From: bdsm@fermat.WPI.EDU (Billy Don McConnell)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.tv
Subject: Re: QL: Deliver Us From Evil
Date: 12 Nov 1992 02:08:53 GMT
Organization: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: fermat.wpi.edu
Originator: bdsm@fermat.WPI.EDU


In article <3226@tardis.Tymnet.COM>, jms@tardis.Tymnet.COM (Joe Smith) writes:
|> This post contains spoilers for the 11/10 episode of Quantum Leap
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|> Once again, I expect to see several posts from several people who do not
|> understand how "mortals versus the Devil" stories work.
|> 
|> One plot device I've seen used many times is the idea that when the Devil is
                             ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
|> defeated, all the pain and suffering that was caused by the battle is
|> eliminated as a reward to the humans.  
|>                                    [...] 
|> "Turning back the clock" is not an instance "deus ex machina".  It is a 
|>  well established, well respected plot resolution of the traditional Good 
    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
|>  versus Evil battle where Good triumphs.

I think the problem here is that the idea lacks originality.  We should expect
more from Bellisario and the gang.  Besides, what's gonna happen the _next_ time
the Evil Leaper comes around?  Will Sam just not worry about what she's making
wrong, concentrating his efforts on simply stopping her and hoping that the clock
will once again be turned back, the slate once again wiped clean?  That would make
the arena of encounter completely irrelevant...I think that an intelligent combat
would make significant use of the scene, as in this episode (since Sam was very
close to all of the folks involved).
 
|> 
|> Now for some personal opinions.
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|>                        ....  Zoe was recruited from the ranks of Satan's
|> minions to deliver the orders to the human on their team.  They lied to
|> Alia, telling her that if she were to complete certain assignments (which
|> include killing other people), that she would be allowed to leave Hell and
|> return to her previous life.  (Alia, being naive, actually believes this.)
|> 
|> The leap into Connie was a means to an end.  The desired goal was not to
|> break up the marriage and to institutionalize Jimmy.  No, that was just an
|> interim step in the process of luring Sam back so that he could be
|> destroyed.  The Devil's ulterior motive was to get Sam in front of the gun
|> so that he could be shot.

I disagree...First of all, Alia could have killed Sam while she was seducing him.
No problem.  And if institutionalizing or otherwise eliminating Jimmy were a 
secondary goal, she could have accomplished this by ripping her clothes (and her 
skin) after Sam/Jimmy was dead, saying that she shot him in self defense.  This 
would have been a much better plan, since it wouldn't allow Sam the chance to try 
to explain to Frank what had really happened.  And she could also have completed
the breakup of the marriage unhindered, if that, too were an add-on
assignment. But all of this is moot. 

Remember, Zoe mentioned to Alia that killing Sam was a 'bonus', hence not part of
the original plan.  And if Zoe were the right hand of Satan, knowing that Sam's
demise was the assignment d'jour, she probably would have mentioned that to Alia
right when they first met Sam...'Oh, so _he's_ the one we're here to rub out...
how...delicious!'...like that.

|> The time line was restored to what it was before Alia had started ignoring
|> Frank to concentrate on Jimmy.  That is, everyone was returned to the day
|> when Sam leapt in, but this time Frank and Connie were still in love and
|> Jimmy was not being pressured to learn.
   ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I was _trying_ to figure out what was 'bad' about getting Jimmy to read more. I
never thought of it as pressuring him...you may have something here.  But we
really don't know since we can't tell how well Jimmy responded to the reading
assignments; maybe he was doing okay. Alia/Connie didn't exactly seem floored by
Sam/Jimmy's synopsis of the Gemini article...so maybe Jimmy really wasn't doing
too poorly there.


And just to go on record here, I'm not too keen on the idea that Sam be some kind
of warrior for God battling a counterpart for Satan. I've always appreciated that
(despite the Judeo-Christian overtones found in many of the more supernatural
leaps) Sam almost never mentions that the One In Charge is _necessarily_ God...he
says 'God, or Time, or Fate, or Whoever'...I like it better leaving it open-ended.


Just a thought or two...

Don Mc Connell

Xref: sparky rec.arts.tv:21345 rec.arts.sf.tv:4673