Season Three WAS about family values?!

Date: 08/21/2000
From: Blinker

> The sci-fi series is aiming for a
> broader -- or at least younger --
> audience in its third season. "I'm
> committed to making Sliders a true
> family show," says executive
> producer David Peckinpah.
>
> - TV Guide, Sept. '96

Most of us hear this and scoff. After all, Peck is best remembered for such efforts as "Easy Slider," "Slither," and everyone's favourite, "The Breeder."

Upon closer inspection, however, it seems there WAS a Peck edict to include 'family valuea' themes in Sliders... right up until Maggie showed up. In fact, 12 of the 16 pre-Exodus episodes feature strong undercurrents of family (usually the Sliders aiding one, or taking time out for a family-themed heart-to-heart discussion):

>>> In "Rules of the Game," the Sliders risk their lives to ensure that the families of the team that helped them will receive the prize money.
>>> "Electric Twister Acid Test" revolves around Franklin, his son Jacob, and Jacob's fiancee. The Sliders have to help the two young lovers overcome the patriarch's tyranny.
>>> "The Guardian" depicts the life of young Quinn and his mother in the days after Michael Mallory's death.
>>> In "The Dream Masters," the Sliders help reunite Dr. Lujan and her long-lost husband.
>>> In "Desert Storm," the Sliders reunite a water priestess with her mother and family back at Aquarius.
>>> In "Dragonslide," the Sliders must protect the last surviving member of the Mallory family and reunite him with his one true love.
>>> In "The Fire Within," Wade helps a pregnant widow uncover the truth about her husband's death. Note also the conversation she has with Remmy about wanting to have a baby some day.
>>> "The Prince of Slides" has Remmy trying to salvage his double's marriage and protect the life of his unborn child. He and Wade discuss how he would have married Alicia, but now the other Sliders are the 'people that he loves.'
>>> In "State of the ART," Aldohn is known as the 'father' of the androids. Wade and Arturo also have a conversation about how the Sliders are now each other's 'family.'
>>> "Season's Greedings" lets Wade spend the holidays with her father and sister. Meanwhile, Arturo tries to reunite an abandoned baby with his debt-ridden mother.
>>> In "Paradise Lost," the Sliders help Laurie search for and later avenge her brother. [Yeah, they're getting darker at this point...]
>>> In "The Last of Eden," Quinn and Wade must protect an orphaned baby in the underground city. This, of course, leads to yet ANOTHER discussion about how they'd each like to have children when they get home.

Think about it. How many babies, widows and long-lost family members did they assist BEFORE this season? There WAS "The Good, the Bad and the Wealthy," and "As Time Goes By," but... man!

Anyway, with Exodus the trend abruptly shifts. Nearly every plot point involving family or anything approaching it is negative, while monogamy becomes a cruel and dirty joke:

>>> In Exodus I, both of Malcolm's parents are put into comas (and presumably blown to bits by the pulsar later on.)
>>> In Exodus II, Maggie's husband Steven is murdered (just hours after her goofy extramarital flirtation with Quinn.)
>>> In "Sole Survivors," Debra's boyfriend hanged himself prior to the episode. She encourages Quinn to do the same.
>>> "The Breeder." 'Nuff said.
>>> In "Slither," Maggie gets to lecture Wade, and the audience, on the delights of casual sex. 'Hey, you never even have to see the guy again!' We are also introduced
>>> Haven't seen this one in a while, but didn't "Other Slide of Darkness" feature an orphan hopelessly lost in a coma and the tragic tale of a seer's murdered lover?
>>> In "Dinoslide," we learn that Gretchen lost her own son Tracy (!) to the pulsars. (Hey, it's written by Peck... there's just GOTTA be a dead kid named Tracy!)
>>> In "Stoker," Van Helsinger's wife was turned to vampirism prior to the episode. He stakes her out of her misery at the cost of his own life.
>>> In "This Slide of Paradise," Rickman reveals that Maggie was having an affair with him.

Anyway, I'm gonna leave everyone else to discuss what this means now 'cause I'm not gonna be back 'til next weekend. Later!!!!!!!!!!!!

- Blinker 7:-P
http://welcome.to/gate_haven

Well, that's a nice double standard...

Date: 08/21/2000
From: ThomasMalthus

It's like Peck is essentially saying, "Yeah, the (pre-Maggie) show can focus on family values because none of them is HOT! But after Maggie came on, WOOO, I mean, who could think of family values? It's time for dead sons and wives and plenty of adultery!" I guess it shouldn't be too surprising considering all the heinous acts that Peck has committed, but it makes him look like such a hypocrite.

ThomasMalthus

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