YMMV / Quantum Leap S 5 E 22 Mirror Image

• Audience-Alienating Ending: The very end of the episode, which reveals that Sam never gets home after working for years trying to get home, is one of the most base-breaking finales of all time.
• Broken Base: "Mirror Image" is probably the most divisive episode of Quantum Leap there is, mostly because of the end title card. Donald P. Bellisario has said that, based on the responses he saw, half the fans loved the episode and half hated it.
• Everyone Is Jesus in Purgatory: Every aspect of this episode — e.g. where Sam leaped to, why he leaped as himself, the identity of Bartender Al, the implications of who Stawpah really is, the reasons why the people of Cokeburg look like people from Sam's leaps, the reason why Miner Gushie looks different in the mirror — has been interpreted and debated by the fandom for years.