It is quite fitting that this second episode from November 11 1972 features three Carradines, as it focuses on Caine's family tree ("what is a man without roots?" "what is a tree without roots? The deeper the root the stronger the tree"). Destitute prospector Davey Peartree (Paul Harper) lies dying from an attack by Apaches, having discovered his long-sought cache of gold on their land ("the day I go to spend it is the day I die"). Caine, arriving too late to save him, is given the map of the gold's location and brings the dead body into the local town of Lordsville, meeting Davey's preacher, Serenity Johnson (John Carradine), and his mute assistant, Sunny Jim (Robert Carradine). After saving Caine from a hanging by alerting the vigilantes to the evidence of an Apache attack, Serenity makes a plea to the grateful Caine to give him proof of Davey's gold. Once Caine complies, Serenity goes off in search of his fortune, is waylaid by the vigilant Apaches, and tied to a post with his eyelids sewn back, leaving the avaricious preacher completely blind. Wallowing in bitterness and drink, Serenity finds comfort in the example set by Caine, who remembers his blind Master Po (Keye Luke) as a man with no eyes who never failed to see the important things in life. Also in Lordsville lives Henry Raphael Caine (Dean Jagger), the stonemason grandfather of Kwai Chang, who drove son Thomas Henry Caine out of his home and over to China because he couldn't stand the sight of his Asian bride, assuring an early grave for Kwai Chang's grandmother. Confronted by the righteous Serenity Johnson, the bigoted Henry acknowledges his half-Chinese grandson, offering him belongings from both his father and son, including unanswered letters from Thomas' eldest son, Kwai Chang's half-brother Danny. The introduction of a brother provided the motivating destiny for Caine's eternal search for peace, and sustained the series for its entire three year network run. David Carradine is memorably joined by his legendary father, John Carradine, and his own half-brother Robert, making only his second television appearance, having made his feature debut in 1972's "The Cowboys," starring John Wayne. This was the first time that David and Robert had worked together, but John had already done three movies with son David, "The Good Guys and the Bad Guys," "The McMasters," and "Boxcar Bertha" (even half-brother Keith makes an unbilled appearance as the Middle Caine, albeit in archive footage shot for the original pilot). I believe this is the first time in his career that John Carradine played a blind character, in a role he would repeat in "The Nature of Evil" during the second season, and "Ambush" during the third (he later did an amusing turn as a blind man in 1983's "Monster in the Closet"). Two future episodes also boasted David's older half-brother Bruce, born three years before David (same mother, different fathers), whose acting career featured far fewer credits. The bigotry of the Old West, toward the Chinese, the Indians, even the blacks, were touched on more often than any other topic, and this episode, plus the one that followed, were the best examples to begin with.
3 Reviews
Didn't realize how much i missed Kung Fu!
davislaurie1 April 2023
Ok, not really a review - but i don't feel bad bc there is a terrific review already posted. Watched this series faithfully as a kid. It truly enhanced my life! I wanted to be Caine & tried to emulate him. Each episode went by too quickly so to extend my Kung Fu fix i'd read Proverbs in my Bible. .. now i'm watching again after all these years. This episode is especially awesome with all of those Carradines! At that time i had no idea who James Griffith aka Purdy the assay guy was. Now i recognize him from Gunsmoke, the Ghost & Mrs Muir etc but i'd never seen him look the way he did in this episode - playing a tough guy to boot! I actually recognized him from his eyes! I have no doubt that there are many great guest stars to come! This also is an important episode bc it manages to provide a lot of information in less than an hour - 43 minutes actually. Appreciate this opportunity to comment even though it's supposed to be a review - sorry.
Dark Angel
charliedias-1501723 February 2024
As with ALL Kung Fu, in real life and movies, being one with the universe is the main theme.
How we respond and interact with others to walk and stay on the proper path of ones self, defines who WE are. In movies OR real life, Kung Fu represents that true life discipline.
With the 4 Carradines, the Dark Angel with Dean Jagger is no doubt the best Episode of the entire Kung Fu series.
This Episode is full of the "Inner Vision" that EVERYONE possesses. Staged here in 4 mini segments within this Episode 1 of Season 2. Each segment exemplifies how our eyes are only one source of information and learning. We possess many.
Look for it.
How we respond and interact with others to walk and stay on the proper path of ones self, defines who WE are. In movies OR real life, Kung Fu represents that true life discipline.
With the 4 Carradines, the Dark Angel with Dean Jagger is no doubt the best Episode of the entire Kung Fu series.
This Episode is full of the "Inner Vision" that EVERYONE possesses. Staged here in 4 mini segments within this Episode 1 of Season 2. Each segment exemplifies how our eyes are only one source of information and learning. We possess many.
Look for it.
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