My return to the viewing habits of my early teens continues to find that Quantum Leap stands up reasonably well to the test of time – albeit on its own terms. When compared to the massive amount of television and the quality that is available now, it doesn't really rank in any list I could think to make, however when compared to network television serials which rely on formula and a weekly case/situation, certainly this deserves to be remembered. The third season opens by trying to match the personal and engaging episode which closed the second season; in the first two episodes Sam leaps into his own family circle in a way that adds a personal layer. These episodes highlight what is strongest about this season, while also reminding us of its weakness.
The strength is that the ideas are endless, and the narrative always have several layers of action. The downside of this is that too often the episodes have a soapy "tv drama" feel to them. In some cases, this is the whole episode, and in particular the first half of the season seems to have a glut of them – the priest, the fashion model, the beauty contest, the magician, the motorcycle gang, the pregnant girl, the runaway; all of these episodes struck me as just a little too much on the sentimental side. Okay when you look at those stories, the sentiment comes with territory to a point, but there is certainly no attempt to walk it back a bit.
This also gets into other episodes – for example the really strong episode set in the Watts riots, it is hurt a little by virtue of focusing on some sort of forbidden love affair, not the riots in and of themselves. The second half of the season is better though, with more variety, some more dramatic episodes, and ones that offer more than melodrama. The delivery is variable though – and the season finale makes this abundantly clear. The episode itself is dramatic and interesting – Sam's psyche fractures and he ends up believing he is characters he previously had played. I found this really interesting as I had always thought how he could easily lose himself in the constantly changing landscape. That side is strong, however at the same time the "fix" thread is solved by making Al deliver a freestyle rap, which is a terrible moment in an otherwise strong episode.
I do sound mostly negative on this season, and that is not the case in reality as I did enjoy it – but it was 'despite' many things. There is plenty to like in this season, and it does do interesting things and produce solid episodes, just a shame the sentiment and occasional poor judgement detracts as often as it does.
The strength is that the ideas are endless, and the narrative always have several layers of action. The downside of this is that too often the episodes have a soapy "tv drama" feel to them. In some cases, this is the whole episode, and in particular the first half of the season seems to have a glut of them – the priest, the fashion model, the beauty contest, the magician, the motorcycle gang, the pregnant girl, the runaway; all of these episodes struck me as just a little too much on the sentimental side. Okay when you look at those stories, the sentiment comes with territory to a point, but there is certainly no attempt to walk it back a bit.
This also gets into other episodes – for example the really strong episode set in the Watts riots, it is hurt a little by virtue of focusing on some sort of forbidden love affair, not the riots in and of themselves. The second half of the season is better though, with more variety, some more dramatic episodes, and ones that offer more than melodrama. The delivery is variable though – and the season finale makes this abundantly clear. The episode itself is dramatic and interesting – Sam's psyche fractures and he ends up believing he is characters he previously had played. I found this really interesting as I had always thought how he could easily lose himself in the constantly changing landscape. That side is strong, however at the same time the "fix" thread is solved by making Al deliver a freestyle rap, which is a terrible moment in an otherwise strong episode.
I do sound mostly negative on this season, and that is not the case in reality as I did enjoy it – but it was 'despite' many things. There is plenty to like in this season, and it does do interesting things and produce solid episodes, just a shame the sentiment and occasional poor judgement detracts as often as it does.