Quantum Leap Season 1 Episode 12 Review: Let Them Play
Quantum Leap Season 1 Episode 12, “Let Them Play,” is an impactful, compelling episode that bursts at the seams with heart. Shakina Nayfack writes and directs a touching love letter to trans youth.
“Let Them Play” makes small-screen history as an outing that centers on a trans character in an episode that’s quintessentially Quantum Leap. This iteration taps into the crux of the original series — empathy and love. Nayfack crafts a heartfelt narrative that handles its subject matter with tenderness, respect, and aplomb.
GIA: Why can’t grown-ups just figure out how to make schools safe for everyone?
The internet is already aflame with vitriolic, transphobic hatred regarding “Let Them Play,” claiming Quantum Leap has “jumped the shark” and is too “woke.” Specific sectors of the digital world love hiding behind buzzwords instead of acknowledging what they don’t understand. There’s no better barometer for transphobia than someone who insists on insulting this episode even after listening to its necessary, uplifting message that asks us to examine our inherent biases and act with compassion.
Now, more than ever, we need to combat the anti-trans rhetoric pervasive in our society. “Let Them Play” allows audiences to connect meaningfully with Gia’s story and open more eyes to the struggles trans youth face in a society that perpetually demands they be something they’re not.
This episode rightfully focuses more on the A-plot with Gia than the secondary narrative, although Nayfack cleverly propels the overarching seasonal plot with that jaw-dropping cliffhanger. Characters like Ben and Addison reckon with whether they’re allies or accomplices as the episode addresses performative activism versus genuine support.
ADDISON: Thank you for sharing your story. And if you’re ever in a dark place again, know that I’ll be there for you.
Mason Alexander Park shines as Ian, injecting them with touching vulnerability and nuance. They pour their whole soul into Ian. Every beat brims with truthfulness—hats off to Park for bearing their heart in such a pivotal piece.
Josielyn Aguilera delivers a powerful performance as Gia. You feel for her. You want to reach through the screen and hug her. One of Gia’s lines, “Your fear is not my responsibility,” will stick to your insides like glue. It’s a life-changing line, especially given how society places the onus on the trans community, expecting them to do all the grunt work to make everyone else feel better.
“Let Them Play” is refreshingly honest in its storytelling. It doesn’t beat around the bush. We’ve never seen trans folks spotlighted this way on network TV. It’s lovely to watch a story with a trans character that doesn’t end in tragedy. Nayfack showcases the joyfulness and magic of trans youth, from Gia finding companionship with her basketball team to her contributing significantly to the team winning the big game.
IAN: Allies, they sit in the bleachers, they wave a flag. An accomplice actually has skin in the game.
All in all, this episode is needed. It’s a groundbreaking story that drives home the importance of being accomplices and throwing our support wholeheartedly behind the trans community. “Let Them Play” reminds us that everyone should be free to be themselves. Free to live their lives without judgment and shame but with an abundance of love. It’s triumphant. Of course, that ending reveal is brilliant and keeps us waiting on the edge of our seats for the next episode.
Stray Observations:
- Nothing makes one feel older than hearing that debate about Bella Swan versus Katniss Everdeen. 2012 was a special time for YA books and movies.
- I had war flashbacks to working in a shopping center from 2012-2014 when I heard every song played in this episode on a loop, day in and day out. They’re permanently embedded in my brain.
- You might recognize Shakina Nayfack as Lola in the bitingly funny Difficult People, starring Billy Eichner and Julie Klausner. If you haven’t already, mosey on over to Hulu and check out this underrated comedy.
- “Let Them Play” marks Josielyn Aguilera’s network TV debut. She knocked it out of the park.
- Collette Wolfe playing a middle-aged transphobic mom after watching her as Dorothy on You’re the Worst is quite the pivot.
- My sweet Ian! What have you done? Why are you leaping into people? My guess is they caught wind of Addison’s fate and wanted to inform Ben from an outsider’s perspective. Hence why they leaped into Dottie. Unfortunately, we won’t know for at least two weeks.
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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Melody McCune
Melody loves TV. Maybe too much. Besides being a Senior Writer for Tell-Tale TV, she's the Managing Editor for Geek Girl Authority, an Independent Contractor for Sideshow Collectibles, and a Senior Writer for Eulalie Magazine. Additionally, she has bylines in Culturess, Widget, and inkMend on Medium. To top it all off, she's a critic for Rotten Tomatoes and CherryPicks.
One thought on “Quantum Leap Season 1 Episode 12 Review: Let Them Play”
Well, this was the most woke piece of garbage I have ever seen.
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