Kung Fu: The Legend Continues

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Kung Fu: The Legend Continues

Format	Action/Drama
Created by	Ed Speilman
Starring	David Carradine Chris Potter Kim Chan
Country of origin	Canada United States
No. of seasons	4
No. of episodes	88
Production
Executive producer(s)	Michael Sloan
Running time	44 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	syndication
Audio format	Stereo
Original run	January 27, 1993 – January 1, 1997
External links
Official website
IMDb profile
TV.com summary

Kung Fu: The Legend Continues was a spin off to the 1972-1975 television series, Kung Fu. This series debuted in syndication for four seasons, from January 27, 1993 to January 1, 1997, and the show was broadcast in over 70 countries. The series was filmed in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Since 1997, due to the show's popularity, reruns of the show were previously seen on TNT, and are still shown in Canada on Showcase Television.

1 Story
2 Characters
3 101st Precinct
- 3.1 Other police officers
4 Episodes
5 Cast
6 Notable Guest Stars
7 References
8 External links

[edit] Story

Like his grandfather and namesake from the original TV series, Kwai Chang Caine is a Shaolin priest. Caine was the head of a temple in Northern California, where his son Peter also lived and studied, until the Temple was destroyed in a fire caused by a renegade priest attempting a take over of the Shaolin. Han believed the priests would serve better as mercenaries. After the destruction of the temple, each believed the other had perished, and went on their separate ways; Caine wandered and traveled, much as his grandfather had, while Peter became a foster child, and then a police officer. The series begins when Caine comes to the city's Chinatown section, where Peter's precinct is, and they are reunited after being separated for 15 years.

[edit] Characters

Kwai Chang Caine - David Carradine - Kwai Chang is the main character of the series who is a shaolin priest and leader of a Shaolin temple located somewhere in California a good 15 years before the series begins. He is also the grandson of Kwai Chang Caine from the 19th century. Highly intelligent, wise and honorable as well as a master of Kung-Fu. As the series progresses, we find out that his extensive training and mastery of many various arts and skills allow him to perform impressive and often, impossible, superhuman feats. These include opening locked doors and extinguishing flame with the wave of a hand, appearing in places he should not have physically been able to reach and even using forms of pyrokinesis and psychokinesis, as well as physically defend himself. In episode Rite Of Passage, he becomes a Shambhala master, which greatly increases his ability. Also he loves various women such as Laura and Serena. He eventually found himself in the same city as his son Peter Caine because he was looking for the boy who would inherit the Chinese throne.

Peter Caine - Chris Potter - The Son of Kwai Chang Caine. Peter became a detective and eventually came to work at the 101st Precinct in a Chinatown district after being separated from his father as a child. Believing his father to be dead and all he knew as a child destroyed and taken from him, Peter was forced to grow up in the "real world" in a foster family and has become somewhat pessimistic and cold about life and the world in general and obviously, has issues over the loss of his father among other things. In the beginning of the series, he very much personifies the stereotypical, average, big city police detective and as a result, has forgotten and buried much of what he was taught as a child. Peter has also become quite the sharpshooter and uses these skills without hesitation when the need arises. He also seems to have maintained some of his martial arts expertise which he learned during his early childhood. Much later in the series, Peter does begin to learn some of the tricks and "magical" abilities that his father uses.

The Ancient/Ping Hai - Kim Chan - An old and mysterious "wise man" who has accumulated much ancient mystic, herbal and historical knowledge, as well as being quite capable of defending himself even in his old age. It is revealed at the end of the series that he was one of the overseeing monks (along with Caine) of the Shaolin temple in California that was destroyed 15 years ago and his real name is Ping Hai, though, it is quite easy to arrive at this conclusion after watching only a few episodes of the series and seeing the numerous flash backs which are a regular part of every episode. The ancient was also part of the Chinese council that protected the child who would inheirit the Chinese throne. The ancient also came to the city because of his daughter. He help to relocated his daughter and his daughter's grandfather to the city. After that he stood afar and watch his daughter grow up, without her knowing for years, that he was really her father. He plays a significant supporting role throughout the series. His favorite phrase is "bloody marvelous", usually said after he has performed a significant feat.

Mathew Caine - Grandfather of Peter Caine and father of Kwai Chang Caine. Believed to be dead. He was first seen in the present time of the series in the episode "The Sacred Chalice of I-Ching", though he most likely appeared in flash backs before this episode. Matthew was a medic with the Allies in World War II and an amateur archaeologist. He discovered the Chalice that was, according to legend, given to Jesus during his wanderings as a gift from a Shaolin Temple. Matthew was reunited with his surviving family in the same episode.

