I like this episode as well, but found it hard to ignore the fact that Samurai had been abolished for about a hundred years! On a trip to Japan several years ago I stumbled upon a group of Kyudo practitioners http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ky%C5%ABd%C5%8D in a Zen temple in Kamakura. I had never known...

Ha, I've never even heard of Mannix before - clearly before my time - but I see what you mean. There are some similar licks, but it doesn't have the same tone of excitement.

No, Dynasty's much more whimsical than the original theme. I think it's more serious cool dudeish like the ChiPs theme. Check it out... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSzEmPEnYxo

Yeah, I dig it...but really only for the nostalgic value. I think it has a real 70s feel to it. A hangover from the previous decade with a bit too much cheese - think Charlie's Angels. The Post/Carpenter theme brought the show into the '80s. Still, it's a cool tune and a reminder of the show's roots.