Kung Fu
The Praying Mantis Kills
TV Flash files “The Praying Mantis Kills” as hour 11 of 62 in the TV Flash guide — Kung Fu (1972–1975) on ABC, season 1, episode 11, aired 1973-03-22, 60 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S01E11: listed hour 11 of 62 in the Kung Fu guide, hour 11 of 15 in season 1. It aired 1973-03-22 (60 min). The listed hour before it is “Alethea” (S01E10). Next is “Superstition” (S01E12).
Catalog log
Broadcast listing — not a TV Flash recap.
A frightened boy, defending a jail against the bandits who killed his sheriff father, inspires courage in an adult coward. At the moment of truth, Caine teaches them both to temper justice with mercy.
Viewer FAQ
Where does The Praying Mantis Kills sit in the Kung Fu guide?
S01E11 is listed hour 11 of 62 — hour 11 of 15 in season 1, season 1 episode 11.
When did Kung Fu S01E11 air?
The Praying Mantis Kills aired 1973-03-22 and is listed at 60 minutes.
Is the Bruce Lee origin lore part of the show?
It is extra-textual weather still debated beside Carradine's casting. On screen, the hour is Caine walking the West with Shaolin flashbacks.
In the series
Why this series still plays
Kwai Chang Caine walks the American West with Shaolin flashbacks, slow-motion kicks, and grasshopper as spiritual catchphrase. David Carradine's casting still starts fights next to Bruce Lee origin lore. Frontier serial plus martial-arts mysticism, handsome and unsettled: a network western that bowed instead of drew.
So the group chat wants a western that draws (Lana would call the robes a *statement gown*) and then Kung Fu bows instead. ABC, 1972–1975: a Shaolin monk wanders the American West in the 1800s, righting wrongs with martial arts and flashbacks to temple lessons. Ed Spielman, Jerry Thorpe, Herman Miller. David Carradine's Kwai Chang Caine, Keye Luke's Master Po, Philip Ahn's Master Kan, Radames Pera as young Caine. Grasshopper as spiritual catchphrase. Slow-motion kicks, Eastern philosophy, fight choreography…
Filed against
- David Carradine as Kwai Chang Caine
David Carradine’s Kwai Chang Caine walked Kung Fu’s American West with Shaolin flashbacks — slow-motion kicks, grasshopper as spiritual catchphrase, a 1970s network serial whose casting still starts fights next to origin lore. Frontier…
- Keye Luke as Master Po
Keye Luke's Master Po gave Kung Fu its grasshopper liturgy — Shaolin flashbacks, slow-motion kicks, a frontier serial plus martial-arts mysticism, handsome and unsettled. Network spiritual western with a teacher in the memory. TV Flash…
- Philip Ahn as Master Kan
Philip Ahn played Master Kan on Kung Fu, the 1970s frontier serial of Shaolin flashbacks, slow-motion kicks, and grasshopper as spiritual catchphrase. Kwai Chang Caine walks the American West; David Carradine’s casting still starts fights…
- Radames Pera as Young Caine
Radames Pera played Young Caine on Kung Fu, the 1970s Shaolin flashbacks inside a frontier serial — slow-motion kicks, grasshopper as spiritual catchphrase, Kwai Chang walking the American West. David Carradine’s casting still starts…