LA FEMME NIKITA

Full Name:	La Femme Nikita
Series Name:	La Femme Nikita
Nationality:	American
Organization:	Section One
Occupation	Agent

Creator:	Joel Surnow, Luc Besson
Time Span:	1991 - 2020

ABOUT THE SERIES

Nikita is an agent with Section One.

That agency is billed, by themselves, as a clandestine anti-terrorist organization. Early in her training, Nikita is told by her trainer and handler, Michael, "Section One is the most clandestine organization on the planet. It's our job to bring down the criminals and terrorists that no one else can get." To do this, it employs tactics that no official government bureau could ever pretend to use: extortion, manipulation, torture, and murder. The concept was simple; the bad guys were very bad so to stop them, you had to be worse. And they were.

Section One found a very interesting way to staff its needed number of operatives. They trolled the prisons looking for inmates that had already racked up a few victims in their civilian lives. They faked the deaths of those they considered viable and then set about training and indoctrinating them. If a trainee proved too untenable or unwilling to become part of the group, well, they were headed towards a bad end already and the world thought them dead so finishing the job was expedient.

That is where Nikita came in.

She was in prison for the murder of a police officer, sentenced to life without parole. Her suicide was faked and she was whisked off to the training facility to begin her new life as a Section One operative, just another hardened killer being used for the greater good.

The problem was that she had not killed anyone. In an organization filled with killers being taught to become better killers, she was the only one who had never taken a life. Unfortunately, to keep hers she would have to adapt.

Now, do not get the idea that just because she is innocent of the murder she has been sentenced for, Nikita is an innocent waif. She is innocent, of course, of killing someone but from the moment we first meet her, she has been living on the street for years and has more than a little talent at survival. She also has more than a normal share of attitude as shown when she first walks the corridors of Section One; she has no idea of what she had landed in but she seems prepared to challenge it nonetheless.

A couple of point to know about Nikita and her new life.

One is that while she does learn to be almost as hardened as Section One wants her to be, her code of ethics does not die along the way. She was really a good person at the start and even with all the things she has to do in her job, she stays basically a good person/

Two is that for all its talk about defending democracy by doing bad things to bad people for the greater good, Section One has some pretty nasty skeletons in its ever filling closets.

MOVIES

Number of Movies:	2
First Appearance:	1991
Last Appearance:	1993

In 1991, a terrific almost noir film came out of France introducing us to the character of Nikita. It has since rightly acquired a cult following and deserves to be enjoyed several times in ones life.

Two years later, an American version was released. It got a bad rap, IMHO, because since I had not yet seen the original, I thoroughly enjoyed this rendition.

The first would be the inspiration for the two television series, one of which is described here.


1			La Femme Nikita aka Nikita Director: Luc Besson Writer: Luc Besson Actors: Anne Parillaud as Nikita, Marc Duret as Rico Released: 1991 "Convicted felon Nikita, instead of going to jail, is given a new identity and trained, stylishly, as a top secret spy/assassin."

2			Point of No Return Director: John Badham Writers: Robert Getchelle, Alexandra Seros Actors: Bridget Fonda as Maggie Hayward, Gabriel Byrne as Bob, Dermot Mulroney as J.P., Miguel Ferrer as Kaufman Released: 1993 "A government fakes the death of a criminal to turn this young woman into a killer on its service."

TELEVISION


Number of Episodes:	96
First Appearance:	1997
Last Appearance:	2020
Network:	USA

REGULAR CAST
Peta Wilson	Nikita [ 1-5 ]
Roy Dupuis	Michael Samuelle [ 1-5 ]
Eugene Robert Glazer	Operations [ 1-5 ]
Seymour Birkoff	1-5 [ ]
Alberta Watson	Madeline [ 1-5 ]

The success of the French movie La Femme Nikita, created by Luc Besson, as well as the American remake Point of No Return starring Bridget Fonda two years later, prompted producer Joel Surnow to bring it to the small screen for the American audience.

One major change would be made in the main character, however, to make it more palatable for viewers. In both movies, Nikita/Maggie was a pretty edgy character who was sentenced to death for a murder she actually did commit. As a result, the move to being a trained killer for the government was not a huge leap.

That would not sit well on television, especially for a series lead the audience was supposed to get behind. So, the change was that Nikita was actually innocent of the crime; it was just that no one knew the truth nor believed her protests. This would naturally force the related change in making it difficult to get Nikita to take a life but that added drama and pathos to the storyline.

Note: the plot synopses shown below in quotes come from the excellent IMDB.


