It’s hard to believe that Quantum Leap 1×17 “Friendly Skies” is the penultimate episode of the season. As I struggle to come to terms with that fact, Ben (Raymond Lee) has struggles of his own. Following Martinez’s (Walter Perez) betrayal in the last episode, he’s struggling to trust others. And himself.
Who Can You Trust?
Trust has been a recurring theme throughout the season. Time and time again, the question has come up: who can you trust? Can the team trust Ben, after he decided to Leap without telling anyone? Can they trust Addison (Caitlin Bassett)? Was she in on it? What about Janis (Georgina Reilly)? Jenn (Nanrisa Lee) has even wondered if she could trust her dad. And now everyone is at odds as to whether even Ziggy is trustworthy.
When you wonder whether you can trust others, it leaves you wondering how much you can trust yourself. After all, if you can’t trust the people closest to you, how much can you trust your own judgment? Self-doubt is something Ian (Mason Alexander Park) struggled with upon learning his future self would set all this in motion. And it’s something Ben is struggling with now.
Ben’s sudden self-doubt makes sense. Although his timing could be better. He trusted Martinez to help him in his last leap, and it almost cost him his life. Of course, anyone would know that Martinez wasn’t completely trustworthy. Even Ben. It was more a partnership born of necessity than naiveté. Ben trusted Martinez because, quite frankly, he had no other choice.
But trust is also in Ben’s nature. It’s one of the many reasons why he is so good at what he does every week. He sees the good in people, even when they don’t see it in themselves. He sees their potential, even when they’re going down a bad path. It’s such an intrinsic part of him, it’s no wonder it hurt Addison to see that faith in others (and himself) shaken. It hurt me to watch, too.
Thankfully, Ben found his way back by the end of the episode. Because the fact of the matter is, you can’t go through life choosing not to trust anyone. Not if you’re going to be a happy, reasonably well-adjusted person. (Maybe people like the Unabomber can manage it, but he’s hardly a role model.) Even if you’re not leaping from one person into another, righting wrongs throughout time. You have to keep trying. You have to keep trusting others. And, yes, that means sometimes they’ll let you down. But that makes the people who are there with you through thick and thin all the more precious.
Excuse Me, Your Honor? I Love Them
Okay, this segment of the review really should be about how important it was to see Ian and Ben finally interacting. What that might mean for the final episode. Particularly since Ziggy is currently out of commission, making everything they do that much harder. And, of course, that stinger.
But as important as all that is…I just have to focus first on how much I loved Ben and Ian together. We haven’t seen them interact since the Pilot – and not much then – so this episode was really the first time we’ve been able to see their dynamic. (And, also, the show has grown into itself quite a bit from the Pilot, and the actors have grown into and gotten more comfortable with their characters, I’m sure. That can make a difference.) These two together? Amazing.
Everything about their dynamic just works. I don’t know how I was somehow both sides of their “argument” in their friendly bantering, but I was. No, it’s not the best time to call you out on all your wrongdoings, Ben, but if everyone dies, Ian won’t get another chance! Oh, yeah, Ian? Well you started all this, so there! How dare Ben bring up facts at a time like this?
I love the two of them. As much as I love Ben and Addison together (and I do), I hope Quantum Leap continues this trend of allowing other people to assist him with his leaps. It allows the show to explore different dynamics in fun new ways. And Quantum Leap 1×17 “Friendly Skies” gave us the best of both worlds – plenty of Ben and Addison interaction, with some Ben and Ian interaction, as well.
Of course, the finale is on the horizon, and who knows where that will leave our favorite characters. I can’t wait to find out…even if it means a long, Quantum Leap-less hiatus on the other side.
