Ep 14. Riding with Death

In Mystery Science Theater 3000 season 8 episode 14, we are treated to the cheesy 1970s action/crime TV show, "Riding with Death." The premise of the show follows elite government agent Steve Austin (not to be confused with the Six Million Dollar Man), who is one of the best drivers, pilots, and martial artists in the business. He's also a cyborg (!) with a bionic eye that can record and play back anything he's seen. Along with his partner, he must stop a ruthless gang of criminals led by the dastardly Quentin (who wears an eyepatch, obviously) from stealing an experimental new vehicle with the help of a psychic woman who can astral project.

As always, Mike and the bots take their seats in the Satellite of Love and proceed to riff on the absurdity of the show. From Steve Austin's unnecessary cyborg abilities (why would he need to record things with his eye when there are cameras?), to the questionable acting and plot points, our MST3K heroes are on top form. They also have a lot of fun poking fun at the show's dated fashion and slang, making the viewing experience that much more entertaining.

But, as usual, the real fun begins when the gang gets to the movie sign. The opening sequence of "Riding with Death" involves an extended car chase, complete with terrible editing and sound effects. Mike and the bots have a field day with this, mocking everything from the unnecessary jump cuts to the "vroom vroom" sound effects. As the episode goes on, they continue to harp on the ridiculousness of the action scenes, as well as the confusing plot points and absurd character motivations.

One of the highlights of the episode is when Steve Austin (not the Six Million Dollar Man, remember) engages in a martial arts fight sequence with one of the bad guys. While the choreography is clearly lacking, Mike and the bots are quick to point out the hilariously awkward moves and strange sound effects used during the fight. They even come up with their own karate sound effects, which are just as ridiculous as the show's.

As the episode progresses, things get increasingly absurd. There are multiple instances of characters "astral projecting" to spy on each other, which leads to some truly ridiculous scenes. Mike and the bots make the most of these moments, riffing on everything from the obviously fake "astral projection" effects to the fact that the psychic character is named "Teri Cataldo."

But perhaps the most ludicrous moment of the episode comes towards the end, when Steve Austin (not the Six Million Dollar Man!) uses his bionic eye to project a scene from earlier in the episode onto a piece of paper. This leads to a lot of confusion and laughter from the MST3K crew, as they try to figure out why anyone thought this was a good idea. They also take the opportunity to riff on Steve Austin's overall ineffectiveness as a cyborg, noting that he's really not that helpful in most situations.

Overall, "Riding with Death" is a perfect MST3K episode - a hilariously bad movie that provides plenty of opportunities for jokes and banter. Mike and the bots are in top form, and the episode is a testament to their comedic timing and wit. It's a must-watch for fans of the show, and a perfect introduction for anyone new to the world of Mystery Science Theater 3000.