The Visitor (TV series)
Encyclopedia
The Visitor was a science fiction
television series created by Roland Emmerich
and Dean Devlin
which aired on Fox
from 1997–1998. It starred John Corbett as Adam McArthur who was abducted by extraterrestrials 50 years earlier and escapes back to Earth
to help improve life for humanity
.
in the Bermuda Triangle
during World War II
. Upon his escape and subsequent return to Earth
, he finds that not only is he still the young man he was 50 years before, but he also has special powers. During his abduction, aliens managed to tap into a largely unused portion of his brain which left Adam with the power to heal and bring people back to life. He also acquired a number of other strange abilities.
In the series, he claims that all people have the power to do this but simply don't know how. Most episodes see Adam travelling America
and making the lives of people better by using both his deductive reasoning and his special powers. He's driven by what he feels to be a quest to change the lives of strangers.
Adam used a small ship to travel back to Earth and continues to use the ship for travel purposes using a device the size of a television remote to control it. When not in use, Adam hides his ship from view during most episodes.
A Colonel from the U.S. Army, James Vise, is concerned about Adam's presence on Earth. He spends most episodes attempting to capture what he perceives to be a threat to U.S. security. FBI
agents Wilcox, Larue and Van Patten are also after Adam; however, they don't see him as a threat, but rather want to question him about his disappearance. They often clash with Vise's group. Adam is also being chased by otherworldly forces. Apparently, the aliens abducted a few humans as part of an experiment; Adam being one of them. Since Adam's escape back to Earth
, the aliens are attempting to track him down in order to resume their tests.
In the end, Adam convinces his "abductors" that he has a mission to complete on Earth and thus is given the opportunity to save mankind. Vise, who was killed during his struggle capturing Adam, is revived by the one who he saw as a threat and is saved by him. Adam convinces him to find another purpose in his second chance in life. However, the ending is somewhat open because after Vise's "death", new questions rise. In addition, FBI agents Wilcox, Larue and Van Patten are reassigned (or forced to resign) after the trio's encounter with Adam and Vise.
As a show where the main character is travelling to different locations in each episode, the show doesn't feature a large cast of primary characters. Similarly to shows like The X-Files
, most episodes feature a supporting cast that appears for just a single scene.
02 [US tx: 26-09-97] Fear of Flying
03 [US tx: 03-10-97] The Devil's Rainbow
04 [US tx: 10-10-97] Dreams
05 [US tx: 17-10-97] Remember
06 [US tx: 24-10-97] The Black Box
07 [US tx: 31-10-97] Teufelsnacht (Devil Night)
08 [US tx: 07-11-97] Reunion
09 [US tx: 14-11-97] Caged
10 [US tx: 05-12-97] Going Home
11 [US tx: 19-12-97] Miracles
12 [US tx: 09-01-98] The Chain
13 [US tx: 16-01-98] The Trial
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
television series created by Roland Emmerich
Roland Emmerich
Roland Emmerich is a German film director, screenwriter, and producer.His films, most of which are Hollywood productions filmed in English, have grossed more than $3 billion worldwide, more than those of any other European director...
and Dean Devlin
Dean Devlin
Dean Devlin is an American screenwriter, producer, television director and former actor. He is the founder of the production company Electric Entertainment.-Personal life:...
which aired on Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
from 1997–1998. It starred John Corbett as Adam McArthur who was abducted by extraterrestrials 50 years earlier and escapes back to Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
to help improve life for humanity
Human Race
Human Race refers to the Human species.Human race may also refer to:*The Human Race, 79th episode of YuYu Hakusho* Human Race Theatre Company of Dayton Ohio* Human Race Machine, a computer graphics device...
.
Overview
Fifty years prior to the outset of the show Adam MacArthur is abducted by aliensExtraterrestrial life
Extraterrestrial life is defined as life that does not originate from Earth...
in the Bermuda Triangle
Bermuda Triangle
The Bermuda Triangle, also known as the Devil's Triangle, is a region in the western part of the North Atlantic Ocean where a number of aircraft and surface vessels allegedly disappeared under mysterious circumstances....
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Upon his escape and subsequent return to Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
, he finds that not only is he still the young man he was 50 years before, but he also has special powers. During his abduction, aliens managed to tap into a largely unused portion of his brain which left Adam with the power to heal and bring people back to life. He also acquired a number of other strange abilities.
In the series, he claims that all people have the power to do this but simply don't know how. Most episodes see Adam travelling America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and making the lives of people better by using both his deductive reasoning and his special powers. He's driven by what he feels to be a quest to change the lives of strangers.
