She Returns as A.I.
Given that Hannah is an adult in 1949, we think it’s highly unlikely that she’ll reappear as herself in the present day since that would put her well into her nineties. So, what if her data — her knowledge, cadence and image — was somehow input into a complex algorithm? We could see her potentially coming back as artificial intelligence, helping Ben with his jumps and continuing to build their connection.
And since Ziggy is currently having trouble pinpointing Ben’s location and configuring his leaps, it’s not implausible that Ian might look for unconventional methods, like an A.I. Hannah, to help alleviate the issue.
As a Doctor Who Junkie I am very intrigued by the “Impossible Girl” theory.
I don’t think there’s anything supernatural about Hannah. I think Ben is just going to encounter Hannah at different points throughout her life. For example, he might encounter her when she’s working on the electromechanical computer, and then he might encounter her when she’s working with the professor that Ben told her about. So, I think Ben’s leaps are going to result in him guiding Hannah on a path to become a scientist. And this will then lead Hannah to discover something that will eventually help Ben in some way. Basically, I think Hannah will be the reboot’s version of Abigail Fuller, the woman who Sam Beckett encountered throughout her life in the “Trilogy” episodes of the original Quantum Leap.
So are you also suggesting that it’s possible that Ben might knock her up and make their own version of Sammy Jo? lol
The Abigail story line from the original Quantum Leap was was the very first thing that popped in my head. I also like the idea that Hannah goes on to become one of the scientists that worked on the original Quantum leap project, which was the second theory that popped in my head.
I’m not sure, but the Impossible Girl type of situation was my first thought.
Maybe she helped design the AI that *became* Ziggy, and when we finally see Ziggy again, she’ll have taken on the likeness of her creator?
I’m sure they will get Bakula to appear at some point.
I agree. If I remember correctly, Bakula didn’t say he would never appear, or that he was against it. I thought he said something like because the show was brand new he wanted to give it a chance to establish itself on its own…or maybe he was afraid it would suck so he was waiting to see how it did. I hope it’s doing well. It took a little while to grow on me, but now I love it.
I hope they do, just to give closure to Sams story. And if Hannah does turn out to be Sam, it would be a creative way of including Sam without the involvement of Bakula.
Whoever she ends up being I just hope she becomes a series regular for more than one season since I like Eliza. And I’m probably the only person who hopes this, but I hope she becomes Ben’s new love interest. I just don’t see any chemistry between him and Addison.
Could she possibly be Sammy Jo Fuller?
Sammy Jo was born in 1967, and Ben encountered Hannah in 1949.
I realize that, but lets just say that the producers are being less than truthful when they say that her character is not a time traveler. It would make sense(suspension of disbelief) that upon being told that she is, in fact, the daughter of Sam Beckett, enlists Al’s help in an effort to retrieve her father….she leaps to find him but is lost herself and cannot return home. I obviously know it is a stretch, but it would be a great callback to the original series.
I like this but I feel like they’re distancing themselves from the original which I think is a bummer
Yet another great theory.
Simple answer maybe she is playing Ziggy?
Since Ben and Hannah physically touched and we didn’t see her change into Sam Beckett I doubt it is Sam stuck in her Hannah’s Body. Like Sam and the Evil Leaper came in contact and they saw their real selves that would mean Hannah is not some other Leaper either.
Or maybe they have absolutely no clue and no plan who or what she is and will come up with something half assed down the line. You know, the crappy modern Abrahms way of storytelling.
I’m sure they will come up with something awesome.
I have been thinking about something. Last episode Addison told Ben that they buried him. Did they bury his physical body? And if so what are the implications of that? How could he return home? Is that why Ziggy can’t pin point him because they have no vital signs to monitor? Is that what Ian is hiding from Magic and Addie, that he didn’t bury him or that he can never return because he did?
PS. I know this belongs in an email Matt, but if you can still find some answers I’d appreciate it
No they had a funeral because he was lost for 3 years
We’re digging this out-there idea from TVLine reader Nancy, who theorized that Hannah is Sam Beckett (played in the original Quantum Leap series by Scott Bakula), who leapt into her body and wasn’t able to leave.
That wouldn’t work. They could just ask her in the (much forgotten) Waiting Room who she is since she is in Sam’s body. I get they don’t need to do that anymore but back in Sam’s day they did.
I like the “Hannah is Sam” theory. That would be a wild twist!
Many shows borrow names from religion, stories, etc. In the Old Testament Hannah was the name of Samuel’s mother. Maybe this isn’t a coincidence.
In the original Sam Beckett’s mothers name was Thelma Louise Beckett, father was John Samuel Beckett and Sam was born on August 8, 1953 and his parents were dairy farmers (came up in the Mirror Mirror episode).
Just because she isn’t a leaper yet, doesn’t mean she won’t become one. I can see her be part of the original project. Later to save her life (dying or about to die,) she jumps (before Sam jumped,) thus becoming a leaper who works beside Ben.
Why woudn’t the last theory hold up with Sam as Hannah ? It’s called bisexuality
So when I watched her debut, it appeared that she looked directly at Addison, but did not give a hint that she knew someone was there, but not there. Even though she’s not a time traveler, wonder if she has an ability to see and hear her.
Hannah is the grandmother of Rachel (Ian’s girlfriend)’s boss
I have been thinking Hannah IS Rachel’s boss. The person in the car wasn’t the boss but the boss’s representative.
I like ben and hannah, keep the romance going.
The first three theories are all plausible. Perhaps it’s a combination of the three. There is all of a sudden an unknown writer a a code that may bring Ben back. Maybe it’s Hannah. She is the only person outside of Quantum Leap that knows about Ben leaping.