La Femme Nikita: Brainwash is One of the Darkest Episodes in Television

La Femme Nikita is one of the best shows I have been recently watching. I wasn't expecting a spy thriller to keep me so hooked, due to the dark content we get in so many episodes. I'm barely on the first season, and I've been freaking out with so many dark moments throughout the season. Nikita is working for a government program known as Section One, that consists of taking down dangerous people that could threaten the world.

She is determined to sustain her humanity among Section One, even though she finds herself caring about the people in the program, who are responsible for killing innocents or doing whatever it takes to save more innocent lives. She gets close with one of the Section members named Michael, who is her personal trainer.

She is asked by the program to test out a piece of equipment known as a Phasing Shell, that was built by an evil group of people that wanted to brainwash people into doing anything for them. Nikita is placed within this machine, and she starts to experience her awful childhood life, but with a much happier outcome. After the first visit with the machine, she starts to experience paranoia and hallucinations, and becomes addicted to using the machine again.

It was crazy to see Nikita have so many moments of weakness in this episode. She is normally strong, or tries to be strong in tough missions, but this machine was really exposing a vulnerable side to her character. Watching her become addicted to the machine was so scary, it was like the machine was becoming like a drug to her. Michael eventually gets wind of what the machine is doing to her, and he confronts Nikita in her home.

She tries to kick him out, but he barges into her apartment, determined to help her. She confesses to him that she is desperate to get back to the machine, and he tells her that she has to stay strong for their next mission, that will require the group to save a man from getting assassinated.

The mission takes a turn when Nikita expresses a moment of insanity.

Nikita goes with the group on the mission to save a man from getting killed. Back at Section One base, the group learns that putting Nikita under the machine was a bad idea, because she had been programmed to kill the man they are supposed to protect. Section One warns the group during the mission, and while they are protecting the man from getting killed, Michael notices that Nikita is threatening to kill the man.

Nikita's mental state at this point was so hard to watch. Watching her break down and fall into Michael's arms was so sad. He had no choice but to fire all of her bullets from her own gun, so that she wouldn't remain a danger to the man they had to protect. Nikita goes back to Section One, and when she sees the machine waiting for her, she goes on a rampage.

She destroys the machine completely, and Michael goes over to comfort her. Nikita tells Michael that she doesn't know how she is going to get through her problem, but Michael assures her that she is strong, and that she will be alright. Nikita leaves the room with Michael, hinting that she is going to heal from this experience.

The last ending shot of the episode was like watching someone break out of their addiction for the first time. I felt so sorry for Nikita, the actress who played her characer did a great job, her moments of breaking down were heartbreaking, and I was happy to see her mentor be there for her. Michael is a bit of an asshole in this show, but he does have moments of his own humanity, and he was willing to comfort Nikita, wanting to help her get through her addiction.

It's probably one of the best episodes of season 1!

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Thank you for reading!

Emy Quinn