Sex Drugs and Rock & Roll without the Sex and Drugs (Quantum Leap)

Member Name: SimonCook

Product:	Quantum Leap
Date:	23/08/01 (66 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Interesting concept, Some funny episodes

Disadvantages: A little outdated

Readers of my recent opinions will note that I have been on a Star Trek binge. Well a forthcoming new series (Enterprise) features an actor called Scott Bakula as the captain of an early Enterprise (pre-Kirk). Many will know Scott from some fairly successful movies, but to me he is most famous for his role in an 80s sci-fi drama known as Quantum Leap. At the time it was a fairly groundbreaking series but now is a little out dated.

I title my opinion 'Sex Drugs and Rock and Roll without the sex and drugs" because this show basically touches on all themes ranging from boxing, sports, to being an animal trying to escape from an lab. It is very wide ranging and while it does have the odd kiss or two, it is very squeeky clean!

<The Idea>

Scott Bakula plays Sam Becket, a scientist from the future. He has invented a machine that allows him to leap through time haphazardly. He has no real control of when or where he leaps to and sometimes finds himself in real trouble. (I would note that mostly he leaps within the USA, this is a little unrealistic but understandable!)

Each time he leaps he takes over the body of a man, woman or in some cases animal. Each episode begins with him leaping into a new character. With his side kick Al, a projection from the future and a fellow scientist, and with the help of a super computer name Ziggy, they must work out what problem Sam has to solve in order to leap to the next character. It is often funny to see him talking to Al as he is the only one who can see him and often people thing he is deranged.

In most cases the problem is a major problem in the characters life; these can vary from saving someone’s life, helping someone to achieve their potential as an athlete, rock star etc; saving someone’s marriage; ensuring an event happens in history. Many of them are humorous and entertaining especially when he plays woman. (I am sure many women would love to put many men
in the position of having a baby!)

The diversity of the scripts is excellent as each episode does not really have to link to the previous one. Later on in the series we began to see an underlying trend as we saw a battle between good and evil taken place; the plot hinted that Sam was essentially doing God’s work, and that there was a similar adversary doing the devils work.

The episodes tend to be heart-warming plots (similar in feel to the series Touched by an Angel) as Sam always seems to save the day, although sometimes not exactly the way he expected.

From the original pilot show in which Sam was a Test Pilot for the air force to some of the touching episodes where for instance he played a Mongol boy, we see the plots progress very well without leaving you hanging at the end. Each episode ends with our hero leaping into another body and exclaiming ‘Oh Boy’ as he awaits his next job.



<Similarities>

This series is similar in concept to Time Tunnel, and early 50s or 60s series that dealt with a similar theme; the general idea has been copied in many films and most recently has been transformed into an exciting new series call Seven Days

Man is always interested in time travel and the complexities and paradoxes of this and hence the time travel theme continually surfaces on TV and in movies.

<Acting>

Scott Bakula is very convincing in this role as he tackles his tasks easily and quickly. As he progresses through the series we see his acting abilities improving as he seemingly can add more heart to the role.

Al, played by accomplished actor Dean Stockwell, is a comic sidekick. Dean plays him with a cheekiness that is reminiscent of Burns at his cigar smoking best.

The suppot acting generally is of a good standard although there are not many ‘stars’ appearing.

<Conclusion>

This was a good show that is
now a little out dated. As I think back I wonder how Sam was able to be so talented at everything he had to do and this somehow diminishes the show as it makes it less real. I still watch it now and again for a bit of a laugh.

The show gradually ran out of ideas as it plodded towards its conclusion. The ending leaves you a little mystified as it does answer all questions posed during the serried.

Summary: