Honestly the fact that the bastard didn't get convicted had me thinking this episode would be more difficult to watch than it turned out to be tonight.
One thing that helped was the surprise to me of the forgotten slight humor provided by Al.
The scene where Al brings Katie McBane into the imagining chamber to testify and they gradually pull the camera away from Sam to focus on her speaking paired with Al's listening expression is probably one of the most brilliant scenes in Quantum Leap history.
The tragedy and how strongly Sam felt about it was beautifully portrayed. This was among the rare incidents where Sam's vile hatred of mistreatment/abuse is displayed very powerfully and to the point where he justified vengeful/hateful violence despite being heavily against it. There is such a fine line between what can and can not be called rape. Had Kevin been drunk would that be rape or had he not been aware enough to have judged properly? Had Katie not fought against his force on her but then was later shamed is it rape? Just to name a few examples.
Then there is the non-existence of a sure story as Al pointed out with his hypothetical scenario of Kevin's innocence which very well could have been the true occurrence. I felt that was a smart use of Al's character in this episode.
This may very well be becoming one of my favorite episodes.
I've thought of a fundamental flaw in this episode - Sam obviously leapt in to keep Katie's dignity throughout the ordeal and stop her from being raped the second time... Why did he not leap in before the first rape so that he could prevent it from happening entirely?
Obviously a rape needed to happen in order to have a story worth telling... Still, it seems to me that it goes against the fundamental principle of leaping, to put right what was once wrong, not to make things better after what once went wrong still goes wrong...
With all due respect I must disagree.
Sometimes a terrible event must occur for a greater purpose. Al the Bartender pointed out how Sam's results effect more than just the people he is directly involved with.
If it hadn't been Katie McBane it may have become someone else. Recall that Kevin had argued with his fiancee right before taking Katie out. If Katie hadn't given him a reason to walk away from that argument or had Katie gotten away from him sooner he may have raped the fiancee instead. Then others could have followed, in fact they might have anyway. Originally Katie had not pressed charges, she had fled town. Sam changed that the minute he leaped in.
Tamlyn of
Temptation Eyes is another example of this. Sam had thought to go into hiding with her to escape her fated murder but Al pointed out in argument that four other victims had followed her. So in that episode Sam had actually saved five lives.
For a moment tonight I had questioned why Sam wouldn't have leaped into the lawyer to probably better accomplish the conviction. The most significant point being Katie McBane would have been there to give her testimony since Sam's not knowing what happened clearly created a conflict that threatened the success of the leap but it quickly made sense. Not only did Sam need to be the one to press charges since she wouldn't have but the poor thing had leaped into the the waiting room in what sounded like a state of shock. She probably would not have handled the proceedings well. She needed someone as strong and with such a thirst for justice for the wronged as Sam to give her a voice and ensure that she wouldn't have to feel ashamed. Which in turn prevented her from becoming estranged from her family. The fact that Sam portrayed her standing up for herself especially challenging a community who put her attacker up on a pedestal is what she needed. It's also what lead to the ending where Kevin tried to attack her again provoking Sam to give him that beating. Which we are made to assume put a stop to him.
in conclusion the host and time of the leap were set up as it needed to be for the ideal result. As a heavily religious person would tell you (though I myself am not), the lord always knows what He's doing. Something that is actually supported on this show in other instances.
Fact: Deborah Pratt unable to convince Don to convict Kevin for it's unrealism but determined to get justice for Katie was the one who added the ending where Sam got to beat the **** out of him.
In the personal opinion of my best friend and I the destruction to the gazebo was something of an exaggeration (though it makes more sense with Sam than the real Katie) but the emotion was perfect.
