# Quantum Leap Lost Ending **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 10, 2019, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-leap-lost-ending/829299 "2019-02-10T20:12:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HardlySanguine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HardlySanguine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HardlySanguine)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-leap-lost-ending/829299/1 "2019-02-10T20:12:27Z")
I was reading older threads on here and I’ve noticed quite a few people expressing disappointment over the ending of Quantum Leap. I came across this [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3at8cylnJc&feature=youtu.be&t=221) of a woman who purchased some old film negatives of the show last year and found what is probably an alternate ending that would have tied up some loose ends to the otherwise frayed finish of the program. Anyways, I thought some of those people from old threads, in the interests of nostalgia and lessened frustration might be interested! [TL;DW article on the same.](https://io9.gizmodo.com/did-a-fan-just-find-proof-of-quantum-leaps-secret-lost-1823165353) ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-leap-lost-ending/829299/2 "2019-02-10T20:21:25Z")
Wow–can _Big_ be far behind? ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-leap-lost-ending/829299/3 "2019-02-10T20:34:44Z")
I guess I never had an issue with the ending of _Quantum Leap_. Granted, they did leave it a bit ambiguous to leave the door open for an (unrealised) proposed series of made for TV movies but I think it stands on it’s own merits. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-leap-lost-ending/829299/4 "2019-02-10T20:41:11Z")
yeah I always thought wed get a “the return of sam” movie at some point or even a reboot where someone tried the project again to find him …… ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-leap-lost-ending/829299/5 "2019-02-10T21:31:35Z")
> [@Alpha\_Twit](#): > > I guess I never had an issue with the ending of _Quantum Leap_. I did. I hated it. It left a sour taste in my mouth and I’ve never gone back to watch the series again because of how bad the ending was. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-leap-lost-ending/829299/6 "2019-02-10T21:36:30Z")
> [@Alpha\_Twit](#): > > I guess I never had an issue with the ending of _Quantum Leap_. Granted, they did leave it a bit ambiguous to leave the door open for an (unrealised) proposed series of made for TV movies but I think it stands on it’s own merits. It was basically: “Note: Sam Beckett died on his way back to his home planet.” ---
**Author:** ![CelticKnot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/celticknot/32/3392_2.png) [@CelticKnot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CelticKnot)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2019, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-leap-lost-ending/829299/7 "2019-02-11T00:31:55Z")
Quantum Leap was one of my favorite shows, ever, even if it had jumped the shark by Season 4. I really didn’t need to see a spin-off or TV movies. I would have been happy with a real ending. A happy-ever-after, Sam is home with his friends and family and working on another genius (if less perilous) project kind of ending. The abandoning Sam in space-time via a title card was just rotten. I’d seen some of the images from the lost ending already, but thanks. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2019, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-leap-lost-ending/829299/8 "2019-02-11T00:45:14Z")
The chilling line: “The leaps are going to get harder.” ---
**Author:** ![GreedySmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2019, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-leap-lost-ending/829299/9 "2019-02-11T10:05:32Z")
Personally I like the ending, so there 🆒 Classic tragic hero, Sam chose saving countless other people over his personal happiness. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2019, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-leap-lost-ending/829299/10 "2019-02-11T18:11:37Z")
Trivia note about the series finale: It ends with a shot of Sam and Al from the last ep, with Al in his Admiral uniform–then cuts to an old photo showing an old airplane and a very, very young Donald Bellisario and his father… Also, Al’s character was supposedly based on an uncle of Bellisario’s. ---
**Author:** ![Tzigone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2019, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-leap-lost-ending/829299/11 "2019-02-11T19:41:41Z")
> [@Alpha\_Twit](#): > > I guess I never had an issue with the ending of _Quantum Leap_. Granted, they did leave it a bit ambiguous to leave the door open for an (unrealised) proposed series of made for TV movies but I think it stands on it’s own merits. For me, the finale made no sense. Yes, it was sad, and I don’t like that. But the entire episodes just made absolutely no sense to me. Poor episode all throughout to me. Though I wasn’t a big fan of the final season in general. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2019, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-leap-lost-ending/829299/12 "2019-02-11T19:47:00Z")
Susan ‘Beth Calavicci’ Diol was once married to Shaun Cassidy. All the Cassidy men have been long rumored to have packed some of the heaviest lumber in the entertainment industry. ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2019, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-leap-lost-ending/829299/13 "2019-02-11T19:53:47Z")
> [@Tzigone](#): > > For me, the finale made no sense. Yes, it was sad, and I don’t like that. But the entire episodes just made absolutely no sense to me. Poor episode all throughout to me. Though I wasn’t a big fan of the final season in general. I freely admit that season five of _Quantum Leap_ brought it’s own special brand of shark molestation. As soon as I heard “evil, female leaper”, I knew it was over. I still liked the finale an I’m OK with the sad, open ending. That’s often more interesting to me than having everything tied up in a “happily ever after” bow. But that’s just me. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2019, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-leap-lost-ending/829299/14 "2019-02-11T19:57:29Z")
> [@Tzigone](#): > > For me, the finale made no sense. Yes, it was sad, and I don’t like that. But the entire episodes just made absolutely no sense to me. Poor episode all throughout to me. ^This. I’ve seen the alternate script. Tacking “Dr. Sam Becket never returned home” onto that, or at least a truncated form of that, would’ve been better. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2019, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-leap-lost-ending/829299/15 "2019-02-11T20:05:11Z")
> [@Alpha\_Twit](#): > > I still liked the finale an I’m OK with the sad, open ending. But “he never got home” is closing the ending, not leaving it open. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2019, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-leap-lost-ending/829299/16 "2019-02-11T20:15:50Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > Susan ‘Beth Calavicci’ Diol was once married to Shaun Cassidy. All the Cassidy men have been long rumored to have packed some of the heaviest lumber in the entertainment industry. Is there some context behind this crude penis-size speculation, or is it just crude penis-size speculation completely unrelated to this thread’s topic? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2019, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-leap-lost-ending/829299/17 "2019-02-11T20:24:47Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > But “he never got home” is closing the ending, not leaving it open. It’s open in the sense that he is going to continue leaping. If he goes home, the adventure ends. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2019, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-leap-lost-ending/829299/18 "2019-02-11T20:36:42Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Is there some context behind this crude penis-size speculation, or is it just crude penis-size speculation completely unrelated to this thread’s topic? 😕 Naw, sorry. It did stray pretty far off-topic, and didn’t contribute anything to the discussion. ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2019, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantum-leap-lost-ending/829299/19 "2019-02-12T00:47:13Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > But “he never got home” is closing the ending, not leaving it open. The beauty of a show about time travel is that the ending (or anything, really) can be changed on a whim. No retconning needed.