The Phoenix (1981–1982) User Reviews

A great plot

[Asra Nolan · 8/10 · 29 July 2003]

I remember trying to watch all the episodes I could but only seeing about 7. His powers were awsome and the expanding plot made it look like they were going to be space aliens (which was an excellent plot in my book at the time). I still wish it had time for more plot development about: his girl friend not being at the spot she was frozen at (his enemy lying claim to it), him not wanting any knowledge of his being up and about (blearing a photo that a kid took at a ranch he was working at), and the cave having the pictures of space men with him saying they were about his people. This wasnt like the show Starman which in my opion was a road show, but it had more story plot underneth it than just lets find my wife. So if they ever release it on DVD (pray pray) then I would definitely buy it (more praying).

10 out of 10 definitely

A forgotten piece of science fiction awesome!

[BandSAboutMovies · 7/10 · 3 December 2018]

In 1981, a young Sam (Becca was just a glimmer at this point) was obsessed was science fiction, ancient aliens and television. This TV movie - and the four episodes that followed - were repeatedly discussed in the Panico household as a show that seemed to have such promise and then suddenly just disappeared.



Judson Scott (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan) played Bennu, an ancient astronaut who is awakened from suspended animation within an Incan pyramid. He's constantly on the run, as the government wants to either control or cut him up (they're led by Richard Lynch from Bad Dreams).

In the movie, he acquires a love interest who is killed as a result of his escape. The whole movie is pretty dark, actually, setting Bennu up as someone above human emotion and morality who learns how important life on our planet is. His home planet is called Aurica in the movie, but Eidebran for the series.

He has plenty of powers, too. Physical levitation, telepathy, astral projection, precognition, clairvoyance and telekinesis, which are all helped by his Phoenix Amulet and its ability to draw use solar energy.

Beyond Richard Lynch's Justin Preminger antagonist, Bennu must also contend with another alien named Yago. Just like our hero uses the sun, he uses our moon. It's hinted that Lucifer and Dracula are both fictionalized versions of this villain, who can deafen with his Bells of Thon and has a musical instrument named the Black Moonball that allows him to teleport or change his appearance. Even more interesting to me, at least, is that his original name in the show was to be Aiwaz, the angel who read The Book of the Law to Crowley!

Bennu isn't all alone, though. He's helped by Dr. Ward Frazier (E.G. Marshall, Creepshow) and spends the series searching for his mate, Mira (Sheila Frazier, Super Fly).

The show was created by Anthony Lawrence, who wrote several Elvis movies and created the TV series The Sixth Sense that was often syndicated along with Night Gallery. And get this, a few of the episodes were directed by Douglas Hickox (Theater of Blood)!

Saw the movie but never saw the series

[traveller004 · 20 January 2006]

I saw the pilot movie Phoenix, which at the time was not intended as a series but the ratings were so high a quick option was picked up by the network to shoot the series. To my knowledge only six episodes of this series were ever aired. The two or three glimpses of the series episodes I did manage to see gave me the impression that the high production values of the pilot movie did not carry over to the TV show. I have followed the career of Judson Earny Scott since and am sad to say a man with as much talent as he does not seem to get many good roles.

Most people remember from his minor role in The Wrath Of Kahn. But he's been in a host of TV shows, including the pilot of "Mathew Star," he was also in "X-files" and various other pieces. Having met the man in person, which I did late in 1982 I can say that he is as genuine as the character he portrayed in the role of Benu from the movie and later series of "The Phoenix."

Best scifi show ever!

[planetp · 10/10 · 21 August 2009]

It might sound quaint to say this was the best scifi show ever, but given the time when this show was made (1981), it was WAY ahead of its time. What made this show so compelling wasn't the special effects but the entire conceptual premise, which was more far out and mystical than any other show before or since. As a long-time fan of scifi such as Star Wars and Star Trek, this show more than any other is the most memorable in influencing my young mind about the possibilities of extraterrestrial intelligence, consciousness, and the outer reaches of human potential. Despite only 5 shows, I still see its influence on my conceptions of what's possible to this day. Judson Scott did an outstanding job of portraying a highly evolved, spiritual, intelligent and compassionate being that has been unmatched since this show. Like others here I would do almost anything, pay almost anything to get a copy of the show.

