Leap Date:
March 23, 2012

Audio from this episode:

Gaze Into The Mirror
End Credits Theme

Ben is in the hallway, admiring the wall, which shows all the championships they won. He looks at his badge to find out his name is Carlos, and asks out loud “What am I doing here, Carlos?” Alas, Carlos is incapable of giving him answers.

We cut to the locker room with the girls. Gia is not among them, where they discuss the situation. Some are for Gia being in the game, and some are against. Amanda is against, and when asked why, “because she’s trans or because she took your shot?”, Amanda answers: both. One of the other girls says, “Way to be a team player.”

In the hallway, Ben is approached by the principal, who is there to give Ben a hard time for putting Gia in the game. She says, “we discussed this did we not?” And of course Ben doesn’t remember this because Ben wasn’t there for that conversation. She tells him that she has to keep the entire school together, dealing with budget issues, etc. Don’t ask her to fight a culture war for her daughter.  She tells him to do his job and get the team to regionals, and then leaves, trailed by the assistant principal Giffin.

Ben's bad day continues when he gets chewed out by Amanda’s mother, Margi. She says that she should have stayed in the game because of the basketball scouts in attendance. Ben says his concern was for her safety, pointing out that she doesn’t want herd daughter to play with an injury. Margi comes back with “Don’t tell me how to parent my child.”

Ben asks one of the players if Gia is in the locker room. No, she’s not allowed to change with the girls. The door opens to reveal Gia in the janitors closet, knocking over a mop. “Anyone ask for a mop?”

Cut to the present, where Ian is discussing what's going on during the leap with Addison. Ian remembers the basketball game, calling it iconic before iconic was a thing. Ian didn’t go to that school, but definitely heard about the game. Ian remembers, despite that being a change in history, because Ben changed history. The original history, they lost the game, because they played short handed, which must have made Gia angry, given what we learn later. Gia ran away in the original history, and Ian still remembers Gia running away.

Ian says that Gia needs an accomplice, not an ally, who sits in the bleachers and waves a flag. She needs someone with skin in the game.

Magic and Jenn go to a coffee shop to meet Dottie, the person who Janis said told Ben about what happened to Addison.  (She’s the character played by the writer and director of this episode.)  They mention a specific time that Dottie was seen talking to Ben in a photo, and Dottie gets spooked. She tells them to meet up for poetry night later that day.

Ben comes home with Gia. Her mother sounds supportive, but as soon as Gia is out of the room, its a different conversation with Ben. Shes upset that he put Gia in the game without telling her. They kept her out of the spotlight for a reason, a reason Ben genuinely doesn’t know, but his wife thinks it's just him trying to make jokes. Ben argues for Gia, but his wife shuts him down, worrying about her getting harassed and picking up the pieces. Ben tries to say something “I didn’t think…”

The wife says “That’s right you didn’t think, and now were all going to have to deal with the consequences.”

Ben is getting ready to sleep on the couch, as he’s in the dog house. Addison appears to report some more history. Gia came out in the fifth grade, moved to the school this year, and this is the first openly trans kid to go to this school.

Ben wonders what he would know about supporting a trans kid. Addison points out probably as much as any parent knows about it.

Addison brings up the trans military ban, which was instituted in 2017 by then President Trump. Addison laments the fact that she didn’t say anything, and plenty of honorable people were discharged. She says that she didn’t fight it. She couldn’t have changed the entire military, but maybe she could have stood up for those under her command. Addison points out that just because its hard, doesn’t mean its not worth doing.

Ziggy says Gia runs away, and is never found.

The next morning, Gia’s mom being revealed to be a feminist. Ben suggests that Gia and he go and shoot some hoops after breakfast, but Gia points out she isn’t ten years old anymore.

There is a car wash that they are going to, and they need to go to group in support of trans people.

At support group, we are introduced to Trace, a trandgender person who leads the group. Gia goes to hang with her friends. The parents talk about their kids. One parent says, "I bet none of them have met an actual trans kid. They make up this boogiem*n, like it's some danger that has to be stopped. When the only real danger is us losing our children."

Cut to Ian, watching that same scene of the kids, sitting on the floor.  They are joined by Addison. Ian is emotional. It is revealed that Ian tried to kill themself around the age of thirteen.

Ian states that 1 in 5 transgender people attempt suicide, which is around 20 percent. The Trevor projects says that more then 2 in 3 transgender non-binary youth report symptoms of major depressive disorder.

