Somebody Up There Likes Ben

This could have been a truly excellent episode, but the fact that it was only okay highlights a potentially serious problem. There's so much of the plot revolving around things back at the project, and the Janice conspiracy (though it's nice to see Beth again), and Addison's loss, that the story of the Hill brothers and even Ben himself are being shoved into the background. The charm of the original show was getting to know and care about the people Sam was leaping in to save, and we can only do that when the episodes are focused on THAT story. Instead, we're tending to get "the Addison show" first, which is unfortunate to me as she's the sole character I don't really care for. After that, it seems to be the project/Janice story, with the "Leap" story coming in last and being shoved into whatever time remains.

Ben is a fantastic character, and it should be him in the forefront for the vast majority of the episode. His kindness, compassion, and his ability to connect with people makes him the ideal leaper to follow Sam Beckett. It's HIS story, not everyone else's. And with the focus on him, the focus also remains on the people he's there to help, giving us the time to care about them.

Also, the Leap stories seem to be missing some of the charm of the original's. They need more character focus (the older Hill brother in this episode is a case in point; his story was poised to be really compelling), the occasional smaller/less action orientated story (like a rabbi trying to help his grieving brother's family or a mom trying to save her son), and something that really gives a feel for the time period Ben's in. It doesn't have to be a necessarily well-known historical event, but maybe on the attitudes of decades ago, or the way people lived in the past. (Which would be especially fascinating if Ben can go to anywhere in history and isn't limited to simply his own lifetime.)

One question: where does the person Ben leaps into end up? In the original, when Sam leaped into someone, they leaped into his body back at the project, which presumably let them be updated on what Sam was doing to their lives. Where is Ben's body? And the leaped-into? It might be interesting to see their point of view--but briefly.

Raymond Lee shows a bit more depth then in the last few episodes. I liked his impassioned speech to Daryl in the jail cell, and it showed that Lee could do some acting. I'm still not convinced that Ben is nothing more than a Grade A jerk, and why we learned what Ben's plan is, sort of, we don't know _why_ he's doing what he's doing. Or why there had to be such secrecy around it, the he couldn't even tell Addison. Janis using him doesn't explain why Ben has to be such a secretive ahole.

It also seemed like Caitlin Bassett has more to do this week, more than just a hologram and Ben's love. We seemed to spend more time with Ben and Addison this week, which kind of helped. It seemed like the production staff is a bit more comfortable with the show and the actors with their characters. There still seem to be a couple of puzzle pieces meeting. I don't get that the team was a team before Ben Leaped. The bit at the end with them coming over to cheer Addison helped, and Ernie Hudson and Nanrisa Lee seemed a bit... warmer, like people you'd want to be part of a team with. Mason Alexander Park and Bassett seemed to get some time together as friends, which helped.

The whole Al/original project thing is... interesting. What the handlink has to do with anything, remains to be seen. It's a nice touch of the past more so then tossing in the mentions of Sam and Al. Yes, they got Susan Diol, which is a nice Easter Egg. But was Beth really more than someone on a pedestal for Al?

Overall, I thought the episode (what the significance of the title?) was nice in capturing the magic of the original series, giving the new characters some room to breathe, and getting its own feel.

But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?

Ben leaps into the body of Danny Hill. A boxer in Las Vegas in 1977. The day before his world title fight where he is the challenger. He gets knocked down by his sparring partner.

The trouble is Ben cannot box and Danny has been having an affair with the Champion's woman. No wonder the champ looks angry.

It seems Ben has not leapt to help Danny who lost the title fight. Ben has to help his brother Darryl, his older brother and trainer.

Darryl fought in the Vietnam war but suffers from PTSD. He does not realise it but it makes his short tempered and pretty soon he will commit suicide.

The original version had Sam leaping into the body of a boxer. Luckily Al was at hand as he had boxing skills.

The notable thing here was that Ben leapt outside his lifetime to 1977. Somehow Ben's leaps are working up to allowing him to go anywhere in time. A bit of Time Tunnel here.

New Quantum Leap spends less time on the episode of the week format. Just as much time is spend on the story arc. As to what is going on back at the base in the present. With Ziggy playing up and acting slowly. Al's daughter having her own agenda.

This might divide opinions, I felt Danny and Darryl's story was wrapped up too quickly and glibly.

If you don't love the first two episodes, be sure to give this one a serious try.

This episode has the heart and soul of the original Quantum Leap, with strong relationships and emotional stakes.

The larger picture of the new series is also starting to become clear, and the last shot of this epic has me excited for what comes next!

Raymond Lee is a worthy successor to Scott Bakula and he does a great job of balancing action, emotion, and humor.

This episode also touches on PTSD and the effects of war, which was a reoccurring theme in the original series as well.

Very well done and I am loving the mix of old and new.