1	Nikita Episode 1-1, first aired 01/13/1997 Director: Jon Cassar Writer: Cyrus Nowrasteh "While living in a crime-ridden neighborhood, young, beautiful Nikita is wrongly accused of murdering a police officer and falsely imprisoned."

2	Friend Episode 1-2, first aired 01/20/1997 Director: Guy Magar Writer: Naomi Janzen "Waiting at a cafe for an informant who will advise her who the next Section One target will be, Nikita is recognized by her longtime friend Julie, who knew Nikita before she went undercover with Section One."

3	Simone Episode 1-3, first aired 01/27/1997 Director: Jerry Ciccoritti Writer: Michael Loceff "Section One infiltrates a terrorist organization that uses a radar-cloaking device to cause midair collisions between airliners. This is the same organization that supposedly killed Michael's wife, Simone."

4	Charity Episode 1-4, first aired 02/03/1997 Director: Kari Skogland Writer: Robert Cochran "Nikita is assigned to get close to Alec Chandler, without knowing the real reason why. When she begins to fall for him, she learns things that make the assignment truly challenging."

5	Mother Episode 1-5, first aired 02/09/1997 Director: Guy Magar Writer: Naomi Janzen "Criminals John Wicke and his wife, Helen, obtain a nuclear trigger, intending to sell it to the highest bidder. During a failed purchase attempt, four Section One operatives die in an explosion."

6	Love Episode 1-6, first aired 02/17/1997 Director: Jon Cassar Writer: Michael Loceff "Section One intercepts a husband-and-wife bodyguard team hired to work for terrorist Perry Bauer. To gain information on Bauer's next strike, Section One assigns Michael and Nikita to impersonate the captured couple and infiltrate Bauer's operation."

7	Treason Episode 1-7, first aired 02/24/1997 Director: Jerry Ciccoritti Writer: Robert Cochran "Nikita's latest assignment is to take down a man named Suba. When an attempt goes bad Nikita suspects someone on the team might be a traitor."

8	Escape Episode 1-8, first aired 03/03/1997 Director: George Bloomfield Writers: Andrew Dettmann, Daniel Truly "Section One operative Eric Webber offers to help Nikita escape from Section One with him, but Nikita does not know whether she can trust him."

9	Gray Episode 1-9, first aired 03/10/1997 Director: Ken Girotti Writer: Robert Cochran "After infiltrating Section One's computer system and stealing a directory containing the identity of every operative in Section One, a criminal named Harding arranges a secret auction between Section One and a ruthless terrorist..."

10	Choice Episode 1-10, first aired 04/07/1997 Director: George Bloomfield Writer: Michael Loceff "After a major drug deal goes awry and results in many deaths, Section One is called in to investigate. One of the dead was an undercover operative in a covert C.I.A. task force assigned to stop the distribution of heroin in North America and Europe."

11	Rescue Episode 1-11, first aired 04/14/1997 Director: Ken Girotti Writer: Peter Bellwood "Nikita is desperate to recover a wounded Michael when he's left behind after a mission to destroy a chemical weapons plant."

12	Innocent Episode 1-12, first aired 04/21/1997 Director: George Bloomfield Writer: Michael Loceff "Nikita realizes that the man Section thinks is the key to a terrorist threat is an innocent victim of bad timing."

13	Recruit Episode 1-13, first aired 06/22/1997 Director: Reza Badiyi Writer: Larry Raskin "Nikita digs into the past of her violent new recruit Karyn and uncovers shocking facts about the newest Operative."

14	Gambit Episode 1-14, first aired 06/29/1997 Director: Jon Cassar Writer: Michael Loceff "Madeline confronts her mysterious past while foiling a terrorist plot to contaminate the water supply with radiation."

15	Obsessed Episode 1-15, first aired 07/20/1997 Director: T.J. Scott Writer: Robert Cochran "Michael seduces a hit man's wife to get access to the man's computer, but Nikita's heart aches for the betraying and betrayed wife, Lisa."

16	Noise Episode 1-16, first aired 07/27/1997 Directors: Reza Badiyi, T.J. Scott Writer: Michael Loceff "Nikita helps Birkoff recover from the aftereffects of his first murder as their mission goes wrong."

17	War Episode 1-17, first aired 08/03/1997 Director: Rene Bonniere Writer: Maurice Hurley "War breaks out between Section and the terrorist group Red Cell. Michael and Nikita are captured, and tortured for the new location of Section."

18	Missing Episode 1-18, first aired 08/10/1997 Director: Reza Badiyi Writer: Naomi Janzen "Operations offers Nikita her freedom if she agrees to keep his son, an arms dealer, alive."

