Quantum Leap Season 2 Episode 10 Review: The Family Treasure

Quantum Leap Season 2 Episode 10, “The Family Treasure,” raises the narrative stakes on the home front as Rachel’s boss enters the picture. Elsewhere, Ben goes on a treasure hunt with two quarreling siblings.

It’s a rare episode wherein the non-leap-related storyline eclipses the actual leap. 

The Family Treasure 

Usually, the leap takes center stage, with the consistently solid Raymond Lee leading with a steady hand. While that’s still the case in “The Family Treasure,” what’s transpiring in the present-day timeline feels more significant. One could argue that whatever happens there will easily affect Ben’s leaping … and whether he can finally come home. 

That’s why the writers should give the non-leap plot a chance at the wheel. Perhaps an outing where we get the perspective of the HQ team as they work through one of Ben’s leaps, complete with a focus on the burgeoning Gideon Rydge story.

The breadcrumbs we get in “The Family Treasure” are certainly tantalizing enough. 

James Frain is only in the final moments as the aforementioned Gideon, but he cuts an imposing figure even as he tries to appear nonchalant.

Frain is no stranger to portraying an antagonist, so here’s hoping the series gives him room to stretch and play. Quantum Leap has done a fine job building Gideon up and cultivating this image for him; it would be a shame if the creative team took its foot off the gas regarding the non-leap story. 

Addison and Tom 

As for the other HQ plot, Addison and Tom’s broken engagement, it seemingly revives the show’s central love triangle (although perhaps it never died). Or maybe it’s more of a love square with Ben, Hannah, Addison, and Tom. Love triangles are generally overdone and uninspired, often tripping up a show’s narrative instead of facilitating its momentum.

It feels repetitive to have Ben and Addison back in each other’s romantic orbit. Tom is most likely correct. While Addison pumped the brakes because she’s still grieving/healing, and that’s understandable, her feelings for Ben are probably not dormant.

They never were. This puts Tom as a character in a precarious position. Who is he when he’s not there to aid Addison’s story? (From a narrative standpoint — we know who/what he does.)

If Ben and Addison ever rekindle their romance, one could also question what this means for Hannah. However, Hannah feels like a fully realized, well-rounded character who could exist without a romantic plot, whereas we still don’t know much about Tom beyond his profession and his being a widow.

That said, Quantum Leap should find a place for Peter Gadiot even if Addison and Tom end things permanently because he’s a talented actor. 

The Guest Performances 

On a separate note, “The Family Treasure” is a wonderful platform for guest stars Wilder Yari and Hollie Bahar to shine. Both performers bring sensitivity, nuance, and a grounding energy to their performances.

This series always knocks it out of the park as far as its guest actors are concerned. Most only stick around for one episode, but they’re usually three-dimensional, thoroughly developed characters you find yourself rooting for by the end of the episode. That’s not easy to pull off, writing and acting-wise. 

Additionally, “The Family Treasure” tackles an important subject with grace and tenderness, shining light on Dean coming to terms with their nonbinary identity.

Yari delivers beautiful work in the scene where they discover what pronouns work for them. Ben’s dialogue of how there should be “more possibilities” is a moving way to describe those outside the binary. Ian’s reaction is also a stark reminder of why representation in media matters. 

The episode hones in on the “misfits” of society and how we can find our community — our family — with those of our choosing. Despite how lonely we may feel in this isolating, ostracizing world, we can find connection. It’s a heartwarming sentiment beautifully conveyed in “The Family Treasure.”

Where We Go (No One Knows)

Overall, “The Family Treasure” is another fun episode that delivers touching emotional beats and exciting plot movement in the HQ storyline. While where we’ll land is as unknown as Ben’s next leap, with three episodes remaining, one can only hope the creative team ups the narrative ante in a big way. 

Stray Observations: 

• Keon Alexander is woefully underused in “The Family Treasure.” Fans of The Expanse know damn well how potent, disarming, and secretly malevolent he can be as a villain. Of course, things didn’t end well for Marco Inaros, either. 
• There’s nothing more terrifying than a big boss in a suit and Converse sneakers. It’s giving “billionaire playboy who’s not used to hearing ‘no.'” 
• The moment when Ben agrees with Sarah regarding Nadia not knowing her late father well cracked me up. I don’t know if it’s supposed to be funny, but Raymond Lee’s comedic timing is pitch-perfect. I’d love to see him tackle more comedy in the future. (I don’t consider Kevin Can F**k Himself to be a bona fide sitcom despite its usage of sitcom elements.) 
• We’ve only had one Magic-centric episode in the show’s run thus far (please correct me if I’m wrong). I say it almost every week, but Ernie Hudson deserves better. 
• Ben writing a letter to Hannah to warn her about her husband’s medical condition (as we learned in “Off the Cuff”) shows how much he loves her. He’s willing to ensure her husband lives. He could refuse to disclose this knowledge and let Josh die, but our Benny’s a good egg. 

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

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

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