Code Quantum

I remember watching the 60s classic The Time Tunnel and Quantum Leap was a kind of reboot, with time travel being the main game. Anyway, Scott Bakula was born for this role and I'm pleased it ran five seasons, almost 100 episodes, sort of the magic number for syndication at the time.

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.

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.

Oh boy, where do you start. Quantum Leap was an innovative science fiction/fantasy show but at its heart it was also a drama of hope, second chances and change.

The idea behind the show was simple. Dr Sam Beckett, a quantum physicist from the near future (late 1990s it seems) becomes lost in time following a time travel experiment.

He leaps into other people's bodies, temporarily taking the places of them 'to put right what once went wrong.'

Dean Stockwell played Al who appeared as a hologram that only Sam could see as well a some animals and young children. As well as trying to help Sam because Sam suffered from holes in his memory, he also provided the humour.

The series had an easy going charm. It mixed humour, drama, social commentary and nostalgia which gave it broad appeal. There tended to be little science fiction outside its central conceit.

When the episode finished you will see Sam leaping into his next body. The series was strongest when it went into social commentary such as leaping into the body of a black man in the 1960s southern states.

There were also sly parodies of films. Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell had good chemistry.

There were flaws in the series, although it was set in the near future, all the leaps seem to take place pre 1989 when the series started.

Some of the stories could also become rather similar. The producers kind of challenged that by having an evil leaper or politicians in the present trying to pull funding for the project leaving Sam stranded.

The series finished in what can be regarded at a controversial conclusion. Sam who was lost in time and hoping to find his way back home in the present day.

He ends up with a mysterious barkeeper who informs him that he has a choice either to go home or to keep on leaping and changing people's life.

A highly imaginative idea from Donald P. Bellisario.

The selection of Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell to play the roles of Sam (the quantum leaper) and Al (Sam's advice-giving & holographic guide) was spot on.

The story lines were great. The series consisted mainly of fictional plots, interspersed with the odd story based on real life events. In addition, the show's original signature tune was great!

The acting, especially from Scott and Dean, was first class. In fact, you don't need to be a sci-fi buff to enjoy Quantum Leap ........ a Bellisario masterpiece!

________ 9 out of 10! ________

Carl Giwa.