Quantum Leap Season 1 Episode 15 Review: Ben Song for the Defense
Quantum Leap Season 1 Episode 15, “Ben Song for the Defense,” finds Ben leaping into a lawyer in 1985, where he must persuade the courts of a client’s innocence while tag-teaming with an unexpected partner. The premise is simple, but it’s fun watching Ben dissect a murder case and snag an exoneration for an innocent teenager.
Quantum Leap morphs into a legal drama in “Ben Song for the Defense,” and while that might not entertain more sci-fi-leaning folks, it’s compelling enough on a character level. If anything, it’s worth a watch for the dynamics between Ben and Jenn.
MAGIC: She’s been in that imaging chamber 24/7 for weeks, so keep an eye on her.
This outing marks the first time these two interact on the show. Of course, Jenn knows Ben, but he doesn’t remember her; his mind was essentially wiped clean after he leaped into the Quantum Leap accelerator. Jenn is also the night to Addison’s day, tackling Ben’s leap-of-the-week with a different energy than the latter.
“Ben Song for the Defense” finally showcases Jenn in a new setting, taking her out of the Quantum Leap headquarters and planting her in a high-stakes situation. We see her thrive under pressure, with Nanrisa Lee putting her versatile acting chops on display.
Nanrisa doles out a surprisingly tender performance, especially toward the end when Jenn reads about the outcome of Camilo’s case. It’s an unexpected moment of vulnerability which she executes beautifully. She strips away some of Jenn’s armor and allows us to get to know her while maintaining Jenn’s steely outer shell and sardonic humor.
JENN: The answer is you, Ben, because you are doing both — leap after leap, saving bunnies from the river. But you’re also running upstream, trying to change what’ll happen in the future. You’re doing both, and it’s exhausting. But the fact that you can do both is what makes you all the more a hero.
Raymond Lee also delivers a solid performance and boasts great chemistry with Nanrisa Lee. The mannerisms and physicality he injects into Ben are especially noticeable in “Ben Song for the Defense.” It’s always interesting watching Ben adjust to his surroundings after he initially leaps.
The writers, Romy Loor and Emily Kim, execute a standalone episode while adding a few incremental beats to push the overarching narrative forward. For example, Ben recalls Magic’s story, thereby remembering who he is. It’s a seemingly inconsequential detail that harbors significant meaning in the long run.
Additionally, we see Ben move on to his next leap before the case’s outcome is revealed, which might be a first for this series. These intricate tweaks make for a more invested viewing experience and shake up the typical episodic formula.
BEN: We all feel a deep responsibility to those we love.
Overall, “Ben Song for the Defense” is an entertaining outing that’s certainly not Quantum Leap‘s strongest episode, but its intimate nature and focus on character development keep the plot moving steadily. Ben and Jenn for the win.
Stray Observations:
- We 100 percent need to hear Magic’s version of the bunny story now. Jenn’s is a tad difficult to follow.
- Watching Ben adjust to walking in heels is such a lovely, subtle character detail.
- It’s high time we get a meaty Jenn Chu backstory episode. She’s a delightfully nuanced character who’s still something of an enigma.
- The team should have a “Leaper X” glass jar sitting in their main workspace — like a swear jar, but one where folks must add a dollar any time they call Martinez “Leaper X.”
- I love the nod to the original series when we learn Addison and Jenn can’t be in the imaging chamber simultaneously.
- I’m excited to see Patrick Fischler in next week’s episode. He’s a fantastic, underrated character actor who killed it as Smoothie in Happy!
- We get some “I love yous” from Ben and Addison. It’s adorable as all get-out.
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.