Ben leaps back to 1955 at Princeton to recover a lost secret formula of Einstein’s. Here he runs into Hanna Carson again, the waitress whom he in a previous episode directed toward the university. Ben must save Hanna and save Einstein’s research – or so he thinks.

Quantum Leap is firing on all cylinders again. This episode establishes at the onset that Magic is MIA for the moment. Perfectly fine, just not there. This sets up the odd scenario in which liaison Tom takes charge and spurs the others to action. Much as I like the character and Gadiot’s performance, this strikes the one false note in this installment. The idea that Addison, Ian, and Jenn would stand around doing nothing without someone to urge them on makes zero sense for any of the characters.

Otherwise, kudos for Tom’s increased involvement, however clumsy. He also acts as the hologram – which they never quite sell as the best option, but at least they address it as a super terrible idea. Tom’s initial interaction with Ben is every bit as prickly as one would expect. That, along with some apparent friction with Addison, are the glimmers of melodrama. Ben learns that Tom met his wife at Princeton and that she died of cancer six years ago, which takes the edge off of Tom’s and Ben’s relationship. In a nice touch, even with the current state of affairs, Ben shows instant defensiveness on Addison’s behalf before Tom clarifies that his wife passed away. Again, a few touches of soap opera, but instantly resolved and it serves to forge the beginnings of a bond between Ben and Tom. Conveniently, Tom also knows about the secret chamber where Einstein had worked.

Ian’s mystery deepens and looks to be case-mostly-closed by the end of the episode. We see that Ian had made a deal with someone who’s evidently a really bad guy with an evil henchwoman. I do like that Jenn keeps calling Ian out. It shows the depth and strength of their friendship and trust. In another excellent example of the show favoring drama and resolving melodrama, Ian goes to their ex for help because they know she works for the bad guy’s legitimate company. Thanks to the ex and to Jenn, this particular problem is apparently solved, at least for the moment.

The other bad guy – the main one that Ben instead of Home Base contends with – works well due to the episode setting him up early by already showing different evil deeds of his. Carson is well used and it would be nice to see her again, which the character herself also says. I’m not quite sure Ben’s earnest “I’m a time traveler,” to her works, despite the sincere delivery. That said, the episode does set it up nicely with hints that she kind of recognized Ben even with him appearing as someone else.

Overall, viewers get a lot of forward motion and closure regarding a bunch of dangling plot threads. The whole cast has plenty of great stuff to do and it’s nice to see the characters getting back in synch with each other.

Verdict: The episode flirted with soap opera – happily, without quite crossing the line – then, even better, seemed to wrap up all those threads. 8/10

Rigel Ailur

http://www.BluetrixBooks.com