On this day June 30, 1985, Code of Vengeance premiered on NBC as a limited action series spun off from the world of Knight Rider. The show introduced viewers to David Dalton, a silent drifter and Vietnam veteran who wandered from town to town righting wrongs with his martial arts skills and combat training.
Originally conceived as a backdoor pilot during a Knight Rider episode, Code of Vengeance was launched with hopes of creating another hit action franchise. The series aired as a limited four episode run and followed a vigilante formula that was popular during the era.
Despite the Knight Rider connection, the show failed to attract strong ratings and was not picked up for a full season. However, it stood as an example of NBC’s 1980s push for rugged lone hero characters in the mold of Rambo and The A Team.
80s insight: Code of Vengeance was part of a wave of action driven TV shows that reflected the 1980s obsession with lone heroes, justice on the road, and taking matters into your own hands.
Originally conceived as a backdoor pilot during a Knight Rider episode, Code of Vengeance was launched with hopes of creating another hit action franchise. The series aired as a limited four episode run and followed a vigilante formula that was popular during the era.
Despite the Knight Rider connection, the show failed to attract strong ratings and was not picked up for a full season. However, it stood as an example of NBC’s 1980s push for rugged lone hero characters in the mold of Rambo and The A Team.
80s insight: Code of Vengeance was part of a wave of action driven TV shows that reflected the 1980s obsession with lone heroes, justice on the road, and taking matters into your own hands.
