Kung Fu: The Legend Continues - Characters

Characters

Kwai Chang Caine (David Carradine)

Kwai Chang Caine is the main character of the series, a Shaolin priest and leader of a Shaolin temple located somewhere in California roughly 15 years before the series begins. He is the grandson of Kwai Chang Caine, the lead character from the original series and highly intelligent, wise, and honorable, as well as a master of Kung-Fu. As the series progresses, we find out that his extensive training and mastery of many various arts and skills allow him to perform impressive and often impossible superhuman feats. These include opening locked doors, extinguishing flame with the wave of a hand, going without oxygen for extended periods of time, appearing in places he should not have been able to reach, and even using forms of pyrokinesis and psychokinesis, as well as physically defending himself. In the third season, he becomes a Shambhala master, which greatly increases his ability. He eventually found himself in the same city as his son Peter when he was looking for the boy who would inherit the Chinese throne. A running gag throughout the series has Caine quoting a piece of insight to another character (usually Peter), who guesses that it is from an ancient Eastern philosopher. Caine then reveals the source to be a celebrity, often a musician such as Frank Zappa or John Lennon. David Carradine appeared in all the episodes of the series.

Early in the series, Caine sets up a kwoon, a facility where he teaches the basics of kung fu to interested locals. He closes it down and leaves the city at the end of the first season, but returns six months later (in the second-season premiere) and moves into an apartment in Chinatown, setting himself up as an apothecary. During the series finale, he turns the apartment over to Peter and leaves the city again, this time to find out whether or not his wife is still alive. He is often seen playing the flute in his spare time - usually a modern metal one, but occasionally a bamboo instrument similar to that used by his grandfather. Both in the present and in flashbacks, he frequently gives Peter a gentle slap to the cheek or the side of the head when reminding him about some piece of wisdom, because "it pushes the lesson in" ("Rain's Only Friend").

Peter Caine (Chris Potter)

The son of Kwai Chang Caine, Peter became a detective and eventually came to work at the 101st Precinct in a Chinatown district after being separated from his father as a child. Believing his father to be dead and all he knew as a child destroyed and taken from him, Peter was forced to grow up in the "real world," raised by a foster family, and has become somewhat cynical and cold about life and the world in general and, obviously, continues to carry the pain of the loss of his father among other things. In the beginning of the series, he very much personifies the stereotypical, average, big city police detective, having forgotten and buried much of what he was taught as a child; however, Caine often reminds him of moments at the temple that prove to be helpful in his work. Peter has also become a good marksman and regularly demonstrates this skill in the performance of his duties as a cop. He also seems to have maintained some of the martial arts expertise which he learned in early childhood.

Later in the series, Peter undergoes the full Shaolin training regimen and completes it successfully, but stops just short of becoming a priest. He also begins to learn some of the tricks and "magical" abilities that his father uses; during the series finale, he turns in his badge and becomes a Shaolin priest in his own right. Throughout all four seasons, Peter addresses Caine as "Pop," initially to Caine's visible dislike (which lessens considerably as the series progresses). He drives a black Chevrolet Corvette convertible during the first season, then changes to a blue Dodge Stealth coupe for the other three. Chris Potter also appeared in all the episodes of the series.

The character was described by critic Jonathan Storm as "one of those seat-of-the-pants, tough-guy cops who always winds up in trouble at the same time he's getting his man."

The Ancient (Lo Si) / Ping Hai (Kim Chan)

An old and mysterious "wise man" who has accumulated much ancient mystic, herbal, and historical knowledge, as well as being quite capable of defending himself even in his old age. Most characters refer to him simply as "The Ancient," though the name "Lo Si" is sometimes used to denote him. In the series finale, he reveals that he is actually Ping Hai, one of the monks who oversaw the California temple along with Caine. (Numerous flashbacks throughout the series depict Ping Hai as having the same voice and appearance as the Ancient, but without the latter's hair, beard/mustache, and eyeglasses.)

The Ancient was also part of the Chinese council that protected the child who would inherit the Chinese throne. The Ancient also came to the city because of his daughter, helping to relocate her and her grandfather to the area. After that he kept his distance and watched her grow up and start a family of her own, before revealing himself as her father. He plays a significant supporting role throughout the series. His favorite phrase is "Bloody marvelous," usually said after he has either witnessed or performed a significant feat.

Matthew Caine

Grandfather of Peter Caine and father of Kwai Chang Caine. Believed to be dead. He was first seen in the present time of the series in the Season 3 episode "The Sacred Chalice of I Ching," though he appeared in occasional flashbacks before and after this episode. Matthew was a medic with the Allies in World War II and an amateur archaeologist. He discovered a chalice that was, according to legend, given to Jesus during his wanderings as a gift from a Shaolin Temple. Matthew was reunited with his surviving family in the same episode, having lived for decades near the church where the chalice had been hidden.