Two bums, Tony and "The Rev", break into a Foundation warehouse and unwittingly reactivate a car that looks remarkably like KITT. Michael and KITT arrive in time to see the two make a getaway in KITT's twin. Later the car introduces itself to the pair as KARR, (the Knight Automated Roving Robot). After Michael learns of KARR's origins as KITT's predecessor and prototype, programmed with self preservation at all cost, he goes after the vehicle which the two thieves are using for a crime spree. Michael and KITT try to disable KARR using a laser. When that fails, Michael sets KITT on a direct collision course with KARR, whose own self preservation defeats him when he pulls away at the last moment and falls off a cliff.
Tropes:
- Arc Welding: The pilot episode stated that Wilton Knight's tech company had been the victim of industrial espionage in the past; this episode finally establishes explicitly that the industrial spy villains from the pilot were the culprits of said espionage (the novelization of both episodes also states this outright).
- Attack Its Weak Point: It is revealed that the cars' front LED scanbar, while still protected by the same armor as the rest of the car, is a significant weak point. Bonnie puts together a concentrated laser blaster to punch through KARR's scanner and destroy the circuitry within.
- Big Damn Heroes: How Michael and KITT save Bonnie near the end of the episode. Bonnie momentarily evades her captors, and before Tony can catch up to her Michael and KITT come crashing through the wall, very nearly ramming KARR head-on in the process.
- Big "NO!": KARR lets go a couple as he flies over the cliff.
- Blatant Lies: Played for Laughs. As the two supercars are about to collide head on, Michael and Bonnie take a moment to make peace and apologize for the way they've treated each other up to now. KITT wonders why they're lying to each other.
- Color-Coded Characters: Not the cars themselves (both are black Tran Ams), KITT's LED lights up red, while KARR's is yellow.
- Disney Villain Death: KARR accidentally jumps off a cliff by the end of the episode.
- Eviler than Thou: Tony to Rev. The latter is perfectly okay with using KARR to steal money and baubles, so long as no one's getting hurt, but he draws the line at kidnapping a mechanic for KARR's maintenance; Tony has no such compunctions.
- Flawed Prototype: KARR, the Foundation's first attempt at a super car. Though he firmly believes himself to be a Super Prototype.
- Flaw Exploitation: Michael engages KARR in a Game of Chicken, banking on the fact that KARR's programming would cause him to chicken out to save his own skin.
- Foreshadowing:
- The paradox concerning the irresistible force and the immovable object crops up early in the episode. Michael mentions it again at the climax as the two cars are charging at each other.
- A subtle, yet more pertinent one: When Michael and KITT crash through the wall in their Big Damn Heroes moment, they nearly ram KARR head-on, and KARR can briefly but clearly be seen backing frantically out of harm's way before fleeing. This foreshadows his ultimate reaction to playing chicken with KITT.
- It Only Works Once: Bonnie's laser cannon can only be used twice before it burns out. Unfortunately, KARR manages to dodge the shot both times, requiring Michael to improvise the final confrontation.
- Ramming Always Works: Played straight for the most part (as normal for this show); but subverted at the end, where the ultimate victory arises from counting on KARR not to invoke this trope (see Flaw Exploitation).
- Spot the Imposter: The police have a hard time telling KITT and KARR apart, this gets Michael arrested at one point.
- Three Laws-Compliant: ... KARR? FORGET IT!
- Unstoppable Force Meets Immovable Object: Discussed, foreshadowing the climax.Michael: [as KITT and KARR are charging each other at top speed] You remember that thing about the immovable object? We're about to find out the answer.
- Villainous Breakdown: KARR, as he veers off at the last moment during his game of chicken and falls to his (presumed) demise.
