Here is my view on Season 3 of Quantum Leap after having just seen all the episodes on DVD (most of the episodes for the first time ever). Unlike last time around i will just give my opinion on the episode rather then a synopsis of the story. As always, feel free to add your own top 10 list (or top 3 or top 5) for this season. I'm curious to see if my list corresponds a bit with other leapers.
1. Last Dance Before An Execution - Perhaps one of the more religious episodes of the series. This is also an episode in which we see Sam at his most vulnerable, as he is locked up and about to be electrocuted in the chair.
Top marks for this episode as it really shows off the acting skills of all the actors involved (watch out for the scene where the title of the episode is explained). It is also one of the few times that Sam actually leaps into someone who he can't (or shouldn't) save.
2. Black on White on Fire - An episode that gives a good insight into the racial tensions in the 60's. Also great suspenseful music and really horrifying images of fires and abuse. Not an episode for the faint hearted. It also reverses the general image by having a white girl feel an outcast in a black community.
3. One Strobe over the Line - This episode is really kinda sad. It does a great job of showing what drugs can do to a person. Sam has to really fight hard to help Edie and stop her from taking an overdose. A powerful episode which might be hard to take for anyone who has witnessed something similar.
4. Private Dancer - An episode that grows on you when you start to think about it. Perhaps sometimes a bit uncomfortable to watch because of the subject at hand, but it did a good job of showing what kind of problems people run into when they go to the big city to try their luck (see number 3).
It is also teaches us how to deal with people who are deaf.
5. Shock Theater - Well, the hype for this episode is not completely warranted, but a very good episode nonetheless. Offcourse, a great acting performance by both Scott and Dean (i also liked the nurse), yet i didn't really like the fact that Sam himself wasn't really in this episode. As someone interested in the human mind though, this episode was really interesting and posed a few questions (is Al really just a part of Sam's imagination?).
6. A Hunting We Will Go - This episode is for me the best comedic episode of Season 3. Perhaps for that reason alone not very highly rated, but i thought it did what it said on the package. Plus the fact that Sam is totally out of his element here and is getting whipped
whip ) by a woman. We also learn a few things about Al's fifth wife. And yes, i've got a really weak spot for Jane Sibbett :dreaming
7. Future Boy - An episode that is really all about sci-fi.....ok, and father/daughter relationships. It also raised new questions about Sam's string theory on time travel. You just couldn't help but feel sorry for the old man. Sam also gets to use his lawyer skills.
8. The Leap Home Part I - Sam arrives home in this episode and gets all defensive deciding that he wants to stay and not leap on. But as Sam tries to avert the misery that will fall upon his family, he only makes things worse (most beautiful moment being the "Imagine" song, where Olivia Burnette gave a chilling performance). In the end, he leaps but not before having his brother Tom make him a promise.
9. Miss Deep South - Well, the female episodes are always fun to watch. This one is no exception, as we go in to the shady world of beauty contests.
It makes very clear that there are very dodgy characters following those contests from the front row. And Heather McAdam (Connie) is so endearing and vulnerable, how can you not want to protect her from any harm? Oh, and Sam is using his ninja skills again (which happens a lot in this season, by the way).
10. Glitter Rock - A musical episode in which Scott gets a chance to use his vocal ability. The plot behind this is very interesting as i like a good murder mystery once in a while. The other plot point (which ties into the main plot) is the kid claiming to be Tonic's (Sam's character)son. There are a few nice twists and turns at the end and i'm glad they didn't go with the obvious solution (with the real life references early on).
All in all, this was a very good season. It is hard to play favourites, but overall i liked it better then Season 2 (it is hard to compare it to Season 1 due to the short run). I do believe that the quality of my favourite episodes in Season 2 was a tiny bit higher then in Season 3, but Season 3 had less episodes which were redundant to me. My top 2 or 3 in Season 3 are there to stay, but the rest of them might all change after repeated viewing.
There are also a few episodes that just missed the top 10. For instance, i decided to only put one of the leap homes in it (perhaps on another day i'd have chosen the vietnam episode). And the Halloween episode is one where i had mixed feelings about.
