Walter is a main character on the television series La Femme Nikita. He is portrayed by Canadian actor Don Francks.
Biography[]
History[]
Walter is the oldest operative in Section One. While he was sexually attracted to Nikita upon her arrival at Section One, Walter becomes her loyal friend and confidante, even participating in a cover-up to hide the ongoing romantic status of Nikita and Michael. Walter's brief marriage to, and loss of, Belinda, an "abeyance operative" is ample motivation for his willingness to do anything for revenge for what Walter perceives as Operations' cruelty. However, Operations continues to spare Walter's life, likely because of a long-standing relationship that began in Vietnam and may have included a period where Walter was Operations' Section trainer, though this is informed speculation.
Recruitment to Section One[]
Not much is known about Walter's recruitment to Section.
Training[]
Prior to his work as the head of Ordnance, Walter spent ten years working in Spec Ops.
Plot[]
Season One[]
From his first glimpse of Nikita as she was lead through Section One by Michael, Walter has been extremely taken by her.
Season Two[]
Walter provides counsel to Nikita as she begins to contemplate the enigma that is Spec Ops operative Jurgen. He vouches for the man's character. "He's in what I call the five percent club." Nikita asks he what that is. "Ninety five percent of the recruits have their soul sucked out of them in the first year. For some reason, this place doesn't get everybody. He's one of us," Walter shares with a twinkle in his eye. He can't, however, determine where Michael falls, when Nikita asks.
Season Three[]
When Nikita seeks someone to help her process Michael's blood cover assignment and marriage to Elena Vacek, Walter confesses to having assisted in setting up the cover. He provides a friendly ear as she shares her observations of the love between Michael and his young son Adam. When Elena's terrorist father Salla Vacek continues to elude Section, Walter is responsible to creating the fast acting poison that was administered to Elena. Michael separation from his son results in him falling into despair. Nikita tries valiantly to cover for him, but it is Walter that gives her some much needed advice. "If I was a little younger, I'd probably follow you around and protect you but as it is all I can do is give you a little advice. You can't give him [Michael] a reason to live. He has to find that for himself."
As Michael and Nikita's relationship sees pressure from Operations and Madeline, Walter offers to facilitate the clandestine meetings between the two operatives. He buries rendezvous coordinates on their mission panels and then wipes all evidence when they return.
Season Four[]
Confident that Nikita has been subjected to some kind of behavioral program, Michael asks Walter to pay special attention to her. If anyone knows Nikita almost as well Michael, it would be Walter.
During Nikita's evaluation of Section One, Walter reveals that he feels betrayed by Nikita's actions. She doesn't argue with his assessment. "You were betrayed. You have a firm grasp on reality." Not one to mince words, Walter quickly points out his infractions. "We both know that I broke every rule in the book helping you and Michael." Nikita asks him why. He's surprised that she doesn't know. "I loved you," Walter tells her somberly. Nikita tells him that she loves him too. "You said it yourself. This place has to change. To do that means to make some difficult choices," she tells him. Nikita confesses to using Walter as someone who could center her while she was engaged in her undercover assignment. Because Walter has committed too many violations against the Charter, he can't remain where he is. Nikita determines that Walter will be sent to The Farm, much to his dismay. She explains that he will serve was a teacher to new recruits. With his evaluation completed, he must depart. "So long...Sugar," Walter tells Nikita in farewell just as he walks out the door.
Season Five[]
Nikita is not satisfied with Walter's replacement, Forrester, in Munitions. Walter is summoned by Nikita and asks for him to return to his old position. He accuses Nikita of misleading everyone to give herself the power and influence she now has, as number two in Section One.
Skills[]
Walter's classification is Level 7. He is the head of Munitions and is therefore responsible for creating new and necessary gadgets, tools, and weapons for use by Section One operatives on their various missions.
Personality[]
Walter is Section One's most affable member, but he is also pragmatic, having survived longer than any other operative currently in service. He has a strong appreciation for women and has little shame when it comes to tossing out sexual innuendo to the attractive female operatives he encounters. Women, in turn, are attracted to him and he has no problems finding women to romance, including those significantly younger than he is. Walter is also loyal and is not opposed to putting himself on the line for a cause that he feels is right.
Relationships[]
Nikita[]
Walter immediately becomes intrigued with Nikita. It was her physical beauty that first caught his attention when she first walked through the main hall of Section One. He was prone to making suggestive sexual remarks to Nikita, who was indulgent of his attention. Walter affectionately called Nikita "Sugar". He was instrumental in assisting Nikita and Michael as they engaged in a clandestine relationship that had been prohibited by Operations and Madeline.
Michael[]
Walter has a clear respect for Michael and recognizes his leadership abilities and the respect other operatives have for Michael as well. Although Michael expects Walter to assist him where Nikita is concerned even if it defies Section mandate, Walter never denies Michael's requests.
Operations[]
In the series finale, after Operations' death, Walter reveals to Quinn that he once saved Operations' life. Operations did not thank him, but also did not cancel him, even though he had many reasons to do so over the years. Walter states: "I guess in the end, we both came out about even."
Madeline[]
| “ | "Walter, you're a sixty year old teenager." | ” |
–Madeline to Walter, Playing With Fire | ||
After being subjected to torture, Walter laments the state Section One is in. "What's happening to this place. This would have never happened back then. We all had our jobs. We did them. We were a team. We respected each other." Madeline somberly counters that they weren't the ones who changed, but the world did.
Birkoff[]
Despite their difference in age, Birkoff and Walter are close friends. Their friendship becomes permanently strained when Walter reveals to Birkoff his parentage, the existence of his twin brother Jason and how a flip of a coin decided that he would remain in Section while his brother would be put up for adoption.
Jason Crawford[]
Quinn[]
Belinda[]
Walter's affinity for women is no secret, but it the Section operative Belinda that he marries. Unfortunately for the couple Belinda has been classified as an Abeyance operative and is sent on her fatal mission the day she and Walter marry. In his grief, an angry Walter makes moves to kill Operations but he is eventually calmed down by Nikita. In an effort to make amends, Walter is gifted with a hologram program that will replicate Belinda's likeness by Madeline. In disgust, he refuses the "gift'.
Quotes[]
- Walter: "You used to come to me to confide in. You used to ask my advice. Now if you were doing that just to figure out who I was, why did you keep coming back after you knew?"
Nikita: "You kept me grounded. When you go undercover for as long as I did, you have to find a center. A place you can stay anchored, so you don't drift. You were my center."
Walter: "I was just starting to feel comfortable disliking you." --Four Light Years Farther
Trivia[]
- Actor Don Francks is responsible for first using "Sugar" as a term of endearment for Nikita. The writers liked the ad lib so much, that it became a regular phrase for Walter.
- Walter, the oldest surviving operative in Section One, is head of Munitions. While initially attracted to Nikita upon her arrival into Section, he ultimately becomes her loyal friend and confidante, even participating in a cover-up to hide the ongoing romantic status of Nikita and Michael. His brief marriage to, and loss of, Belinda, an "abeyance operative", is ample motivation to do anything to get back at what he perceives to be Operations' cruelty.