Adam used a small ship to travel back to Earth and continues to use the ship for travel purposes using a device the size of a television remote to control it. When not in use, Adam hides his ship from view during most episodes.
A Colonel from the U.S. Army, James Vise, is concerned about Adam's presence on Earth. He spends most episodes attempting to capture what he perceives to be a threat to U.S. security. FBI
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
agents Wilcox, Larue and Van Patten are also after Adam; however, they don't see him as a threat, but rather want to question him about his disappearance. They often clash with Vise's group. Adam is also being chased by otherworldly forces. Apparently, the aliens abducted a few humans as part of an experiment; Adam being one of them. Since Adam's escape back to Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
, the aliens are attempting to track him down in order to resume their tests.
In the end, Adam convinces his "abductors" that he has a mission to complete on Earth and thus is given the opportunity to save mankind. Vise, who was killed during his struggle capturing Adam, is revived by the one who he saw as a threat and is saved by him. Adam convinces him to find another purpose in his second chance in life. However, the ending is somewhat open because after Vise's "death", new questions rise. In addition, FBI agents Wilcox, Larue and Van Patten are reassigned (or forced to resign) after the trio's encounter with Adam and Vise.
As a show where the main character is travelling to different locations in each episode, the show doesn't feature a large cast of primary characters. Similarly to shows like The X-Files
The X-Files
The X-Files is an American science fiction television series and a part of The X-Files franchise, created by screenwriter Chris Carter. The program originally aired from to . The show was a hit for the Fox network, and its characters and slogans became popular culture touchstones in the 1990s...
, most episodes feature a supporting cast that appears for just a single scene.
Characters
- Adam MacArthur (John Corbett)
- Agent Douglas Wilcox (Grand L. BushGrand L. BushGrand Lee Bush is an American actor of stage, television and major motion pictures.-Personal life:Bush was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of Essie and Robert Bush, who was an actor...
) - Agent Nicholas LaRue (Leon RippyLeon RippyLeon Rippy is an American actor.-Life and career:He has worked with Roland Emmerich on seven movies including: Moon 44 , Eye of the Storm , Universal Soldier , Stargate , The Thirteenth Floor , The Patriot , Eight Legged Freaks and also had a role in the 2004...
) - Agent Craig Van Patten (John StoreyJohn StoreyJohn Storey or Story may refer to:*John Story , English Roman Catholic martyr*John Storey , Australian politician, premier of New South Wales...
) - Colonel James Vise (Steve RailsbackSteve RailsbackSteve Railsback is an American theatre, film and television actor, born in Dallas, Texas.-Personal life:Railsback was born Stephen Hall Railsback, in Dallas, Texas, the son of Emerett Spencer and Clyde Webb Railsback.-Career:Railsback was a student of Lee Strasberg and the Actors Studio and in...
)
Episodes
01 [US tx: 19-09-97] Pilot02 [US tx: 26-09-97] Fear of Flying
03 [US tx: 03-10-97] The Devil's Rainbow
04 [US tx: 10-10-97] Dreams
05 [US tx: 17-10-97] Remember
06 [US tx: 24-10-97] The Black Box
07 [US tx: 31-10-97] Teufelsnacht (Devil Night)
08 [US tx: 07-11-97] Reunion
09 [US tx: 14-11-97] Caged
10 [US tx: 05-12-97] Going Home
11 [US tx: 19-12-97] Miracles
12 [US tx: 09-01-98] The Chain
13 [US tx: 16-01-98] The Trial
Trivia
- The series was created in parallel with the world's first webshows, the now defunct Thevisitor.com, which featured alternate characters, interweaving storylines and one of early DHTML animation. It is very similar to a more recent and much more successful series the 4400The 4400The 4400 is a science fiction TV series produced by CBS Paramount Network Television in association with Sky Television, Renegade 83, and American Zoetrope for USA Network. The show was created and written by Scott Peters and René Echevarria, and it stars Joel Gretsch and Jacqueline McKenzie...
. - The pilot episode and the episode "Caged" were directed by Kevin KerslakeKevin KerslakeKevin Kerslake is an American music video director. He has directed videos for Stone Temple Pilots, Filter, R.E.M., 311, Faith No More, Green Day, The Used, 10 Years, Depeche Mode, The Smashing Pumpkins, Papa Roach, Nirvana, Sonic Youth, Rise Against, Insane Clown Posse, The Offspring, and Blue...
.