The Phoenix

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.

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."

"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.

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 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.