Ben Song for the Defense

Quantuum Leap has Ben leaping into a young, black, female public defender with 183 open cases and an upcoming murder trial.

They pretty much wasted an opportunity for Raymond Lee to give an impressive performance in drag. The best he can do is stumble on his high heels occasionally.

The story itself was pretty pedestrian. Other legal procedurals over the years have done similar stories MUCH better. The only real shake-up in the episode is to have a different member enter the imaging chamber because she has a law degree, but never practiced so she isn't really a trial attorney.

They tried to show the hectic life of public defenders, but the episode pretty well left me flat.

Ben leaps into the body of rushed off her feet public defender Elena Ramirez and has to turn into Perry Mason.

18 year old Camilo Diaz is on trial for the murder of a gang member that was trying to recruit his younger brother Leo. Camilo protests his innocence but was seen fleeing the crime scene. The evidence against him is strong.

In the original timeline of 1985, Elena entered a plea deal with ambitious ADA Bill Barnes. It ripped the Diaz family apart.

Now Ben decides to go to trial but he knows nothing about being a lawyer. Jenn helps out as she has a law degree and was on trial for hacking.

Only public defenders are overworked, underpaid and rely on plea bargaining.

With the help of Magic Williams and the team. They figure out that Barnes hid some evidence. It is costly for Elena. She was having an affair with another ADA.

It does take a leap that someone can suddenly become a trial lawyer. Also no one noticed especially Elena's girlfriend that suddenly she was a rubbish lawyer.

It does make barbed comments about the justice system. The public defence system is al; about making deals than actual justice.

I have watched the first 15 episodes over 3 days so haven't reviewed previous stories (but might go back in time to review the better - and worse - ones).

There have been highs, lows and a lot of downright average and, after a couple of good episodes, this reverted to the average.

It was good to see someone else acting as the hologram as much as I am impressed with Caitlin Bassett's performances as a TV newbie.

The original QL for me was the start of the woke era and this show is following suit with noone batting an eyelid at lesbian lawyers in the mid-1980s.

A mention of AIDS is a nod to the concerns to the era.

This is far from the worst story so far but it is very pedestrian.