"The time is the 1870s. The place is the American Southwest and, in flashbacks, China. The stories follow Kwai Chang Caine, a half-Chinese, half- American Shaolin priest. Caine had been raised and trained mostly by Master Kan and Master Po at the Shaolin Temple in the Henan Province of China. But he had to leave the country after killing the Emperor's nephew (who had shot and killed Master Po)."
"Once in America Caine learns he has a half brother. While searching for Danny Caine, Kwai Chang Caine is sought by Chinese assassins and American bounty hunters (who are after the $10,000 reward that China, in widely distributed wanted posters, offers for his capture or $5,000 for his death)."
"Although it was his intention to find Danny in a way which would escape notice, the demands of his training as a priest in addition to the sense of social responsibility which was instilled within him during his childhood, forced Caine to repeatedly come into the open to fight for justice. He would then leave his new surroundings in a further search for anonymity and security."
"This conflict between a desire for anonymity and a sense of social reponsibility is conveyed through the frequent use of flashbacks. In these flashbacks, the adult Caine recalls a particular lesson during his training in the monastery while a child by his teachers, the blind Master Po and Master Kan. "
I must say.... this definitely is my FAVOURITE TV SERIES OF ALL TIME!!!
While most people are into new stuff like 24, Heroes, Lost, Prison Break etc, I am watching this old classic series. Not to say that the new series are bad; far from it. I have watched one or two episodes and found them fairly interesting. But I feel the hero whom I can truly relate to is Caine: kind, humble and always very soft-spoken. Every episode is like a class on how to live life in harmony, based on the Shaolin-Buddhist principles... It's truly superb.
Best of all, now the series is available on DVD!
