Which is your favorite season?
I have the third right now.
Just curious if anyone has a favorite?
"What we do in this life echoes in eternity." ~ Gladiator
I think for me it is season two. Season one would be next, followed by season three.
Season one was excellent in it's own right, although there was more emphasis on creating the overall background story (of course) -- so it had an introductory feel to it. Not to knock it -- I saw it first when I was an eleven-year-old kid and it is no exaggeration to say that it completely transformed my way of thinking, and for the rest of my life. I have only recently purchased all three seasons and have watched them in order. It is amazing how well this show has held up after all this time. Anyway, back to your question:
In season two everything seemed to hit in perfect stride, and each episode struck a chord in me that had me thinking about it long after. The character of Caine was completely developed, and although we never knew what to expect from him exactly, we knew that he would handle each new situation well. In fact the most interesting thing about these episodes for me was the way that his solutions were usually not what I had expected, but instead he had found some other way to do the "right thing." He walked through these characters lives and showed them by example, being non-judgemental throughout and treating his enemies with equal respect as his friends. Indeed he proved that "enemy" and "friend" were just labels for "human beings." The temple scenes in season two were also just as astounding to me.
Season three was very different than the first two -- I think we were seeing more David Carradine and less Caine. In fact, during the big four-part finale, one of the "bad guys" is taken out by a wire booby trap. In the past, Caine would have run to this person to see if he could help, and probably would have insisted on burying the body, if the fellow were dead. Instead he and his brother share a good laugh over the wouned man (or corpse?) and walk away triumphantly. So for me, it's good things ended when they did I suppose.
And so that is my long-winded reply to your question. Anyone else?
Hey, thanks for the thorough answer BigShoe.
I probably should have bought them in succession,
but, oh well, I didn't know I would come to love them so much all
over again. Thanks for your decriptions,
you've made me even more excited to see the first two.
"What we do in this life echoes in eternity." ~ Gladiator
You are sure welcome. I felt kinda bad after posting that, since you said you had the third season and I sounded like I was putting it down. I'm not putting it down I assure you. : ) By itself the third season is a masterwork; it is only in comparison to the first two that it maybe suffers a little I think.
Since I made my post I heard a commentary line from David Carradine regarding the third season. He mentioned that he had always wanted to bring more traditional Kung Fu elements into the story, and much of that was sort of crammed into the third season (he knew that it was the last season). So, there are more episodes that take place entirely in China for instance. Also he wears the traditional black clothing of a Kung Fu master, unlike the first two seasons.
Anyhow I know you will really enjoy the first two seasons as well.
I tell you, these stories and the photography and everything hold up so well in the present day that it is amazing to me. I wish more people would take a look at this show. There has never been anything else quite like it I think.
Anyways, nice to hear from someone else that loves this show. : D
No need to feel bad at all, I appreciated the input.
There has never been anything else quite like it I think.
That's for sure; it was very special and unique for it's time, and still is, not too many programs can make that claim.
"What we do in this life echoes in eternity." ~ Gladiator share
I love all 3 seasons, but for me season 1 is very much the original and the best.
I know a lot of people rate the 2nd as the best, and although I enjoyed it, I actually preferred the 3rd and final season to the 2nd. I loved the episodes in China and felt it was a perfect way to end the season with the 4-part conclusion ('Barbary House', 'Flight to Orion', 'The Brothers Caine' and 'Full Circle').