Quantum Leap welcomes back a big voice

In addition to Pratt’s new directorship of “Family Style,” the show also features an Indian cast, writer (Aadrita Mukerji) and cultural focus for the first time quantum leap Series. The Mission of Dr. Ben Song (Raymond Lee) in this episode is on changing family dynamics, creating better communication and sowing empathy between relatives while interacting with a violent, pyromaniac landlord who is threatening the family’s life and livelihood at the restaurant Masala Garden in 2009.

In Family Style, Ben takes on the body of Dee Dee Prasad, a woman whose family restaurant is in trouble because of a ruthless landlord and the stubbornness of her mother, Sonali (Nandini Minocha). Additional pressure on the cooker comes from the loss of their patriarch, the father who was the glue and main restaurateur before his death just a year ago. Like many grieving widows running family businesses, Sonali tries to cling to old habits and is formidable when it comes to making changes or embracing outside help, even from extended family members.

Dee Dee’s sister Manisha (Anisha Jagannathan) longs to be a chef and create authentic, regional Indian dishes, but Sonali refuses to give up control and allow Manisha to reinvigorate the menu. In fact, she resists so much that Manisha and Sonali get into a fight, leading to a terrible family conflict that threatens to become irreconcilable.

In all this family drama, it’s not difficult for anyone to get caught up in the act, but it’s particularly poignant for Ben, as Sonali reminds Ben of his own mother and her sudden death. It’s emotional for Ben. The writing, directing and acting in “Family Style” is spot on as viewers realize that when Ben speaks from his heart to Sonali through Dee Dee, he is saying what he wants to say to his own mother. Ben deals with his own feelings and expresses them in this episode. His ability to do so saves Sonali from a heart attack (in the original timeline and predicted by Ziggy) and reunites the Prasad family, not just the immediate members but a whole extended network of family members who want to help and be connected Opportunities previously not allowed by Sonali.

This week’s episode has Janis Calavicci (Georgina Reilly) out of sight, but not out of mind. It seems that despite the help she has recently provided, she is still behind bars and prevented from getting involved in the Quantum Leap project even if they need her help. Team leader Magic (Ernie Hudson) demands from Dr. Ian Wright (Mason Alexander Park) about taking a day off due to his stress level after learning that Ian jumps into the future and sets off the chain of events that leads Ben to rogue jump in the first place.

When Magic Ian suggests taking some time, Ian responds by asking “where” to go to decompress. Magic doesn’t say it about the “where,” it says it about the “who.” This advice from the boss prompts Ian to turn to her former partner, whom they had to leave behind in order to fully immerse themselves in the work of the Quantum Leap project.