The New “Quantum Leap” Has Issues…
For fans of the old series, the new Quantum Leap may seem unfamiliar. I think that is the point, but it’s a weakness.
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I’ve now watched the first two episodes of Quantum Leap on Peacock (online streaming platform from NBC), and I have some issues with it. Or, rather, it has issues I’ve detected. The show is definitely not like the old series that ran from 1989 to 1993. While it is sold to us as a continuation of the story that Sam and Al started 30 years ago, those who watched every one of the original episodes may not recognize the show this time.
Not a Lot of Future
First, the original Quantum Leap (OQL) did not feature much of what was going on in the future. What we got instead of scenes set in the future was Al telling us about what was happening back at the Quantum Leap Project. He did this through often humorous expositions of the situation, what people were doing, and how everyone was pulling together to help.
When we did get scenes set in the future, they were far and few in between. Or they were part of a special episode, like when Sam goes home and sees his wife again. She didn’t even appear until Sam altered time enough for them to marry. Gooshie, a project computer whiz, only appears in five episodes. Dr. Beeks, a project psychiatrist, appears in two episodes.
In other episodes of OQL, Sam’s voiceovers fills in the gaps of what we need to know. It’s in his voiceovers that we understand his frame of mind, his recollection of events in his past, and how things might turn out in the future. The current Quantum Leap (CQL) has none of those voice overs. We have no clue what Ben — the current leaper — is thinking. All he does is stare at Addison Augustine, his fiancee and guide in his time travel journey.
Speaking of Addison…
We know that Al and Sam in OQL were friends before Sam leaped into the past. But their relationship doesn’t seem as conflicted as Ben and Addison’s in CQL. In CQL, as of episode two, Addison has not told Ben who she is, but she has told him she is there from the future to help guide him. In OQL, Al is upfront with Sam pretty early into their interactions. Like a good friend, Al…
