episode #30 - Desert Storm

Air Date: 11/01/96    writer: Matt Dearborn    Directed by  Joe Johnston

The Sliders have arrived on an Earth which had turned into mostly desert wasteland in the recent past and water is very scarce; no explanation is given for how this happened. There is no law & order; there are scattered settlements and roving gangs on dune buggies & dirt-bikes. As has become the norm, the group follows the erratic impulses of the headstrong Wade to rescue a young woman from an abductor. This girl turns out to be a water-witch, a person gifted with the psychic ability to find hidden water. This makes her valuable to scum like Cutter (Ken Steadman) and his gang; Cutter had kidnapped her years ago and she has, for some reason, grown perversely attached to him. A member of her real tribe, which is located in a hidden oasis called Aquarius, is trying to bring her back.

Much of this is obviously derivative of The Road Warrior scenario and all its copies in eighties films - the post-holocaust outlaws zooming around on a desert terrain.  Where it gets really goofy, however, is with this hidden paradise of pacifists who seem to be channeling seventies flower power. It's also never explained as to why the female members of this secret community possess various psychic powers. At least one male, a small member, also has healing powers and this subplot follows up on Arturo's terminal illness (revealed in The Guardian). Many things do not make sense, including the appearance of the hidden paradise (in the middle of a barren wasteland).  Likewise, the actions of some characters are senseless (near the end, Rembrandt sticks close to a cave-in so he can look over the dead bodies of the gang afterwards; of course, one gang member is still alive and takes Remy hostage).  BoG's Score: 5 out of 10
Slider Trivia: actor Ken Steadman was killed during filming of this episode when a dune buggy turned over. A couple of his key scenes were filmed with another actor. This is most evident near the conclusion, when Cutter takes Rembrandt hostage; the actor here is obviously not Steadman.

Earths Depicted:
---------------- #58: a barren Earth where water is rare and civilization has collapsed