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Quantum Leap: The Complete First Season -Image Entertainment (1989)
Summary Dr. Sam Beckett is going, “BACK IN TIME!!!” My Thoughts I normally don't watch a lot of sci-fi shows. Most of the sci-fi series on T.V. I catch are either poorly written, have a budget so low that I'm left disappointed by what can't be done, or how silly the effects look. Quantum Leap was different than the norm by being a well written, great concept show that overcame its budgetary considerations. Sometimes it got a little too “a very special Quantum Leap,” but on the whole it was an example of how good television can be at times. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the series, Quantum Leap is the story of Dr. Samuel Beckett, played by Scott Bakula, who invents a time machine that, as with all time machine experiments, goes awry. His theory is that a person can time travel around in time, but only through their own lifetime. His theory proves right, but it leaves him jumping around from person to person throughout history without much hope of getting home. This might sound pretty dire, but he has some help from Al, played by Dean Stockwell. Al is a friend from Sam’s own time who can appear in holographic form and attempt to guide Sam through each particular week's adventure. This setup puts Sam in all sorts of crazy situations, and a lot of the appeal of the show is trying to ride along as he bumbles and stumbles through each week’s entirely new obstacles. What really makes Quantum Leap special is the top notch casting. While the peripheral cast changes from episode to episode, the great pairing of Bakula and Stockwell hold the show together through the really great episodes and even make the lesser adventures fun to watch. Each Quantum Leap episode features a mix between humorous or serious social issues (sometimes both) that the series was most noted for. The episodes range from good to great, with the more preachy episodes getting a tad annoying at times. It’s easy to see why Scott Bakula was chosen for the role of the self righteous Captain Archer of Enterprise, because if you want someone to shove their morals down another's throat, Scott Bakula is your man. The beginning episodes are a little hokier than the second half of this edition. The pilot episode and episode featuring Teri Hatcher (oh… my… God... Lois Lane) are examples of episodes that are good, but didn't have all the kinks worked out yet. For example, the series catchphrase, "Oh Boy" doesn't appear regularly until the second season. Quantum Leap: The Complete First Season is your average television on DVD quality presentation. The resolution is loads better than what you'd catch on Sci-Fi channel, but only decent over all. The sound mix was rather disappointing, because its only available in Dolby 2.0, so don't expect a great atmospheric emersion. This edition should appeal to both hardcore fans of the show and anyone who enjoys quality television, but if you’re a hardcore videophile, you’ll probably be let down. Extras The selection of extras is a little less than stellar. The most interesting special features are the “Quantum Knowledge” bits that feature a little snippet of Scott Bakula talking about an aspect of the show you are about to watch. The only other special feature of note is a making of documentary that features interviews with Bakula, Stockwell, and series creator Donald P. Bellisario. It’s a great look into how the series came together and is pretty funny and full of trivia, but it’s a huge letdown that there is no behind the scenes footage from the filming of the series. Score: Episode Average: 8.0 Extras: 5.0 Edition: 6.0 -Paul
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