Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7/10
Cast: Raymond Lee, Caitlin Bassett, Mason Alexander Park, Nanrisa Lee, Ermie Hudson, Susan Diol, Georgina Reilly, Walter Perez.
Time has moved on but somehow remains the same when it comes to searching for a new idea when it comes to entertaining television viewers, and for those who were struck by the sense of excitement and particular novel storytelling that brought the original run of Quantum Leap to the screens, to look upon what is essentially a sequel, one that is written with a new sensibility and direction driving the narrative, it can be daunting, perhaps even disrespectful to that which made Scott Bakula a house hold name and further enhanced the popularity of Dean Stockwell.
It should be though that we look upon the 21st Century version as a continuation rather than a sequel, a truth in how we view separated narratives. For as the tale unfolds the viewer is shown eagerly that this is still within the framework of the original’s arc, for whilst the link is the machine and the premise, the makers have jumped the hurdle of accusation of remake rip off by attaching itself to the understanding that Sam (Scott Bakula) never made it back home and the rebuilt team need to find the answer why, just as much as the viewers who were drawn into the premise in the 1990s.
Time may not change, but it does move on. This is to be found with plenty of illumination in the first series as Raymond Lee’s Ben Song, Caitlin Bassett as the observer and woman who was meant to be the leaper, Addison Augustine, and the ever-invaluable Ernie Hudson as the chief of the project Herbert ‘Magic’ Williams, bring back balance to the lives that Ben Song jumps into the body of. Certain moments in time are to be seen as fluid, a spilt second difference in decision can make the world of difference to the happiness or sanity of one person.
By not altering the winning formula, the creative team behind this continuation of a thirty-year tale have kept the interest in the series going, like Doctor Who before it, it has found a way to be relevant in a period of time when others would have allowed it to be consigned to the bin of television history.
Quantum Leap will never be the epitome of science fiction brilliance, but it does have a place in television entertainment, and in a way that is more than enough to enjoy its presence back on our screens.
Ian D. Hall