Quantum Leap: The Outsider

On this leap, Dr. Ben Song encounters a true rarity: a journalist who is actually humbled by her past failings. Weirdly, instead of trying to replicate this phenomenon, he attempts to rebuild her confidence in “The Outsider,” this week’s episode of Quantum Leap, which premieres tomorrow on NBC.

Song quickly learns he has leaped into the body of the new cameraman and producer working with Connie Davis (energetically portrayed by Nadine Ellis), who was once a hotshot New York reporter, but now she is chasing giant pumpkin stories for a Denver affiliate. Song’s host has a hot-tip regarding a toxic pesticide story, but the company is trying to scare him off. He figures he needs Davis to take on the story before he can leap, but she is decidedly gun-shy.

Did you know 50% of Denver was farmland? Apparently so, according to “The Outsider.”  Having grown up there around the time of this leap, I would more likely believe that was true for the state of Colorado, but, heck, when you are leaping through time, you don’t have time for those details. You need to keep things big picture.

Song’s leap is a decent, only-modestly-self-serving Woodward & Bernstein-style expose in the general Lou Grant TV-tradition. It should be, considering how often it invokes the Watergate journalists’ names. This episode does not feature a lot time travel-specific elements, beyond the usual business of the leap itself, but there is some serious business going on back at Quantum Leap headquarters.

Unfortunately, Tom Westfall is in a very uncomfortable position. Song’s ex and on-again-holographic guide Addison Augustine just broke off their engagement. Now, he must terminate a member of the Quantum Leap team to placate a shady tech titan. As usual, Ian Wright will be protected, since the character is always immune from criticism, but seriously, the computer whiz’s conduct during Westfall’s interview is stunningly unprofessional and just plain annoying.

Still, this episode will clearly have long-term implications that will concern franchise fans. Yet, they should anticipate the fateful decision, because it is very much in character. Peter Gadiot and Ernie Hudson do not have a great deal of screen time as Westfall and Magic Williams, but they make the most of it. Frankly, the tandem of Williams and Westfall is exactly what the show needs more of, precisely because they so convincingly project military authority and bearing.

This episode is dedicated to the late memory of Matt Dale, a Quantum Leap podcaster, which is a classy gesture. This is a well-paced episode, but it would be too bad if some of the better characters wind up sidelined for multiple episodes. Recommended for franchise fans (it would be an okay intro to the series, but there are stronger installments to start with), “The Outsider” airs tomorrow (2/12) on NBC (and streams the next day on Peacock).