‘Quantum Leap’ Recap: ‘One Night in Koreatown’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

QUANTUM LEAP -- "One Night in Koreatown" Episode 205 -- Pictured: (l-r) Raymond Lee as Dr. Ben Song, Ernie Hudson as Magic -- (Photo by: Casey Durkin/NBC)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 205 of ‘Quantum Leap’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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One particular staple of the original Quantum Leap series was having Dr. Sam Beckett experience either unique moments in history, such as his brush with the Civil War or have him encounter some famous individuals that we know and love… to perhaps lift them up or give them inspiration. All because, the original show wanted to pose the theory that randomized time travel would absolutely place someone near important historical figures and moments, and that did indeed bring forth some fascinating stories and fun moments. But what’s fascinating, is that the revival of this series on NBC, has mostly steered clear of that particular aspect of the original show, and it makes sense as to why.

After all, creating this show gave rise to a chance to really pivot the franchise toward more human elements and stories that really related to the choices we make and the mistakes that sometimes entails, and that has worked for certain. But it was only a matter of time before the show really leaned into such matters. Because history cannot be avoided and there are important lessons to learn regarding it, and as it turns out, last night’s episode was the perfect moment to make that happen. For ‘One Night in Koreatown’ saw Dr. Ben Song leap into the body of a young man that worked in a shoe store in Koreatown, a sub section of Los Angeles… on a supremely impactful day: April 29th, 1992.

Which was, for those unfamiliar, the beginning of the Los Angeles Riots. Which came forth as a result of the Not Guilty verdict rendered upon the Los Angeles Police Department Officers who brutally beat Rodney King. And well, that meant… it was up to Ben to save a father and eventually, a family, from dying on this terrifying night. Which of course, he does, and well, we’re not going to spend much time talking about the details regarding that. Simply because this is an important episode for certain, one that showcased what this series could do if it opted to lean as hard as possible into powerful and relevant moments in modern history. Because having this episode go that route, allowed for poignant and downright important observations to take place regarding race relations in America.

Such as pointing out that the riots didn’t achieve the equality and sense of justice that so many hoped it would. It was in fact, a symptom of an endemic disease that plagues America. Specifically, systemic, and institutionalized racism. For we’ve never addressed that problem or brought forth proper equality and because of that… what happened on that night, instead became nothing more than a cyclical explosion of frustration, and even Magic was able to speak to that. Since he saw echoes of his own brush with awful cops in a riot situation when he was embroiled in a civil rights riot in the 1960s on that night in Koreatown, and we all experienced a taste of it not more than three years ago. All of which made for a powerful and brilliant episode to say the least. One that presented that fateful night in a respectful manner and spoke deeply to what needs to change.

In that, the man whose suffering at the hands of LAPD set everything in motion, was right. We need to get along. In the sense that we need to treat each other with respect and be better to one another and stand by one another. Because there is only one human race, and that’s what matters above all, and if we did that and showed decency, and stood up to the indecent, at last… the cycle would be broken. And the show deserves a round of applause for finally leaning into history and handling it with grace and class, and for offering messaging that is relevant and important. And hopefully we see more of this from the show as time goes on. Because more needs to be said about how and why we repeat history and what we need to do stop the cyclical violence humanity engages in. So that moments such as these will remain in the history books for all time. Until next time.

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