Quantum Leap
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Season One (1989)
Rate:
out of 5
Viewed:
3/26
3/26:
I used to watch Quantum Leap every single week for five seasons and loved everything about it.
What a surprise when it was canceled afterwards due to declining viewership. The best parts are the time travel
and Sam Beckett trying to figure out why he's transported to this person's life at a specific time, seeing a
different face in the mirror, saying, "Oh, boy," righting a wrong and/or undoing a death, receiving several
clues from time to time about his previous life, working with Al, and entering the moment of a leap.
At the same time, there's a lot of history going on plus the anachronisms because they haven't been invented
or aren't yet in fashion. Sam also has to be careful about what he says because some of the words haven't entered
the national lexicon. Ditto for keeping everything as normal as possible. One big flaw is that Sam is always
at the same height every time he enters a person; what if one is actually 10 inches shorter or 5 inches taller?
Regardless, when I think of Quantum Leap, I always think of Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell, and vice
versa. They made the show possible. It's very creative and intelligent, belonging in the top five sci-fi TV
shows of all time.
Here's my analysis for some of the following episodes:
Genesis: This is the one that began all, providing a lot of background information as to why and what
happened. Beliesve it or not, it was directed by David Hemmings of
Blow-Up fame. If you're confused, B.O.Q. means "Bachelor Officer Quarters" which
is a sleeping place for unmarried officers. As for the consecutive signs on the roadside, it was made popular by
Burma-Shave. I've seen just one in my entire life that's still there in Southern New Jersey which goes like this:
"Today's Kids...Sure Missed a Treat...No Moonlight Rides...In a Rumble Seat." Also, there's a bonus of two
quantum leaps. While guest-starring Bruce McGill, the first one reminds me a lot of
The Right Stuff, and it would've been cool if a famous test pilot showed
up and said, "Hello, I'm Chuck Yeager." By the way, the present day is 1996 which is when Sam first started to
time travel because of Al's goof by telling him that he would have to wait for 40 years to get back to where he
was initially in. Of course, the board game Trivial Pursuit didn't come out until 1981; however, the word "nerd"
wasn't new at the time. Good one, Al...Roy Hobbs of The Natural.
Star-Crossed: I find it funny that Sam, who breaks his own rule for not taking advantage of his position
to improve or alter his life, won't do a thing about the Watergate break-in which occurred on June 17, 1972.
In the meantime, Teri Hatcher guest-stars and does a good job. By the way, Lawrence College doesn't exist, but
there's Sarah Lawrence College in Yonkers, New York.