Quantum Leap Season 1 Episode 2 Review: Atlantis

There are a number of functions in play on Quantum Leap Season 1 Episode 2, and the writers do an admirable job strumming the narrative tune in order that they mix successfully.

Ben’s leap into childhood hero David Tamara not solely jogs his reminiscence about his personal identification, his actions whereas within the astronaut’s physique remind Addison of his private integrity and ethical compass.

Meanwhile, Jenn’s reminder that Ben was the group’s peacemaker pushes everybody onto a center floor the place they’ll do what they do finest with transparency to assist carry him again.

It comes right down to belief. Both the groups on 1998’s Atlantis shuttle and 2022’s Quantum Leap venture endure setbacks when a key member is taken out of play.

For the Atlantis, Jim Reynolds’s damage thrusts Samantha Stratton into command, a place she’s educated for all her life however all the time with Jim’s supervision.

Despite Ben/David’s help, her relative inexperience provides Everett a motive to query her orders, and when Reynolds regains consciousness, he additionally undermines her authority.

Ben’s peacemaker superpowers kick in right here, and through the use of the Reynolds-brand recommendation Stratton had given him earlier, he is capable of persuade Reynolds to belief within the coaching and relationship he shares with Stratton.

She sees one thing you don’t. And simply since you don’t see it proper now, you gotta belief that what she’s doing is finest for all of us.

Ben

Stratton’s certainty of motion speaks to her confidence in herself and what she has discovered from Reynolds.

It’s no small feat for the Grasshopper to confront the Master, however Stratton makes it clear that bringing Reynolds dwelling protected is much extra vital to her than cowing to the chain of command.

As Ben factors out, she is keen to threat the profession she has spent her entire life constructing. Remember that despite the fact that Sally Ride grew to become the primary lady NASA astronaut to go to area in 1983, Stratton in 1989 would’ve nonetheless been part of the tiny proportion of ladies within the area program on the time.

For the area buffs on the market, I’ll notice that this Atlantis mission is fictional however believable. The first ISS module was, in fact, launched into orbit by a Russian Proton rocket later that yr.

Historically, 1989 was a busy yr for Atlantis however not with the development of the ISS. Interestingly sufficient, the Atlantis Space Shuttle did rendezvous with Mir a number of occasions all through the Nineteen Nineties. It wasn’t till 2000 that Atlantis ran a resupply mission to the ISS.

Stratton: Know what Reynolds would say proper now?
Ben/David: Remind me?
Stratton: He’d get that critical, no-bull look in his eye. He’d lean in shut, and say, ‘You have trained for every possibility except for the one you’re about to come across. When you’re up right here for actual, it’s not about following circulation charts and checklists, it’s about trusting your intestine. Stay fluid, keep open, keep protected.’

So, whereas Quantum Leap ain’t no For All Mankind in rooting their area adventures firmly in minute historic accuracy, I’ll give them credit score for not less than tethering their plot to the realm of chance.

And how thrilling was Ben’s free leap to Mir? Even realizing logically that there isn’t any means the primary character’s going to fly off into infinite area on the second episode of the collection, there is a particular second of panic as he bounces throughout the area station’s floor.

Back in 2022, the hunt for Janis Calavicci has a few moments the place suspension of disbelief takes some actual effort.

While having a burner flip telephone is in step with a paranoid however sensible astrophysicist conspiracy theorist, I’m unclear concerning the precautions she’d taken to safeguard her server room.

Jenn: Computers are password-protected.
Magic: Check the servers. Make certain it’s not bolted down.
Jenn: They are. And they’re modified torx screws. I’m beginning to like this lady regardless of myself.

How do you self-destruct a server room constructed beneath a home? And what does astrophysics pay that she will afford to only abandon a home like that?

One would assume that she will not be returning now that Magic and Jenn have that home on their radar.

Nothing appears out of the extraordinary. Except for an unnatural love of Pottery Barn.

Jenn

Not that Magic nor Jenn knew it on the time, Janis had additionally damaged into Addison’s trashed condo, presumably to retrieve the encryption key on the thumb drive.

So this tells us she is aware of Addison and the group have the encryption key. Now that her server room is moot, does she want it to entry the analysis she and Ben had been engaged on?

Her reveal that Ben got here to her for assistance is an attention-grabbing twist on what we learn about Ben to date.

Not that anybody believes he is as much as one thing nefarious, however his message to Addison from Quantum Leap Season 1 Episode 1 hints that shenanigans are within the offing.

Ben: Who’s the fortunate man? Do I do know him?
Addison: Uh, you wouldn’t bear in mind him.
Ben: Fair sufficient. When’s the large day?
Addison: Six months.
Ben: Hope I’m again by then.
Addison: Better be.

Also, his chat with Addison reveals that there is a little bit of a deadline for his return. Not that weddings cannot be rescheduled. (If COVID taught us something, it is the significance of cancellation insurance coverage.)

However, it could be extremely satisfying for them to tie the knot on time, would not it?

Ben’s sluggish reminiscence return could possibly be considered as a second courtship in a twisted means.

While Addison offers Ben with data on his leapees, she’s conflicted about offering him along with his personal backstory.

We met at Quantum Leap. We fell in love. We labored side-by-side for years. We needed to attempt to not discuss work after we got here dwelling. It felt like our whole life was this venture. And now there’s this entire different half to it. This entire different half to himself that he stored from me. And I’m simply having a tough time coming to phrases with the truth that possibly this was by no means actually ours.

Addison

Ironically, Ben will get intel on everybody and every little thing round him wherever and every time he leaps however cannot piece collectively his personal historical past.

Of course, now that we all know he had a vacation spot in thoughts when he leaped, possibly we are able to spot a sample in his leaps.

The first leap took him to the day of the LiveAid live performance and the Hope Diamond. This one took him into the particular person of a childhood hero. As teased, we all know we’ll see him in a boxer’s life subsequent.

As any scientist will inform you, this pattern measurement is ridiculous. I assume we’ll simply have to remain vigilant.

With the community betting on a excessive stage of nostalgia driving viewership, it is not shocking that they’d attain out to authentic collection actors to reprise their roles.

With Scott Bakula on document as not returning and Dean Stockwell sadly handed on IRL, followers have voiced issues that there could be no continuity between the collection.

Of course, Addison exhibiting Ben Dr. Sam Beckett’s picture on the premiere as a part of the exposition and Janis being Al’s daughter are strong connections to the primary collection.

But how nice is it that Susan Diol returned as Beth Calavicci? She might have solely appeared on two episodes within the authentic collection, however a type of was the finale, in order that’s Continuity with a capital C for you.

Don’t overlook you may watch Quantum Leap on-line! The authentic collection is on demand on Peacock, and new episodes of the present collection drop the day after the community broadcast.

Let’s see how Ben’s boxing abilities measure up, lets?

Are you hanging in there? Are you hooked? Let us understand how sizzling you’re for these new adventures in our feedback under!

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