A Question of Time begins at an alternative therapy health spa where patient Tom Holloway (John Alderman) is seen being forced into a hot tub against his will by an unidentifiable assailant. The next morning, Tom's dead body is found lying on a solar bed when a therapy group comes in. Quincy (Jack Klugman) is called to the scene and later determines that Tom possibly died from drowning which doesn't make sense since he was found lying on the bed. Monahan (Garry Walberg) is very suspicious of those running the health spa and does not believe their story leading Quincy to investigate further. In addition to finding out the truth about Tom's death, Quincy must also pinpoint an exact time of death because a $40,000 payout on an expiring life insurance policy for his widow and kids is on the line.
I would characterize this as a mediocre Quincy episode with a few oddities and problems. First of all, the therapy method featured is just bizarre and the scenes are very awkward and uncomfortable to watch. To me, the idea of sitting in a cramped hot tub with a bunch of strangers screaming in your face about all the things they hate about their lives does not sound relaxing or therapeutic in any way, rather, I was getting stressed out just watching it! This is also another episode where a friend of Quincy's, Dr. Ruth Thaler (Irene Tedrow), is involved as the co-owner of the health spa, and as usual Quincy handles his friend with kid gloves while going after everyone else like a barracuda. This includes him screaming at Tom's doctor for renewing his prescription without seeing him in over a year, but meanwhile Dr. Thaler has let corrupt, unqualified staff run her health spa where a death has occurred and this does not warrant Quincy's wrath?? Very hypocritical.
I would say that the highlight of the episode is that there is a murder investigation featured, but the resolution is kind of a letdown as well in that those responsible fold like lawn chairs at the end and simply confess everything which was pretty anti-climactic and weak.