19	Voices Episode 1-19, first aired 08/17/1997 Director: David Warry-Smith Writer: Maurice Hurley "A serial killer picks the wrong victim when he attacks Nikita. But after she sends him on his way, a cop on the case begins searching for her as a vital witness to the man's crimes."

20	Brainwash Episode 1-20, first aired 09/21/1997 Director: Rene Bonniere Writer: Peter Bellwood "Nikita tests a virtual reality device and finds herself brainwashed into performing a suicide/assassination."

21	Verdict Episode 1-21, first aired 09/28/1997 Directors: Rene Bonniere, Gilbert M. Shilton Writers: Peter Bellwood, Robert Cochran "An assassin kidnaps Jovan Mijovoch along with bodyguard Nikita, who is torn when she hears the killer's story."

22	Mercy Episode 1-22, first aired 10/05/1997 Director: Joseph Scanlan Writer: Michael Loceff "Nikita is sent on a suicide mission and Michael tries desparately to save her."

23	Hard Landing Episode 2-1, first aired 01/04/1998 Director: Jon Cassar Writer: Michael Loceff "With Michael's help, Nikita survives Section One's assassination attempt on her, but Section One believes that she is dead. While working as a waitress, Nikita is kidnapped by the Freedom League and taken to the terrorist group's headquarters."

24	Spec Ops Episode 2-2, first aired 01/11/1998 Director: T.J. Scott Writer: Robert Cochran "Nikita's deception could be uncovered when she must retrain with Jurgen, a special operations agent ordered to evaluate her physical, psychological and emotional states."

25	Third Person Episode 2-3, first aired 01/18/1998 Director: Jon Cassar Writer: Michael Loceff "Nikita continues her retraining sessions with Jurgen, and Michael is not happy about it. Jurgen believes that Michael wants to kill him, and the two men fight. Nikita and Jurgen have affection for each other. Operations returns Nikita to full status."

26	Approaching Zero Episode 2-4, first aired 02/01/1998 Director: Rene Bonniere Writer: Michael Loceff "Nikita visits Jurgen at his spacious country house. Nikita and Jurgen are about to make love when both are summoned for an assignment. Jurgen is blackmailing Section One. Jurgen volunteers for a suicide mission."

27	New Regime Episode 2-5, first aired 03/01/1998 Director: Jon Cassar Writer: Robert Cochran "Egran Petrosian leads Section One and begins making changes while Operations is badly hurt because of an assassination attempt . Petrosian wants Nikita to be his second in command and this endangers Madeline's status quo."

28	Mandatory Refusal Episode 2-6, first aired 03/08/1998 Director: Ken Girotti Writer: David Ehrman "Michael's mission to kill Dorian Enquist, a fringe member of the terrorist community, goes awry, and Enquist holds Madeline hostage. Nikita realizes that the only way to save Michael is to rescue Madeline."

29	Half-Life Episode 2-7, first aired 03/22/1998 Director: Rene Bonniere Writer: Maurice Hurley "Michael helps a college friend, Rene Dion, who heads a terrorist group. Rene took care of Michael's sister after Section One orchestrated Michael's arrest and phony 'death', and now Michael repays the favor by helping Rene escape from Section One."

30	Darkness Visible Episode 2-8, first aired 03/29/1998 Director: Ken Girotti Writer: David Ehrman "Section One must stop Radovan Luca, whose contacts to the international arms community aid a rebel force inside the Balkans. While on a mission to eliminate the Balkan terrorist, Nikita and Michael help two children flee the country."

31	Open Heart Episode 2-9, first aired 04/05/1998 Director: Rene Bonniere Writer: Elliot Stern "A surgeon paid by Red Cell implants a powerful time bomb in the abdomen of a human. Nikita intentionally gets arrested for smuggling hashish to make contact with Jenna Vogler, the only person who can identify the human time bomb."

32	First Mission Episode 2-10, first aired 04/12/1998 Director: Guy Magar Writers: Peter Mohan, Jim Henshaw "Faced with too many missions and too few team leaders, Operations and Michael appoint Nikita as a team leader. Assigned to capture Phillip Stark, who has been buying spent fuel rods from nuclear reactors in Eastern Europe, Nikita chooses her own team."

33	Psychic Pilgrim Episode 2-11, first aired 04/19/1998 Director: Rene Bonniere Writer: Michael Loceff "Nikita and Michael pose as a happily married couple in order to obtain information about First Flag, an infamous terrorist group, from its leader's attorney, Roland Armel."

