Throughout the 1980s I hoped and prayed that some day Warner Brothers would release the show on VHS tape. And, eventually they did. At some absurd price like $39.95 per tape. As much as I loved the show, I could not afford to spend hundreds of dollars on it.
Then, finally, they released the series on DVD and I bought all three seasons. I began watching, oh, maybe 3 years ago, just one episode every so often. For me it was like drinking precious vintage wine. I wanted to savor the experience and make it last.
About a month ago, I was down to the last of 4 DVDs for the third season. And then I heard that David Carradine had died. That settled it; after 35 years, it was time to finish watching the series.
Two nights ago, I watched the true final episode, where Kwai Chang Caine is reunited with his half-brother, Danny. I was a bit confused about the fact that there were 3 more episodes listed on side B of the DVD. Watching the first one, I found that it was out of sequence, going back to an earlier time in Caine's life. Same for the next, as well as the last one I watched today.
Some research on the Web revealed that this order of episodes corresponded to the dates that they were initially released in 1975. But they actually belonged earlier in the season. When the show is rebroadcast these days, the episodes are in logical order. But not on the DVD.
It was a confusing ending after a 35-year wait and 3 years of savoring the series. Rewarding, nonetheless. And the final bonus feature, Carradine's visit to China, including the Shaolin Monastery, was great.
