Kung Fu
The Spirit Helper
TV Flash files “The Spirit Helper” as hour 20 of 62 in the TV Flash guide — Kung Fu (1972–1975) on ABC, season 2, episode 5, aired 1973-11-08, 60 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S02E05: listed hour 20 of 62 in the Kung Fu guide, hour 5 of 23 in season 2. It aired 1973-11-08 (60 min). The listed hour before it is “The Brujo” (S02E04). Next is “The Squaw Man” (S02E06).
Catalog log
Broadcast listing — not a TV Flash recap.
Caine, in a reversal of roles, finds himself as the master with a 15-year-old boy as his disciple in which he must teach him that the act of revenge can lead to the death of the spirit.
Viewer FAQ
Where does The Spirit Helper sit in the Kung Fu guide?
S02E05 is listed hour 20 of 62 — hour 5 of 23 in season 2, season 2 episode 5.
When did Kung Fu S02E05 air?
The Spirit Helper aired 1973-11-08 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…