Awesome Sci-Fi Series

[grebnegnilkmij · 10/10 · 21 April 2020]

I used to stay up to watch this after the 11pm news. I think it was an awesome story line, and really was sorry to see it was cancelled. TV execs suck! They started out with what would have been a cult following in my opinion, like they totally blew it with Firefly in early 2000's

Another "Phoenix" fan

[jgarner136 · 24 April 2006]

"The Phoenix" was a very good, very gentle series that was ended too soon. Judson Scott was perfect as Bennu, the man from the stars. Scott has a gentleness of spirit that suited Bennu. Regrettably, the production values of the series were lacking, and as a result, the episodes sometimes looked clumsy or cheesy, and I think this had a lot to do with the decision to cancel the series. After all these years, I still miss Bennu.

Bennu and his partner were put in a sort of suspended animation, set to awake at a certain time, and with the means to "catch up" to the current time. Unfortunately, his partner had already been taken by grave robbers, and when archaeologists opened Bennu's crypt, the technology that would have helped Bennu was destroyed. Then, Bennu had to run to avoid both the Peruvians and the Government agents, who both want him, but for vastly different reasons. As Bennu traveled, he met and helped many different people, always with wisdom and gentleness, avoiding violence.

Having seen "The Phoenix" from pilot to end, I truly wish that someone would put this exceptional, but short, series on DVD.

Great Scifi, way ahead of its time

[Carrigon · 18 June 2005]

I loved this show. It was a long time ago, and I still remember some of it. They seemed to be putting a lot of ancient Egyptian and Mayan legends into it. The lead character, Bennu had special powers and he was searching for another of his kind. But the show was canceled before we ever knew if he found her. I think they were going for the archeoastronomy/space alien thing. It was great. I was really sad when it was canceled. There was so much more they could have done with this. It must have been good if I still remember it after all these years. The lead actor, Judson Scott went on to play Joachim in The Wrath of Khan. I hope this series gets remade, and I would love to see the original series on DVD.

best short-lived series of the 80s

[xslfdljvjrfn · 23 February 2006]

This was the greatest short-lived series of the 80s, and it holds up well even after nearly 25 years. Sure, it's cheesy but it really is a true classic. I was devastated when it suddenly disappeared from the air so many years again, and am glad I was finally able to see it again. Only 5 episodes (including the pilot) were ever made but every one of them is brilliant. According to the posting guidelines, I'm unable to provide a URL to where you can get it again on DVD, but let's just say that if you let Google be your guide, you should easily be able to find all 5 episodes for only 5 bucks somewhere on the net! Peace. Enjoy.

A sci-fi for the metaphysical believer

[Macros-5 · 3 February 2002]

A man comes to earth, whose power stems from sunlight. In darkness he is incredibly weak, but in sunlight, he has powers & abilities that defy logic. This was such a great show when it aired, but like many other sci-fi adventures of it's time, it was left at the wayside. If this ever becomes available on tape or DVD, I'd snatch it right up. Judson Scott was a great young talent. A must see for 80's SF watchers.

remembering an old show from the 80's

[dg96595 · 19 April 2006]

hi, I too remember it from way back when and was totally into it as a kid. I would love to see it again, and I also wondered what happened to the woman he was looking for. She was awakened ahead of time too or something like that, right? does anyone know if you can purchase this somewhere, with so many shows going onto DVD, i wonder if the lesser know hits or near misses would make it onto DVD as well. at this point, id take VHS, just to watch it again. there are some other shows out there that id like to see as well, like salavage one, automan, voyagers, those were all pretty cool shows in the early 80's.