Quantum Leap Season 2 Episode 6 Review: Secret History
Quantum Leap Season 2 Episode 6, “Secret History,” injects new life into the series thanks to Eliza Taylor’s charming Hannah and her off-the-charts chemistry with Raymond Lee. It makes for a delightful viewing experience for fans and marks Hannah’s return since her debut in Season 2 Episode 3, “Closure Encounters.”
Admittedly, while Season 2 is undoubtedly stronger than its uneven (but entertaining) predecessor, its weak point has been the Ben/Addison storyline. We need to see Ben interact more with the rest of the cast. His incessantly pained glances and bickering with Addison have bogged down the narrative, keeping it cemented in the past instead of forging ahead.
“Secret History” feels like a much-needed reset, and damn, is it fun. Sure, we explore Tom Westfall’s potent grief, and Ian’s arc is undoubtedly more somber, but this tonal shift to one of whimsy reinvigorates the series. Quantum Leap is at its best when it doesn’t take itself too seriously and lets loose.
This reviewer was never a fan of the Ben/Addison dynamic and didn’t feel any chemistry between Lee and Caitlin Bassett. However, there’s something easy and natural that exists between Taylor and Lee. Their connection leaps off the screen. It boasts the hopefulness of new love. Although, it wouldn’t shock anyone if the show makes the inevitable pivot back to Ben/Addison at some point.
“Secret History” experiments with the different dynamics between Ben and the rest of the cast, including Peter Gadiot’s Tom and Nanrisa Lee’s Jenn. Lee navigates those nuances like a pro, changing his demeanor with Tom as he finally meets Addison’s new beau and the brother-sister bond he shares with Jenn. His last leap with Jenn is also one of the show’s strongest episodes, so the return to that pairing is a blast.
Additionally, the writers allowing Lee to showcase the leapee’s injury is a nice touch, which Lee holds fast to even when Ben fights the Nazi. That’s impressive physical work. This season, in general, has pushed those boundaries and given Lee more room to play with his physicality.
Ian’s storyline continues to blossom in “Secret History” intriguingly, bringing a new adversary into the fold. If the writers play their cards right, the blackmail plot regarding Project Quantum Leap’s data could have incredible repercussions in future episodes.
Mason Alexander Park boasts a magnetic screen presence. Their portrayal of Ian makes for entertaining comedic relief and compelling character work in equal measure. Ian also has a fun camaraderie with Ben (as they do with Jenn) and deserves more time as a hologram with him.
Circling back to Eliza Taylor, she brings nuance and bright, beautiful energy to Hannah. She’s a breath of fresh air. Hannah’s also an excellent match for Ben in that she, too, is a physicist. “Secret History” plays to Ben’s strengths by allowing him to tap into his scientific background. We haven’t seen many leaps incorporate that yet.
Overall, “Secret History” is easily one of Quantum Leap‘s best episodes. It displays the talents of Raymond Lee and Eliza Taylor as their electrifying dynamic takes center stage. The cast fires on all cylinders, and the writers give ample screen time to the leap and the present-day plotline. Here’s hoping the series maintains this momentum for the remainder of the season.
Stray Observations:
- Did anyone else think Hannah was referring to Al Calavicci every time she called Albert Einstein “Al”? Just me? (Probably.)
- “Secret History” is the baby of Indiana Jones and National Treasure. I don’t make the rules.
- Who’s Simone, the woman in the car blackmailing Ian? Speaking of that scene, Jenn looked like a badass while silently leaning on the car window. My girl doesn’t need words to make an impression.
- While Tom seems less threatening in this outing (thanks to Peter Gadiot’s understated performance), I’m not 100 percent sold on him. Although I do think the more interesting route would be to avoid making him a villain. I’m warming up to the idea of him, at least.
- Imagine McCoy’s expression when Ben leaps out of his body and discovers he’s kissing Hannah. Talk about awkward. That said, Ben and Hannah are so gosh darn cute together.
- We need Ian to spend more time with Ben as a hologram. They’re the Al to Ben’s Sam. Make it so, writers.
- Could Hannah be the Clara Oswald of this universe? Ben’s Impossible Girl? Perhaps…
What did you think of this episode of Quantum Leap? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Quantum Leap airs Wednesdays at 8/7c 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 2 Episode 6 Review: Secret History”
I have liked most of the episodes I have seen, but I’m a die hard fan of the classic series and I have to agree with so much of your review! This is the first episode I have absolutely loved. I still think we are spending too much time away from Ben. We need to share his sense of isolation. Mason Alexander Park is great to watch, and could easily hologram-up full time. The Addison-Ben dynamic has never worked. I really liked Tom as ben’s hologram, even though they started out going “nope” each gained a sense of joint purpose in the mission which was great to see BUT – they gotta stop switching holograms. I get that Classic QL made little sense in it’s “neurons and mesons” (no matter how much the govt trust Al, they are never gonna let his word be the literally only proof they have that Sam exists any more, or is doing anything, they are just chucking money into a fund for Al cos only Al can see or communicate with Sam, but that heightens the isolation they BOTH feel, and that is the heart of the show, which I dearly miss. Secret history is by far the best episode thus far and I have renewed hope for the future of the show. I love Caitlyn and Ray individually on screen but they have zero chemistry. Although she is arguably the better actor, Addison is in the way of the excellence of the plots and needs to be written out or sidelined. Give her Magic’s job, maybe (he was a good hologram, int he Koreatown ep whilst he was there anyway).
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