episode #18 - Obsession

Air Date: 5/24/96 writer: Jon Povill Directed by Colin Bucksey

Wade is having a dream - she's in the 17th century, riding a horse with her noble lover. After sliding from 'New India' with her fellows, she meets this past lover (James Patrick Stuart) for real, on a world of Seers. Seers? Yes, on this Earth, 10% of the population has psychic powers, used for medicine, disaster warnings and crime prevention mostly. Her past/future(?) lover introduces himself as "Bond... Derek Bond." He has them at a disadvantage, as he's been expecting this moment for years. On this world, Lincoln was saved from assassination by a psychic and had created a new cabinet position - the Prime Oracle. The current Prime Oracle (Isaac Hayes) is about to die and appoints his successor - Derek. But, Derek seems seriously lacking in humility and discipline. He turns his romantic overtures towards Wade into demands, after he is told that he needs Wade in order to remain an effective Prime Oracle.

I expected that an episode about psychic powers and focusing on Wade would be lame and silly, but this was one of the more serious, adult-oriented episodes. It had more to do with maturity and accepting responsibility as an adult than about hokey powers and mind tricks. Derek, who might have been the corny villain of the piece, becomes one of the most subtle and layered characters yet encountered on the show. This episode also postulates in an intelligent manner what a world of real psychics would be like. It also suggests that such psychic energy can break the barriers to other dimensions (Wade's dream before she slides). Even the occasional cutting to the past century was kind of interesting, not just a goofy romance. All the actors were at their best here. This also tags on an ominous epilogue, when Derek 'sees' where the next slide takes the Sliders. BoG's Score: 7 out of 10.

Earths Depicted:
---------------- #36: New India instead of America; seen in prologue only
---------------- #37: world of Seers; 10% of population has psychic powers

Sliders Trivia: in the final act, Rembrandt's new psychic girlfriend, Dominique (Heather Hanson), makes mention of her friend "Maggie" who works in the President's office; could this be the same Maggie who will become a regular Slider in the next season?