Quantum Leap: The Complete Fourth Season

Quantum Leap tells the story of a time traveller, Sam Beckett (Scott Bakula), and his hologram assistant Al (Dean Stockwell). Sam jumps from moment to moment, inhabiting people's bodies, righting wrongs and changing the course of history for the better.

The fourth series deals with issues such as racism, rape, homophobia and animal experimentation. It can be a little preachy, even twee, at times, but that is a major part of its charm. Its heart is always in the right place and the conclusions are always satisfying.

It almost doesn't matter that the episodes can be separated into ones about an issue, or a murder where it's the person you least expect (until you cotton on to how it works), or a famous urban legend that gets debunked and then "rebunked" right at the end. It's impossible not to love Quantum Leap, despite its predictability.

It's not all serious, either. There is plenty of humour dotted about. I defy anyone to keep a straight face in Moments To Live, in which Pruitt Taylor Vince and Kathleen Wilhoite manage to blend the film Misery, The Beverly Hillbillies and wife swapping into a 45-minute nugget of comic brilliance.

As the only repeat characters, Bakula and Stockwell carry the series and, thankfully, their acting is more than good enough. It is a well-worked double act and they spark off each other constantly. They are ably supported by the other actors in individual episodes and there isn't a single weak link.

Although Quantum Leap is science fiction, it's more of a device for historical and social drama and doesn't suffer from a preponderance of laughable pseudo-science dialogue, or shoddy special effects. As a hologram, people can pass through Al, which is noticeably unreal and yet not a constant reminder that you're watching a TV show.

Quantum Leap is a fantastic series that is as relevant and enjoyable today as it was when it first aired. Although the fourth series doesn't feature as many all time classic episodes as the fifth series does, it is enjoyable from start to finish.