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Because of the time travel aspect, many episodes include " brushes with greatness ", alluding to famous people or incidents indirectly, such as suggesting to a 12-year-old Donald Trump that New York real estate would be valuable in the future, or setting in place actions that led to the discovery of the break-in at the Watergate Hotel.

Two notable episodes placed Sam directly at the center of historical events.

" Goodbye Norma Jean " sees Sam appear as Marilyn Monroe's bodyguard assuring that she remain alive to allow her to film in The Misfits.

" Lee Harvey Oswald " shows Sam struggling with retaining his identity while leaping into Oswald, and while unable to prevent the assassination of John F. Kennedy, is able to save the life of Jackie Kennedy.

Other episodes explore the past of the characters.

Sam, in one case, is able to save his brother from being killed in the Vietnam War, but at the cost of causing Al, a prisoner of war at the time, to suffer more at the hands of the enemy.

Another case has Sam helping to protect Al's first wife, Beth ( Susan Diol ), who had lost hope of Al's return from the war.