User Reviews

Robert Ito, an actor who appeared in the pilot (best known for his role opposite Jack Klugman in the teleseries QUINCY), makes a welcome return to the series, as a Ninja disguised as a blacksmith working at a trading post owned by Andrew Swan (William Glover), who has a running feud with Noah Jones (Dana Elcar), owner of a rival post. When one of Noah's drivers is attacked by the hidden Ninja, Caine is on hand to see the murder of the accompanying rider, slain by a blow to the neck. Caine delivers the body to Swan's post and is hired as an extra hand, meeting Swan's wife (Nobu McCarthy) and daughter Akiko (Beverly Kushida), the latter developing feelings for the new arrival. Noah's son Abe (James Keach) also has feelings for Akiko, but must remain by his father's side. Caine recognizes the poisoned weapon used against Noah's driver and offers medical aid to save him from certain death, then is challenged by the deadly Ninja, who was hired by Swan to help him defeat his longtime nemesis. A strong entry weakened somewhat by the excessive romanticism displayed by the Akiko character, hardly the fault of Beverly Kushida, the little known actress in the role, who would marry actor Michael Ansara in 1977. Hollywood veteran Douglas Fowley puts in a brief appearance, and the young James Keach is seen to good advantage, but it's Robert Ito who steals this one, later appearing in just one other episode, "The Way of Violence Has No Mind." This was also the first episode to feature David Carradine playing a flute, a gift from close friend Michael Greene, who showed up in the earlier episode "Chains."