Crime-fighters after hours: classic TV vigilantes
Vigilantism not only plays a significant role in movies, but is 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.
Created and produced by Glen A. Larson, the premise of the series, although not unique, gave rise to an iconic TV series. Michael Knight, portrayed by David Hasselhoff, embodies the archetype of a heroic vigilante. In the pilot, we witness the transformation of undercover cop Michael Long (played by Larry Anderson), who, after a devastating facial injury, undergoes reconstructive surgery to emerge as Michael Knight (Hasselhoff).
Guided by his associate Devon Miles (Edward Mulhare), and funded by the self-made billionaire Wilton Knight, CEO of Knight Industries, Michael takes up the mission to combat injustice and crime under the banner of the Foundation For Law And Government (FLAG).
FLAG equips Knight with cutting-edge technology and support to confront those who operate beyond the boundaries of the law. Central to his crime-fighting arsenal is the iconic 1982 Pontiac Trans Am, a vehicle endowed with artificial intelligence named K.I.T.T. (Knight Industries Two Thousand), capable of thought, speech, and autonomous driving. Dr. Bonnie Barstow (Patricia McPherson in seasons 1, 3, 4) and April Curtis (Rebecca Holden in season 2) are the chief engineers who take care of K.I.T.T.
Since the original series concluded, several spin-offs and reboots failed to capture the essence and success of the original, leaving Knight Rider as a timeless classic in television history.
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Taking justice into your own hands-the aspects of vigilantism
Throughout history, individuals, groups, and organizations have taken matters of justice into their own hands. These are the common features and motivations that drive vigilante actions.
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.
The A-Team, a brainchild of Stephen J. Cannell and Frank Lupo, chronicles the adventures of a renegade former special forces’ unit on the run from the military police. The A-Team is composed of Lieutenant Colonel John “Hannibal” Smith (George Peppard), the ingenious leader and strategist; Lieutenant Templeton "Face(man)" 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 brawny enforcer.
Besides this formidable quartet, an unofficial yet integral ‘member’ of the team is their 1983 GMC Vandura van, distinguishable by its signature red stripe, black and red turbine mag wheels, and rooftop spoiler.
Following their escape from prison, the A-Team finds themselves pursued by various military figures, initially by Colonel Francis Lynch (William Lucking), Colonel Roderick Decker (y Lance LeGault) along with his aide Captain Crane (Carl Franklin), and later by General Harlan “Bull” Fulbright (Jack Ging). Remarkably, Fulbright's narrative takes a turn when he eventually employs the A-Team in the season four finale, a mission during which he dies.
Amidst their life on the lam, they act as vigilantes for hire during four seasons. As the narrative progresses into the fifth season, their trajectory shifts under the aegis of General Hunt Stockwell (Robert Vaughn), an intelligence operative overseeing a clandestine spy network.
To clarify: The A-Team actually robbed the Central Bank of Hanoi under the directive of their commanding officer, Colonel Samuel Morrison. Tragically, Morrison's demise during a raid left the unit unable to substantiate their actions without written orders.
The A-Team captivates its audience through a blend of ceaseless action, unfettered adventure, and unapologetic humor. Yet, beyond the entertainment lay the team's distinctive Do-it-yourself approach, echoing Hannibal's iconic words: "I love it when a plan comes together!"
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These contemporary series' take the age-old trope of vigilante justice and infuse it with moral dilemmas and the relentless quest for revenge.
MacGyver (1985–1992)
Brought to life by the Lee David Zlotoff, and executive producers Henry Winkler and John Rich, this action-adventure television series starred by Richard Dean Anderson as Angus MacGyver. Dana Elcar played Pete Thornton, MacGyver’s sagacious superior, and Bruce McGill portrayed Jack Dalton, a close confidant of the protagonist.
The series broke the mold of traditional heroes of the time. Devoid of opulent cars, firearms, or indulgence in vices, the protagonist 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. With these tools and a variety of other tangible objects, he could maneuver his way out of precarious situations.
In the first season, MacGyver serves the Department of External Services, a U.S. intelligence agency. In Season 2, MacGyver joins the Phoenix Foundation, which is a non-profit organization that also works for the government.
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 new series followed 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” centered on Judge Nicholas Marshall’s transformation into a vigilante, driven by a desire to serve what he terms “dark justice” to high-level offenders who exploited legal loopholes. Actors Ramy Zada (1991) and Bruce Abbott (1992–1993) played Judge Marshall.
The brutal murder of his wife and daughter shattered Marshall's faith in the judicial system and propelled him into a motorcycle-riding avenger. In his quest for retribution, Marshall carefully identified defendants from the cases within his courtroom and compelled them into an unconventional form of community service within a vigilante group called “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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The appeal of morally ambiguous vigilantes has long entranced audiences. These classic narratives follow antiheroes who pursue their unique paths of vengeance and justice.
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!
Following his testimony against corrupt colleagues, Reno Raines (Lorenzo Lamas), the vengeful crooked cop, Lieutenant Donald “Dutch” Dickerson (Stephen J. Cannell) frames Raines for his girlfriend’s murder. Faced with a corrupted justice system, Raines becomes a fugitive. To survive and conceal his true identity, he assumes the name Vince Black.
Raines allies himself with Bobby Sixkiller (Branscombe Richmond) and his half-sister Cheyenne Phillips (Kathleen Kinmont). Embracing the life of a bounty hunter, Raines takes on assignments to sustain his quest for truth, while trying to prove his innocence.
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