The Master (TV series)

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Name: The Master
Abbreviation(s):
Creator: Michael Sloan
Date(s): 1984
Medium: tv
Country of Origin: US
External Links: Wikipedia
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The Master was a 1980s action tv series on NBC about an aging ninja master, John Peter McAllister, an American veteran who stayed in Japan following World War II, and his student, Max.

Short Canon Description

From For Those Who Came in Late #1 (1991):

After the war (variously World War II or Korea) [McAllister] stayed in Japan, drawn to the culture and the peace he found in the lifestyle. He had always been intrigued by the ninja subculture and he was eventually accepted by a ninja group and became its leader.

Certain of his students chose to return to the old ways of the ninja: terrorism and assassination and the like. Unable to condone such activities, McAllister chose to leave. About that time, he received a letter from Teri, the daughter he hadn't known existed, so he decided to return to America to search for her. Her mother was Laura Kennedy, a journalist he met briefly during the Korean War. Pursued by Osaka, once his best student, who felt that the Master had betrayed their ninja traditions, McAllister returned to the United States.

It was here that he met Max Keller, a young drifter. Max was traveling around the country in his van, helping people in need and getting into all kinds of trouble. Rash and hotheaded, he got into fights easily and managed to get tossed out of a lot of bar windows. This became a sort of trademark. Max's father, Patrick Keller (Doug McClure), is an attorney, who became an alcoholic after the death of his wife and older son Jimmy, in a light plane crash. He and Max were estranged for most of the series.

When Max met the Master, he was drawn to him and fascinated by the thought of learning to become a ninja. He made a deal with the Master, that if McAllister would teach him ninjitsu, he would drive the Master around in his van and help him find Teri. Though he had accepted this bargain reluctantly, McAllister found himself and Max becoming close friends. Max needed a mentor, and became very devoted to his teacher, and McAllister found Max a ready pupil.

[...]

The series showed a progression in Max's learning ninjitsu and also learning to control his hot temper, a task which McAllister considered more important than the fighting. Max claimed the Master was teaching him ninjitsu, while McAllister said he was teaching him discipline. Their friendship developed steadily as they traveled around the country seeking Teri McAllister and getting into trouble. Teri was never found.

Characters

  • John Peter McAllister (The Master)
  • Max Keller
  • Okasa

Fanzines

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