"Acid" John Byrock, owner of Interstate Waste Disposal, has been dumping hazardous materials throughout areas where wildlife usually thrives. Fran McNair, a local wildlife photographer, has been following Byrock from site to site - whenever the whistle is blown on his operations, his sites always seem to be the victim of an "accidental fire" the day before an inspection is to take place. Although Byrock's current records to the Department of Health seem to be clean, they are actually forgeries - he keeps the real "dirty" records at his site. Michael sneaks around the site one night and has KITT photograph the real records, but Fran is caught sneaking around outside. In the skirmish to protect Fran, Michael loses sight of KITT, who is picked up by a bulldozer and dropped into a pit of acid. The next morning, the Foundation retrieves what is left of KITT and Byrock arrives with the promise that if Michael steps foot onto his property again, he will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. As KITT is being repaired, Michael puts the heat onto Byrock, who Michael believes will plan to burn his current site. Fran solidifies this claim by photographing Byrock with Mai Zoormagian, a known arsonist. Meanwhile, during KITT's first test run, Dr. Von Voorman of the Foundation observes that KITT is under "too much pressure" and reccommends KITT be used for recreational purposes only. With new resolve, Michael himself takes KITT on the second test run, which KITT excels at until he stops himself in front of a concrete obstacle he was supposed to ram through. Although Von Voorman has his reservations, Michael tells Bonnie he needs to take KITT back to the waste site now, before it is burned down. At the site, KITT records the conversation between Byrock and Zoormagian and even gets the info on where the real records are. To help KITT face his fears, Michael tells him about how when he was Michael Long, all he could think about was the muzzle flash that led to his face being destroyed. He got through it with KITT and the Foundation's help, and now it's time to return the favor. With all the evidence he needs, Michael stops Zoormagian and, with KITT back in business, stops Byrock by pushing his bulldozer into his own toxic waste pit. Fran gets her exclusive cover (Byrock in the pit), Byrock is taken away, and KITT is hailed for his bravery.
THOUGHTS: There's much to love about this episode: -Michael appreciating Bonnie -For the first time I can remember, KITT actually needs Michael and not the other way around. -Michael trusting KITT enough to go out on the job, and vice versa. -Michael telling KITT about the muzzle flash and how KITT needs to face his own fears. -Beautiful shots of KITT going into turbo boost, ski mode, etc.
There were a few nags, though. -Devon is only there for one scene with an "injured back." You would think that once KITT was damaged, he would at least call Michael again. -The scene with KITT in the acid pit (see below).
New features on KITT: -I'm pretty sure this is the first time KITT has photoscanned a document via Michael's watch (that's one impressive watch!)
FAVORITE QUOTE: "After what I've been through, a little publicity might help reinforce my self image." -KITT, disappointed that there was no mention of exactly who exposed Byrock in the magazine article
NITS: -The first shot of KITT driving away from the camera is from season 1.
-The shot of KITT exiting the semi has been used before (in the previous episode, for example).
-The shot of the moon behind the clouds is from "Race For Life."
-KITT's scanner reflects on the camera in the first night scene.
-KITT didn't scan the bulldozer coming at him? Even if he did, why didn't he just back up or something?
-In the shots of KITT sinking into the pit, it's obviously a model or toy of KITT and not the actual car.
-During the first test run, you can see the brown lump behind KITT's driver seat (stunt driver).
-After the first test run, Bonnie and Michael are in the bay with KITT and testing some more of his systems. In the first shot of Bonnie, you can see that KITT has his dash from the first season (though when restored, KITT has the third season dash the rest of the episode).
-Just before the turbo boost during the second test run, you can see the shadow of a camera truck just off KITT's left front tire.
-When KITT pushes the bulldozer into the pit, you can see some kind of metal plate on his front bumper.
-The picture Fran took was from behind Byrock, but the magazine cover has a picture from in front of him.