rather than submit to their recommendation of separation from Operations and reprogramming. Almost instantly Madeline slumps over in her chair dead as the poison takes effect. "I shall miss her fortitude," Mr. Jones remarks as he observes her corpse and then calls for Housekeeping. Operations gives Madeline's body a final kiss goodbye, just before it is wheeled away.
Season Five[]
A grief stricken Operations is having difficulty adjusting to the new status quo in Section One. Using Birkoff's AI software, Kate Quinn creates a holographic double of Madeline. It temporarily improves his mood. He uses it to provide insight into Madeline's state of mind when she committed suicide. The hologram states that Madeline could not bare the possibility of being separated from him as per Nikita's recommendation. Eventually, the hologram advises Operations to discontinue its use.
Skills[]
Madeline's keen analytical mind serves her well at reading Section's operatives.
Madeline is a master manipulator who knows the psyche of each Section operative inside and out, and can push the proper buttons to get what she wants from each one at any time. This brings her into constant conflict with Nikita, whose independent spirit she grudgingly admires, but overall, views as a threat to her control within the organization.
Personality[]
Madeline has a chamelon-like personality that allows her to present different personas to suit her needs. She can offer operatives a softer and understanding touch when needed or cold, brutality. Her belief in the work Section One does enables her to set aside everything that does not accomplish its goals, including her own needs. She does not necessarily seek power for herself but she has an excellent understanding of her worth and her contributions to Section One. Therefore, she does not take being cast aside or a reduction in her responsibilities very favorably and will use her resources to see herself restored to her previous status.
Even with her senior role within Section One, Madeline enjoys friendly relationships with several young male operatives. It's enough to inspire petty jealously in Operations when he observes her in their company. Her activities are no secret, as Adrian once points out to Operations, "It doesn't bother you that she sleeps with every young stud in Section?"
Relationships[]
Operations[]
Operations and Madeline assess Michael.
Madeline and Operations complement each others' strengths quite effectively. She serves as rational counsel to him on matters concerning personnel and mission objectives. There are strong romantic overtones between them, betraying their past as lovers. Of the two, Madeline is far more rational when it comes to their relationship and is willing to sever it without difficulty. This is in contrast to Operations' more emotional reactions to the relationship and by extension her safety. Madeline disapproves of any activities that use Section resources to guarantee her well-being. She and Operations met prior to their current assignments in Ukraine. Operations once affectionately hinted to a situation in which she saved his life, but Madeline dismisses the notion as exaggeration on his part.[3] Madeline temporarily reinstates a sexual relationship with Operations to alleviate the distraction that the tension between was creating. "It was affecting your work and your decisions. And in turn affecting mine," she tells him. However, she had no interest in continuing it beyond its intended purpose of clearing the air. She claims to not bear Operations any ill will over his decision to let her believe that her husband had been dead for nine years.
So affected by Madeline's death is Operations that he readily accepts the opportunity to interact with an artificial version of Madeline. He finds the A.I. incredibly lifelike but he requests alterations to make it softer and more receptive to his affection. Ultimately, he sees the dangers in his attachment to a technology that cannot bring back the woman he misses and has the program terminated.
Adrian[]
A mentor and mother figure of sorts, the founder of Section One had a profound influence on Madeline. Walter observes to Nikita that Adrian was the only person Madeline was ever afraid of.
Michael[]
Madeline understands the value Michael has to Section One. On the rare occasions that he falters, she advocates that he be given ample time to remedy his own problems.
Nikita[]
Madeline is initially introduced to Nikita as "her new mother." Given Nikita's abandonment by her own mother, the approach had considerable merit. Madeline provided a stern but still somewhat compassionate hand to Nikita through her first year as an operative. She was a softer counterpoint to Operations' more practical approach to Section's role in fighting global terrorism. Moments of counsel were often shared between the two, as well as brief moments of levity. Friction between the women begin to emerge as Nikita continues to question Madeline's and therefore Section's brutal techniques. For her part, Madeline starts to have little patience of Nikita's continued naivety, especially in her second year as an operative.
Charles Sand[]
Charles is Madeline's husband who was operating undercover. He was purposely left out in the cold by Operations for nine years before he emerged as an assistant to Abel Goellner.
Quotes[]
- Nikita: "Petrosian was willing to give me a life. As much as one can have inside Section. But in order to get it I lied, I bullied. And who knows, eventually I might even have killed in cold blood. In other words, I found out what it's like to be you."
Madeline: "And you didn't like it."
Nikita: "No, I didn't."
Madeline: "Power is addictive, Nikita. You've had a taste. It's in your blood now."
Nikita: "You're wrong."
Madeline: "You'll be back. It's only a matter of time, but there will be one difference. The next time, I'll be waiting for you."--New Regime
- Madeline: (to Nikita) "I really don't need to hear what some ad hoc internal affairs bimbo thinks of my work."--Four Light Years Farther
Behind the Scenes[]
Casting[]
"Alberta has a very compelling combination of ruthlessness, compassion and sensuality," says executive consultant, Joel Surnow, of why he chose Watson for the role, adding that they get tons of E-mails about Maddie. People can't seen to understand how she can be so ruthless. It's a character Watson enjoys but doesn't find difficult to play, except for memorizing the "techno babble" lines. "She's like a cyborg," says Watson. "She gets her job done no matter what she has to do. Her outward approach is civil and respectful, but she wouldn't think twice about ripping someone's heart out." [4]
Wardrobe[]
Trivia[]
Madeline is the Level 9 executive strategist, second-in-command, chief tactician, and psychologist for Section One. She is Operations' closest ally and confidante. The ultimate personification of Section One's ideals, she is cold and efficient in the execution of her duties, which often involve using torture to extract information from captured terrorist subjects. A master manipulator, she knows the psyche of each Section operative inside and out, and can push the right buttons to get what she wants from each one each time. This brings her into constant conflict with Nikita, whose independent spirit she grudgingly admires, but overall, views as a threat to her control within the organization. Madeline's "Type One Directive" against Michael's and Nikita's romantic partnership kicked off a chain of events that even Madeline was unable to predict, events that eventually forced her to make choices that had major repercussions on the future of Section One.
However she also knows the limits of the operatives. In one episode Nikita was ordered to cancel an operative and she couldn't do it. She tried and faltered, but Madeline came into the scenes and told Nikita that was enough took the gun from her hand, told her that she could not do her job. Nikita left to the sound of a gun shot as Madeline carried out the "cancellation".