This episode is always a difficult watch for me. I feel deeply affected by Als storyline. The acting is flawless with the characters wringing every drop of emotion from the situation. It oy makes it sadder when you realise that this happened for real with many m.i.a prisoners during conflicts all over the world. I really fell in love with Dean stockwell after watching this the first time. Fine series with a timeless feel.
5 Reviews
So Close So Far
hellraiser76 January 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Warning do not read unless seen episode.
This is one of my favorite episodes of the show, it's emotionally heartfelt and even heartbreaking. What makes this episode unique is that Sam for once is more of a supporting character and yeah there is some plot line involving a partner on the force but that's really not important. It's really Al that is the main protagonist and the real plot line is with his first wife and true love Beth, whom is about to make a mistake.
We really get some depth into Al and the experiences in Nam he went though. But what made it even worse was his homecoming when Beth lost her patience mistakenly thinking Al was dead and remarrying with the wrong guy. You really feel for Al because that's awful, not just going though hell with only the love of his wife keeping him alive but to have to come back home seeing you only love is gone from you life; that fraking sucks. Sure Al throughout the years has remarried but none of those marriages stuck and he just never got those same feelings back.
Al is desperate trying to get Sam to steer Beth in the right direction but it's just not in the cards of fate. I even like this one little argument he has with Sam about the inability to helping yourself, which is kinda the same argument brought up in the two parter "The Leap Home". I sort of agree with Al a little bit, if you had the opportunity to stop someone you love from making the worst mistake of their life, why wouldn't you take it; it's really not selfish when you think about it. And sure both Sam and Al will help and save other people that need help but they can't help everybody.
The final scene was touching as we see Al is dancing with Beth despite her unable to see him, and I really liked the choice in song which is ironic to the episode. I really like what he says because that's exactly what we all feel hoping Beth will wait for Al and for one second before he leaps it seems like she can hear him; it shows despite how far Al may'be his is always with her. In the words of an old song, "Love takes time."
Rating: 4 stars
This is one of my favorite episodes of the show, it's emotionally heartfelt and even heartbreaking. What makes this episode unique is that Sam for once is more of a supporting character and yeah there is some plot line involving a partner on the force but that's really not important. It's really Al that is the main protagonist and the real plot line is with his first wife and true love Beth, whom is about to make a mistake.
We really get some depth into Al and the experiences in Nam he went though. But what made it even worse was his homecoming when Beth lost her patience mistakenly thinking Al was dead and remarrying with the wrong guy. You really feel for Al because that's awful, not just going though hell with only the love of his wife keeping him alive but to have to come back home seeing you only love is gone from you life; that fraking sucks. Sure Al throughout the years has remarried but none of those marriages stuck and he just never got those same feelings back.
Al is desperate trying to get Sam to steer Beth in the right direction but it's just not in the cards of fate. I even like this one little argument he has with Sam about the inability to helping yourself, which is kinda the same argument brought up in the two parter "The Leap Home". I sort of agree with Al a little bit, if you had the opportunity to stop someone you love from making the worst mistake of their life, why wouldn't you take it; it's really not selfish when you think about it. And sure both Sam and Al will help and save other people that need help but they can't help everybody.
The final scene was touching as we see Al is dancing with Beth despite her unable to see him, and I really liked the choice in song which is ironic to the episode. I really like what he says because that's exactly what we all feel hoping Beth will wait for Al and for one second before he leaps it seems like she can hear him; it shows despite how far Al may'be his is always with her. In the words of an old song, "Love takes time."
Rating: 4 stars
MIA - a classic!
soozn7929 March 2006
Warning: Spoilers
MIA is one of the most important episodes for the series. It's premise and plot is revisited in the Series Finale, "Mirror Image." The love story between Al and his first wife Beth is set up here. It starts out a fairly mundane leap for Same, but there is something going on that Sam has yet to figure out, and Al is not telling him the whole story! It sets up the reason for the torch Al carries life-long for his first wife. The very last scene, between Al and Beth, is so beautiful, however it must be seen for the first time in it's original form, not on the newly released DVD set. The music has been changed from it's original airing form and has changed the tone and meaning of the scene quite a bit. But it remains the beginning of a superb love story.
