‘Quantum Leap’ Recap: ‘This Took Too Long!’

10/5/2023

Written by John Edward Betancourt

QUANTUM LEAP -- "This Took Too Long!" Episode 201 -- Pictured: (l-r) P.J. Byrn as Sgt. Enock Abrams, Aaron Abram as Sgt. Ronny Abrams, Raymond Lee as Dr. Ben Song, Melissa Roxburgh as Lt. Ellen Grier, Francois Arnaud as Sergeant Curtis Bailey -- (Photo by: NBC)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Season Two Premiere of ‘Quantum Leap’. 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.

Truly one of the most difficult tasks for any writer’s room to accomplish in storytelling, is keeping a serialized story fresh. Especially one that relies on certain elements to tell its story. Because that means, a formula and structure is in place that audiences love, so moving away from that is difficult since it denies them what is comfortable. But at the same time, following it to a tee, regardless of how good the storytelling can be, adds an air of predictability to the story. Creating a conundrum that has sunk some shows when they lean one way or the other. Which is why it is important to celebrate the ones, that figure out how to keep things fresh and wow the audience in the process and one such show that deserves such accolades is Quantum Leap on NBC.

For last night’s season two premiere of the show, managed to celebrate everything we love about the series, while keeping things fresh. Which entailed finding a way to keep the usual interactions between Addison and Dr. Ben Song, intriguing and non-formulaic and well, ‘This Took Too Long!’ accomplished that feat… by way of a big surprise in the midst of serious trouble. For when we caught up with Ben here, he was in quite the pickle. For he leaped into a new body that was high above the ground in 1978. One surrounded by old military friends for the face he wore, and they were on a mission of redemption. For they were also misfits and castoffs from the United States Armed Services and were hoping to find redemption by escorting important cargo across Russian enemy lines and well… it wasn’t long before that mission brought about that aforementioned trouble.

Because the Russians opened fire on the plane, and just like that… Ben was trying to sort out his bearings, his location, and his reason for arriving in this body, with no help. Because despite having large swaths of his memory back, and a desire to talk to Addison and the team… he was met with silence. Which was… a stunning twist to inject into this story one that we immediately were engaged with. Because for as long as this franchise has been around, either Al or Addison have found a way to keep in contact with Sam or Ben. Making this an epic twist that left us worried, scared, you name it. And it of course, forced Ben to work without that safety net around him. Which brought forth… a unique adventure for Ben. One where he had no context, no clues, not a thing to help him understand this jump or what he would need to do to escape and head home.

But what he could do here, was science the hell out of every problem that came along and use his vast knowledge to help this rag tag group of misfits survive and stay ahead of any ensuing Russian forces. But more importantly, this plot let Ben grow. For without the advice of Addison, he simply had to rely on wits and his gut and that paid off in spades and made him a hero really. One that managed to help these rejected solders bring down a surface-to-air missile base and prove their worth to their country, and he also helped their commanding officer, a woman named Lieutenant Ellen Grier, showcase the reality that women can lead, in an era where women were staunchly seen as second class, and she trailblazed for certain, and by helping her and these heroes find their way forward… that was enough to get Ben to leap at last, and… that ending did indeed answer why Addison and the team were absent from this mission.

But we… won’t be discussing that here. Because it was that epic, and that amazing and you need to experience it for yourself if you’re getting your first taste of this episode through this recap. But more importantly, this twist sets the stage for a refreshing season of storytelling. One that will now allow for this franchise to enter a bold new era. Where we now have this surprise, and its consequences to reconcile, while Ben deals with adventures that are clearly going to provide us with deep stories about the human condition and commentary about our world and that… well that just makes this writer and others excited to see where season two of this journey is going take us, in the weeks to come as season two of this magnificent series continues along. Until next time.

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