Kung Fu
The Ancient Warrior
TV Flash files “The Ancient Warrior” as the last listed hour of season 1 — Kung Fu (1972–1975) on ABC, season 1, episode 15, aired 1973-05-03, 60 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S01E15: listed hour 15 of 62 in the Kung Fu guide, last listed hour of season 1. It aired 1973-05-03 (60 min). The listed hour before it is “The Third Man” (S01E14). Next is “The Well” (S02E01).
Catalog log
Broadcast listing — not a TV Flash recap.
Ancient Warrior, an aged Native American accompanied by Caine, seeks burial in his sacred, ancestral land. But the burial site is located dead center in a violent, Native American-hating town called Purgatory. Gary Busey guest stars.
Viewer FAQ
Where does The Ancient Warrior sit in the Kung Fu guide?
S01E15 is listed hour 15 of 62 — last listed hour of season 1, season 1 episode 15.
When did Kung Fu S01E15 air?
The Ancient Warrior aired 1973-05-03 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…