Quantum Leap

People are already crucifixion the show based on one episode. First of people keep using the term remake. This is not a remake. It's a continuation from the original show based 30 years later. One reviewer said that we got to learn a little about Scott's character in each episode with the original but in this one we learned everything in the first episode. I don't know what they watched but I don't know crap about Ben except he rewrote the code and has a fiance and is a physicist. People being to cynical based off of 44 minute first episode. I thought the story was good considering it's only been 1 episode so far.

A commodity tv show, with a science fiction component really always needs two things to make up for the lack of drama, production, writing, and special effects.

Those two things are heart, and levity. And those were two things the original quantum leap had in spades. As does pretty much any other commodity tv science fiction show you might think of. This show however does not have any funny characters or writing. The main character's actor in particular seems just fine as an actor, but not well suited to comedy. And whilst the show aims for story lines with heart, it feels very by the numbers.

Season one was okay with some decent story lines ... but the writers have obviously run out of story ideas and by episode 2, season 2 they have already set it up to be "just another soap opera". If your main characters have to have a dysfunctional love life in order to be interesting, they don't have much 'character'. The first series avoided being just about moronic love lives by creating story lines with intelligible plots. It appears this new series is going to be more about what's happening in the present at home and less about what's happening in the 'leap' and its' impact on the world. Instead of being a cool sci-fi series with a creative "what-if" perspective ... it's becoming just another show about people who suck at relationships ... but these idiots are supposed to be intelligent so they get to do science stuff while acting like middle school morons.

It's a fun thing to watch if you don't want anything that requires thinking. Acting is pretty decent but there are some things that I simply find annoying. Particularly the very obvious messaging in the show. I'm a fairly liberal person and I appreciate wide range of diversity in casting but the fact that there always needs to be a small lesson on gender identity is super old and tiring and NOT an effective means of changing hearts and minds. There are other ways to send that those same messages without having the dialogue come across like it's for a kids show. Having such messaging so on the nose will instantly cause half the audience to check out and feel like an ideology is being "crammed down their throats," while a more subtle approach could allow those same viewers to be more receptive.

Yes I'm a fan of the original, no you can't compare them and yes there is so much wrong with the show that it unfortunately outweighs the nostalgia. Firstly, the script is so dumbed down to the point where they have to spell everything out for you. Secondly, I just can't stand the hologram/partner, I don't know why, but she bothers me, she is dull, whiny and makes everything about herself. I don't know why they made her character the romantic interest, it does not make it more interesting.

We also spend a chunk of each episode going over what is happening in real time, outside of the leap. I'm not going to lie, during the original episodes I did wonder what happens in the world that he is missing but the reality is that it doesn't matter, we care about the leap and the main character.

Besides the main character I can't say that I like anyone else in this show, they are annoying and detract from the point of the show, the part that you want to watch. Honestly I can live with the dumbed down dialogue and obvious plots if it had characters and storylines that entertained me, this unfortunately has nothing going for it.

They had a golden opportunity with this show and the stories are basically limitless but they are so underwhelming and they could not have cast the show worse if they actually tried, this is a truly disappointing miss and such a smudge on the name of quantum leap.