34	Soul Sacrifice Episode 2-12, first aired 06/14/1998 Director: David Warry-Smith Writer: Michael Loceff "Terry, a veteran operative who is pregnant, escapes from Section One in order to save her baby, but Nikita and Michael return her to Section One, not reporting the incident to Operations, to save Terry's life."

35	Not Was Episode 2-13, first aired 06/21/1998 Director: Rene Bonniere Writer: Michael Loceff "Section One steals secret files belonging to Orlando Perez, a high-level enemy operative from Red Cell, but Red Cell captures Michael and gets interrogated. An intravenous drug administered by Red Cell causes Michael to lose his memory."

36	Double Date Episode 2-14, first aired 06/28/1998 Director: Jon Cassar Writer: Robert Cochran "A psychotic murderer and sadistic wife-beater who was thought to have been killed by Section One, David Fanning comes to work for Section because he knows its next target, Nikolai Kusko, the former head of the Romanian Secret Police."

37	Fuzzy Logic Episode 2-15, first aired 07/05/1998 Director: Ken Girotti Writer: Michael Loceff "An unknown terrorist group performs small bombings while preparing for a major act of mass destruction. In order to expose the terrorist group, Section One must figure out the computer code the group is using."

38	Old Habits Episode 2-16, first aired 07/12/1998 Director: Terry Ingram Writer: Maurice Hurley "After seeing a bus depot filled with people get blown up by the terrorist group Bright Star, Nikita vows to stop its activities. Gregory Formitz, who supplies the group with forged passports, visas and press credentials, agrees to help Section One."

39	Inside Out Episode 2-17, first aired 07/26/1998 Director: Ken Girotti Writer: Maurice Hurley "Section One uncovers a possible Red Cell munitions outpost in Glasgow, Scotland, and sends a team of operatives to overtake and neutralize the facility. Instead, Mowen returns to Section One bringing a deadly virus back with him."

40	Off Profile Episode 2-18, first aired 08/02/1998 Director: John Fawcett Writer: David Ehrman "Operations assigns sexy but arrogant mission profiler Andrea Karsov to Michael's team in order for her to obtain necessary field experience."

41	Last Night Episode 2-19, first aired 08/09/1998 Director: Clark Johnson Writer: Robert Cochran "Nikita searches for Julia, a 9-year-old girl whom Nikita encountered during a mission to capture free-lance demolitions expert Joachin Beeka, who has been hired by a terrorist group."

42	In Between Episode 2-20, first aired 08/16/1998 Director: Joseph Scanlan Writer: Michael Loceff "With his massive financial resources, Abel Goellner destabilizes Third World countries friendly to the West and places hostile governments in control. Posing as money brokers, Michael and Nikita meet with Goellner and his confidante, Karel Giraldi."

43	Adrian's Garden (1) Episode 2-21, first aired 08/23/1998 Director: Brad Turner Writer: Michael Loceff "Former neighbor Carla and her boyfriend Steven kidnap Nikita and take her to a cottage in the country owned by Adrian, the founder of Section One and the only person to successfully leave it."

44	End Game (2) Episode 2-22, first aired 08/30/1998 Director: Joseph Scanlan Writers: Robert Cochran, David Ehrman "Under Adrian's direction, Nikita risks her own life to retrieve incriminating files from restricted areas within Section One for Adrian's quest to destroy it. Operations and Madeline suspect that Nikita may be guilty of security breaches at the Section."

45	Looking for Michael Episode 3-1, first aired 01/03/1999 Director: Jon Cassar Writer: Michael Loceff "Operations and Madeline plot to kill Nikita. Nikita locates the elusive Michael and experiences an emotional jolt when she meets his wife and son."

46	Someone Else's Shadow Episode 3-2, first aired 01/10/1999 Director: Rene Bonniere Writer: Michael Loceff "Nikita moves in with Michael and his family in order to help Section One locate and kill Elena's father--Salla Vacek. Section One captures and tortures one of Vacek's Cambridge classmates to elicit information about the terrorist's activities."

47	Opening Night Jitters Episode 3-3, first aired 01/17/1999 Director: Jon Cassar Writer: David J. Burke "Section One orders Michael to poison Elena in order to trap her father, international terrorist Salla Vacek. From her hospital bed, Elena witnesses the actual death of her father and the staged death of her husband, Michael."

48	Gates of Hell Episode 3-4, first aired 01/24/1999 Director: Rene Bonniere Writer: Robert Cochran "Unable to see his son ever again, Michael contemplates suicide. On a mission with Michael, Nikita is kidnapped. With total disregard for his personal safety, Michael kills many enemy agents and successfully rescues Nikita."

