POLL... most Quin(n)tessential episodes

Date: 03/16/2001
From: zyzzybalubah

Question- Which episode of each season do you think best represents that year of the show?

This is sort of inspired from the "Most Obscure Episode" poll a few days/pages back.

I'd say,

Season 1- Eggheads

It's got a hugely famous slider double, lots of comedy /social commentary, a musical break, and a whiff of action-adventure. Eggheads is perfection.

Season 2- Young & the Relentless
To me this episode sums up the style/feeling of the best of s2. The season was very eclectic in subject matter &locale but this one positively vibes "cool."

Season 3- Fire Within/Breeder

s3 is almost two different seasons split before and after Arturo's death. For "Before" I chose what is virtually a kiddie show, with the sliders and their fire creature friend teaming up to help an expectant mother. For "After" I'm picking the ultimate "rampaging monster/Maggie/sex" show.

Season 4- The Dying Fields

It's like all the 4th season 'Magg episodes rolled into one with any distinguishing features taken out. Bleah.

Season 5- Please Press One

Please Press One feels like someone was trying to remake Seasons Greedings in the s2 mold (ie with humor & style). However, the setting/characters (we talked to- what- three locals on this world over the entire hour?) are ridiculous. Also too bad they were missing a qualified cast. In the end it's a lightweight misfire you couldn't place in any other season.

Peace out
zyzz... ex-lurker

from last days to the unstuck man

Date: 03/17/2001
From: phatboy_isthe_bomb

season one: last days

Love that team up with the Professor and Bennish,
and let's not forget the sparks between Quinn and
Wade. This is classic Sliders. Just one of the best
shows ever produced and one of the reasons I'm still
combing a Slider's site over a year after the show
was cancelled.

season two: post traumatic slide syndrome

Countless numbers of fanfic out there couln't exist
with out this hugely debated episode. Just a great
story with the betrayal from the professor making it
really interesting. But come to find out it wasn't
the "real" professor. So who slid anyway? Your
guess is as good as mine.

season three: the quardian

With episodes like "Stoker" and "This Slide of
Paradise" to choose from, this obviously wasn't a
hard choice. Quite possibly, the last Slider's show
ever made to be true to its roots with story
content and chacterization.

season four: world killer

Being a non-Collin episode had its pluses and the
attitude of Quinn's double really made you think
about the ethics of scientific progress. Do we have
the right to open every door we come across? Hey,
"Last Days" dealt with that in a lot of respects.
I can't believe I just compared a season four episode
with a season one episode in a positive way. WOW!

season five: the unstuck man

Good show, loved the traces of the old Quinn we
saw in Mallory, and his line at the end was great.
Can't remember exactly how he said it but here goes:
"Let's do it for Collin, Wade the Professor...and
(to Rembrant) I think I owe you a Devile." That line
just really got to me. Especially with the
reference to Rembrant's car. Did the producer's and
writer's even watch the first season at this point?
I guess so.

So there they are. The quintessential Slider's episodes from every seaon:

...or at least that's what I think now. It's so hard to choose one episode per season (with the exception of season three) and I depending on my mood, they're subject to change because there were so many great episodes.

This is especially the case with season one, which succeeded in suppling a foundation capable of supporting one of the top ten all time shows ever created. Didn't we all fall in love with the show during season one?

Season three, however, changed all that. Rather than being top ten, it just fizzled out. Sad, considering all the potential. Imagine if FOX never interferred with the production of Slider's and people such as Torme and Weiss were able to see the whole show through in it's entire life.

Ah.......HAPPY THOUGHTS!

Interesting...

Date: 03/18/2001
From: Recall317

Enbodying eps, eh? Let's see.

Season One:

I'd have to agree with Eggheads. S1 really put effort into its alt-worlds and the detail in Eggheads is excellent. The running themes of S1--a character has to decide to stay or not, a character is mistaken for his/her double--are also present. That and this is my all time favorite episode.

Season Two:

Although I'm tempted to go with the season opener, Into the Mystic, I will say Gillian of the Spirits. S2 was daring conceptually and this was the first that really took the show to new levels and paved the way for Invasion, PTSS, and As Time Goes By.

Season Three:

S3 is eclectic. One moment it's tremendous; the next you want to poke your eyes out. But ultimately, most of S3 is forgettable. So The Fire Within or State of the ART are the best picks.

Season Four:

Revelations. Like this episode, this season had so much potential...and we're left with dashed hopes and nothing resolved.

Season Five:

I really haven't seen enough of it to comment on it.

As for the most "Quinn"tessential episode, (the one where we learn the most about Quinn), it's the Guardian, hands down.

R

My choices

Date: 03/19/2001
From: The_Seer

Season 1 - "Summer of Love"
There were several common elements that were present in at least some season 1 episodes. This one had all of them:
1. An alternate world based on historic events
2. Great acting and interaction by the cast
3. One of the sliders being mistaken for his/her double
4. The sliders interfering with society in some way
5. Comic relief, courtesy of Remmy and Arturo
6. An appearance by Bennish

Season 2 - "Post Traumatic Slide Syndrome"
Several episodes in this season had endings with a slight twist to them (i.e. "Into the Mystic", "Invasion", "Love Gods") but this was the best of them. The debate continues even today - which Arturo did they take?

Season 3 - "This Slide Of Paradise"
There were several common elements that were present in at least some season 3 episodes. This one had all of them:
1. An alternate world based on a movie ripoff
2. Terrible acting and interaction by the cast
3. One of the sliders being mistaken for someone worth saving (always Maggie)
4. The sliders having no social impact
5. Comic relief, although not intentional
6. An appearance by Rickman

Season 4 - "Mother And Child"
Typical season 4 episode because we get the Kromaggs and because they tease us with something good (possibly finding Wade) but then "drop the ball" big time.

Season 5 - "The Return Of Maggie Beckett"
Typical season 5 because it showed great improvement over what we had to put up with for most of the last two seasons but just not quite enough for me to miss the first two seasons.

A tough poll, but my choice

Date: 03/22/2001
From: Grizzlor

This was a very intriguing and difficult poll to respond to. I mean, you say the most quinntessential, not best, or favorite, etc.

For season 1, I would say The Weaker Sex. I love Eggheads, but Season one eps. dealt with a crucial and far-reaching issue in most episodes, but I think this was the most dramatic.

Season 2, I would pick the finale, As Time Goes By. I never liked season 2 as much as season 1, and this season certainly dealt with much more localized problems than the first one.

Season 3, This season was really like 3 Different seasons into one. You have the start of the year, when Tracy Torme was still part of the show, then you have the middle where all these movie rip offs came, and the end with all the dumb Rickman episodes.
For the start, I'd say the Guardian, where Quinn deals with his past and Arturo's sickness, a last glimmer of Torme's efforts.
Then for the middle, what else, Desert Storm!
And the end, The Breeder, which proved that Maggie Beckett was a lame replacement for Arturo

Season 4, Again another year with one too many themes.
You have some eps. like World Killer which were reminiscient of the old Sliders, with the best being Revelations.
And then you have the goofy, dumb eps. which seemed to never get out of the Chandler, I'll pick Data World.
And finally, the Damn Kromaggs, for which I'll pick SlideCage.

Season 5, Believe it or not, I think that after Season 1, number 5 was the most consistent season in terms of sticking to one theme. The Seer was the one that sticks out in my mind. This season was simple, nothing extravagent.

Original URL http://bboard.scifi.com/bboard/browse.cgi/1/5/545/25268
Nominated by Blinker