Quantum Leap Season 1 Episode 1 Review: July 13th, 1985

Quantum Leap Season 1 Episode 1, “July 13th, 1985,” debuted on NBC with its fair share of speed bumps, but beneath that roughness lies a promising narrative waiting to blossom. 

Reviewing pilot episodes for any new show is a challenging task. However, attempting to dissect the premiere of a fledgling series serving as a continuation of a popular program that ended almost 30 years ago is another can of worms. 

BEN: Some people assume that because I’m a physicist, I can’t be romantic. What they don’t realize is science is romance.

Let’s face it — media has changed exponentially in the past three decades. Not only has the barometer for entertainment shifted, but the landscape and how we view our media have undergone significant transformations.

Is it fair to judge the new Quantum Leap by 1993’s standards? Probably not. Despite the connections to its predecessor, this iteration strives to stand on its own two feet. The desire is to craft a series that entices those unfamiliar with the original while reeling in fans of the Scott Bakula-led show.

“July 13th, 1985” finds Dr. Ben Song, a physicist working to revive the now-defunct Quantum Leap program, inexplicably leaping into the Accelerator Chamber one night after receiving a string of frantic texts. Unfortunately, the leap into the past erases his memories, and his team must act fast to retrieve him or lose him forever. 

BEN: I don’t normally punch out bad guys while wearing a tux?

Firstly, let’s dive into these characters. Perhaps the pilot’s greatest downfall is its characterization. The premiere doesn’t give us time to get to know them, making the emotional moments between them tepid at best. While the show assembles an all-star cast, there’s so little chemistry between them that it feels like they’re reciting their lines by themselves. 

Raymond Lee is a charismatic, talented actor, but even he’s bogged down by the almost robotic writing. His chemistry with Caitlin Bassett isn’t there. Lee currently recurs on AMC’s Kevin Can F**k Himself, and his connection with Annie Murphy is electrifying. While the shows are two different beasts, the latter series is proof of Lee’s charisma and natural onscreen presence. 

It’s probably easy to fold under the pressure when attempting to revive a wildly popular, cult classic favorite. The writers are more than likely trying to walk that tightrope between originality and nostalgia. Sure, Quantum Leap doesn’t ignore its roots, making multiple references to Dr. Sam Beckett, Al Calavicci, and Ziggy. The series even hones in on Al’s daughter, Janice, bringing her into the fold as someone potentially partnering with Ben Song. 

IAN: Look, I’m not trying to tell you how to do your job. I’m just merely offering a counterpoint from someone who has impeccable taste in music.

However, strip away the nods and extraneous details, and you’re left with a lackluster story. There’s a lot of potential here, but “July 13th, 1985” zooms through its narrative, trying to get to the finish line of a race we didn’t even know started. Couple that with jokes that don’t land, lack of character development and chemistry, and you’ve got just an okay pilot.

In addition, the show looks like any other procedural drama on NBC — a glossy, filtered, cotton-candy appearance indistinguishable from its contemporaries. While the original series ran on NBC, this continuation might’ve been better served on a streamer like Prime Video or Hulu, maybe even another network like Syfy. Any place that would allow this show to spread its sci-fi wings and lean more into the “fun” of it all. 

That’s not to say it’s all lukewarm. Quantum Leap boasts a lot of promise narratively and creatively. Plus, the actors are wonderful, and perhaps we’ll see them get into the swing of things with time. The introduction of Al’s daughter is a delightful twist, while the team failing to bring Ben home and his arrival on a spacecraft that’s lifting off is another intriguing turn. 

No pilot is perfect. Nine times out of 10, they’ll always be rough around the edges. Here’s hoping the writers can smooth those edges as the series progresses. This reviewer is willing to take the leap.

Stray Observations: 

• It’s lovely hearing Deborah Pratt narrate the opening of “July 13th, 1985.” It would have been nice to hear Ziggy communicate with Ben’s team. Here’s hoping we get more of her in future outings.
• If that dedication to Dean Stockwell at the end didn’t make your eyes well with tears, you might be a robot. 
• Mason Alexander Park is one of the cutest humans on the planet. They killed it as Desire in The Sandman. Ian’s fashion sense is unparalleled based on this one episode alone.
• What are we doing here if this season doesn’t culminate in Sam Beckett’s triumphant return?
• It’s nice to see Magic Williams back in the game after Sam leaped into him in “The Leap Home: Part 2 (Vietnam).” Any threads connecting to the original Quantum Leap are welcome while this series endeavors to forge its path.
• This reviewer would’ve sold her left foot to attend the legendary Live Aid concert. Watching Queen and Bowie take the stage by storm? Yes, please. 

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

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Quantum Leap airs Mondays at 10/9c on NBC, with next-day streaming on Peacock.

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