Viajeros en el tiempo

Do you know that feeling when you discover a tv show that is at least 20 years older than you, special effects equal to zero (when compared to today's effects), but still decide to give it a chance and start watching. You struggle with the first two episodes but later you realize there is great acting, episodes filled with good storytelling and action just forget about the effects and the overall look of the shot and keep watching literally until the last episode. A unique store, its like a pioneer in its field, very interesting.

This year (2022) a TV series re-boot of sorts, still called "Quantum Leap", is intended as a continuation of the 1989 series that had Scott Bakula as the Quantum-leaping Sam and Dean Stockwell as the holographic accomplist Al. As the new series opens it references the old series and that Sam never returned but the technology is a continuation of the old. So with that came my desire to revisit the older series. Fortunately it is also available streaming on NBC's Peacock service. While I did see some episodes back 30-odd years ago I never watched much of it.

Now, watching it from the beginning, and comparing it to the re-boot, the main difference (aside from the actors) is that the original has a lot more humor. While each story has mostly serious elements the overall mood is humorous. Not broad, slapstick comedy but humor built in by 1) excellent scripts and 2) the acting abilities of Bakula and Stockwell. They made a really good team and every episode, no matter what the subject, is entertaining.

Quantum Leap was a fantastic science fiction series. Past time travel shows had the main character(s) going back (or forward) in time as themselves. Quantum Leap was so special mainly because Sam is leaping INTO people and experiencing their lives first hand. This made for some very interesting stories like when Sam leaps into a woman or a black man. Of course, having a hologram from his own time (Al) guiding him on his adventures was another key component to the show.

One complaint I've always heard about the show is: if Sam puts right what once went wrong, wouldn't he be altering the future? The answer is no. Sam doesn't leap into anyone famous (often) and so he would not be altering the future dramatically for many. And whenever he does leap into someone famous, everything works out the way history recorded it.

NBC made a huge blunder cancelling this series, especially cancelling it on a cliff hanger. And why won't Universal make a movie? Fans want it and Don Bellisario has expressed an interest in doing one. So come on. Put what right what NBC did wrong and make a movie.

I have to admit I may be a little biased as I've always had a soft spot for this programme. I recall watching the pilot when it was originally aired in the UK (1990 I think?) and remember, even then, being transfixed by the subsequent weekly 'leaps' of its main character, Dr. Sam Beckett.

I always thought it was more than just a Sci-fi/ comedic drama as, at times, it was incredibly insightful. The concept was completely innovative and didn't rely to heavily on expensive effects to convey the belief of time travel.

Sam's holographic sidekick Al Calavici (played by Dean Stockwell) provided an above average level of humour, making the viewer laugh out loud at issues which some would consider untouchable (his remark of 'bigot in a moo-moo' regarding one very ample character's racist comments being an example!)

There appeared to be no subject to dangerous to touch and that was what made the programme so engrossing. By examining key issues that could have affected anyone (sexual harassment, racism and teenage pregnancy to name a few), the viewer could not help but be drawn into a theoretical discussion as to the rights and wrongs of each subject.

I could go on but all I can add is that I highly recommend this T.V classic to newcomers as, once you've seen it, you will become as hooked as the millions of other devotees out there!

What can I say? I loved this series! It had humor, it had sorrow, it had drama, it had suspense. It spanned the dimensions of every emotion, even when the plot was painfully thin.

Sure, there were some episodes that would have been better left on the cutting floor, but for the most part each episode was a single contained enjoyable event.

I didn't like the ending, but as it has been said the network decided to end the series and so they didn't care much how it ended.

I'm waiting for the entire series to be out on DVD (the first season is already out). I could watch these over and over ... and I will!