TV show graveyard: Quantum Leap

Too many great shows are cancelled. Too many great shows get too small an amount of seasons. Too many great shows are forgotten when they should be remembered for all-time.

Quantum Leap falls into all of these categories. Although with the caveat that it is probably better remembered than some other great shows that were cancelled before their time. Furthermore, at least Quantum Leap had the grace to go out with some semblance of closure. Sure, there was a window left open in case the show got renewed in the last second, but the series finale' works, even if it is a bit of a puzzler.

If you've never seen an episode, the premise is this:

If you're still a little confused. It's simple, scientist builds time travel machine, tests it on himself. He disappears, "leaping" into other people's lives. But what really happens is that Sam takes the place of someone while they go to the future where Sam lives. The show explains more as it goes on, but that's the basic gist.

The key to understanding and loving this show is in getting to know Sam Beckett as played by the great Scott Bakula. Sam is an All-American NICE Guy. He's honest, loyal, smart, genuine, sweet, and respectful. If they had made Captain America back in the day, Scott Bakula could have played Sam as Cap and made it work...oh wait, they DID make Captain America back in the day...

Ugh...horrible movie.

Okaaaay, now that the horrible flashback is over...as I was saying.

Sam Beckett is a GOOD man. He is always trying to do the absolute right thing even if this puts him in terrible danger. When the show first began and Sam first "leaped" it did something to his brain that was sort of like amnesia. He could remember a vast majority of the things he knew, but much of his memory was gone. Comparing it to swiss cheese, Dr. Beckett was still a highly intelligent scientist with a powerful moral compass but also a man who was well versed in multiple fields and even knew some form of martial arts (which proved an asset multiple times within the show). He was a true renaissance man that was almost perfect for the task at hand, almost as though he had been chosen for the task at hand...which became another fundamental part of the show:

GOD.

Multiple times it's stated that when Sam first "leaped" it seemed like someone or something took over control of the technology that sent him back and affected the programming of the artificial intelligence that was supposed to monitor the quantum accelerator (AKA Ziggy). This is also why Sam can't control where he is going and can't seem to get back to his own time. As the show progresses and Sam keeps "leaping" into moments where things have gone horribly wrong and continues to fix things for the better, Sam and Al begin to believe that God has taken control of the program and is using it AND Sam to make corrections for the betterment of mankind. Indeed, some individuals such as children, animals, and the simple can see Sam for who he really is and there is almost always an angelic reference afterwards. This makes the case that the show is sort of about revealing that guardian angels are nothing more than time travelers sent by God to help people in need.

Personally, I of course respond very well to the good versus evil logic of the show and that a higher power is involved with Sam's leaping. I think it's dynamic, profound, and awe-inspiring. But my love for the show goes deeper than that. I love Dr. Sam Beckett, he's a truly amazing guy. A hero, self-sacrificing in every way and so stubborn towards doing the right thing - almost to a fault. And the friendship that Sam and Al forge through the series course is fun, tragic, and awesome all at once.

The show was damn amazing and died before it's time lasting only five seasons. But then again, some great shows don't even get that. It has the distinction of having one of the most beautifully-tragic and yet perfect finales to a show that I've ever seen. But I won't spoil that here. Watch it on Hulu, or better yet, buy the first season on DVD and see what you think.

The show is also the reason why you'll hear me say, "Oh boy!" at least twice a day.