Kung Fu
One Step to Darkness
TV Flash files “One Step to Darkness” as hour 54 of 62 in the TV Flash guide — Kung Fu (1972–1975) on ABC, season 3, episode 16, aired 1975-01-25, 60 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S03E16: listed hour 54 of 62 in the Kung Fu guide, hour 16 of 24 in season 3. It aired 1975-01-25 (60 min). The listed hour before it is “The Forbidden Kingdom” (S03E15). Next is “Battle Hymn” (S03E17).
Catalog log
Broadcast listing — not a TV Flash recap.
Caine must struggle with a demon of fear from his past to help a woman addicted to drugs; guests Bruce Carradine, Wilford Brimley.
Viewer FAQ
Where does One Step to Darkness sit in the Kung Fu guide?
S03E16 is listed hour 54 of 62 — hour 16 of 24 in season 3, season 3 episode 16.
When did Kung Fu S03E16 air?
One Step to Darkness aired 1975-01-25 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…