[edit] 101st Precinct

Captain Paul Blaisdell - Captain of the 101st Precinct. Adoptive father of Peter Caine. An enigmatic and secretive man. It's obvious that he's had quite an interesting and turbulent past. He used to be a mercenary, along with other members of his police squad. (Seasons 1 & 2).
Captain Karen Simms - Captain of 101st Precinct after Blaisdell leaves at the end of the second season to deal with his personal problems. She's a very strong and independent woman and makes for a very efficient police captain. She and Kermit Griffin share a very close friendship for the majority of the series. (Seasons 3 & 4).
Chief Frank Strenlich - Chief of Detectives. An ex-marine/soldier. He makes for a great police officer although his short temper gets him into a bad situation or two now and then.
Detective Kermit Griffin - Another Detective, with extensive computer and technological skill as well as combat training and an enigmatic, mercenary background. He remains quite mysterious and elusive through out the series and a strong, interesting support character. Drives a lime green Corvair, carries a Desert Eagle pistol with optical scope and laser guides, and is never without his sunglasses. It was also suggested that kermit had a son but was never fully achknowleged.
Dr. Nicholas J. Elder - A county coroner.
Blake - A communications and surveillance expert. Seems to be a bit shaky in the field and probably prefers assignments which keep him in the background.
Detective Marvin Katz - A desk sergeant.
John Broderick - A desk sergeant.

[edit] Other police officers

Captain Bartlett Stiles - Head of the SWAT team. Often clashes with the main character police officers.
Detective Janet Morgan
Detective Roger Chin - An undercover agent.
Detective Thomas Jefferson "TJ" Kincaid - Another detective, he is the son of the police commisoner and as a result, is sometimes not treated as an equal to the rest of the squad. He seems to have some interest and experience with the paranormal and supernatural. Though, his background which is strongly hinted at concerning this is never revealed.
Detective Mary Margaret Skalini - A partner of Peter's and also as the series progresses a love interest of Kwai Chain Caine's.
Detective Jodie Powell - Another partner of Peter's she is the sister of a love interest of Peter's who died, she herself falls in love with Peter but for reasons unknown to viewers Peter does not engage in a relationship with her and instead decides to just remain "friends".

[edit] Episodes

Kung Fu: The Legend Continues lasted 4 seasons with a total of 88 episodes:

[edit] Season 1

1.1 Initiation
1.2 Shadow Assassin
1.3 Sunday at the Hotel with George
1.4 Sacred Trust
1.5 Force of Habit
1.6 Pai Gow
1.7 Challenge
1.8 Disciple
1.9 Rain's only friend
1.10 Secret Place
1.11 Dragon's Eye
1.12 Blind Eye
1.13 The Lacquered Box
1.14 Illusion
1.15 Straitjacket
1.16 Reunion
1.17 Dragonswing
1.18 Shaman
1.19 I Never Promised You a Rose Garden
1.20 Redemption: Part 1
1.21 Redemption: Part 2

[edit] Season 2

2.1 Return of the Shadow Assassin
2.2 May I Ride with You
2.3 Dragon's Daughter
2.4 An Ancient Lottery
2.5 Laurie's Friend
2.6 Temple
2.7 Only the Strong Survive
2.8 Out of the Woods
2.9 Tournament
2.10 The Bardo
2.11 The Possessed
2.12 Warlord
2.13 The Innocent
2.14 Magic Trick
2.15 Aspects of the Soul
2.16 Kundela
2.17 The Gang of Three
2.18 Sunday at the Museum with George
2.19 Dragonswing II
2.20 Sing Wah
2.21 Enter the Tiger
2.22 Retribution

[edit] Season 3

3.1 Rite of Passage
3.2 Plague
3.3 May I Walk with You
3.4 The Return of Sing Ling
3.5 Manhunt
3.6 Gunfighters
3.7 Chinatown Murder Mystery: The Case of the Poisoned Hand
3.8 Target
3.9 Citizen Caine
3.10 Quake!
3.11 Goodbye Mr. Caine
3.12 The Sacred Chalice of I-Ching
3.13 Eye Witness
3.14 Demons
3.15 Deadly Fashion
3.16 Cruise Missiles
3.17 The Promise
3.18 Flying Fists of Fury II
3.19 Banker's Hours
3.20 Kung Fu Blues
3.21 Brotherhood of the Bell
3.22 Destiny

[edit] Season 4

4.1 Dark Vision
4.2 The First Temple
4.3 Circle of Light
4.4 Prism
4.5 Black Widow
4.6 Shaolin Shot
4.7 The Phoenix
4.8 Special Forces
4.9 Dragon's Lair
4.10 Veil of Tears
4.11 Chill Ride
4.12 Escape
4.13 Who is Kwai Chang Caine?
4.14 Storm Warning
4.15 A Shaolin Treasure
4.16 Dark Side of the Chi
4.17 Ancient Love
4.18 Blackout
4.19 Time Prisoners
4.20 Requiem
4.21 A Shaolin Christmas
4.22 May I Talk With You

[edit] Cast

David Carradine - Kwai Chang Caine, Matthew Caine
Chris Potter - Peter Caine
Kim Chan - Lo Si (The Ancient) /Ping Hai
Richard Anderson - Narrator (uncredited)

[edit] Notable Guest Stars

[edit] References

Pilato, Herbie J. The Kung Fu Book of Caine: The Complete Guide to TV's First Mystical Eastern Western. Boston: Charles A. Tuttle, 1993. ISBN 0-8048-1826-6

[edit] External links