Sam and Dennis discuss “Source Code” (2011), starring Jake Gyllenhaal. A favorite movie of Dennis’, he’s been wanting to cover this one since the start of the podcast. This was Sam’s first viewing. We give a breakdown of the movie’s production and its stars, followed by a (mostly) spoiler-free review. Then we head into a deeper dive and break the movie down, giving our own analysis and interpretations.

Fate's Wide Wheel

Source Code (2011)

Sam & Dennis have some life updates, and haven’t been watching much new TV. But Dennis has been bingeing some quality “Star Trek: TNG” Season Five, and Sam gave Hulu’s “Little Fires Everywhere” a try.

Dennis and Sam at Tanagra, Their Little Fires Everywhere

We're back with an episode unlike any other in Fate's Wide Wheel history. We bounce around from topics ranging from the personal to the pop cultural and answer some audience questions along the way. It's a very different episode for us and we hope you enjoy this break from our regularly scheduled programming.

"I'll Take 'Potpourri' For $400, LeVar"

We are back to discuss the finale of the MCU Disney+ series Falcon & The Winter Soldier. Where does it stand now that all 6 episodes have dropped and how doe we feel about that ending? We dig in fairly deep to discuss character development, surprises, easter eggs, and what could be next for our heroes - and villains. Plus, we have some free-wheeling discussion to open the show about house hunting, real estate, and dad-life. Twitter thread referenced by Dennis re: John Walker's costume design can be found here.

Captain America & The Winter Soldier

We're back with fun-filled chat that covers a lot of ground in about an hour. We talk about what's been going on in our lives, the Disney+ MCU show Falcon & The Winter Soldier, and we wrap up with some reminisces about Star Trek on First Contact Day. There's even more in between all that and we're looking forward to bringing you more conversations like this in the coming weeks.

First Contact Day & Falcon & Winter Soldier...

Much to co-host Sam's delight, the fellas dive into the first episode of Doctor Who! We revisit "An Unearthly Child" and talk about how those first 25 minutes in 1963 came to be - the how's, what's, why's, and, of course, who's of the production. We offer some commentary on the episode itself as well as what Dennis thinks as a first-time viewer of Classic Who. Plus, we have some discussion about the NBC gem, The Good Place, with a particular focus on the finale and why it didn't work wholesale for Sam.

Doctor Who "An Unearthly Child" & The Good Place Finale

We pick up where we left off last week to cover the WandaVision finale. We go over the highs and lows and our reactions to some of the criticisms floating around the web. Plus, Dennis has started his Queen's Gambit journey. What are his thoughts on the opening moves? All this along with some freewheeling discussion that starts with asking the question - Can one take Walk the Line seriously after seeing Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story?

WandaVision Finale & Queen's Gambit

Well... What's next? A week from now, who knows? But on this episode, we're talking WandaVision. We cover our favorite bits, how it all connects, references to the comics, and more! Plus, what aren't we so sure about and what we think might be coming next. That's not all, though, we've got a brief overview of The Queen's Gambit and why Sam thinks it ranks right up there with the best of prestige television and some quick commentary on the debut episode of the CW's Superman & Lois. Join us in our first official Post-Quantum Leap episode as we begin to navigate the future of Fate's Wide Wheel! Note: Sam's an idiot and misidentified Kevin Feige as "Paul" upon the first few mentions... He gets it right eventually...

WandaVision, Queen's Gambit, & Superman & Lois

Leaping in from snowy Chicago, Sam and Dennis are here to give you the rundown on their top ten episodes of Quantum Leap. We wade through some honorable mentions, talk about why we purposely decided to leave off some of the more popular episodes, and give the reasons behind our respective top ten picks. Plus, stick around to the very end to hear about what's next for Fate's Wide Wheel!

Sam & Dennis' Top 10 Episodes of Quantum Leap

"Time's a little funny here." Truer words were never spoken. We have come to the end of the televised adventures of Sam Beckett - at least, for now. Cokeburg, PA, August 8, 1953. Sam Beckett walks into a bar, orders a beer, looks into the mirror, and everything changes. Arguably the most momentous episode of our beloved series, we give you an equally momentous - in size, anyway - episode of Fate's Wide Wheel. And we welcome back our very first guest, Jessica Conger, to discuss all the ins and outs of the series finale. Plus, Dennis and Sam give their usual overview after Jessica leaps out. We cannot begin to thank our listeners enough for coming along on our journey as we become the first Quantum Leap podcast to complete the whole series, and maybe, just maybe, we aren't even done yet... In the meantime, enjoy our thoughts on Mirror Image.

