Originally aired November 29, 1996
Written by Nan Hagan
Directed by Richard Compton
On a world that is virtually crime-free and game shows take the place of conventional legal procedures, Quinn gets mistaken for his criminal double and is arrested, tried, and sentenced to death for his double's crimes.
Tropes present in the episode:
- American Accents: Quinn's double is from San Francisco, but he boasts a "Noo Yawk" accent due to Rule of Funny.
- As Himself: Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs."Hi there."
- Bounty Hunter: Taryn brings in wanted "contestants."
- Chekhov's Gun: Early on, the group got gag photos that placed their faces on other bodies (such as Arturo as a Rambo-esque character). Later on, after Quinn's double proves he has an alibi despite the video evidence, Wade looks at one of the altered pictures and suspects someone doctored it.
- Comically Missing the Point: Wade shows an altered magazine cover (Quinn's face on a bodybuilder) to explain how the video was faked. Quinn's double doesn't get it, though, and simply says, "Now, there is no way that that is me. That guy is huge."
- Courtroom Episode: On a world where trials are like game shows.
- Curse Cut Short: The group gets Quinn to safety by faking a remote interview that Taryn says is with the European affiliates.Quinn: For all I care, the European affiliates can go f—
Wade: [appearing] Just one interview. - Devil's Advocate: Though disgusted over what's being done to Quinn, Arturo concedes that this world has a legal system that's made the locals feel safer than the ones back home. Doors are routinely unlocked, a dropped wallet is returned with no missing cash, and murder is major news precisely because such a thing is so rare. Of course, he acknowledges that the demand for instant justice can negatively affect the occasional innocent person.
- Frame-Up: The video evidence against Quinn's double was tampered with. Phil actually committed the murder and used a computer to swap in Quinn's head.
- Friendship Moment: When Quinn gets sentenced to death, Wade and Arturo get into an argument over which of them could've done a better job as defender. They make up later and Arturo admits he'll blame himself if they fail to save Quinn.Wade: I'm scared too, Professor. But you know what keeps me going? You guys. Knowing that you're here, knowing that if that was me in there you'd do anything in the world to get me out. And Quinn knows that, too, and he’s countin' on us. So we can't lose faith now.
- Here We Go Again!: Subverted. After sliding to a new world, the group sees a woman has recorded their arrival. Unwilling to go through more video and press shenanigans, Quinn goes into the woman's house and gets her to hand over the tape.
- Humans Are Cthulhu: Done as the end joke on the next world. Off-screen, Quinn is able to scare the woman into handing over the video tape by claiming to be an alien and threatening to abduct her if she doesn't comply.Rembrandt: We look like alien life forms to her?
Quinn: Umm-hmm.
Rembrandt: Well, how is that? I mean, what exactly—?
Quinn: Trust me, short, green, and moldy is not a great look. - Kangaroo Court: Zig-zagged. The featured system has proper rules; it's just that the group doesn't have the time to get up to speed. Also, while Skip is fair during the actual trial, Phil is quite corrupt and faked the evidence.
- Mood Whiplash: The episode alternates between legal satire and the seriousness of Quinn facing a death sentence.
- No Escape but Down: After getting Quinn in the truck, the Sliders intended to drive out the front gate, but they get blocked. Arturo tries to drive out the back way, only to find a cliff overlooking the ocean. Since there's nowhere to run, Quinn jumps off the cliff and activates the timer in mid-fall, with the others right behind him.
- Noodle Incident: Taryn has arrested Quinn's double on multiple occasions.
- Properly Paranoid:
- Wade and Arturo about leaving the wallet alone.
- Taryn doubts Wade's story about sliding, but she can't shake how Quinn's behavior is different from the guy she knows.
- Ratings Stunt: In-universe. Phil's motivation was to excite viewers with more high-profile crimes.
- Schmuck Bait: During The Teaser, the group finds a wallet on the ground that everyone has been avoiding. When Quinn tries to pick it up, Taryn attempts to shoot him with a tranquilizer dart.
- Show Within a Show: The Judgment Game is where criminals are tried. Skip Collins is the host, while various people alternate as the People's Proponent (with Hilton-Jacobs serving the role in Quinn's trial).
- Spanner in the Works: Taryn almost hit Quinn with a dart in The Teaser, but he bent over faster than expected.
- Studio Audience: The Judgment Game has an appropriately vocal one.