49	Imitation of Death Episode 3-5, first aired 03/07/1999 Director: Brad Turner Writer: Cyrus Nowrasteh "Section One destroys a genetics laboratory designed to create perfect little terrorists. Nikita suspects that Section One has a similar laboratory of its own, but she fails to prove so to Michael."

50	Love and Country Episode 3-6, first aired 03/21/1999 Director: Ted Hanlan Writer: Laurence Hertzog "Madeline poses as a psychotherapist to convince a South American political candidate's devoted wife--who is also a Section operative once married to Operations--to kill the politico."

51	Cat and Mouse Episode 3-7, first aired 03/28/1999 Director: Terry Ingram Writer: Ed Horowitz "Without Section One's knowledge, Nikita is ambushed during a mission and replaced by a Red Cell look-alike. Nikita is forced to assist her double in order to protect Michael. Series star PETA WILSON plays a dual role."

52	Outside the Box Episode 3-8, first aired 04/04/1999 Director: Gord Langevin Writer: Jim Korris "Section One kidnaps Benjamin Kruger, a man with a photographic memory, to help on a mission. To force Kruger to cooperate, Madeline shows him a manufactured videotape of him killing a man."

53	Slipping Into Darkness Episode 3-9, first aired 04/11/1999 Director: Rick Jacobson Writer: Peter M. Lenkov "Michael empties a vial containing a psychotropic agent into Operations' coffee mug. As his judgement disintegrates and paranoid delusions increase, Operations sends operatives on a mission to capture a man who's been dead for four years."

54	Under the Influence Episode 3-10, first aired 04/25/1999 Director: Rick Jacobson Writer: Peter M. Lenkov "Nikita pretends to be married to a vile, sadistic terrorist as Section One endeavors to locate anthrax rockets that her 'husband' and his brother stole."

55	Walk On By Episode 3-11, first aired 04/25/1999 Director: Rene Bonniere Writer: Michael Loceff "A new recruit--someone from Nikita's past--knows where Nikita can find her mother. Nikita enlists Michael's aid when she realizes that her mother has hired a private investigator because she doesn't believe Nikita is dead."

56	Threshold of Pain Episode 3-12, first aired 06/06/1999 Director: Terry Ingram Writer: Michael Sloan "On a mission to terminate a terrorist organization called Black March, Nikita and two fellow operatives, are captured. Mark reveals the location of a Section substation to save Angela, his lover, from torture, but later blames Nikita for the disclosure."

57	Beyond the Pale Episode 3-13, first aired 06/13/1999 Director: Rene Bonniere Writer: Lawrence Hertzog "When another operative, Zalman, gets promoted to head strategist instead of Michael, Michael and Nikita flee Section One. Section operatives capture Michael, who refuses to reveal Nikita's location until Zalman shows him a videotape of his son, Adam."

58	Hand to Hand Episode 3-14, first aired 06/20/1999 Director: T.J. Scott Writer: Ed Horowitz "To capture an industrialist who finances terrorist bombings around the world, Nikita thinks that she is infiltrating a white slavery ring, but she finds her mission at an adult entertainment complex far more deadly."

59	Before I Sleep Episode 3-15, first aired 06/27/1999 Director: Joel Surnow Writer: Peter M. Lenkov "When a captured terrorist kills herself, Section One recruits Sarah Gerard, an innocent look-alike with a terminal disease, to learn the location of a terrorist group's headquarters. Madeline lies about having an antidote to Sarah's illness."

60	I Remember Paris Episode 3-16, first aired 07/18/1999 Director: Terry Ingram Writer: Michael Loceff "When the terrorist group Glass Curtain discovers Section One's location, Operations evacuates everyone and incinerates the underground facility. Section One operatives kill everyone at Glass Curtain headquarters."

61	All Good Things Episode 3-17, first aired 07/25/1999 Director: Terry Ingram Writer: Ed Horowitz "When Operations temporarily leaves Section One, Michael assumes full command. But will Michael's newfound power forever change Nikita's feelings towards him?"

62	Third Party Ripoff Episode 3-18, first aired 08/01/1999 Director: T.J. Scott Writer: Michael Loceff "Believing that Michael and Nikita's relationship compromises Michael's decision-making ability and jeopardizes Section One's missions, Operations and Madeline set in motion another plan to separate the two operatives. A rift develops between Walter and Birkoff when they date the same woman, a beautiful mission profiler."

