The Rotten Apples
Nitcentral's Bulletin Brash Reflections:
Knight Rider:
Season 3:
The Rotten Apples
The Rotten Apples
Michael heads to Sage City to meet with a woman named Rebecca Hammond at her "Right-On Ranch." Rebecca has been the victim of rustlers several times, men who drive monster trucks and steal entire herds of her cattle. Rebecca isn't much of a rancher - she's actually a child psychologist and only bought the ranch to take care of disadvantaged New York youth. Michael approaches Sheriff Lance Barton, but he isn't interested in helping Rebecca. Barton and his two brothers only tell Michael that Rebecca is becoming a bad influence on the town through the adopted kids. Later, one of the BArton brothers tries to poison Rebecca's feed, but Michael and KITT drive him away. Michael approaches the sheriff again, but he doesn't want any part of the investigation. Barton tells Michael to remind Rebecca that Unified Ranch Corporation has offered to buy her ranch out. On the way out of the saloon, Michael notices a pool of liquid nearby where Rebecca's van was parked, and realizes it's brake lines have been cut. Michael and KITT save Rebecca and the kids, but she is still concerned - her help has quit, and the bank will forclose on her farm if she loses another herd. Michael heads back to the saloon that night and purposefully starts a fight as a diversion to get into Barton's safe - it turns out Barton is the sole stockholder of Unified Ranch Corporation. KITT finds a hole drilled into a deposit of ore underneath the ranch, ore more valuable than even gold. Michael has Rebecca set up a herding as bait for Barton. Michael and KITT avoid two monster trucks and Rebecca's adopted kids stop Barton himself before he can escape. As the episode ends, everyone celebrates with some barbecue.
THOUGHTS:
-Good show. Very nice shot at the end with KITT going into ski mode around the monster truck.
-Fun stuff with KITT controlling the mechanical bull to give Michael a fair chance against Barton!
-Also fun stuff with KITT microjamming the jukebox to play rock music for Michael.
-And of course Michael's line to KITT while escaping from the Bartons: "Hi-ho KITT, away!"
New features on KITT:
+This is the first time we see KITT scanning beneath the geology of the area.
FAVORITE QUOTE:
"Uhh...just remember that children are the flowers of mankind."
-Devon to Michael as Michael catches his first glimpse of the kids
NITS:
-The shot of KITT exiting the FLAG semi is from the previous episode.
-Both times someone is shown riding the mechanical bull (Michael, Barton), the creators just sped up the film rather than make the bull go faster.
-When Michael gets ready to board the brake-less van, he hits KITT's eject-left button, not the auto-roof left button.
-Why didn't Michael have KITT turbo boost over either of the monster trucks?
By KK on Sunday, November 30, 2008 - 11:33 pm:Another nit: Note the left edge of KITT's front bumper and left fender as he comes down the slope (as the monster truck is leaving). Presto, one big dent!