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Quantum Leap (2022)
Season 1, Episode 2:
Atlantis
Written by Robert Hull
Directed by David McWhirter
Original air date: 9/26/2022
March 7, 1998
Ben leaps into Dave Tamura, an astronaut aboard the space shuttle Atlantis.
Tropes:
- Artistic License – History:
- Atlantis didn't fly any missions in 1998; it flew no missions between STS-86 in September 1997 and STS-101 in May 2000.
- Similarly, the actual first ISS module in space was Zarya, which Russia remotely put into orbit in November 1998. The first NASA space shuttle to take an ISS component to space was Endeavour, which delivered the Unity node in December 1998.
- Batman Gambit: Magic goes to see Al's widow — and Janis' mother — Beth, and asks about Janis, but very pointedly says that the type of trouble Janis is in cannot be talked about. He does this knowing full well that Beth would inevitably call Janis right after to figure out what's going on, and as soon as that happens, Jen runs a trace on the call to track down Janis' phone.
- Calling Parents by Their Name: Janis refers to her mother Beth by her first name while speaking with Magic on the phone.
- Continuity Nod: While not outright stated in dialogue, Samantha Stratton is the daughter of Tom Stratton, Sam Beckett's first leapee.
- In Space, Everyone Can See Your Face: During each spacewalk Ben goes on, we see his face through the visor.
- The Knights Who Say "Squee!": Ben is absolutely thrilled to have leapt into David Tamura, as he'd idolized Tamura as a kid. He's less thrilled when his Swiss-cheesed mind suddenly remembers that Tamura died on a spacewalk during this very mission.
- Map All Along: Ian looks at Janis' decrypted data and concludes that it "was designed with a 3D construct in mind." After they make an adjustment, they recognize the new 3D data as a bunch of destination points across time, including a conspicuous unknown destination that Ben is apparently trying to reach. The theory is that he's using all the previous leaps to "accelerate," as a spaceship will use a planet's gravity well to increase speed before "slingshotting" off at an angle with increased velocity. Why he would have to accelerate is as big a mystery to the team as it is to the viewer.
- The '90s: 1998.
- No Antagonist: There's no outright villain during the leap plot; the problems there stem from the accidents involving the ISS module, the shuttle's heat shield, and their oxygen supply. At most there's infighting between the astronauts over the best course of action to ensure their survival, but no one acts with malice.
- Ransacked Room: A variation; after finding the message Ben left for her on his phone, Addison herself ransacks the apartment. She finds a USB drive that ends up containing a key for decrypting Janis' time travel data.
- Space Station: The Atlantis' mission in this episode is to deliver the first module of the ISS into orbit. However, later in the episode the crew are forced to contact the Mir space station, as it is their last option for safe refuge after the accidents.
- Title In: "1998" is shown in large text at the beginning.
- Wham Shot: When Janis calls Magic, towards the end of the call the shot widens to show Janis walking around Addison and Ben's apartment.
- You Are in Command Now: After Commander Reynolds is knocked out, Samantha Stratton takes command of Atlantis.