New perspective on a old story
allanfiddes22 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I haven't watched Quantum Leap in years so I'm watching it now from a completely different perspective I guess you're opinions change with time and after a long time I look at this episode with different perspectives. I originally felt sorry about Al and his motives and his actions during this episode and it nearly costing the life of a innocent person. But now Im older and probably more mature I think the character of the playboy scum bag rich guy taking advantage of a obviously sad and desperate young woman is extremely disturbing and very fact that he used his mother to help him with his disgusting behaviour. That would not be allowed to be made on any television show today. I'm glad for that.
S2: Not wholly consistent but mostly balances shifting tones very well, making it engaging, entertaining, and, at times, emotional (SPOILERS)
bob the moo8 January 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I'm not sure why I picked up Quantum Leap again; perhaps it is me getting old and revisiting shows from my youth. Whatever the reason it is interesting to watch a show that is almost 30 years old. The interesting element is how well it stands up, which mostly speaks to the strength of the concept, and the ability to bring it off. The show really only has two characters that interact and serve as a link between episodes; other than this, every episode is a completely new story with a whole new set of characters and story to tell us. To have that sort of 'reboot' each week is tough, but this season managed it well.
That variety is part of the fun. The show is generally pretty sincere and earnest in tone, but there is a playfulness to it that helps offset this a little bit. In terms of tone, the season has good variety from the 'important social issues' episodes, through to thrillers, soapy drama, broad farce, through to some reasonably general episodes. There are many episodes which do take on social issues whether directly, or as a frame for a thriller. These include jumping into women, minorities, mentally/physically disabled people – it is impressive when you think about the time (the late 80's) where so many of these groups were not represented on television. Okay you can argue that they are only in this show because they are played by a white guy, however I prefer to see the positive than the negative.
This is not to say all the episodes are brilliant. The show does tend to lean heavily on convenience, and there are a lot of soapy plots which don't grip so much as gently entertain. The use of Sam/Al as the focal point continues to work well though, always meaning we are invested in them more than the surrounding story. That said, this season relies on Al too much for no reason; there is no benefit to the story for Al to have met the pool player, but yet he did; likewise there are loads of episodes where Al seems to have done a certain job, or met a certain person, or been a certain place – after a while it gets a bit grating. The exception is the final episode (MIA) where Al's similar background is turned into something very touching, adding to his character and also giving the season a very strong ending.
The 'rules' of leaping are interesting, and this season starts to play with them a little bit for dramatic effect, however one does wonder how far they will push it if they are already using that as a device as early as the second season. The production of the show is good, although for some reason many of the episodes have jumps which were used in season 1, meaning they do not connect to the next episode (I think it is due to them padding the season with re-runs on first broadcast). Generally an enjoyable season with plenty of variety around the good concept; some episodes are better than others, but even the weakest ones offer something and are worth a look.
That variety is part of the fun. The show is generally pretty sincere and earnest in tone, but there is a playfulness to it that helps offset this a little bit. In terms of tone, the season has good variety from the 'important social issues' episodes, through to thrillers, soapy drama, broad farce, through to some reasonably general episodes. There are many episodes which do take on social issues whether directly, or as a frame for a thriller. These include jumping into women, minorities, mentally/physically disabled people – it is impressive when you think about the time (the late 80's) where so many of these groups were not represented on television. Okay you can argue that they are only in this show because they are played by a white guy, however I prefer to see the positive than the negative.
This is not to say all the episodes are brilliant. The show does tend to lean heavily on convenience, and there are a lot of soapy plots which don't grip so much as gently entertain. The use of Sam/Al as the focal point continues to work well though, always meaning we are invested in them more than the surrounding story. That said, this season relies on Al too much for no reason; there is no benefit to the story for Al to have met the pool player, but yet he did; likewise there are loads of episodes where Al seems to have done a certain job, or met a certain person, or been a certain place – after a while it gets a bit grating. The exception is the final episode (MIA) where Al's similar background is turned into something very touching, adding to his character and also giving the season a very strong ending.
The 'rules' of leaping are interesting, and this season starts to play with them a little bit for dramatic effect, however one does wonder how far they will push it if they are already using that as a device as early as the second season. The production of the show is good, although for some reason many of the episodes have jumps which were used in season 1, meaning they do not connect to the next episode (I think it is due to them padding the season with re-runs on first broadcast). Generally an enjoyable season with plenty of variety around the good concept; some episodes are better than others, but even the weakest ones offer something and are worth a look.
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