Quantum Leap (TV Series) Atlantis (2022) User Reviews

Not Your Father's Quantum Leap

[Gislef · 7/10 · 27 September 2022]

Having had a week to consider since the premiere last week, I think part of my issue is that this isn't 'Quantum Leap'. Okay, it's Quantum Leap; it's right there in the title. But it's not the Scott Bakula version. Is that a good thing, or a bad thing? I'm not ready to say yet. It's different, but is it good on its own?

The new QL seems very... 2022. So there's a team, and a conspiracy, and we get to find out more about the people behind the project. They seem to be wasting a lot of time in the present, and it seems like half the episode is about the present-day machinations rather than the leap itself. That could be good: I don't find Ben that strong a protagonist, and I'm not convinced he could carry the show the way Bakula did. Is he stronger than last week? Sure.

Also, judging from the preview, at least some of the new show is rehashing the old show, but at an accelerated pace. It looks like Ben is going to leap beyond his own timeline, something they didn't do on the original until season 5. I think we've found out more about the project crew in two episodes than we did in five seasons on the original.

Overall, I wish they'd give the new show a little more time to breath. It all seems very rushed. We're two episodes in, and we already know why Ben is leaping. Which kinda ruins the conceit of the original: Sam Beckett was forcing himself to leap, for altruistic reasons. Ben could be jumping to recover Sam, with some help from Janis, but helping anyone else, they seem to be just incidental points along the trip to his destination. If he helps the Atlantis crew, it's just because they happened to be where he landed in 1997. Ben seems to be vested in helping Sam Beckett, not the people he runs into. I suppose that could change, but that's what it seems like now if you look at it not-so-hard.

But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?

A remarkable improvement

[lukesyboi · 7/10 · 27 September 2022]

A bit more serious than the pilot. Still cheesy and predictable but it feels more fluid and a small leap towards the style of the original episodes. Still struggling to get Behind the characters a little as well as some of the wooden acting. But this episode was totally more watchable. The effects are still a little cheesy and it does feel a little rushed. But hopefully the next few episodes can settle the series down and expand. It just feels like something is missing. I am glad that Scott Bakula won't be making an appearance as I thing it's unnecessary nostalgia. I just hope it becomes a bit more dark and mysterious and drops the cheese factor.

Hollywood doesn't understand

[prjct · 6/10 · 29 January 2023]

The story was fine and the effects were pretty good for a network science fiction drama, but why does Hollywood insist on screwing up basic physics constantly. The big dramatic scene of Ben leaping from the shuttle to the space station in the episodes climax was highly flawed. If you take an object and throw it at a flat horizontal surface on an angled trajectory that object will deflect and bounce on impact. Gravity will then act on said object and bring it back down to continue bouncing or rolling or sliding along the surface. In space it would be closer to throwing an object at a wall. It would only contact the wall once, with nothing to bring it back in contact with the wall. In reality Ben would have hit the station and bounced off into space with no chance to wait for the right handhold.

I'm all for suspension of disbelief in science fiction but if you have to throw science out to write it maybe stick to soap opera because that is a pretty glaring mistake to make.

Atlantis

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 21 December 2022]

A not very good opening episode was followed by, that's more like it story.

Ben leaps into the Space Shuttle Atlantis as it just launches in 1998 to help construct the International Space Station.

Only the astronaut David that Ben has leapt into dies in this mission. Addison helps Ben avoid some space debris during a space walk but that is not enough for him to leap again. Now the whole shuttle mission is in jeopardy.

Unlike the original Quantum Leap that ha some basis on factual events. There was no Atlantis launch in 1998, so a creative decision has been made to play fast and loose with history.

Also more interesting is the narrative arc regarding Ben's actions. Als' daughter Janis Calavicci becomes a person of interest.

Of course there was going to be an ongoing arc, that is how television works these days. It also links the show to the original as the actress playing Al's wife reappears.

