episode #29 - The Dream Masters

Air Date: 10/18/96 writers: Scott Smith Miller and Melinda Snodgrass Directed by Jefery Levy

One of the more daft episodes - the titular characters are a group of sadistic misfits who more-or-less rule the populace of their world through fear: they can enter people's dreams and basically think people to death. As it's soon disclosed, this all began with some weird college professor who had taken dream research to the next level. He was kicked out of his position and departed with a group of loyal students; these became the dream bastards. Their symbol of choice is the pentagram, drawn on their palms. Seeing this mark, people freeze in terror. As usual, the Sliders are ignorant of these jokers' abilities; Wade makes the mistake of insulting and even assaulting one of these creeps and is marked for death. Before long, she is having nightmares from which she is not meant to awaken.
A problem with the whole concept in this one is the supposed invulnerability of these dream masters. It's just not feasible that the army or even the police force can't simply eradicate these bullies. This point was actually brought up by one of the Sliders; there is a lame explanation about how the villains have a pact to avenge the death of any of their own, so no one dares try. So, no law enforcement body can just kill all the masters all at once in a rather simple plan? How about an attack force of a dozen navy seals maybe? Anyway, the whole plot revolves around a group of losers out to get back at all the people who ever made fun of them. It's rather juvenile. The one adult scene happens when it's perceived that Rembrandt fell asleep on the job, endangering Wade and thereby gaining the enmity of Arturo. The climax involves a lengthy attempt at surreal dream imagery. There's a lot of high-pitched screaming, wailing and cackling. As with the ending of Electric Twister Acid Test, there is no clear resolution, setting up for a sequel with the bad guys that never happened. Therefore, these killers never get their comeuppance. BoG's Score: 5 out of 10

Earths Depicted:
---------------- #57: a group of misfits with dream powers dominate at least a section of California