Kung Fu: The Legend Continues (Syndicated 1992-1996, David Carradine, Chris Potter)

A longtime fan of the original Kung Fu series, Michael Sloan (The Equalizer) once dreamed of reviving the character of Kwai Chang Caine and placing him in even more dangerous territory than he travelled in in the classic western series. Starring David Carridine His idea — casting David Carradine as the same-named grandson of Kwai Chang Caine — found a champion in Star Trek: The Next Generation producer Maurice Hurley, who signed on as supervising producer of the series Sloan would eventually call Kung Fu: The Legend Continues.

Sloan’s concept for the sequel series was a fascinating one. Fifteen years before, widower Caine was raising young Peter alone amongst a small band of Shaolin priests in the Northern California temple he established. But the harmony was soon shattered forever when a renegade priest, a sworn enemy of Caine, burned the temple to the ground. The aftermath of the fire left Caine believing his young son was dead. Likewise, Peter thought his father had perished in the blaze — a falsehood woven by a friend to protect both father and son from an unrelenting, deadly enemy. Like his grandfather before him, Caine became a wanderer, while Peter was brought up in an orphanage by people who had no knowledge of his background.

Much later in life, Caine’s travels bring him to Toronto, Canada, where Peter (Chris Potter) has become a police detective. The people of the city’s Chinatown ask Caine for help in fighting a mysterious gangster — the same case Peter has been assigned to solve. Peter realizes that the Kung Fu master who has come to the people’s aid is his father, and the two are happily reunited. But father and son soon learn how different they are. Caine is a Shaolin priest and a Kung Fu master who spurns violence and force. Peter, on the other hand, is a man to whom violence has become a way of life. As Kwai Chang struggles to adapt to his disturbing surroundings and his reborn fatherhood, he attempts to revitalize in his son the compassion and non-violent ways he taught him as a child. In this way, like the original series, Kung Fu: The Legend Continues dramatizes a clash of Eastern and Western philosophies, but with a much more urbane, fast-paced edge.

Carradine and Potter are undeniably appealing leads in this cult TV sensation, but Kung Fu: The Legend Continues also sports an impressive supporting cast, with Robert Lansing spearheading things as Peter’s mentor and boss Lt. Paul Blaisdell. Also appearing in recurring roles are Marla Schaffel as Tyler Smith, Peter’s beautiful ex-fiancee with whom he carries on a hot-and-cold romance; Kim Chan as the Ancient, a proprietor of a Chinatown apothecary shop and an old Shaolin priest who befriends Caine; William Dunlop as Chief of Detectives Frank Strenlich; Scott Wentworth as quirky, sunglass-wearing detective Kermit; and Nathaniel Moreau as the young Peter. The series originally ran in syndication from 1992 to 1996, yielding 88 action-packed episodes.

production details
USA | Syndicated | 88×44 minutes | 1992-1996
Script: Ed Spielman,

cast
David Carradine as Kwai Chang Caine
Chris Potter as Peter Caine
Kim Chan as Lo Si
Nathaniel Moreau as Young Peter Caine
David Hewlett as
Janet-Laine Green as
Kate Trotter as
Robert Lansing as
Scott Wentworth as
Victoria Snow as