Originally aired January 14, 2000
Written by Bill Dial
Story by Chris Black & Bill Dial
Directed by Peter Ellis
As the timer continues to malfunction and give the Sliders rougher slides than usual, they find that they have to get a hold of a certain gem, even if it means stealing it, in order to repair the timer.
Tropes present in the episode:
- Call-Back: Rembrandt notes how they're not sliding with the original timer, but the one picked up on an Egyptian world. Diana determines the scientists on that world used a gem as part of the design and that the group needs a replacement in order to slide safely.
- Different World, Different Movies: The new Bond film Midnight Never Cries stars Steven Seagal.
- Friendship Moment: Diana is a bundle of nerves before her date, due to having no experience at such a thing (as she prioritized her educational pursuits back in college). Maggie gives her some encouragement and advice about how to conduct herself.
- Heist Episode: With the way the timer has been malfunctioning, Diana determines the next slide could be fatal. The group needs a special gem for the timer to function properly, but they can't afford to buy even the cheapest one at a jewelry store. Since breaking in there would be too risky, they opt for the simpler option of trying to steal Monique's gem from her hotel room. While Diana is off on a dinner date with a gem salesman, Maggie and Mallory head into Monique's hotel room, and Rembrandt acts as Mission Control on a nearby rooftop. The plan goes along swimmingly, until someone else shows up for a robbery.
- Hypocritical Humor: When Maggie suggests instead stealing Monique's gem, Rembrandt says that's still a crime. Mallory points out that Rembrandt taught him how to access a double's ATM for some quick and easy cash.
- Lesser of Two Evils: Rembrandt's not happy with either option, but he acknowledges how stealing from a movie star is a better option for the group than trying to break into a jewelry store.
- Meaningful Name: Monique Mansfield.
- Noodle Incident:Rembrandt: What do any of you know about knockin' over a jewelry store?
Mallory: Well, actually—
Rembrandt: I don't wanna hear it. - Oh, Crap!:
- Played for laughs when the group learns about Monique.Mallory: Did he say "he?"
- While watching from a rooftop, Rembrandt sees a flashlight in one and questions Maggie and Mallory's lack of progress. A confused Mallory says Maggie just cracked the safe, so Rembrandt has this reaction upon realizing another burglar has shown up.
- Played for laughs when the group learns about Monique.
- Only Sane Man: As the rest of the group plans out how to rob the jewelry store, Rembrandt lists the serious crimes they'd be committing and how the jail time would be more than the 29 years they'd suffer for missing the slide.
- She Cleans Up Nicely: Diana in her red dress.
- Shout-Out:
- The title refers to To Catch a Thief.
- Mallory remarks he enjoyed Sneakers.
- Spanner in the Works: The group's plan to steal a gem from Monique's suite goes well until Mallory and Maggie are surprised by another burglar.
- This Is Reality: Rembrandt openly scoffs at the group's plan to steal from the jewelry store.Rembrandt: This is not the movies. As strange as it is, this is our lives.
- Unsettling Gender-Reveal: Monique Mansfield is, yes, a man. This was public knowledge on this world, but not to the recently arrived Sliders. Having spent the night in her suite, an embarrassed Mallory insists that they only talked about movies.