P.S. Well, it will be a while for my next top 10 list, as Season 4 does not even have a release date yet for R2. By the time Season 5 has come out i will try and make a top 20(or something)of all my favourite episodes (with a rating this time around).
HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR
1. Last Dance Before An Execution - Perhaps one of the more religious episodes of the series. This is also an episode in which we see Sam at his most vulnerable, as he is locked up and about to be electrocuted in the chair.
Top marks for this episode as it really shows off the acting skills of all the actors involved (watch out for the scene where the title of the episode is explained). It is also one of the few times that Sam actually leaps into someone who he can't (or shouldn't) save.
2. Black on White on Fire - An episode that gives a good insight into the racial tensions in the 60's. Also great suspenseful music and really horrifying images of fires and abuse. Not an episode for the faint hearted. It also reverses the general image by having a white girl feel an outcast in a black community.
3. One Strobe over the Line - This episode is really kinda sad. It does a great job of showing what drugs can do to a person. Sam has to really fight hard to help Edie and stop her from taking an overdose. A powerful episode which might be hard to take for anyone who has witnessed something similar.
4. Private Dancer - An episode that grows on you when you start to think about it. Perhaps sometimes a bit uncomfortable to watch because of the subject at hand, but it did a good job of showing what kind of problems people run into when they go to the big city to try their luck (see number 3).
It is also teaches us how to deal with people who are deaf.
5. Shock Theater - Well, the hype for this episode is not completely warranted, but a very good episode nonetheless. Offcourse, a great acting performance by both Scott and Dean (i also liked the nurse), yet i didn't really like the fact that Sam himself wasn't really in this episode. As someone interested in the human mind though, this episode was really interesting and posed a few questions (is Al really just a part of Sam's imagination?).
6. A Hunting We Will Go - This episode is for me the best comedic episode of Season 3. Perhaps for that reason alone not very highly rated, but i thought it did what it said on the package. Plus the fact that Sam is totally out of his element here and is getting whipped
whip ) by a woman. We also learn a few things about Al's fifth wife. And yes, i've got a really weak spot for Jane Sibbett :dreaming 7. Future Boy - An episode that is really all about sci-fi.....ok, and father/daughter relationships. It also raised new questions about Sam's string theory on time travel. You just couldn't help but feel sorry for the old man. Sam also gets to use his lawyer skills.
8. The Leap Home Part I - Sam arrives home in this episode and gets all defensive deciding that he wants to stay and not leap on. But as Sam tries to avert the misery that will fall upon his family, he only makes things worse (most beautiful moment being the "Imagine" song, where Olivia Burnette gave a chilling performance). In the end, he leaps but not before having his brother Tom make him a promise.
9. Miss Deep South - Well, the female episodes are always fun to watch. This one is no exception, as we go in to the shady world of beauty contests.
It makes very clear that there are very dodgy characters following those contests from the front row. And Heather McAdam (Connie) is so endearing and vulnerable, how can you not want to protect her from any harm? Oh, and Sam is using his ninja skills again (which happens a lot in this season, by the way).
10. Glitter Rock - A musical episode in which Scott gets a chance to use his vocal ability. The plot behind this is very interesting as i like a good murder mystery once in a while. The other plot point (which ties into the main plot) is the kid claiming to be Tonic's (Sam's character)son. There are a few nice twists and turns at the end and i'm glad they didn't go with the obvious solution (with the real life references early on).
All in all, this was a very good season. It is hard to play favourites, but overall i liked it better then Season 2 (it is hard to compare it to Season 1 due to the short run). I do believe that the quality of my favourite episodes in Season 2 was a tiny bit higher then in Season 3, but Season 3 had less episodes which were redundant to me. My top 2 or 3 in Season 3 are there to stay, but the rest of them might all change after repeated viewing.
There are also a few episodes that just missed the top 10. For instance, i decided to only put one of the leap homes in it (perhaps on another day i'd have chosen the vietnam episode). And the Halloween episode is one where i had mixed feelings about.
P.S. Well, it will be a while for my next top 10 list, as Season 4 does not even have a release date yet for R2. By the time Season 5 has come out i will try and make a top 20(or something)of all my favourite episodes (with a rating this time around).
HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR
