"Nomads"


Leap Date: May, 1961




Synopsis:

When Ben leaps as far as Egypt into an undercover CIA agent caught in a dangerous game of international espionage, he must move quickly to save a woman’s life.

Audio from this episode:

Ben: Not in Kansas anymore
Ian, Jenn, & Addison: Deception noted
Addison & Ben: The world of espionage
Hannah: Flashback from prior episodes
Hannah: Hey, don't think I don't know what you did
Hannah: You can trust him
Ben & Hannah: I don't know when or where
Ben: I've failed
Ben & Hannah: You can still help people
Hannah: Who on God's green earth...
Tom & Addison: A way to bring Ben home


 

TV Guide Synopsis
Broadcast Date
Leap Date
Leap Location
Name of Leapee
Project Trivia
Ben Trivia
Addison Trivia

Ian's Outfit Worn in the Episode
Kiss With History

Miscellaneous Trivia
Guest Cast
Guest Cast Notes
Guests who appeared in other Quantum Leap episodes
Characters who appeared in Classic Series episodes

Songs & Music
Say What? 
Quotable Quotes

Personal Review
Production Photos
Production Videos
Production Credits





Poster by J.J. Lendl



 

 

Commercial for this episode:






TV Guide Synopsis:
When Ben leaps as far as Egypt into an undercover CIA agent caught in a dangerous game of international espionage, he must move quickly to save a woman’s life.




Broadcast Date:
Wednesday, December 13, 2023  |  8pm on NBC




Leap Date:
May, 1961





Leap Location:
Giza and Cairo, Egypt




Name of Leapee:
Michael Allison





Project Trivia:
There might be a way to bring Ben home from something that Tom brings back to Addison.

Magic gives good advice to Addison. He is a great sounding board.

Tom loves Addison and he believes that he has found a way to bring Ben home.





Ben Trivia:
Ben thinks that he has failed and that he won’t leap for the first time in this series.

Ben is in love with Hannah.





Addison Trivia:
Addison loves Tom and has discovered a diamond ring that he might propose marriage with.

Addison knows a lot about espionage.




Ian's Outfits Worn in the Episode:
Long sleeve blue and white satin shirt with long white slacks.




Kiss With History:
None.




Miscellaneous Trivia:
This episode was filmed on location in Cairo, Egypt!

The Leapee, Michael Allison, is from Fairfax Virginia.  Born 6/10/1934.

The episode title changes depending on where you look. Official promo photos listed it as "Nomad" but on the NBC site and Peacock listings, it's titled, "Nomads."


From Raymond Lee's Instagram:










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, setting things right that once went wrong, and hoping he will return to the place and people he calls home.

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 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 lead of the Quantum Leap time travel project. 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 Chou (Portrayed by Nanrisa Lee) – Head of security at Quantum Leap HQ.


Tom Westfall (Portrayed by Peter Gadiot) a former special forces soldier and a high-ranking US Army Officer in the realm of Army Intelligence. Thoughtful, centered, a spiritual kind of warrior who both men and women admire, but whose humility keeps him from ever being arrogant. Tom takes on a crucial role overseeing the project.



Hannah Carson (Portrayed by Eliza Taylor) A complex
young woman, who may be more than she appears.









 



Guest Cast:

Azita Ghanizada as Layla Adele
Lou Diamond Phillips as Shepard Barnes

Francys Corbeil as Erich
Juan Monsalvez as Diplomat / Palmer
Shaaban Sayed Kotb Elouani as Carriage Driver
Ahmed Khaled Mohamed as Motorcycle Driver
Ahmed Ragab Mohamed Belal as Pink Pocket Man
(Uncredited) Damon Preston as Michael Allison
(Uncredited) David Sargsyan as Bellhop
(Uncredited) Nicholas Wagner as Amal the Bartender





Guest Cast Notes:

Azita Ghanizada as Layla Adele: Azita Ghanizada is a political refugee and asylum seeker, who has broken many cultural barriers in Hollywood. She has worked consistently on both film and TV holding her own opposite Academy Award-winners and nominees such as Rachel Weisz, Mahershala Ali, David Strathairn, Sam Shepard, Michael Shannon, Casey Affleck and others. In 2016 she was named one of the "Seven Sundance Breakout Actresses You Must Know" for her work opposite Rachel Weisz in "Complete Unknown." On television she has proven her ability to be a chameleon, with her recently recurring on a number of hit TV shows, including CBS's "United States o f Al," HBO's "Ballers," and Freeform's "Good Trouble." Recent work on film, includes a role in "Our Friend," on Amazon, which had its world premiere at TIFF (2019) and "We Broke Up," on Hulu (2021). In 2022, she was the first woman from Afghanistan on Broadway, in her 2022 Broadway debut, in the The Kite Runner" at The Helen Hayes Theater. Azita is also the Founder and President of MENA Arts Advocacy Coalition (MAAC). An organization that she launched after building the first new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion hiring category into a labor contract in 37 years. Middle Eastern North African, MENA, was drafted into the SAG-AFTRA theatrical contracts in 2017. A well rounded and leading global advocate for her community, Azita has served as the SAG-AFTRA National MENA Committee Chair, a Global Ambassador to Women for Women International, National Council to Welcome.us for Afghan Refugees, and gave her first TedxTalk in 2019

Lou Diamond Phillips as Shepard Barnes: Louis Diamond Phillips is an American actor and film director. His breakthrough came when he starred as Ritchie Valens in the biographical drama film La Bamba (1987). For Stand and Deliver (1988), Phillips was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and won an Independent Spirit Award. Phillips made his Broadway debut with the 1996 revival of The King and I, earning a Tony Award nomination for his portrayal of King Mongkut of Siam. Phillips' other notable films include Young Guns (1988), Young Guns II (1990), Courage Under Fire (1996), The Big Hit (1998), Brokedown Palace (1999), Che (2008), and The 33 (2015). In the television series Longmire, he played a main character named Henry Standing Bear. He played New York City Police Lieutenant Gil Arroyo on Prodigal Son on FOX from 2019 to 2021.


Juan Monsalvez as Diplomat / Palmer: Juan Monsalvez is known for The Laundromat (2019), S.W.A.T. (2017) and Jane the Virgin (2014).

Damon Preston as Michael Allison: Damon Preston is known for The Boy Next Door (2008), Six Feet Under (2001) and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999).

David Sargsyan as Bellhop: David Sargsyan is an American Armenian actor. He is known for his successful roles in the short films such as Dr. Antonio (2022), Molehill (2017) and Real Heroes Don't Die (2021). For these roles the actor received awards and nominations in many film festivals. Actor is also known for his roles in several popular commercials. In Armenia the actor is popular for his lead roles in TV series Tuxt U Gir (2013) and Dangerous Games (2015), filmed in Los Angeles. David Sargsyan is also a stage actor. He performed in many Armenian-American musicals and theatrical plays for kids in Los Angeles, by embodying characters such as Aladdin, Prince Charming, Prince Florian and many other lead roles. David Sargsyan was born in Yerevan, Armenia on April 16, 1994. In 2011 he moved to the United States to start his acting career. In Armenia he studied in a dance academy and musical school. He is a skilled dancer, singer and piano player. He also trained martial arts, specifically "Traditional Karate". He is fluent in English, Russian and Armenian languages. David Sargsyan received several degrees and certificates. He completed a Bachelor's degree at the University of California, Irvine in major "Film and Media" and minor "History". He has Associates in Science degree in "Film, Television and Media Studies" and Associates in Arts degree in "Visual Arts" from Glendale Community College. He also received "Dance Teacher" and "Choreographic Studies and Dance Technique" certificates from the same college.





Guests Who Appeared in Other Quantum Leap Episodes:
Eliza Taylor as Hannah Carson and Peter Gadiot as Tom Westfall return as season regulars.




Characters who appeared (or were mentioned) in Classic Series episodes:
Sam Beckett is mentioned once in the episode when Addison wonders if he got stuck in a time period when failing a mission.




Songs & Music:
"The Nominee" by Dear Boy plays during the first scene with Addison and Tom in the kitchen.

"Sleep Walk" by Santo & Johnny plays while Ben and Hannah talk in the hotel after he realizes he failed the mission. This song was also played in the original series episode, "Good Morning, Peoria."

"Weather" by Novo Amor plays during last scene with Addison and Tom.





Say What?
$20 in 1961 is about $200 in today's money. Very steep for a scooter ride!

Addison says this is the first time Ben has Leaped out of the country. Ben corrects her and says he had already, when they thought he was dead in "This Took Too Long!" into Russia. However, he had Leaped out of the U.S, twice before. First in "The Friendly Skies" over the Atlantic Ocean in international waters, and second in "S.O.S." in the East China Sea.

Layla tells Ben she is watched all the time. She tells him that once she
is safely in America, she will give him all the details on East German and Soviet operations across the Middle East. She does this as they pass in very close proximity to a man in uniform. She should be more careful!

Barnes sneezes to make his wallet purposefully fall to the floor for Ben to pick up later as not to draw attention. But Ben picks it right up. If anyone was watching, they would have clearly seen this.

Jenn suggests that it must be a two-person Leap, the only thing that makes sense. Nothing further is explained in the conversation. Perhaps she means that it will take two people to make the Leap succeed, with Hannah assisting. The wording of that was strange.

Addison is military, not a spy. How does she know so much about espionage?

Ben tells Hannah that he knows they turned the imager off once they knew things were calm when he kisses Hannah. Wouldn't this be a dangerous move? How would they know when to turn it back on?

Addison automatically knows that one of the men getting out of the car when Layla's cover is blown is an East German spy. How did she know that?

Addison suggests that Sam Beckett may have gotten stuck in time when failing a mission. However, in the original series, Sam explicitly says that success has nothing to do with Leaping.




Quotable Quotes:

Ben: What the… Toto…. I have a feeling we are not in Kansas anymore.

Jenn: What are you two whispering about?
Ian: You
Addison: Magic
Jenn: Deception noted. Anyhoo, we found Ben. Wanna guess where?

Addison: Ok, Ben. This is the world of espionage. It’s like… it’s like the opposite of you. Everyone is a liar. Looking for someone to trust and they are all terrified of betrayal because they betray for a living.
Ben: You’re really starting to put a damper on my James Bond fantasy.
Addison: Good, because this isn’t a game. First meetings are all or nothing.

Hannah: Ben, is that you? Ben puts the paper down and stands.
Ben: Yes, it is me.
Hannah: Oh, that God! If you knew how many people I’ve ask in the past six years.

Addison: You bugged the wrong shop!
Ben: What?!
Hannah: What’s wrong?
Addison: The traitor must have changed locations on Lela – it’s common trade craft and probably why she wanted you to take photos.

Hannah: You can trust him – more than anyone in the world. I know – because he risked his life for me. When he didn’t have to. He saved me and so many others because he cares about doing what’s right. So, yes, there may be more seasoned agents but there isn’t a better man on this earth.

Hannah: Ben, it’s been six years since I’ve seen you. At this rate, I’ll be lucky if I get to spend a week with you over the course of my life. One magical week.
Ben: Tomorrow after I get Lela out, I’ll leap. And after that, I don’t know when or where I’ll see you again if at all.
Hannah: You know, most people live their lives without urgency. They think this lasts forever. But we know better. We know what a miracle any time is. Tell me you don’t want this. Tell me what I’ve said is wrong.
Ben: I can’t.
Hannah: Ben, I know you had a life before. But now you’re a Nomad. And for a nomad, the only home is people. It can’t be an accident – fate throwing us together like this. There has to be a reason. Maybe… I’m your home.

Magic: When I got together with Beth, I had all kinds of mixed feelings. I could come up with ten reasons why not to do it, but the thing is we have to live the life in front of us. Be true to your present, Addison, not some future your wishing for that may never happen. Because waiting isn’t living.

Ben: You’re not sorry. You’re a coward. You sit there risking nothing while people like Lela are out there risking everything. How’d you become so cynical that losing a hero like her stopped feeling like a tragedy.

Ben: This is why we kept crossing paths. So that when I ended up stranded in time, I wasn’t alone.
Hannah: Hmm. So, what you’re saying is, I’m am the universe’s gift for a job well done. As far as compliments go, that it’s half bad. You can still help people, Ben. You don’t have to travel through time to make lives better. Hmm.
Ben: Hmm. What?
Hannah: Just saying that made me think. Here you were on this great cosmic mission and maybe somehow I messed that all up.
Ben: Stop. First of all, you did nothing. And second, I never saw this as something great. I wish I had. I always felt like it was some kind of trial or a curse. Maybe that’s what I did wrong.






Personal Review & Detailed Synopsis by Brian Greene:
Ben Leaps in on a carriage led by a horse and Egyptian guide as they pass the great pyramids in Egypt! He says to himself, "Toto, I have a feeling we're in Kansas anymore." He checks his wallet in his suit pocket and discovers that he is Michael Allison from a drivers license issued in 1960. He also discovers a hotel key to the Mena House Hotel in Cairo inside the wallet. He tells the guide that he wants to go back to Cairo now. The guide motions in the direction of the city nearby. Ben guesses that he's going to be on foot. A man on a scooter pulls up and says "$20 American." Ben hops on the back and they ride into the city.

The date "1961" is shown on the screen in large numerals. Ben arrives at the lavish hotel and sees a man watching him from behind a newspaper. Ben picks up a paper and sits near the man. The other man introduces himself as Shepard Barnes, Station Chief. Ben confirms CIA. Barnes asks Ben if he still thinks his mysterious source is genuine. Apparently Ben's host was doing recon in Giza. Barnes tells him that they are meeting the East Germans at 1pm, someone with a pink pocket square, and asks if this is Ben's first mission. Barnes flips over a coaster with a number written on it. He tells Ben to make contact and see if he saves the world. Barnes walks away and Ben says to himself smiling slightly, "A spy. Awesome."

Addison is cooking shakshuka, a dish consisting of poached eggs in spicy tomato sauce. She asks Tom to help her with adding the spices. He hands them to her one by one as she calls them out, beginning with paprika. They share a laugh when he takes too long finding one of the spices. Then, the secure phone line rings. Tom leaves to answer. Addison searches for one of the spices and in a drawer in the kitchen finds a diamond ring. She quickly puts it back as she hears Tom returning. He tells her that they need him in D.C.

Back at Project Headquarters, Addison tells Ian about the ring. Ian is excited but senses that Addison isn't as much. Ian says it's not like she and Ben had technically broken up. Jenn approaches and tells them Ben has been located.

Addison joins Ben back in Giza near the Sphinx. She mentions that he has never Leaped out of the country before. Ben says he actually did once, they just thought he was dead during the Leap ("This Took Too Long!"). Ben senses something off and asks Addison is she is okay. She says it's been a busy morning but she is excited to be looking at the Sphinx. Addison consults Ziggy to let Ben know that he is a CIA analyst based out of London, and got an anonymous cable that brought him to Cairo but he failed to make contact so nothing ever came of it. Addison tells Ben that this is the world of espionage. "It's like the opposite of you. Everyone's a liar looking for someone to trust. And they are all terrified of betray because they betray for a living." Ben says she's putting a damper on his James Bond fantasy. Ben spots a man with a pink pocket square in his suit jacket pocket. Addison instructs him to follow the man. They wander through the exhibit where Ben becomes isolated. Ben feels metal put to his rear. Ben tells the person behind him that his backup is waiting. The woman with the knife says he didn't bring any backup, which is either very brave or very stupid. She removes the item , which turns out to be a cigarette lighter.  She introduces herself as
Layla Adele, who works at Giza as an Egyptologist and guide. She guides people to areas no one else is allowed to see. Addison comments that it's the perfect cover for a spy. Ben asks Lela to show him around Giza so she can tell him what she has to say. As they walk, she says she is watched all the time and cannot leave for the West as she would like by normal means.

Jenn looks at Lela's credentials but doesn't see anything that would indicate she's a spy. She hypothesizes that maybe she's a smart woman looking for a free ride to the states.

Lela tells Ben that once she is safely in America, she will give him all the details on East German and Soviet operations across the Middle East including names of agents, turncoats, and regional agendas.

Addison asks Jenn to cross reference everything they know about Lela with what they know about an East German operative with codename "Nomad."

Lela says Section Chief Barnes will want proof of her worth. She is meeting a traitor from the Ben's embassy that afternoon and asks him to photograph the encounter. She asks only that they wait to arrest the traitor until she is completely out of the country.

Jenn asks who Nomad is. Addison says he was a spy that the U.S. has been trying to find for years. On screen, Jenn discovers that Lela is Nomad. He... is a she.

Lela asks Ben is she can trust him with her life and Ben says yes. She says her number is on the card she gave him and she'll be waiting for his call.

Back at the hotel, Ben converses with Barnes again. He scoffs that Nomad might be Lela. However, Barnes confirms that the is a leak and a traitor and tells Ben he is going to get to Lela's meeting and plant a bug. Ben says she told him to photograph the meet, not bug it. Barnes tells Ben that he is the boss, not Lela. He wants the traitor on tape to put him away for the rest of his life. As Barnes leaves, Ben tells Addison that the spy game is not what he thought. She agrees and says if he makes a mistake, it's either him or Lela at the bottom of the Nile. He says, "Was that supposed to be a pep talk? I think you've been spending too much time with Jenn." She says that if he gets Lela/Nomad out of Cairo, he will Leap and save the lives of dozens of U.S. assets that would otherwise be killed over the next three decades. Addison stops short and sees a familiar face. Ben looks up to see Hannah Carson walking through the hotel. Addison says she'll be back and fades out. Hannah catches Ben looking at her from behind his newspaper. She walks up and asks, "Ben, is that you?" He says yes. She says she is so thankful and that she has asked many people over the past six years if they were Ben as well. Ben tells her he is there to help an East German spy get out of the country and that it's dangerous. She laughs and says, "More dangerous than when we were up against the Nazis?"

Ian looks at their screen and says the results are the same as before. Hannah is not a Leaper. Addison says three times is not a coincidence. Jenn says Hannah got her PhD and works at a lab outside of New York. She consults for the U.S. government and is in Cairo for the convention. Addison asks why the Accelerator keep having them meet. Jenn suggests that it must be a two-person Leap, the only thing that makes sense.

Hannah says she has waited a long time to see Ben and has missed him. Ben says he missed her too. He says he's been traveling in time a long time without any real human contact. He says he feels alive around her. So alive that he forgot he had a job to do in 30 minutes. Hannah asks to help so they don't have to waste a single moment together. Addison returns and says Hannah can help him. Hannah introduces herself to Addison when she realizes his hologram has joined them. Addison asks him to introduce her to Hannah. He stumbles and says she is his only link to where he's from. Addison smirks. She tells him that he looks too much like a spy in his suit going in alone, but if he had a woman with him, it could look like he's on his honeymoon. Hannah asks what Addison said. He paraphrases and says if he's with a beautiful woman, it'll look like he's on holiday. Addison comments, "Did I say beautiful?" Hannah smiles, "Beautiful? She said that?" Ben departs quickly and says "Okay, let's do this!"

After the commercial break, Ben is returning from planting the bug, a simple task it seems. He says, "all we have to do now is sit here and enjoy our coffee."  As the waiter brings their drinks to the outdoor table, Ben and Hannah pretend to have a couples conversation about enjoying their honeymoon. They hold hands and Addison frowns. Lela approaches on the street, headed for the meet with the traitor and Addison reminds him to not let on that he knows her. Ben says no matter where they meet next, it'll be another adventure of a lifetime. Addison sees Lela entering a different store than where he planted the bug. Hannah replies, "That's what you are, you know. The adventure of my lifetime." Addison says he bugged the wrong shop. The traitor changed locations as is common practice, which is why Lela wanted him to take photos of the encounter. Hannah tells him to go get the bug and be ready. Ben asks, "For what?" She replies, smiling, "The show."

Ben sneaks into the back of the store with Addison along as a second set of eyes. Hannah bursts into the front door pretending to be an upset customer to cause a distraction for Ben to plant the bug. Lela sees Ben  as she speaks to Palmer (the traitor) and takes the bug from him. She is annoyed by the bug but plants it for him as he leaves through the back door and Hannah goes out the front.

As Barnes listens to the recording later, he is angry that Palmer is the traitor. Barnes says to get Lela ready to leave the country. Ben reminds Barnes not to take Palmer until Lela is gone. Barnes asks Ben, "Do I look like a rookie to you?"

Ben and Hannah walk arm in arm back at the hotel celebrating their success as Addison follows. Hannah says they make a great team, "All three of us" indicating Addison. Addison scoffs and says to herself, "Yeah I guess Jenn was right" (about it being a two person Leap).

Entering his hotel room, Ben discovers Lela waiting and she tells him to call it off. She is angry about changing the plan to bugging the meeting instead of photographing it and risking her life. Hannah interjects and tells Lela that he risked his life for her and saved her and so many others. She says there isn't a better man on this earth. Addison fades out. Lela asks for the instructions, affirming that she will go along with their plan.

Addison exits the Imaging Chamber. Jenn knows something is wrong from the look on Addison's face. Augustine says, "I know why the Accelerator keeps putting them together. They're in love."

Ben and Hannah share a kiss at the hotel. Hannah asks if he's worried anyone is watching. Ben tells her that he knows they turned the imager off once they knew things were calm. Hannah says it's been six years since she's seen him. She tells him she's lucky if she gets to spend one total week with him if they ever meet again. She says,
"Ben, I know you had a life before, but now you're a nomad. An for a nomad, the only home is people. Maybe I'm your home." Ben says he can't for all those reasons. She says that just makes her love him more.

Magic asks Addison if she really thinks some force has brought Ben and Hannah together. She says if that's true, it lets her off the hook for Tom. Magic says she is the one who put herself in that position. Addison wants Ben to be happy. She says she misses Ben and she doesn't know how she is supposed to fell about this. Magic says,
"When I got together with Beth, I had all kinds of mixed feelings. I could come up with ten reasons why not to do it, but the thing is we have to live the life in front of us. Be true to your present, Addison, not some future you’re wishing for that may never happen. Because waiting isn’t living." Jenn interrupts and says it's time for Lela's extraction.

Ben and Addison wait for Lela to show up. He says they have 60 seconds to get her out. Addison tells him she knows things have gotten uncomfortable and complicated. She says she wants him to know she loves him and wants him to be happy even if it's awkward. Ben says he loves her too and that he likes Tom. She puts her hand out and the holographic images warps around his. Lela arrives and her contact gets out of the waiting car. Suddenly Lela realizes something is wrong, other operatives are all around. She turns to leave. Addison frantically says that one of them is an East German spy and her cover was blown and so was his. "You have to go... now!" Ben runs and is chased by several other men. Addison suspects Barnes.

Ben goes to face Section Chief Barnes. He admits he did arrest Palmer since he was a huge security risk and could have been tipped off. Barnes says it's a big win. Ben says to hell with that, he's going to find Lela. Barnes informs him that she is dead. Addison confirms that Barnes is right, Ziggy says she was killed. Ben tells Barnes, "You sit there risking nothing while people like Lela are out there risking everything. Barnes warns Ben not to go back to the hotel as they could still be looking for him. Ben goes anyway.

Ben goes to Hannah at the hotel and cries, telling her that he failed. He is devastated. He doesn't know what happens now and suspects he won't ever Leap. Hannah says he could invest in things with his future knowledge and make a fortune. He could impact world events. Ben says maybe this is why they keep crossing paths, so he won't be alone when he's stranded in time. Hannah jokes that she must be the universe's gift to him for a job well done. She says he can still help people, and he doesn't need to travel in time to make lives better. Hannah tells him tat maybe she messed up his great cosmic mission. Ben answers that he never thought of this as something great. He felt like it was a trial or curse. "Maybe that's what I did wrong," he says.

The team converses on the situation with Ben being stranded. Addison says that Tom is hopping the first flight from D.C. and not to tell anyone yet. Magic says they double their efforts to find a way to bring him home. Addison suggests this might be the way it ended for Sam Beckett. Maybe 1961 is Ben's new home. Just then, Ziggy sends an alert signal.

Ben and Hannah kiss. The phone rings - it's Barnes. He says he may have been given bad intel. He thinks Lela escaped. Hannah says she knew this wasn't Ben's destiny. Addison appears and says that Ben's speech to Barnes earlier may have changed the timeline. In the original history, Barnes just let her die instead of calling Ben's host to suggest she may be alive. Ziggy says she still dies if they do nothing but now they have a chance to save her.

Jenn researches the best places Lela may have found to lay low. She discovers a mosque on her maps.

Ben and Addison look at a paper map back at the hotel to find the mosque. Ben calls Barnes and asks him to go back in the field to help them extract Lela. They arrive in the city and find East German operative all around, waiting and watching. Ben hopes Lela will find him somehow. The Germans give chase to Ben. One of the men pursuing him catches up. Ben knocks him cold. Addison says she taught him that move, presumably during the boxing Leap in "Somebody Up There Likes Ben." As Ben searches, Lela finds him. Ben convinces her to come with him instead of trying to hide, because she will die if not. Hannah dresses as Lela in the head scarf and the Germans are fooled. The lead villain discovers that his car is now missing. Lela has escaped. Barnes has picked her up and Lela introduces herself as Nomad. Barnes can't believe he was wrong.

Addison tells Ben that Lela eventually ends up dismantling the Soviet spy network in the Middle East. Ben says that's not bad for a few days work. Hannah approaches and asks if Addison gave him some good news. Hannah thanks Addison and Addison says she's welcome. Addison fades out. Hannah asks, "So, is the cosmic train leaving?" They say they are going to miss each other. But, Hannah says she is glad Ben keeps to get doing what he does. Ben smiles, "This girl once told me... don't say goodbye. Say see you later." They share a kiss and Hannah asks him to promise that he will find her next time so she doesn't keep asking strangers if it's really him. Ben says he's spent more than two dozen Leaps looking backwards. From now on, he goes forward. Hannah tells him that she loves him. They kiss again and she walks away as Ben Leaps.

Addison arrives home to find Tom is back. Tom says he's been giving a lot of thought to their future. He says there is nothing they can't handle. Tom says he was called to D.C. because they found something on a hard drive from a discontinued DARPA project. He presents her with a folder. He's says it's a way to bring Ben home.

Review:

I loved this episode...at least more than the past couple episodes. Plenty of action, plenty of mythology and plot explored. The tension between Ben and Addison is still there. When he confesses his love for Hannah, it was interesting although rushed. I do hope they get a resolution to this soon as we all wonder where it's headed. We didn't see anything more about the issue with the computer chip and Rachel's mysterious boss, but we still have at least five episodes next year to find out more.

I enjoyed Layla's character and it was great to see Lou Diamond Phillips in this one! His character was redeemed in the end and honestly believable. I would liked to have seen much more of his character developed. This was a fun ride and seeing Hannah again was a welcome addition. What is going to be her true purpose during his next few Leaps? Is there more than she appears as we have been teased from the beginning? She knows too much about the future time-travel project now. Does that means she could be a threat to it? Or perhaps she is instrumental in the folder Tom presents to Addison at the end of the episode?

We need more episodes like this! Great time period, action, suspense, and romance. Can't wait for more episodes to return in early Spring 2024!




 
Production Photos:




 


Production Videos:







Production Credits:

Edited by: Christina Castro
Production Designer: Mayling Chen
Director of Photography: Ana M. Amortegul, ADFC
Producer: Meg Fister
Supervising Producer: Tim Scanlan
Supervising Producer: Kristy Lowrey
Co-Executive Producers: Benjamin Raab & Deric A. Hughes
Co-Executive Producer: Drew Lindo
Co-Executive Producer:  Aadrita Mukerji
Co-Executive Producer: Marc Bienstock
Executive Producers: Steven Lilien & Bryan Wyndrandt
Executive Producer: Alex Berger
Executive Producer: Chris Grismer
Executive Producer: Deborah Pratt
Executive Producer: Dean Georgaris
Executive Producer: 
Martin Gero
Developed by: 
Steven Lilien & Bryan Wyndrandt
Created by: Donald P. Bellisario
Written by: Dean Georgaris
Directed by: Chris Grismer

Co-Producer: Margarita Matthews
Co-Producer: Rammy Park
Associate Producer: Ethan Henderson
Executive Story Editor: Shakina

Casting by:
Jennifer Cooper, CSA
Original Casting By: Kamala A. Thomas

Music by: Daniel James Chan
Unit Production Manager: 
Melanie J. Elin
Unit Production Manager: Marc Bienstock
First Assistant Director: M. Ryan Traylor
Second Assistant Director: Athena Alexander
Costume Designer: 
Genevieve Tyrrell

A Camera Operator:  Dave Hirschman
B Camera/Steadycam Operator: Josh Harrison
Production Sound Mixer: John Lakin
Chief Lighting Technician: Donna Vega
Key Grip: Peter Chrimes
Art Directors: Suzan Wexler and William Eliscu

Set Director: Tim Stepeck and Brent Mannon
Costume Supervisor: Mark A. Summers
Property Master: Erik Grasteit
Construction Coordinator: Matt Sazzman
Department Head Hair: Amy Marie Wilson
Department Head Makeup: Julia Lallas
Leadman: David Napoli
Stunt Coordinator: Jeff Barnett
Location Manager: Dan Milner
Transportation Coordinator: Sandra Ninham-Gallardo
Production Office Coordinator: Sofie "Bubbles" Dejus
Assistant Production Office Coordinator: Brenden Hickey
Production Controller: Natalie Chiengkul
Script Supervisor:
Heather Pollock

Script Coordinator: Sue Palmer
Casting Accociates: Lindsay Jameyson & Mia Cascio
Post Production Supervisor: Gabriella Scudieri
Music Supervisors: Season Kent and Leah Harrison
Music Editor: Zed Starkovich

Assistant Editor: Jaclyn Rogers
Online Editor: Steven Williams
Colorist: Chris Boyer
Visual Effects Supervisor: Trent Smith
Visual Effects Editor: Mengle Han
Supervising Sound Editors: Kelly Cabral and 
Kevin Zimmerman
Re-Recording Mixer: Yuri Reese & Sean Madsen
Visual Effects Artist: Matt Collarafice
Video Playback Supervisor: Todd Marks
Productions Staff: Emily Holguin, Halle James April French, Justin Brenneman, Esmeralda Fernandez

Cairo Unit:
Line Producer: Sami Rafi
Supervising Producer: Rhett Giles
Unit Manager: Maged Youssef
Production Manager: Wael Nabil
First
Assistant Director: Ahmed Eissa
Art Director: Sali Alshami


The State of California and the California Film Commision, California Soundstage Filming Tax Credit Program

Copyright 2023 Universal Television LLC All Right Reserved

Dean Georgaris Entertainment
Quinn's House
Universal Content Productions
Universal Television


Special thanks to M.J. Cogburn for assisting with this episode guide page!




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