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kylaraingressSo, now that I've fallen headfirst back into QL (1989) slash, I decided to give the show a re-watch. Probably the last time I watched it was in 2001 or so, the LAST time I was obsessed with slash.
Figured I'd liveblog some of my thoughts. (I'm also doing this on my Tumblr.)
Season 1, Episode 1 & 2: Genesis part 1 & 2 / the pilot episode
Date of Leap: September 14, 1956 and August 26, 1968
Written by: Donald P. Bellisario
Al's first appearance: "I'm a lot friendlier than HE is." And I didn't fall in love with him right away WHY?
I remember reading back in 2000 some meta about how many similarities Sam has with Tom Stratton, and fanoning it that GTFW was making that first leap 'easy' (both testing new things, best friend who's a hound dog, etc.).
Poor Sam - while I know he goes through a hell of a lot worse later ("Shock Theater" anyone?), I can't help but feel for him as he tries to figure out what's going on. (best bit: "Oh, I gotta couple of them." with regards to 'new' ideas)
And THERE'S that Mike Post music we all know and love. (Sounds a lot like his Law & Order theme.)
Ah - shirtless Scott Bakula RIGHT from the get go. Yay!
"You'll snap back faster than a pimp's suspenders." Oh, Al - promise me you'll never change!
huh - Al being an astronaut was in the pilot? Could've sworn that wasn't put in until "The Wrong Stuff".
God the ADR is horrible in this episode.
miniskirts and panty hose and streaking - obviously written before they decided to make Sam a goody two-shoes. ;-) (also feeds the fanon that Al started doing it specifically to get Sam to 'behave' himself)
Also - he apparently remembered a LOT here? (Or maybe Al helped him fill it out?)
Sam trying to remember his last name so he can call his dad, who is alive: my dad died of lung cancer in 1986 (when I was 12), and so this scene always hits me hard. If I could time travel, that's what I'd want to do.
Late because of a Laker's game and meeting Martha? Al, Al, Al....
I remember noting this LAST time I re-watched: Al says, "I'd trade my ex-wife for any wreck they got." SINGULAR ex-wife. I know this is Bellisario just being Bellisario (canon? what canon?), but the very next episode is where we run into Donna: I know I wrote that that was a timeline change in one of my stories. (Sam getting together with Donna causes Al to get four more ex-wives.)
Ah - the unofficial theme song of the show: "Que sera, sera".
God, I love how Scott Bakula kisses. He just puts his whole body into it, doesn't he.
While we do get an 'Oh boy' when he sees a pregnant wife, he does NOT say it when he leaps into the baseball player. Curious when that becomes a 'thing we do'.
Huh - we get an 'animals can see Sam as Sam and Al' in this first two episodes.
Al in that silver jacket. Lord have mercy. And our first 'Al sneaking up on Sam'!
"No wonder they're in the cellar: they've got as much enthusiasm as a $10 hooker." God bless you, Al Calavicci. And GOOSHIE made Ziggy print out X-rated pictures?
And the first 'let's go to the bathroom to talk'. Huzzah!
"Seems like someone wanted both Tom and Samantha to survive." - the dual meaning of that when you know the whole show. :-)
"I could be bouncing about forever." / "Nobody lives forever." - adds to the fanon I remember hearing that Sam died in the Imaging Chamber (which is why he's able to leap, because he now knows the 'end' of his life for the string theory) and is why he can never leap home.
Ziggy's 'afraid to print it out' - huh, no voice yet.
Yay - magnafoozled! One of my favorite words from this show.
"You hold six doctorates" - ah, a true canon moment.
Oh, Al looks so heartbroken that Sam can't remember his last name.
"I've named my boy Sam." - not my youngest boy. Tom doesn't exist in this timeline! :-) (Katie does, though. Huh.)
Damn, both Scott and Dean are phenomenal in this. No wonder they won so many awards.
Oh my God - the look they share when Sam comes back after calling his dad. MY HEART.
Ah, Scott Bakula's butt in baseball pants. Can life get any better? ;-)
And the first 'homage' - this one to The Natural.
Had to look this up (don't know much about baseball prior to the '80s): 'Al says "You know who that kid kind of looks like out there?" According to the script, it's supposed to be Tom Seaver, although at this point in time, Seaver is playing for the New York Mets.'
