Yes, in past reviews, I've complained that the new QL relies too heavily on the old show while trying to navigate a new path. So you'd think I'd be unhappy when it goes whole hog on the old show. And they kinda did that with 'Family Style', perhaps because Deborah Pratt was involved. Although as a director, not a writer
But I liked this episode, mostly because it was more like the old show. And... it worked. Yes, I know that seems contrary. But bear with me.
'Family Style' did what I've been saying the new QL should do, and did it well. For one thing, it focused more on the Leap than the modern-day mystery of why Ben Leaped and what's been going on with Janis. More power to it. I suppose we'll never be rid of that, and we weren't. But the spotlight was mostly on Ian, and Mason Alexander Park is the MVP of the modern-day cast. Ian really didn't have much to do, other than hang out with the version of Katie McGrath. And display his IMO poor fashion sense. But it was harmless, and it was well-acted. Park does more with a frustrated glance than most actors do with their entire body.
It also meant focus on Richard Lee, which is all to the good. Lee can act, which makes sense for an actor. And 'Family Style' gives him lots of opportunities to act. I thought we had put aside all the issues with Ben's mother, but this made some logical sense that he still had issues over her death. The focus more on Ben than the support team meant more time on Ben, which is good. It meant Addison shut up most of the time, and played the Al Calavacci support hologram rather than adding her own angst or provoking Ben's.
It also meant focus on the Leap of the week. It wasn't a monumental plot, but a lot of the originals weren't, either. It was mostly just tooling along, with a great central performance by Nandini Minocha as Sonali. I liked how Ben wasn't the one to take down Tanner, but the latter got her just desserts off camera. I also liked how it involved Ben using his past-present knowledge, with popups and Groupon.
It also meant that without the present-day mystery, there was more time to focus on stuff like the Prasads eating at the pizza place and talking about Vikas. That's something you wouldn't see much of in the last twelve episodes. My major regret is that they're doing it 13 episodes in, when they should have been doing it since episode 1.
One thing I do miss is the opening credits, which helped set the mood for the original show. The sappy but inspirational music, and the scenes of Sam Leaping from life to life, are something sadly missing from the new QL. Yes, I even miss the season 5 music. Ask your parents, kids, or catch it on Youtube. There's nothing with the new QL that really helps a viewer (or at least me) ease into the show. Yeah, it's 2022 and networks chase the almighty advertising buck by dropping/minimizing opening credits so they can squeeze more advertising in. But still, sometimes you need opening credits, and for more than winning an Emmy. Opening theme and credits _do_ things, and that's something loss on much modern network TV.
So good things, a more "traditional" QL episode and a bigger chance to tell the story and give Lee and Park some time to act. Bad things: yeah, it wasn't the most "realistic" story, but it's a sf/fantasy. 'Cinderella' wasn't that realistic, either. QL is a fairy tale of sorts, not "realism".
But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?
But I liked this episode, mostly because it was more like the old show. And... it worked. Yes, I know that seems contrary. But bear with me.
'Family Style' did what I've been saying the new QL should do, and did it well. For one thing, it focused more on the Leap than the modern-day mystery of why Ben Leaped and what's been going on with Janis. More power to it. I suppose we'll never be rid of that, and we weren't. But the spotlight was mostly on Ian, and Mason Alexander Park is the MVP of the modern-day cast. Ian really didn't have much to do, other than hang out with the version of Katie McGrath. And display his IMO poor fashion sense. But it was harmless, and it was well-acted. Park does more with a frustrated glance than most actors do with their entire body.
It also meant focus on Richard Lee, which is all to the good. Lee can act, which makes sense for an actor. And 'Family Style' gives him lots of opportunities to act. I thought we had put aside all the issues with Ben's mother, but this made some logical sense that he still had issues over her death. The focus more on Ben than the support team meant more time on Ben, which is good. It meant Addison shut up most of the time, and played the Al Calavacci support hologram rather than adding her own angst or provoking Ben's.
It also meant focus on the Leap of the week. It wasn't a monumental plot, but a lot of the originals weren't, either. It was mostly just tooling along, with a great central performance by Nandini Minocha as Sonali. I liked how Ben wasn't the one to take down Tanner, but the latter got her just desserts off camera. I also liked how it involved Ben using his past-present knowledge, with popups and Groupon.
It also meant that without the present-day mystery, there was more time to focus on stuff like the Prasads eating at the pizza place and talking about Vikas. That's something you wouldn't see much of in the last twelve episodes. My major regret is that they're doing it 13 episodes in, when they should have been doing it since episode 1.
One thing I do miss is the opening credits, which helped set the mood for the original show. The sappy but inspirational music, and the scenes of Sam Leaping from life to life, are something sadly missing from the new QL. Yes, I even miss the season 5 music. Ask your parents, kids, or catch it on Youtube. There's nothing with the new QL that really helps a viewer (or at least me) ease into the show. Yeah, it's 2022 and networks chase the almighty advertising buck by dropping/minimizing opening credits so they can squeeze more advertising in. But still, sometimes you need opening credits, and for more than winning an Emmy. Opening theme and credits _do_ things, and that's something loss on much modern network TV.
So good things, a more "traditional" QL episode and a bigger chance to tell the story and give Lee and Park some time to act. Bad things: yeah, it wasn't the most "realistic" story, but it's a sf/fantasy. 'Cinderella' wasn't that realistic, either. QL is a fairy tale of sorts, not "realism".
But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?