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Two episodes ago, we saw Michael go undercover at a training camp to foil a cash-truck heist in Inside Out. Now, he’s going undercover at a training camp again, this time to prevent an assassination. Knight Rider is already starting to recycle its plots in its first season. Now, I wasn’t a big fan of Inside Out, so does A Plush Ride fare any better, or does it fall into the same pitfalls?
The Plot
Michael goes undercover at a military training facility after receiving intelligence that an assassination is being planned against a visiting high-ranking official. Posing as a trainee, he attempts to identify the would-be assassin among the soldiers, only to discover that the threat is far bigger than expected when his fellow trainees are revealed to be part of the conspiracy. With the entire camp seemingly compromised, Michael must rely on his training, KITT, and his own instincts to uncover the ringleader and stop the assassination before it can be carried out.
My thoughts
Another not-so-memorable episode. At least last week’s The Final Verdict had some fun with a typical nerdy ’80s stock character. This week, though, we’re back to the whole “Michael goes undercover at a training camp for bad guys” routine. Been there, done that.
While there are certainly differences, it’s hard to ignore the similarities between this episode and Inside Out, which aired only two weeks earlier. Once again, we see Michael in a military uniform for a lot of the episode as he trains on a compound. There are some original twists and turns here and there, but nothing you can’t see coming a mile away.
The obligatory love interest for this week, Margo Wells, manages to subvert expectations, as she’s always operating in a morally gray area. That’s a welcome departure from the usual damsel in distress. Wendy Fulton gets to sink her teeth into a more layered character than the usually one-note women we get in Knight Rider.
Because this is another training-camp episode, KITT is also largely sidelined. There’s even a lengthy scene early on where Michael has to drive Devon around in his limo, leaving KITT behind at the FLAG truck. This is necessary for the plot, but the makers seem to forget that the car is supposed to be the star of the show. After all, this is KITT’s world. The rest of the cast are just living in it.
At the training camp, KITT is mostly parked somewhere in surveillance mode, essentially turning him into an expensive security camera. Even when he is called into action during a manhunt exercise, all he does is scan the area for Michael, giving him an extra set of eyes.
It isn’t until the third act that KITT finally gets something to do, but not before displaying some behavior that is quite unusual for him. He has already demonstrated that he can scan for vital signs, yet he seemingly has trouble recognizing that Michael is actually unconscious. He’s also remarkably calm about rolling downhill toward a canyon—something he will probably survive, but Michael certainly won’t. Considering KITT was programmed to protect human life, a little more urgency would have seemed appropriate.
A Plush Ride is a decent episode that feels like filler at best. There are some funny moments, but the lack of KITT action is disappointing, and it seems that after Trust Doesn’t Rust, the show has entered something of a mid-season slump.
Knight Rider tropes
KITT shenanigans
Since this is an episode relatively light on KITT, it’s also relatively light on his usual shenanigans. The only truly memorable moment comes when he casually grants access to one of the bad guys, while another has just spent the better part of the scene working his ass off trying to break into him, making the poor guy look like a complete fool. Other than that, KITT is mostly his usual droll self.
Damsel in distress
None, actually. There is Margo Wells, who is part of the villain’s operation. Normally, she would be someone forced into the situation against her will, with Michael riding in as her knight in shining armor. But not Margo. She’s more like Tanya from the pilot: cold and ruthless, yet not above using her femininity to get what she wants. It makes her a nice change of pace from the usual damsels in distress.
Child in peril
Another episode with no kids in sight.
Michael’s undercover identity
Once again, Michael goes undercover at a military training facility, only this time he basically blows his cover halfway through the episode when he supposedly catches the assassin. This isn’t exactly a flashy undercover gig either. The only costume he gets to wear is a camouflage outfit during the manhunt, so there’s not much in the way of disguises or undercover theatrics this time around.
The Villains
A whole bunch this time, with one of them telegraphed as the villain from the very start. He turns out to be the ringleader, but apparently all of Michael’s fellow trainees are in on the mission as well, meaning Michael has to take out five men instead of just one. Among them is M.C. Gainey, a character actor who has made something of a career out of playing villains.
Notable gadgets
Nothing particularly new here, but KITT’s oxygen dispenser, first introduced in Slammin’ Sammy’s Stunt Show Spectacular, makes a welcome return.
Memorable guest stars
Finally, there are some familiar faces in a Knight Rider episode. William Lucking is a recognizable character actor who has appeared in countless supporting roles in both movies and television. Another familiar face is M.C. Gainey, who has made a name for himself playing villains in movies and TV shows. Still active today, you might recognize him from Con Air, Django Unchained, Lost, and a whole plethora of other movies and television shows.
Random observations
During one of the jumps, you can clearly see one of KITT’s retractable headlights flip open.
When one of the bad guys punches KITT, he actually leaves a dent in the bodywork. That guy must have a fist stronger than a brick.
This is also the first time a KITT feature introduced in a previous episode, aside from the pilot, makes a return appearance.
And they’re welcoming these high-ranking officials in a tent next to an airstrip? Really? I’m sure having dignitaries arrive at such an exposed location poses absolutely no security risk whatsoever.
