The Unusual Starting Point of Michael Knight: An Ordinary Man With Extraordinary Abilities

When we first meet Michael Knight in the original Knight Rider series, it's easy to interpret him as an ordinary man thrust into an extraordinary situation. However, a closer look at the pilot episode reveals that Michael Knight is far from ordinary. He is a Vietnam veteran with a metal plate in his head, a skillful martial artist, and a police detective with access to advanced technology.

Michael Knight’s Background: More Than Just an Ordinary Man

Michael Knight, originally named Michael Long, was a police detective with extensive combat and martial arts skills. His background includes past military service, which explains why he survived a bullet to the head that should have been fatal. He had a steel plate installed in his head, providing him with a survival advantage that contributed to his subsequent survival after being shot in the face.

The pilot episode also highlights Michael Knight’s physical prowess, as he demonstrates impressive martial arts skills, easily overcoming a group of men in an early episode. This combination of physical and martial arts skills, coupled with his police training, makes him an ideal candidate for a vigilante crusader with access to advanced technology and inside information.

KITT and the Foundation for Law and Government (FLAG)

Michael Knight’s journey begins when the patriarch ofFLAG, the Foundation for Law and Government, Wilton Knight, recovers from his near-fatal injuries. He recruits Michael after his own life is saved, providing him with a new identity and an advanced technology car named KITT. KITT, with its literal superpowers, can assist Michael with espionage, breaking into places, and hacking private or government computers. Without Michael’s physical skills and investigative abilities, KITT would not have been as effective in their mission.

Furthermore, Michael’s police skills, like being a non-corrupt officer betrayed by his partner and a patriot, enhance his presence on the team. However, the pilot episode hints that much of Michael Knight’s background, such as his military service and martial arts skills, is not as extensively covered as his role in FLAG. This omission is likely due to the strategic decision by NBC to focus on the car-based element of the show, which was designed to compete with CBS’s "The Dukes of Hazzard."

NBC ran a commercial inviting interested people to write in and get a comparison sheet of the two cars. This commercial underscores the importance of the car in the show, indicating that the car-based element was the primary draw for audiences, not Michael Knight’s background and skills.

Capsule Summary and Conclusion

In conclusion, Michael Knight's pilot episode provides a complex picture of a man who is not merely ordinary. His military service, steel plate, and martial arts skills contribute to his unique abilities, making him an ideal candidate for a vigilante crusader. However, the focus on the car and its superpowers overshadows many of these aspects, highlighting the show's strategic marketing approach.

Through an in-depth look at the pilot episode, we can appreciate the intricate character of Michael Knight and the layers that make his role in Knight Rider so compelling.