Three Rights

I LOVE THE NEW QUANTUM LEAP!

One of my favorite TV programs from the 1980s is the original Quantum Leap. It starred Scott Bacula as Sam Beckett, a scientist from the future year 1995. Every episode began with the following narrative: “Theorizing that one could time travel within his own lifetime, Doctor Sam Beckett stepped into the Quantum Leap accelerator and vanished... He woke to find himself trapped in the past, facing mirror images that were not his own, and driven by an unknown force to change history for the better. His only guide on this journey is Al, an observer from his own time, who appears in the form of a hologram that only Sam can see and hear. And so Doctor Beckett finds himself leaping from life to life, striving to put right what once went wrong, and hoping each time that his next leap will be the leap home…”

Lori and I looked forward to watching the show every week along with our kids when they were little.

In the 1990s, we homeschooled our kids. When TJ, Tabi, and Kaleb finished their schoolwork, we all watched afternoon re-runs of Quantum Leap. It was more than a TV show. Sam Becket and his sidekick Al (played by Dean Stockell), were like part of the family. I was saddened last year to learn that Stockell died of natural causes in New Zealand.

I have been cautiously anticipating the premier of the 2922 version of the show for months. I say that because, when another of my favorite shows, Magnum PI, was restarted, I thought it would be as good as the original. I was disappointed to the point that I quickly lost interest and no longer watch it. Quantum Leap 2022 is by different because it is a continuation of the original story line while Magnum just plugs in new characters.

In the new QL, Sam Becket is still out there…..somewhere. Stuck in his timetravel prison ever since the experiment was terminated.

In the new series Ben Song (played by Raymond Lee) is a scientist on the restarted project that intended to rescue Sam Beckett, the original time traveler. Ben’s guide is Addison Augustine (played by Caitlin Bassett). I have to say that the chemistry between Ben and Addison adds a whole new dynamic to the relationship. Watch it and you will see why.

I can hardly wait for the next episode.