Originally aired July 12, 1996
Written by Steve Brown
Directed by Richard Compton
The Sliders keep meeting the same people on each world they land on, including Quinn's old high school sweetheart Daelin Richards. On the third world, however, the Sliders find themselves on trial for Daelin's murder.
Tropes present in the episode:
- Alternate History:
- In the first parallel universe, the Spanish Empire never lost control of the New World to the British Empire. The most powerful country in North America, and possibly this world, is la República de Nueva España (the Republic of New Spain), which seemingly achieved its independence from Spain at some point. The illegal immigrants in Nueva España are Caucasians, namely Canadians who fled the poverty and political persecution of their native country to find (mostly low paying) jobs south of the border. Daelin is the maid of a wealthy Latino family in this world. The immigration service La Migra seeks to deport these illegal immigrants, whom they often refer to using the derogatory name "furbacks," to Canada. They are opposed by La Raza Blanca (The White Race), an underground movement which seeks to prevent Canadians being deported.
- The second parallel universe is quite similar to Earth Prime. In terms of wider history, the only immediately apparent difference is the fact that the San Francisco football team is called the Lions as opposed to the 49ers. The Detroit Lions presumably have a different name as well. In terms of personal history, Quinn's father Michael Mallory was not killed in a car accident in 1984 as he and his family moved to Seattle when Quinn was in tenth grade after Michael got a job in aerospace. Conversely, Daelin remained in San Francisco. At the time of the Sliders' visit, Quinn's double is a graduate student at the University of Washington. Quinn fixes his double up with Daelin after he rescues her from her abusive husband Dennis McMillan. This version of Daelin is the only one of the three who knew the Quinn of her world, assuming that Quinn even existed on the other two.
- In the third parallel universe in which time flows backwards, Ruth Bader Ginsburg is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court rather than an Associate Justice. Daelin is a police officer whose murder Quinn prevents, thereby completely disrupting that universe's timeline.
- Apocalypse How: X-4, the 3rd universe is destroyed.
- Big "OMG!": Wade when a hole in the sky appears.
- Brick Joke / Cutting the Knot: In the backwards time world, Quinn, Rembrandt and Arturo learn they (and Wade) were sent to jail because of them accepting a guilty verdict; at first, it's assumed their doubles set them up. However, right as their trial begins, upon realizing time moved backwards on this world, Quinn immediately got up and said all four of them were 100% guilty.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: On the second world, Quinn takes out Dennis with one punch.
- Deadpan Snarker: It's during the trial on the third world that Quinn realizes time is moving backwards and that they have to plead guilty to keep things on track. Arturo immediately understands what he means and Wade trusts his judgment, but a confused Rembrandt offers an indignant, "Sure, why not?"
- Domestic Abuse: Dennis McMillan physically and verbally abuses Daelin on the second parallel world the Sliders land on.
- Doppelgänger Replacement Love Interest: Quinn is so besotted with Daelin that he is willing to do anything for any version of her that he meets in spite of the fact that they are essentially different people from the Daelin with whom he grew up and fell in love.
- Friendship Moment: After the slide out of the first world, Rembrandt talks to Quinn about Daelin and his own romantic history.
- I Warned You: On the third world, Quinn aims to change Daelin's death, but Arturo warns that could have disastrous consequences and even summarizes "The Appointment in Samarra" story to make his point. Later, after Quinn prevents Daelin's death, Rembrandt muses the two getting together would've produced a child that'd destroy the world at the rate this was all going.Arturo: There's no need to invoke a destructive child. Mr. Mallory has done it all by himself. Have you looked at the heavens?
- In Spite of a Nail:
- In all three major parallel universes featured in this episode, Daelin and Dennis are either engaged or married in spite of their very different personal histories in each one.
- In the first parallel universe, the Golden Gate Bridge was still built by la República de Nueva España.
- Jerkass: Dennis on the second parallel world. He's rude and abusive towards Daelin, and plays loud music despite having a baby daughter.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: When Quinn prevents Daelin's murder in the world where time flowed backwards, the resulting disruption of its timeline tore a hole in the universe. Professor Arturo believed that the four of them sliding out may have saved it but it is possible that Quinn's rash decision may have destroyed that entire universe. Well done, Quinn.
- Oh, Crap!: The three men when they go from sliding to suddenly in a prison cell with different clothes on.
- Used to Be a Sweet Kid: On the second parallel world, Daelin tells Quinn that Dennis (who's a Domestic Abuser on that world) used to be a kind and decent guy.
- What the Hell, Hero?: On the third world, Arturo calmly but very pointedly tells Quinn how his saving Daelin could have severe consequences for countless people.
- Wife-Basher Basher: Quinn when punching the second world's Dennis.