63	Any Means Necessary Episode 3-19, first aired 08/08/1999 Director: David Straiton Writer: Lawrence Hertzog "Greg Hillinger, a subordinate, sabotages Birkoff's computer terminal to make Birkoff appear incompetent to Operations."

64	Three Eyed Turtle Episode 3-20, first aired 08/15/1999 Director: Jon Cassar Writer: Maurice Hurley "When a mission fails, Hillinger conceals his negligence. Birkoff does not reveal to Madeline that Hillinger is responsible for the mission's failure, but later he confesses the truth to Operations."

65	Playing with Fire (1) Episode 3-21, first aired 08/22/1999 Director: Joseph Scanlan Writer: Peter M. Lenkov "Operations sends Michael's team to steal detonation chips from the base camp of the kamikaze terrorist group Crimson Storm. After the successful mission, Michael and Nikita steal away for a romantic interlude, but Birkoff feels obligated to report them to Madeline and Operations."

66	On Borrowed Time (2) Episode 3-22, first aired 08/29/1999 Director: Ted Hanlan Writer: Peter M. Lenkov "Nikita and Michael infiltrate Genefex, a pharmaceutical lab making biological weapons for Red Cell. At Genefex, Nikita unexpectedly encounters Madeline, who uses a combination of chemical and electronic means to neutralize Nikita's feelings..."

67	Getting Out of Reverse Episode 4-1, first aired 01/09/2000 Director: Jon Cassar Writer: Michael Loceff "Michael discovers that Madeline had Nikita 'adjusted' in order to eliminate her emotions and keep her under strict control. Fearing this process will be used on everyone in Section One, Michael attempts to find the man who created this brainwashing."

68	There Are No Missions Episode 4-2, first aired 01/09/2000 Director: Rene Bonniere Writer: Michael Loceff "Madeline intructs Nikita to carry out Operation's order to kill the missing Michael. Nikita has a physical confrontation with Michael when he infiltrates Section One, and she ends up bound and gagged."

69	View of the Garden Episode 4-3, first aired 01/16/2000 Director: Jon Cassar Writer: Robert Cochran "Determined to reverse the effects of Gelman's mind-control process on Nikita, Michael enlists Adrian's aid. Operations and Madeline send Nikita to kill Michael, but he kidnaps her instead."

70	Into the Looking Glass Episode 4-4, first aired 01/23/2000 Director: Rene Bonniere Writer: Peter M. Lenkov "Nikita continues to suffer the negative effects of Gelman's brain reprogramming, which becomes permanent in five days. With Birkoff and Walter's support, Michael kidnaps Nikita to deprogram her."

71	Man in the Middle Episode 4-5, first aired 02/20/2000 Director: Ted Hanlan Writer: Lawrence Hertzog "Nikita and Michael pose as heroin dealers to get close to a dashing, drug-using playboy and arms supplier with ties to Red Cell. When the weapons dealer proposes marriage to Nikita, Operations orders her to accept."

72	Love, Honor and Cherish Episode 4-6, first aired 02/27/2000 Director: Terry Ingram Writer: Lawrence Hertzog "Nikita's new husband, Helmut, reveals that he is an Interpol agent. Kristoff, Helmut's younger brother, hires Red Cell to kill his newlywed sibling, but Section One kills Kristoff. After disobeying an Interpol directive, Helmut becomes a man on the run."

73	Sympathy For The Devil Episode 4-7, first aired 03/05/2000 Director: Brad Turner Writer: Lawrence Hertzog "Operations sends Nikita and Michael on a personal mission to help Operations' hero-Willie Kane, a fellow Vietnam War veteran. Walter kills Willie to prevent Operations from learning the truth about his hero..."

74	No One Lives Forever Episode 4-8, first aired 03/12/2000 Director: Brad Turner Writer: Peter M. Lenkov "Chosen for a pilot program allowing her to leave Section One but have no contact with either her former or Section lives, Nikita wonders if she's about to be cancelled. George orders Nikita to kill Operations, who supposedly killed her father."

75	Down a Crooked Path Episode 4-9, first aired 03/19/2000 Director: Terry Ingram Writer: Peter M. Lenkov "George sends a two-man bio-tech team into Section One when a mysterious gas enters the headquarters, causing symptoms of a viral infection. Rather than contain the virus, the bio-tech team performs neural scrapes on the Section's top members."

76	He Came from Four Episode 4-10, first aired 04/02/2000 Director: Rene Bonniere Writer: Ed Horowitz "Oversight sends a telekinetic 10-year-old boy, who also has the ability to read minds, to help Section One recover a stolen package. But can the boy's powers be controlled?"

