The Scent of Roses
Nitcentral's Bulletin Brash Reflections:
Knight Rider:
Season 4:
The Scent of Roses
The Scent of Roses
During the interception of a break-in at a government data center, Michael is shot. A man called Durant (Kurt Rolands, a makeup master) shot Michael and once he finds out that Michael is still alive, decides to kill him to leave no witnesses to the crime. Michael is nearly killed at the hospital but KITT saves him via a loudspeaker hookup. Once Michael checks out of the hospital, he lets everyone know he is not returning to FLAG. He is burned out, and he doesn't want to leave another life unfinished. Devon knows how much Michael is hurting, so he contacts Stevie Mason (see "White Bird" s1 and "Let It Be Me" s2). Michael and Stevie rent a beachside cottage and fall in love all over again, leading to a marriage proposal. Before the couple can really appreciate this new development, Durant has one of his men fly a plastique-equipped model plane into the cottage, nearly killing them. Michael doesn't want to participate in the investigation. Stevie realizes that the FLAG group still loves Michael, so she invites them all to participate in the wedding (at the Foundation HQ). The wedding goes on beautifully, but Durant shows up and fires at Michael, killing Stevie instead as she jumps in the way. Enraged, Michael seeks out Durant through his contacts and eventually drives right into a trap. KITT is able to withstand the assault of rockets, and Michael gets his hands on Durant once and for all - but stops short of killing him. Michael would rather see him either get the death penalty or rot in prison for the rest of his life. Michael ponders his future on the beachside and realizes that he needs to move on with his life, and the best place for him to be is back with his family at the Foundation.
THOUGHTS:
-Though this episode doesn't have the usual KR formula, it's still my favorite of the series. Yes, the whole idea of Stevie getting killed/Michael wanting revenge is from the James Bond movies "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" and "Diamonds Are Forever," but that doesn't matter:
-There's wonderful acting, especially on Hasselhoff's part as a ruthless Michael Knight.
-A story about love, dedication, duty and living life to it's fullest.
-Great music and special effects (with the sparks on KITT at the end).
-No need for the usual turbo boosts or any of those things.
-Fun stuff with KITT playing the Casablanca music, and with RC3 decorating KITT with the "JUST MARRIED" stuff.
FAVORITE QUOTE:
"I want to share a dream with the man I love. And you want him to fall in love with an ideal."
-Stevie to Devon (actually, they are almost like father and daughter)
NITS:
-When KITT drives over to protect Michael from more gunshots (at the beginning of the episode), KITT's hood is popped open.
-Michael is being targeted for DEATH and yet the wedding is outdoors with no security and KITT isn't even on surveillance mode?
By Chris Todaro on Friday, May 09, 2003 - 2:33 pm: This is my favorite Knight Rider episode, too. The enraged Michael Knight is rather scary.
I particularly like the epilogue. The music as Micheal runs back towrds KITT makes me think of a western sheriff joining his deputy and riding off into the sunset to catch more bad guys; then it segues into the Knight Rider music and the "purple haze" closing. Perfectly done!