Very intense episode. If you think about it, it's just 45 minutes of torturing Nikita. What was interesting was seeing a more sadistic side to her as Brandt tries to extract information. Even more revealing were the things that she said to Michael. At first I thought it was just a ploy of some kind. Like code words buried within the message to tip Michael off. Turns out, she really does have some issues she needs to excised. As for Senator Madeline Pierce (Alberta Watson), I don't think she is dead at all. The explosion is a cover for her escape. I can feel it.