77	Time to Be Heroes Episode 4-11, first aired 04/16/2000 Director: Jerry Ciccoritti Writer: Peter M. Lenkov "When another Section gets destroyed, Operations sends Nikita and Michael to train a group of hostile, young recruits. Operations uses the team of recruits as bait to destroy a new terrorist group, Crystal Sky, and capture its leader."

78	Hell Hath No Fury Episode 4-12, first aired 04/23/2000 Director: Rene Bonniere Writer: Lawrence Hertzog "Madeline falls in love with Leon, her Red Cell counterpart. Operations orders Madeline to kill Leon, but she shoots Operations instead. A tracking device implanted in Madeline leads Section One operatives to Leon's headquarters, where Operations kills him."

79	Kiss the Past Goodbye Episode 4-13, first aired 06/25/2000 Director: Brad Turner Writer: Frederick Rappaport "Michael discovers that his wife, Elena, is involved with a Section operative named Corliss. Stefan Vacek, Elena's uncle, heads a terrorist organization that tries to kill Elena and her son by Michael, Adam."

80	Line in the Sand Episode 4-14, first aired 07/02/2000 Director: Joel Surnow Writer: Peter M. Lenkov "Birkoff uncovers the secret location of Red Cell's base camp, which harbors the leader of Red Cell--for whom Section has been searching for almost 20 years. When the mission to extract the Cardinal goes awry, Operations decides to kill Birkoff."

81	Abort, Fail, Retry, Terminate Episode 4-15, first aired 07/16/2000 Director: Brad Turner Writer: Peter M. Lenkov "On his computer, Birkoff invents a form of artificial intelligence intended to maintain the system during his upcoming two-month vacation. The computer program develops an agenda of its own and kills Section operatives."

82	Catch a Falling Star Episode 4-16, first aired 07/23/2000 Director: Joseph Scanlan Writer: Lawrence Hertzog "To locate a Section communications satellite that has crashed in the southern United States, Nikita and Michael visit a strange, rural town that turns out to be Black Storm's central base."

83	Sleeping with the Enemy Episode 4-17, first aired 07/30/2000 Director: Jon Cassar Writer: Erica Byrne "Section and Red Cell form an uneasy alliance to discover who's been destroying their installations. Madeline trades places with Satin Tate, a key Red Cell operative. Nikita worries about Satin's flirtatious behavior around Michael."

84	Toys in the Basement Episode 4-18, first aired 08/06/2000 Director: Rene Bonniere Writer: Lawrence Hertzog "Injured during a mission, Nikita is taken prisoner by a demented junk collector and declared dead by Section One. Michael is ordered not to use Section One resources to find her."

85	Time Out of Mind Episode 4-19, first aired 08/13/2000 Director: Brad Turner Writer: David Ehrman "In order to stop the sale of an anthrax-based weapon, Nikita infiltrates a mental institution, where the son of the weapon's creator is a patient."

86	Face in the Mirror (1) Episode 4-20, first aired 08/20/2020 Director: Rene Bonniere Writers: Peter M. Lenkov, Lawrence Hertzog "A new Red Cell regime surfaces, and Operations sends Michael and his team to assassinate Maurice Grenet, the Cardinal's replacement. Nikita escapes Section One, and Michael discovers her connection to Section One's foremost enemy."

87	Up the Rabbit Hole (2) Episode 4-21, first aired 08/27/2000 Director: Terry Ingram Writers: Lawrence Hertzog, Peter M. Lenkov "Facial prosthetics makes Nikita look like Kate Quinn. Michael and Nikita/Quinn escape from Section One, killing Davenport in the process. Operations orders Madeline to capture them or lose her position."

88	Four Light Years Farther Episode 4-22, first aired 08/27/2000 Director: Joseph Scanlan Writer: Michael Loceff "Section One captures Nikita and Michael and brings them back to headquarters. Operations and Madeline decide to kill Nikita. Mr. Jones wants Madeline cancelled, but she commits suicide by ingesting cyanide."

89	Deja Vu All Over Again Episode 5-1, first aired 01/07/2001 Director: Jon Cassar Writer: Robert Cochran "Still reeling from the tragedies resulting from the disclosure of her role as a Section One internal investigator, Nikita is paired with a new partner by the head of Center and put back in the field, where she faces danger from all sides."

90	A Girl Who Wasn't There Episode 5-2, first aired 01/14/2001 Director: Terry Ingram Writer: Lawrence Hertzog "Quinn creates a holographic version of Madeline. Operation's obsession to work with Madeline again threatens to destroy Section One. Nikita discovers clues involving her original recruitment."

