The Big Leap Review: I Want You Back (Season 1 Episode 1)

At first glance, the premise of The Big Leap is a bit cheesy and perhaps a bit self-indulgent, but it only takes a few minutes of watching the pilot episode to realize neither of those things is true. 

The Big Leap Season 1 Episode 1, “I Want You Back,” sets up an endearing, thoughtful series that is completely self-assured. With a diverse cast of characters, it’s a show within a show and also a very specific look at reality television as a genre, much like UnREAL did for reality dating shows, only less gritty and more hopeful. 

The series is based on a real reality series about a ballet company, with the story focusing on the contestants as much as the people who work behind the scenes. Scott Foley’s Nick is willing to do his job and get the best, most dramatic stories about of the reality TV competition, but he’s just likeable enough that we can sense he’ll be conflicted at times. 

He’s also immediately sympathetic once we witness a phone call regarding custody of his child — there’s emotion there that he doesn’t show elsewhere.

And setting that aside, the fact is that we want to see him succeed at what he’s doing almost as much as we want to see the dancers succeed.

The dancers, though, is where the heart of the story is. The Big Leap claims to be a story about second chances, and so seeing a group of underdogs in various life circumstances work toward this common goal is satisfying and heartwarming. 

Simone Recasner’s Gabby is the one we root for most. In a flashback, we see how extremely talented she is and there are predictions of how far that will take her in life. In that same flashback, she also realizes she’s pregnant just after learning her boyfriend is gay. Fast forward a few years, and she’s not where she planned to be.

She’s a single mother working a job that doesn’t spark a bit of joy in her. It’s clearly fate when she spots an advertisement for a reality series called The Big Leap.

We expect her to audition well, but a fall keeps her from moving forward while her partner and former boyfriend advances. But she isn’t willing to give up on her dream so easily, and when an opportunity to teach a pro-football player in need of his own second chance how to dance, she finds her way in.

The relationship that begins to form between Gabby and Reggie over the course of just one episode is beautiful to watch. Reggie isn’t shy about complimenting Gabby, who is insecure about her weight — and makes that clear when Reggie suggests they try a lift. 

When that opportunity presents itself on stage, he takes it. And it’s wildly emotional, and a really powerful moment for Gabby. It’s also the moment that producer Nick realizes the most important story they’ll be telling will be focused on Gabby and Reggie. 

There are  other contestants we root for as well, of course — and all with their own bits of baggage and reasons for needing a second chance. Teri Polo’s Julia, in particular, is one we want to see do well. But amongst the group, the truth is these are all people who are using this art form to break out, to push themselves, to try a new goal.

And yes, the reality is that it won’t all be pretty. Their lives will no longer be private, and we’re obviously going to see some of the kinds of manipulation you’d expect, thanks Nick and the rest of the crew. That complication only makes it that much more interesting. 

What did you think of this episode of The Big Leap? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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The Big Leap airs Mondays at 9/8c on FOX.

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