Crime-fighters after hours: classic TV vigilantes
Vigilantes not only play a significant role in movies but are also a staple on the small screen. In the 1980s and 90s, vigilantes took center stage in various television shows.
Knight Rider (1982–1986)
Knight Rider, a shadowy flight into the dangerous world of man who does not exist. Michael Knight, a young loner on a crusade to champion the cause of the innocent, the helpless, the powerless in a world of criminals who operate above the law.
-Knight Rider intro
The series, conceived and produced by Glen A. Larson, became a television icon. David Hasselhoff's portrayal of Michael Knight perfectly captures the heroic vigilante archetype. The pilot shows undercover cop Michael Long (Larry Anderson) getting reconstructive surgery after a serious facial injury, transforming him into Michael Knight.
Funded by the self-made billionaire Wilton Knight, CEO of Knight Industries, and guided by his associate Devon Miles (Edward Mulhare) and the Foundation For Law And Government (FLAG), Knight confronts those who operate outside the law.
At the heart of his crime-fighting is the legendary 1982 Pontiac Trans-Am, known as KITT (Knight Industries Two Thousand). This intelligent vehicle possesses the abilities of speech, thought, and self-driven operation. Dr. Bonnie Barstow (played by Patricia McPherson in seasons 1, 3, and 4) and April Curtis (Rebecca Holden in season 2) serve as KITT's chief engineers.
Despite several unsuccessful spin-offs and reboots since the original series ended, Knight Rider remains a timeless television classic.
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The A-Team (1983–1987)
Ten years ago, a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn’t commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire the A-Team.
-A-Team intro
Created by Stephen J. Cannell and Frank Lupo, The A-Team chronicles the adventures of a renegade former special forces unit on the run from the military police. Amidst their life on the lam, they act as vigilantes for hire during four seasons.
The A-Team is composed of Lieutenant Colonel John “Hannibal” Smith (George Peppard), the ingenious leader and strategist; Lieutenant Templeton “Faceman” Peck (Tim Dunigan in the pilot, and Dirk Benedict in the series), the team's con artist and ladies’ man; Captain H.M. “Howling Mad” Murdock (Dwight Schultz), the exceptional pilot institutionalized under the guise of insanity; and Sergeant First Class Bosco Albert “BA” (“Bad Attitude”) Baracus (Mr. T), the skilled mechanic and enforcer. Completing their team is their iconic 1983 GMC Vandura van; easily recognized by the red stripe, black, and red mag wheels, and roof spoiler.
Colonel Francis Lynch (William Lucking), Colonel Roderick Decker (Lance LeGault) along with his aide Captain Crane (Carl Franklin), and later General Harlan “Bull” Fulbright (Jack Ging) pursue the team. In a shocking plot twist in the season four finale, Fulbright enlists the team, a decision that ultimately leads to his demise.
Season five sees a shift in their direction, as intelligence operative General Hunt Stockwell (Robert Vaughn) and his clandestine spy network take charge.
To clarify: The A-Team robbed the Central Bank of Hanoi under the directive of their commanding officer, Colonel Samuel Morrison. Morrison's death during a raid, however, meant the unit couldn't prove their actions without written orders.
The A-Team’s appeal lies in its combination of relentless action, daring adventures, and bold humor. Yet, beyond the entertainment lay the team’s Do-it-yourself approach, echoing Hannibal’s iconic words: "I love it when a plan comes together!"
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MacGyver (1985–1992)
Lee David Zlotoff created this action-adventure TV series, with Henry Winkler and John Rich as executive producers. Richard Dean Anderson starred as Angus MacGyver. Dana Elcar played Pete Thornton, MacGyver’s sagacious superior, and Bruce McGill portrayed Jack Dalton, the protagonist’s friend.
Devoid of opulent cars, firearms, or indulgence in vices, the series broke the mold of traditional heroes of the time. Instead, MacGyver relies on his remarkable intellect, engineering prowess, extensive grasp of applied physics, military training in bomb disposal, and a firm belief in non-lethal conflict resolution. His toolkit is simple yet powerful: a Swiss Army knife and a roll of trusty duct tape.
In the first season, MacGyver serves the Department of External Services, a U.S. intelligence agency. Season two has MacGyver joining the Phoenix Foundation, a government-funded non-profit.
In 1994, the movies “MacGyver: Lost Treasure of Atlantis” and “MacGyver: Trail to Doomsday” completed the original series. However, the legacy continued with a reboot that aired from 2016 to 2021. Masterminded by Peter M. Lenkov, the series follows Lucas Till as MacGyver, an undercover government agent who fights crime with ingenuity rather than lethal force.
Dark Justice (1991-1993)
As a cop, I lost my collars to legal loopholes, but I believed in the system. As a D.A. I lost my cases to crooked lawyers, but I believed in the system. As a judge, my hands were bound by the letter of the law, but I believed in the system. Until they took my life away. Then I stopped believing in the system and started believing in justice.
- Dark Justice intro
Actors Ramy Zada (1991) and Bruce Abbott (1992–1993) played Judge Nicholas Marshall, who delivers “dark justice” to wealthy criminals who escaped punishment through legal technicalities. The brutal murders of his wife and daughter shattered Marshall’s trust in the legal system. From his courtroom cases, Marshall selected defendants and forced them to join his vigilante group, “The Night Watchman.”
Key figures within this vigilante ensemble included Arnold “Moon” Willis (Dick O'Neill), a reformed con man; Jericho “Gibs” Gibson (Clayton Prince), a master of special effects; and Kelly Cochrane (Janet Gunn), a survivor of a harrowing assault who had taken the life of one of her attackers in self-defense.
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Renegade (1992–1997)
He was a cop, and good at his job. But then he committed the ultimate sin and testified against other cops – gone bad. Cops who tried to kill him, but got the woman he loved instead. Framed for murder, now he prowls the badlands. An outlaw hunting outlaws, a bounty hunter—a renegade!
- Renegade intro
After Reno Raines (Lorenzo Lamas) testified against corrupt colleagues, his vengeful former partner, Lieutenant Donald “Dutch” Dickerson (Stephen J. Cannell), frames him for his girlfriend's murder. Faced with a corrupt justice system, Raines becomes a fugitive.
Raines assumes the name Vince Black and allies with Bobby Sixkiller (Branscombe Richmond) and his half-sister Cheyenne Phillips (Kathleen Kinmont). As a bounty hunter, Raines takes jobs to fund his search for the truth and clear his name.
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