Quantum Leap Season 1 Episode 3 Review: Somebody Up There Likes Ben

Quantum Leap Season 1 Episode 3, “Somebody Up There Likes Ben,” allows the show to find its footing while revealing the emotional tether for the audience. Raymond Lee delivers a tender performance. 

“Somebody Up There Likes Ben” feels like the show’s hitting its groove and smoothing out the narrative wrinkles. It’s not perfect, but it’s a marked improvement from the previous outings. Not so much from a plot standpoint, but we uncover Quantum Leap‘s beating heart and a fleeting image of why we should care about these characters. 

ADDISON: Look, I can’t just stop, okay? Everything here reminds me of him. Everything at home reminds me of him. Even the day of the week reminds me of him. 

It still feels like we don’t truly know our core cast, aside from the occasional quips they exchange with one another, offering a glimpse into their respective personalities. If anything, Mason Alexander Park’s Ian feels the most fleshed out besides Raymond Lee’s Ben. 

It isn’t easy to gauge distinct characterization when everyone is ostensibly in survival mode. Quantum Leap struggles with propelling the story forward while developing its characters. That said, “Somebody Up There Likes Ben” is a baby step in the right direction in that regard. 

We see how Ben’s incessant leaping naturally wears and tears on him and Addison, his fiancée. Addison’s perpetual hologram status inevitably breaks her down as she refuses to stop pushing herself until Ben gets home safely. Meanwhile, Ben’s vulnerability takes center stage when he has an emotional conversation with Daryl. 

BEN: Do you want to milk that moment a little longer? Should I give you some more time with that?

In the visceral, grounded scene, Lee doesn’t pull punches while Ben displays his heart on his sleeve. Guest star Jon Chaffin also churns out a well-crafted performance in this scene along with the rest of the episode. It’s beautifully intricate work for such a short amount of screen time. Chaffin’s performance feels lived-in. We get more backstory for Daryl than most of the main cast. 

“Somebody Up There Likes Ben” continues drawing connections between this iteration of Quantum Leap and its predecessor, primarily by including the Calavicci women. While the show seems keen on painting Janice in a villainous light, it’s difficult to tell where she’ll land in the coming episodes. To this reviewer, she reads more like a troubled woman who made questionable choices to achieve her goals. 

Janice’s acquisition of her late father’s Handlink, among his other valuables, will undoubtedly change the game, as it appears she might be responsible for Ziggy’s technical hiccups. “Somebody Up There Likes Ben” casts doubt on the preconceived belief that Ben and Janice are working together as partners. Potentially, Janice is pulling Ben’s strings. 

MAGIC: Now that we know Ben is going somewhere, we have to treat this like a marathon and not a sprint. 

The Janice plot and her connection to Ben are more intriguing than the latter’s frequent leaping. The writers do a solid job of keeping viewers’ interests piqued by shrouding the situation in ambiguity. It allows us to formulate our respective opinions before the truth comes to light. 

Additionally, the series sprinkles methodical breadcrumbs regarding Ben’s memories, which seem locked in stasis as he regains his sense of self post-initial leap. “Somebody Up There Likes Ben” brings our lead one step closer to retrieving his lost memories. When his opponent knocks him unconscious in the ring, Ben experiences a flashback wherein he’s lying in bed with someone calling his name. A hand touches his shoulder. Clearly, this is Addison. 

Quantum Leap keeps us on our toes, fluctuating between whether Addison will let the cat out of the bag in frustration or if Ben will remember who she is to him on his own. As the series progresses, even the chemistry inexplicably improves between the cast, namely Lee and Caitlin Bassett — “inexplicably” because most TV shows shoot scenes out of sequential order. 

Overall, “Somebody Up There Likes Ben” finds the show’s heart while expanding on the plot threads laid bare in previous episodes. There are enough questions to keep audiences intrigued, but the real question lies in whether Quantum Leap can keep all those narrative balls in the air without one falling. The show continues taking baby steps toward fulfilling its potential. Here’s hoping it’ll take the leap for the better. 

Stray Observations: 

• Janice genuinely thought she was in the right when she drugged her mother. Beth was trying to protect her! Plus, that woman is at least 60, and that fall could’ve seriously injured her. Janice isn’t winning the Daughter of the Year award anytime soon. 
• We need a scene featuring Addison, Jenn, and Ian explaining The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills to Magic. Then, we need to hear Magic’s play-by-play on the proceedings. For science, obviously. 
• Like Addison, actress Caitlin Bassett also served in the military. She spent seven years as an intelligence analyst, achieved the ranking of staff sergeant, and completed three combat deployments (two in Afghanistan). Quantum Leap is her first major TV project. 
• Sam Beckett’s not lost in time — he’s stuck in a nursing home in the It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia universe. 
• Will we ever learn why Janice broke into Ben and Addison’s home? 
• Love that Ben is the first to leap beyond his own timeline. That’s a neat detail. 

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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