Quantum Leap
Season 2, Episode 11:
A Portrait for Troian
Written by Scott Shepherd
Directed by Michael Zinberg
Airdate: December 13, 1989
February 7, 1971
Sam creeps into a real-life Gothic mystery as a paranormal investigator looking for proof that a widowed artist is being haunted by her husband’s ghost.
Tropes:
- Ambiguous Situation: The earthquakes the kept occurring during the episode only ended when the bodies at the bottom of the lake resurfaced.
- Bait-and-Switch: At one point during the climax, Sam gets locked in Julian's office; we then immediately cut to Miss Stoltz walking down the steps. However, while not outwardly stated, it’s heavily implied that Jimmy was the one who locked it.
- Cain and Abel: With his plan to drive Troian insane falling apart, Jimmy resorts to attempting to drown her.
- Creator Cameo: Donald Bellisario appears in the mirror as Dr. Mintz. In more than just a cameo, Quantum Leap producer (and then-wife of Bellisario) Deborah Pratt plays the titular Troian.
- Didn't See That Coming: Dr. Mintz's equipment makes it possible for Jimmy to hear Al's voice and the Imaging Chamber door.
- Dramatic Unmask: How the Wham Shot is framed, with Sam moving some cloth covering a corpse's face.
- Everyone Has Standards /
No Yay: When Sam jokes that one of the female corpses in the crypt would potentially have the hots for Al, Al bluntly states he's not into necrophilia.Sam: (proudly) At last, something sexual he's not into. - Foreshadowing: The scene with Jimmy fixing the TV reveals that he knows his way around electronics. Later on, in the crypt, Sam discovers a tape recorder...
- Gaslighting: Jimmy tries to drive his sister insane to get control of her fortune. When that fails, he decides to kill her himself.
- Genre Throwback: The story is in the style of a 19th Century gothic mystery-thriller but takes place in 1971 (and was filmed in 1989).
- Haunted House: Claridge Estate is one creepy place with a sordid history, and Troian is certain she keeps hearing her dead husband's voice. The latter turns out to be fake, but Miss Stoltz is actually a ghost.
- Insistent Terminology: Jimmy isn’t insane. He knows the difference between right and wrong, he simply doesn’t care.
- Karmic Death: Jimmy tried to drown Troian, only to suffer the same fate himself.
- Paranormal Investigation: The bread and butter of the episode.
- "Scooby-Doo" Hoax: Troian was never hearing Julian's voice; Jimmy had just rigged up some recordings and equipment in order to make her think she was and drive her crazy. On the other hand, Miss Stoltz isn't what she seems.
- Shout-Out: Sam refers to both Indiana Jones and The Twilight Zone (1959). Since it's still ten years before the first movie was released, Troian doesn't understand the Indy reference.
- Speak of the Devil: After Jimmy throws Troian into the lake, Al demands that Gooshie center him on Sam. Cue Al being moved... about a foot down the pier, followed by Sam rushing in from stage right and tackling Jimmy off the pier.
- A Taste Of His Own Medicine: After the truth comes out, Al tries to keep Jimmy off balance by whispering to him. It certainly unnerves Jimmy, but then he tosses some equipment into the lake.
- Title Drop: A Portrait for Troian was the name of the final book Julian Claridge was writing before he died.
- Trapped by Gambling Debts: Jimmy's motivation for gaslighting Troian and later trying to kill her. He needs Troian out of the way so he can use her money to pay off debts to some very violent people.
- Tuckerization: Troian is named after Donald Bellisario and Deborah Pratt's Real Life daughter Troian Bellisario.
- Wham Line: "And now, I gotta kill my sister."
- Wham Shot: When the body of Priscilla Claridge is revealed, it is shown to be Miss Stoltz, whose ghost then vanishes.
- You Can See Me?:
- Al is convinced that Miss Stoltz could see him, given her "Strangers aren't welcome here" remark directed in his direction. And given the ending reveal, it stands to reason this was the case.
- Downplayed: Not only could Jimmy hear Al, but he could also hear the Imaging Chamber's door.
- Discussed: Due to Sam discovering Dr. Mintz's ghost detecting machine registered when he leapt in, he and Al wonder if it's possible the machine is causing people to hear Al.
Miss Stoltz: (looking at Al) Strangers aren’t welcome here.