Mirror Image - August 8, 1953

It's the penultimate episode of our beloved show. Nothing to get all shook up about... Dammit... TV guide worthy puns abound as Sam leaps into an 18-year old Elvis Presley on the verge of discovery... Well, according to Project QL time, that is. Of course, nothing is ever easy for Sam as he makes a mess of things almost immediately and has to fix things to ensure Elvis' success while also making life a little better for young Sue Anne Winters. We talk about the King's place in pop culture, grappling with his influence and those that influenced him in an age where cultural appropriation is very much under scrutiny, and how he has impacted both of our lives. Couple that with our usual tangents and some preparation for the final episode, and you've got one super-sized Thanksgiving weekend podcast!

Memphis Melody - July 3, 1954

Only three episodes to go, Leapers! We’re back with with our re-watch of “The Leap Between the States". Sam secedes from the regular rules (thank you, TV Guide, for that brilliantly horrible pun), and leaps back almost a hundred years further than his own lifetime, into the life of his great-grandfather, Captain John Beckett, of the Union army. After the initial shock of finding himself in an era he was never meant to travel to, Sam finds himself in a somewhat “Back to the Future”-esque plot where he must make sure his great-grandfather and great-grandmother get together as intended. He also gets involved with the Underground Railroad and former slave, Isaac - who will go on to have a very, very important descendant. Plus, this episode wouldn't be complete without a dastardly Confederate villain, right? As always, we deconstruct the episode and examine how well it holds up to present day viewing. Also going well off-topic (Us? Never!), and discuss the 2020 presidential election. (We recorded this just one day after the race was called for President-Elect Biden.)

The Leap Between the States - September 20, 1862

Just four TV episodes remaining of our beloved series! This week, we’re chatting about “The Beast Within”. First mistaken for a “Bigfoot” creature upon leaping in, Sam is actually Henry Adams, a Vietnam vet living in the woods of rural Washington. He must prevent his fellow vet, Roy, a fellow vet, from succumbing to a seizure the following night, and meanwhile, helping to heal a troubled friendship with another vet who they both served with in the overseas conflict. We deconstruct the last mostly non-gimmick episode of the series. But we have a lot of thoughts about the notorious one gimmick this episode has! Sam Fain has some strong feelings in particular. Do the final moments derail the whole episode?

The Beast Within - November 6, 1972

This episode seems like it brings everything full circle for our little podcast hosted by Sam & Dennis. Our hero, Sam Beckett, leaps into Dennis Boardman, the chauffeur to Marilyn Monroe. Yes, that Marilyn Monroe. Season Five of our favorite show continues its trend of leaping Sam into the lives of celebrities and historical figures. Sam has arrived just days before the icon’s suicide, and Ziggy says the odds are high he’s there to prevent it. Meanwhile, a new assistant, Barbara, has come into Marilyn’s life, and it quickly becomes evident we’re in an “All About Eve” situation. We break down the episode as always, and discuss what we think works and what doesn’t. We also delve a little bit into the real life Marilyn (i.e. Norma Jean(e)). Settle in and listen to the first of our last final TV leaps!

Goodbye Norma Jean - April 4, 1960

Well, here we are. It's the end of the road for the Evil Leaper storyline. What do we think of Alia's final bow? Wait... Alia's in this?!?! But seriously, it's an interesting leap with a lot to love but some serious problems as well. Don't worry, Thames isn't one of them. Join us as we venture into Mallard Women's Correctional Facility and discuss an episode that's chock full but perhaps misses the mark on it's most important promise. Of course there's some obligatory theorizing and fan-wanking over where the Evil Leaper story originated and where it may have gone given another season or two of our favorite show.

Revenge of the Evil Leaper - September 16, 1987

Sam & Dennis bring you a weekly (mostly) podcast following the exploits of our favorite time traveler, Sam Beckett. We dive deep attempting to contextualize each episode in the time it was set, time it was produced, and time of our rewatch. We'll also have plenty of info on the actors, locations, history, and production team with our customary digressions on TV, pop culture, and theatre. Join us as we leap from episode to episode, novel to novel, comic to comic until we run out of things to talk about... And even then...

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Fate's Wide Wheel

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