Ian sounds like they didn’t have any support, unlike Gia.

The parents drop Gia off at the car wash. Despite his wife's objections, Ben decides to keep an eye on Gia. Her teammates embrace her, but Amanda doesn’t.

The kids are having fun, but then a couple of guys decide to bully Gia from a car, throwing something at them. Gia gets angry and throws the thing shes cleaning the cars with, and accidentally hits Margi’s (Amanda's mom) car, causing a crack. Ben runs into the scene, which makes Gia angry. Meanwhile Margi is mad about her car, and Gia runs away.

Addison comes in and reveals that Gia was never found because she died and the police mis-gendered her body. She tells Ben that she’s gotta stop Gia from running away.

Gia’s mother is on the phone with the principal, who is calling a meeting to protect the basketball team. This is obviously about Gia. Gia asks if he’s going to lose his job. Addison says yes, but Ben tells them no. Gia suggests quitting, but Ben won’t let her. Ben says that he knows high school can be tough, but according to Gia, Gomez was big man on campus. So Ben changes tactics and tells the story of Ben Song, who was Korean, in a mostly white school, but Gia points out its not nearly the same.

Gia says that she has to fight every day to fight for who she knows she is, despite everyone telling them that she’s not.

At the poetry reading, Jenn and Magic are in attendance. They find it funny, until Dottie starts talking about something that, on its face,might describe being transgender. But Magic realizes it's about being replaced by someone leaping into them!

Dottie recites:

"I gaze into the mirror,
But my face doesn't know who I am.
I stare into the reflection of a future me
I will never be...
And I realize I am the other,
And the other is me.
I am another and the other...
Is we."

At the principals office, the principal says that there has been significant community concern about Gia’s participation on the basketball team, saying its not fair. Margi is in this scene bravely speaking up for intolerance.

Amanda and Gia are waiting outside, while they make awkward small talk. Gia eventually asks her to say that she considers her apart of the team, like she belongs. But Amanda won’t because that’s not how she feels. Eventually though, she does say that they are teammates, and Gia takes this as a victory and this seems to be the bonding moment and the change of heart.

Meanwhile, Margi is talking about how when she was a kid, they didn’t have girls sports, they had to fight for title nine, completely missing the irony. She's using this argument to say that she isn’t going to sit there while they take away women's sports because they think that there is no difference between girls and boys.

Ben pipes in to say that nobody is taking anything from anyone. Its about inclusion.

Margi goes on, saying, “You call it inclusion, but whose going to protect my daughter?” Margi misses the comparison that while she’s protecting her daughter, Gia’s parents are doing the same. She even goes as far as to scoff at the idea of the Mendez family going to church.

The principal says that she thinks its better for everyone if they put Gia back on the bench. The principal reveals that the deal they made was that Gia could practice with the team, but not play. Gia overhears this, and gets angry, feeling lied to. Having been told to wait her turn, when in fact that turn was never going to come. Gia gets angry and runs away.

She goes to Trace, who thinks that Gia’s plan to run away and be on her own is ill-conceived. She makes a reference to a plague they were dealing with, which is a reference to HIV. She also says that going to school didn’t seem like an option that was available to her. Trace calls her parents and they are on the way.

Ben and his wife drive up. Gia calls them out on being the ones that make the rules, and that they need to let her live her life and make mistakes, instead of stifling her by trying to make her safe. They hug, and Ben says that they have a basketball game to go to, if Gia is up for it.  Gia asks what about Ben’s job? Her mother says that the most important job they have is being her parents.

At the school, Gia embraces her teammate, and her teammate leads her into the girls locker room. Her other supportive teammate says that this locker room is for all girls, period. Amanda’s attitude has progressed positively towards Gia as well.

On the sidelines, Ben has his chart which shows the starting lineup. Gia is in it. The ref asks if he’s sure about it, and Ben says yes. The ref is behind it, but the principal is less enthused, asking if he really wants to lose his job over this.

Ben says you might not want to stand up for my daughter, but I got a whole locker room of girls who aren’t going to play without her.

The principal asks what exactly do you think your going to achieve with this?

Ben says that he thinks that they are about to go to regionals, with a smirk. The principal walks away, and we see a subtle change in Ben's face that suggests he isn’t totally confident in this.

On one side of the bleachers we have the supporters for Gia, and on the other we have the people against.

