While trying to save a married woman, Sam changes history and Al is sent to the gas chamber giving Sam a new observer.While trying to save a married woman, Sam changes history and Al is sent to the gas chamber giving Sam a new observer.While trying to save a married woman, Sam changes history and Al is sent to the gas chamber giving Sam a new observer.
- Chip Ferguson
- (as Jeffrey Corbett)
- Al 'Bingo' Calavicci
- (as James Walters)
- Marci Riker
- (as Debbie L. James)
- Marina Oswald
- (uncredited)
- Narrator
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAs child actors at MGM, Dean Stockwell and Roddy McDowall were classmates at MGM's Little Red Schoolhouse on the studio lot.
- GoofsWhen Al claims that Sam did not leap because he failed to save Lisa, Sam says that success has nothing to do with leaping (Al reiterates this in the following episode). Since, in nearly eighty leaps, Sam has never failed in his mission, it is unclear how he came to the determination that success is not necessary to leap.
Of course, this assumes all of Sam's leaps have been shown as episodes. As in part 2 of the first episode of the series, some leaps may have been too brief to mention.
- Quotes
Al: We got deep trouble here, Sam. The odds of my getting convicted are 92% now and they're going up.
Sam: Riker's testimony was devastating.
Al: Well, un-devastate it.
Sam: I think I will. I think I'll go find the killer.
Al: Well, what are you doing here then?
Sam: Standing trail under guard.
Al: God, 95%. Now they're 95%!
Sam: What does Bingo say about Saturday night?
Al: Same thing I said, of course. Met Lisa a-at the Sea Breeze Hotel, a-and that was before Marci disappeared from the "O"-Club.
[looks at handlink]
Al: Now there's a 96% chance I'm convicted. Ninety-seven - geez, ninety-eight! Ninety-nine!
Sam: For God's sake, stop it!
Edward St. John V: One hundred.
[Sam turns and sees a stranger standing in Al's place, holding the handlink]
Edward St. John V: Yes, there is a 100% certainty that Ensign Calavicci will be found guilty and executed in the gas chamber.
- Crazy creditsAt the end when Al asks who's gone Sam replies my shadow but his lips don't say shadow.
The second type of episode that this season produces is the overly serious but well-meaning 'issue' episode. The show has done these before of course, but in this season so many of them felt too burdened by their sincerity but yet not really delivering a satisfying message/conclusion; for instance both the KKK, and the rape episodes are commendable for their attempt, but have odd content and ending). Outside of these episodes, there are far too many which are just functional 'moral situation of the week' episodes, which ask us to buy into a situation and then watch it resolved. This is bread-and- butter for the show, but in this season they seem too isolated from the main characters. In the first and second season the writing managed to keep us engaged by virtue of Sam and Al, their relationship, and their connection to the plots. At times the coincidences (and Al's myriad of life experiences) stuck out, but at least they kept the players in the game; in this season there is significantly less of that, and too many episodes are 'okay' but do not really deliver.
This is not to say that they are bad, just that they feel fairly run-of-the-mill, and the gimmicks thrown in to spice things up do feel very much like a gimmick (in particular the soul-singing gender crossover doesn't really seem interested in doing much other than having Sam in a dress again). The chimp episode is a total gimmick – although that one did work for me, despite the 'message' element. Otherwise though it seems like a season without a strong direction; it continues to do what it did before, trying some new things in ways that don't convince, and throwing the occasional hail-mary to see if it can pull it off. The leap out of the season finale suggests that this will continue – as indeed will the 'what are the rules?' feeling. I'll have to see, but this fourth season isn't good enough to make me happy with it continuing in this way.
- bob the moo
- May 6, 2017