On a whim, I decided to give the new (2022) Quantum Leap show a chance. I did not have high expectations, which allowed me to feel very smug when the first episode failed to entertain. In short, it was boring, and I have lots of things to say about how it fails as a continuation. Much of what it did wrong lines up cleanly with problematic trends in modern televison. However, talking about that kind of stuff just makes me angry. Instead I decided to go an watch a superior program: the original pilot episode(s) of Quantum Leap (1989).
In this episode, Sam leaps onto the body of an armed forces jet-plane test pilot from the late '50s. In a subversion of what will become the norm, Sam's first instinct is to try to convince the people around him that he isn't who they think he is and that he isn't qualified to perform his duties.
I really enjoyed this episode, even as someone who has seen episodes of the show before and understands its premise. It doesn't waste time on explaining what happend to Sam and instead lets the story explain itself. In some ways, its a good story first and a pilot episode second. The episode is different because Sam doesn't konw what's going on, he doesn't know if he'll ever find a way out of the life he suddenly found himself in. It makes Sam more reluctant to be spontaneous, he treat's this leap like it's actually his life.