Nice to see you Beth!

[citizenbuck-285-895659 · 9/10 · 28 September 2022]

This episode was really over the top but a lot of fun.

The cast is the highlight of this series... I'm so glad we got to spend quality time with Ernie Hudson. Mason Alexander Park is predictibly awesome here (as he was in Sandman). Raymond, Caitlin and Nanrisa are doing great... And I am looking forward to getting to know them better. But the highlight of the episode was the return of Beth as played by Susan Doil. I can't believe it was her... Nice to see you Beth!!! How cool was that?!?!

I think it's pretty obvious where the story is going and why Ben lept. But I'm loving the ride so far and once again I find that I can't wait for next week's episode.

Call Out to the Past

[hubbles-85666 · 8/10 · 5 October 2022]

How great to see Beth again! And she looks good. Maybe too good. Did they remember she needs to be Beth fifty or fifty-five years later, and not just the actress from a show thirty+ years ago? ;)

And Samantha Stratton! I remember her birth from the first episode of the original. Is she meant to be a clue? It would have been nice if someone at the project had twigged to the connection. Which makes me wonder--does Magic know that he once met Sam? He definitely knew Tom, so will we see Sam's brother again?

Maybe these connections will be vital later on, leading to the discovery of why Ben is leaping the way he is -- they're clues saying someone or something is sending him out after the missing Doctor Beckett!

Eerie

[safenoe · 8/10 · 3 February 2023]

When I watched this second episode of the Quantum Leap reboot, it made me think of Challenger and Columbia and the tragedies of that and I wondered what would happen in Atlantis.

Anyway, I loved the soundtrack to the episode, with Davie Bowie's Ground Control to Major Tom being featured! No doubt David Bowie would have been incredibly proud to be featured in the Quantum Leap continuation or reboot or whatever viewers prefer.

I think Quantum Leap Mark 2 is finding its feet and goes against some of the naysayers who have particular or delicate expectations that are not entirely matched by this.

Beth

[Faena · 4/10 · 28 September 2022]

Beth Calavicci is looking really good at 80 (actress was 27 in her original episode set in 1969, it's 53 years later... )

What's with the crappy Leap effect or not showing the signature effect all? Why hold back with that? Subverting expectations = disappointment and confusion.

I guess Addison can remain in the Imaging Chamber after Ben Leaps, unlike Al who told Sam he goes back when the Leap takes place.

Why couldn't Addison pop over to the Russian space station to check on the status of the crew?

They've taken the mystique out of the Project by making it look like a cyber cafe. What happened to laser interfaces? Did light-up earrings go out of style since 1999? Why is Ziggy not conversing with the staff? It's all so vanilla.

What a mess it's not even close to 50/50

[onze-kris · 1/10 · 3 January 2023]

I am willing to go with leaping.

I am fine with the setup.

HOWEVER this is a big mess.

I have a lot of issues with the writing in the episode.

Not only the illogical consequence of the protagonist dodging?? Space debris, that because of the dodge than hits heat panels??

The illogical discussion between the Space ship crew.

The hologram wearing her ring.

And so much more.

Besides that there are pacing issues the episode switches to earth and Atlantis.

And there are issues with how computer rooms are set up.

Overall watching this is like watching a comic book. So coming to that conclusion I asked myself if this would work like an anime.

Short answer: no it wouldn't,the writing is just too bad.

The one positive of this is that it saves me money. I was considering getting the original series. Now I am not anymore.

The premise here doesn't excite me anymore. And today's television and cinema is overtaken by comic book studios.

When the original series aired , sure there were some Superman movies. But those movies back than were something new.

What I am trying to say is that it lost its originality from back than, and it has to compete with those comic book movies and series.

And it can't compete with them. And I don't even care for those.

WHEN LOOKING FOR SERIES I look for sci-fi series first. So I was excited for the continuation of this.

After enduring 2 episodes I am done.