91	In Through the Out Door Episode 5-3, first aired 01/21/2001 Director: Rene Bonniere Writer: David Wolkove "Although he no longer works for Section One, Michael remains Nikita's only hope for finding a cure to the deadly aftereffects from a mind-control process."

92	All the World's a Stage Episode 5-4, first aired 02/04/2001 Director: Joel Surnow Writer: David Wolkove "Mr. Jones must leave Center's protection to thwart the sale of deadly biological weapons. Nikita seizes the opportunity to force him to tell her the truth about her recruitment into Section One."

93	The Man Behind the Curtain Episode 5-5, first aired 02/11/2001 Director: Rene Bonniere Writer: Lawrence Hertzog "With the head of Section One, Nikita attempts to track down the mole who has been passing data to the Collective. She narrows the suspects down to two high-level colleagues, but one is killed whilst the other is in custody. In fact, the mole is far closer to home."

94	The Evil That Men Do Episode 5-6, first aired 02/18/2001 Director: Roy Dupuis Writers: Andrew J. Horne, Katherine Tomlinson "Nikita's relationship with Mr. Jones leads Operations to attempt to kill Nikita. Nikita threatens to report Operations' betrayal, but he has evidence that she helped Michael escape from Section One."

95	Let No Man Put Asunder Episode 5-7, first aired 02/25/2001 Director: Rene Bonniere Writer: Lawrence Hertzog "Michael asks Nikita to bring him back into Section One, but Mr. Jones doubts Michael's motives. Michael's son, Adam, whom Operations has kept hidden from Michael, is kidnapped by The Collective, which ransoms the boy for Jones."

96	A Time for Every Purpose Episode 5-8, first aired 03/04/2001 Director: Brad Turner Writer: Michael Loceff "Mr. Jones agrees to surrender to The Collective in return for the release of Michael's son and Nikita's promise to take control of Section One. The Collective kills Jones and frees Adam. Nikita and Michael bid each other farewell . . . for now."

REFERENCE BOOKS

Number of Books:	1
First Appearance:	1996
Last Appearance:	2006


1			La Femme Nikita Xposed Written by Joel Surnow Copyright: 1996 "She's smart; she's sexy; she's dangerous. She's television's most lethal heroine. So far, however, she's been as enigmatic as she is beautiful. You want to know more about her—and about her real-life persona, Peta Wilson—but until now everything about her has been classified. Now, access has been granted. With this book, you can uncover all the secrets Section One doesn't want you to know: Profiles on all operatives, dossiers on all missions, photographs of their beautiful agent at work. Now you can cut through the mystery and intrigue and get a glimpse into the soul of television's most captivating femme fatale."

2			La Femme Peta Written by Joel Surnow Copyright: 2000 "Peta Wilson has joined the ranks of television’s new breed of kick-ass heroines in La Femme Nikita, in which she brings an extraordinary mix of compassion, vulnerability, and tough-as-nails street-smarts to her role as Nikita. Revealing what brought Peta Wilson to television screens across America and just where this new star is headed, this guide goes behind the scenes of her hit show, discusses her costars, and includes complete episode commentary for the first three seasons of the series. The book also discusses the show’s huge following on the Internet and examines some of the best—and oddest—sites devoted to Wilson and La Femme Nikita."

3			Inside Section One Written by Christopher Heyn Copyright: 2006 "take readers on the series' six-year journey from art-house action movie to hit TV drama, then breaks down the production process in a uniquely informative and entertaining way. Much more than a "viewers' guide," Inside Section One is a comprehensive exploration of the development and production of a single TV series, using "La Femme Nikita" as a case study. Combinding extremely candid and often humorous interviews with over 60 members of the cast, crew, studio and network, along with 275 photos and illustrations, Inside Section One demystifies the inner workings of a TV series by detailing the production and people skills necessary to succeed in a demanding creative environment. In addition, Inside Section One explores each of La Femme Nikita's 96 episodes in depth, from the development of each script to the production challenges that the cast and crew faced every week."

MY COMMENTS

I remember watching the first episode of this series when it aired back in 1997 and being quite put-off by the blaring music and the staccato-style imagery. I understood it was designed for a younger generation and thus presented in an "edgy" tone. It wasn't for me and even twenty years later when I watched it again for this entry, I was less than thrilled. But I was not the target audience and by all accounts, those that were really went for this series. To stick around for four seasons is impressive and to have a fifth one urged on the network by the fans was even more so.

GRADE

My Grade: B

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