Ep 20. Brainwash

La Femme Nikita follows the story of a young woman named Nikita who is taken in by a secret government agency known as Section One after being falsely accused of a crime. The agency offers her an ultimatum: work for them or die. Nikita chooses to work for them as an assassin and is trained to become one of the agency's top operatives.

Season 1 Episode 20 of La Femme Nikita is titled "Brainwash" and it follows Nikita as she is sent on a mission to recover a stolen computer chip from a high-security building. The chip contains important information that could be used against Section One, so the agency is eager to retrieve it before it falls into the wrong hands.

Nikita is paired up with another operative named Birkhoff, who is in charge of overseeing the computer side of the mission. Birkhoff is known for his expertise in hacking and computer systems, but he also has a history of being abrasive towards his colleagues. Nikita is determined to make the mission a success, despite Birkhoff's hostile behavior towards her.

The two operatives manage to gain access to the building, but their plan is compromised when they discover that one of the guards on duty is not who he appears to be. It turns out that the guard is a mercenary hired to protect the chip and he is not afraid to use force to prevent anyone from taking it. Nikita and Birkhoff are caught off guard and are forced to retreat, leaving the chip behind.

Back at Section One, Nikita and Birkhoff are reprimanded for their failure. The agency's leader, Operations, suggests that Nikita undergo a process known as "brainwashing" in order to extract information from her about the mission's failure. Brainwashing is a controversial technique used by the agency to erase operatives' memories and replace them with false ones. Nikita is hesitant to undergo the procedure, but she ultimately agrees to it in order to protect herself and her fellow operatives.

The brainwashing process is intense, and Nikita is left disoriented and confused afterwards. She is given a new identity and is sent off on a new mission, unaware of what has happened to her. However, Nikita soon realizes that something is not right and she begins to question her new identity and memories. With the help of another operative named Michael, Nikita begins to uncover the truth about what happened to her during the brainwashing procedure.

As Nikita continues to search for answers, she discovers that the agency has been using brainwashing as a tool to control their operatives for years. Nikita is determined to put an end to the agency's unethical practices, but her actions come with a heavy cost. She risks exposing her true identity and putting herself and her loved ones in danger.

Overall, Season 1 Episode 20 of La Femme Nikita is a thrilling and intense episode that explores the darker side of government agencies and the tactics they use to control their operatives. It is a thought-provoking episode that delves into the ethics of brainwashing and the impact it can have on a person's psyche. Nikita is a strong and determined character who must navigate through a complex web of lies and deception in order to uncover the truth and take down the agency she once worked for.