The game gets off to a bad start, with Gia's team going down in points. Ben calls a time out and asks Gia what's wrong. Gia asks who let in the people against her?

Ben points out there are a few haters, but look how many people support her! Ben gives an impassioned speech, that is pretty good. One of the supporters in the crowd turns out to Margi, surprisingly. The speech was enough to turn the game around.

Back at the project, the team is watching the game. Addison invites Ian into the Imaging Chamber, which is against the rules. Ian points out that Addison is an accomplice, which is the only moment where that earlier conversation about accomplices and allies comes into play. It's still a nice moment.

The Assistant Principal talks to Ben, telling him the principal sent him to pull Gia. But he’s not going to do that, because school sports is about helping the kids build confidence and to work together as team. Also… he's the union rep. If they try to fire him, he’s got Ben's back.

The game goes on... Addison and Ian cheer them on. The ref is dancing! Gia takes a long three-point chance, and makes the shot. Ben Leaps out as he yells in triumph!

In the present time, Magic meets with Dottie. He reveals that he had a similar experience and wonders if Dottie wondered who was driving the bus in his absence. Dottie made some sketches, and her artwork reveals a face that looks just like Ian!

Ben leaps into his next adventure, as we see he is a chef. The episode ends with a title card that reads: If you are trans and experiencing a crisis or you know someone who is, please call the trans life line at 877-565-8860 or visit translifeline.org for help.

Synopsis by Dave Korman. Edited by Brian Greene.

Personal Review by Earl Bonovich:

This was an amazing episode on so many levels.

I have seen first hand the struggle that youth that are trans go through. While not at the same level as a parent, but as a person that can help do something about it. Fear and mis-understanding, here today in 2023. It is heart breaking. Knowing of way too many youths that have committed suicide, because they are bullied relentlessly for who they are. It is isn’t acceptable, it shouldn’t happen. Period. Youth are Adult, it shouldn’t happen.

This episode showed us a LOT more about Ian. The struggle, the fight and passion they have.

There are many that focus just on the “trans” part and just neglect the other part. That these young people are being feared and vilified like they are monsters. But those that bully and “throw eggs” and vicious words, don’t face consequences. These youth run away, leave their families and friends that can help them. And sadly often commit suicide or end up in much worse situations. This episode in it’s short time, showed a lot of what it was like 20 years ago, but really highlights how it still is today. Things need to improve.

As for the QL Story line, we learned more about Ian and Addison pasts. But the big reveal or hint of reveal is that it was a Leaper that told Ben what needed to be done, and apparently maybe that leaper was Ian, from the future.

We need to remember, that this was originally drafted as possibly the final episode of Season 1. That was to be a cliffhanger. But this season got a 6 episode extension, and we will get to see that first episode of the extension in 2 weeks. (Instead of 6 months from now). Looking forward to see how the writers and producers have adjusted to feedback from the series, and where they go with the story.

And as reminder: Trans Lifeline: 1-877-565-8860 Suicide Hotline: Dial 988 (in the US) There are people that care and want to help, reach out if you feel alone and lost, and need someone to talk too.

QUANTUM LEAP – SERIES REGULARS


Dr. Ben Song (Portrayed by Raymond Lee) – Ben is a first-generation American, a world-renowned physicist, and a man of faith. He’s also working on Quantum Leap, a time travel project. But when he uses the project on himself, he’s transported back in time with a bout of amnesia – forgetting what made him time travel in the first place.

Addison Augustine (Portrayed by Caitlin Bassett) – Addison is a smart, witty, fearless ex-military operative who now serves as Project Observer at Quantum Leap HQ. She’s in charge of the technology they use to communicate with the past, and tries to rescue her fiancee, Ben, from his time-flung existence.

Ian Wright (Portrayed by Mason Alexander Park) – Quantum Leap’s nonbinary chief architect of the AI program.

Herbert “Magic” Williams (Portrayed by Ernie Hudson) – A Vietnam vet and current head of the time travel project at Quantum Leap. Herbert “Magic” Williams tries to keep the Pentagon at bay while the team tries to rescue Ben. Doctor Sam Beckett leaped into Magic during his Vietnam tour.

Jenn Chu (Portrayed by Nanrisa Lee) – Head of security at Quantum Leap HQ. Quirky but formidable, she makes it her mission to figure out why Ben erased all evidence of why he Leaped.