Final thoughts: And that's episode 1 & 2. You know, considering this was 1989, it holds up surprisingly well. It's got a good hook, the acting (no surprise) is amazing, and Bellisario does a good job of balancing out 'getting the premise of the show' with 'having an actual plot happen'.
Figured I'd liveblog some of my thoughts. (I'm also doing this on my Tumblr.)
Season 1, Episode 1 & 2: Genesis part 1 & 2 / the pilot episode
Date of Leap: September 14, 1956 and August 26, 1968
Written by: Donald P. Bellisario
Al's first appearance: "I'm a lot friendlier than HE is." And I didn't fall in love with him right away WHY?
I remember reading back in 2000 some meta about how many similarities Sam has with Tom Stratton, and fanoning it that GTFW was making that first leap 'easy' (both testing new things, best friend who's a hound dog, etc.).
Poor Sam - while I know he goes through a hell of a lot worse later ("Shock Theater" anyone?), I can't help but feel for him as he tries to figure out what's going on. (best bit: "Oh, I gotta couple of them." with regards to 'new' ideas)
And THERE'S that Mike Post music we all know and love. (Sounds a lot like his Law & Order theme.)
Ah - shirtless Scott Bakula RIGHT from the get go. Yay!
"You'll snap back faster than a pimp's suspenders." Oh, Al - promise me you'll never change!
huh - Al being an astronaut was in the pilot? Could've sworn that wasn't put in until "The Wrong Stuff".
God the ADR is horrible in this episode.
miniskirts and panty hose and streaking - obviously written before they decided to make Sam a goody two-shoes. ;-) (also feeds the fanon that Al started doing it specifically to get Sam to 'behave' himself)
Also - he apparently remembered a LOT here? (Or maybe Al helped him fill it out?
Sam trying to remember his last name so he can call his dad, who is alive: my dad died of lung cancer in 1986 (when I was 12), and so this scene always hits me hard. If I could time travel, that's what I'd want to do.
Late because of a Laker's game and meeting Martha? Al, Al, Al....
I remember noting this LAST time I re-watched: Al says, "I'd trade my ex-wife for any wreck they got." SINGULAR ex-wife. I know this is Bellisario just being Bellisario (canon? what canon?), but the very next episode is where we run into Donna: I know I wrote that that was a timeline change in one of my stories. (Sam getting together with Donna causes Al to get four more ex-wives
Ah - the unofficial theme song of the show: "Que sera, sera".
God, I love how Scott Bakula kisses. He just puts his whole body into it, doesn't he.
While we do get an 'Oh boy' when he sees a pregnant wife, he does NOT say it when he leaps into the baseball player. Curious when that becomes a 'thing we do'.
Huh - we get an 'animals can see Sam as Sam and Al' in this first two episodes.
Al in that silver jacket. Lord have mercy. And our first 'Al sneaking up on Sam'!
"No wonder they're in the cellar: they've got as much enthusiasm as a $10 hooker." God bless you, Al Calavicci. And GOOSHIE made Ziggy print out X-rated pictures?
And the first 'let's go to the bathroom to talk'. Huzzah!
"Seems like someone wanted both Tom and Samantha to survive." - the dual meaning of that when you know the whole show. :-)
"I could be bouncing about forever." / "Nobody lives forever." - adds to the fanon I remember hearing that Sam died in the Imaging Chamber (which is why he's able to leap, because he now knows the 'end' of his life for the string theory) and is why he can never leap home.
Ziggy's 'afraid to print it out' - huh, no voice yet.
Yay - magnafoozled! One of my favorite words from this show.
"You hold six doctorates" - ah, a true canon moment.
Oh, Al looks so heartbroken that Sam can't remember his last name.
"I've named my boy Sam." - not my youngest boy. Tom doesn't exist in this timeline! :-) (Katie does, though. Huh.)
Damn, both Scott and Dean are phenomenal in this. No wonder they won so many awards.
Oh my God - the look they share when Sam comes back after calling his dad. MY HEART.
Ah, Scott Bakula's butt in baseball pants. Can life get any better? ;-)
And the first 'homage' - this one to The Natural.
Had to look this up (don't know much about baseball prior to the '80s
Final thoughts: And that's episode 1 & 2. You know, considering this was 1989, it holds up surprisingly well. It's got a good hook, the acting (no surprise) is amazing, and Bellisario does a good job of balancing out 'getting the premise of the show' with 'having an actual plot happen'.
