The Phoenix

• Created by Anthony Lawrence and Nancy Lawrence
• March 19, 1982 to April 16, 1982
• ABC

Cast

• Bennu of the Golden Light-Judson Scott
• Mira-Sheila Frazier
• Justin Preminger-Richard Lynch
• Dr. Ward Frazier-E. G. Marshall

An ancient and powerful human sent from the stars is pursued by government forces on modern Earth while he looks for his partner who will help him fulfill his mission.

The Phoenix was a short-lived five-episode series that has stuck in my mind ever since I first watched it. If you haven’t ever heard of it that’s okay because like I said it was five episodes long made 40 years ago though reportedly nine were made. The stories are adventure of the week episodes much like many other shows were back at the time.

For a more recognizable equivalent of what you got per episode I would call this show a cross between The Fugitive and Highway to Heaven. Our central character Bennu (Egyptian for the mythological phoenix) wonders around looking for his other half who knows his true mission. Despite Bennu (Judson Scott) being found in Peru, Mira (Sheila Frazier) is located somewhere in the United States.

This show came out of a time when the concept of ancient astronauts was being heavily popularized. Erich von Däniken’s books Chariots of the Gods? and Gods from Outer Space are clearly sources for much of what we get in this series. Bennu of the Golden Light was an ancient astronaut who is found locked in a Peruvian pyramid. He was not to be awakened until the time was right (whatever that was) and apparently help enlighten mankind. Bennu also happens to be tall, blonde haired and blue-eyed and very white. Don’t think too much about that part.

The show itself wasn’t too bad for the day for what it was. Judson Scott was fantastic casting as the main character. Scott has an otherworldly quality about him that helps sell the superhuman and alien aspects of the character he plays. Bennu has a wisdom and insight that is beyond ours and Scott makes you believe.

In the pilot episode Bennu is found in a sarcophagus of sorts with a synthetic amniotic fluid. That’s important. Bennu is weak and due to the pollution in the atmosphere of the modern world he’s dying so he contacts a scientist named Dr. Ward Frazier (E.G. Marshall) to secure materials for a more permanent solution. Aside from the liberal mention of chemicals (I guess there are good chemicals) it’s mentioned that this concoction he wants to assemble is needed to help keep Bennu alive but by the end of the pilot it’s forgotten about and not brought up again. At least not that I can remember. He is not even kinda sick in any of the following episodes.

To drive home those fugitive parallels Bennu is running from a government agent named Justin Preminger (Richard Lynch) that wants to catch him. Preminger saw him as a bit of a New Age conman. Best as I can tell, and remember I saw these on YouTube so maybe something was edited, but Preminger seemed unaware of Bennu being found in Peru. And I know this was back in the day but the whole taskforce charged with catching this human alien which they were implied to be very much wanting amounted to one or two people at most at any given point. Really? That’s the most you can muster for a space alien with magic powers? Even if Preminger was being kept in the dark, the government might be willing to give him more resources.

Aside from the small task force meant to get back this very important individual, the shows other major flaw were the special effects. Sometimes what they did amounted to a sound when a flash might be more appropriate. I understand this was the very early 80s and special effects were not as easy to produce as they are today but a sound in place of something that should be more visual works in a cartoon but not in a live action setting. I would have settled for a simple camera trick.

The Phoenix was very hippie and very New Age. The pilot episode clearly had an environmental message but after that it got watered down quite a bit. The pilot started out with heavy talk about pollution and the environment but then transitioned into just “Let’s do good things.” Were network executives of the era afraid of an overt environmental message?

If they were going to include Peru, then they needed to play up that Peruvian aspect. The Peruvian official from the pilot certainly implied that his government knew a great deal more about what was going on than what he said. Perhaps even more than Bennu himself. Yet beyond the pilot this never played into the narrative.

The show certainly needed an expanded task force for the bad guy. One guy chasing after an important fugitive seems a bit thin. He did not even need to understand why he had the help but he had to have the manpower.

And I know Bennu had telepathic abilities, but he navigated this very foreign world to him with far too much experience. He certainly needed a sidekick to help him get around things. At the minimum this proposed sidekick needed to stick around for a few episodes to give Bennu a plausible amount of experience to go on by himself.

This show was a good idea but one without the best execution and at points the ability to be executed well. We certainly need shows like this with characters attempting to make a positive impact or allowing us to take a look at ourselves. I dare say this is something that with minor tweaks here and there should be rebooted.

The Phoenix is a good idea that wasn’t handled as well as it should’ve been. It’s a little cheesy and a little clunky but ultimately not too bad. You probably won’t find this on physical media or be able to watch it anywhere other than YouTube, but it’s worth checking out for science-fiction aficionados and people who enjoy older television. For the modern viewer I say skip it. I doubt you’ll find anything you like.