Originally aired April 5, 1995
Written by Dan Lane
Directed by Michael Keusch
The Sliders arrive on a world where an asteroid is due to hit; worse, they aren't due to slide until after the meteor strikes. Arturo teams up with the eccentric double of one of Quinn's classmates to build an atomic bomb. Rembrandt parties with wealthy people. Quinn and Wade face their feelings for one another.
Tropes present in the episode:
- Actually Pretty Funny: Bennish is constantly amused by whatever insults that Arturo directs at him.
- Alternate History: Here, nuclear weapons were never developed, hinted that Einstein and Oppenheimer deliberately sabotaged the weapon so that it wouldn't work. It's also mentioned in passing that, without the atomic bomb, the Allies invaded Japan with heavy casualties and the war ended in 1950. Interestingly, despite nuclear weapons not being developed, the Cold War apparently still happened, as intercontinental ballistic missiles are still used.
- Apocalypse Anarchy: With two days to go before the asteroid hits, only a handful of folks are trying to do the normal routine. Most everyone else is content to party like crazy with the time they have left and flaunt the established rules. Rembrandt gets a taste of this during his plot, enjoying the end of the world party but deeply disturbed by the Russian Roulette he stumbled into with his new 'friends.' After the world is saved, he muses a lot of people are going to have quite a nasty hangover.
- Apocalypse How: The asteroid due to hit threatens a Class 6. Fortunately, it's averted.
- Armor-Piercing Question:Quinn: We'll figure something out, but we have to stick together.
Rembrandt: How, Quinn? Huh? I mean, how are you gonna figure it out? - As You Know: Arturo attends a scientific conference about the asteroid, where Dr. Antonovich gives details that everyone should already know. Perhaps justified by him noting how the authorities have tried to soft pedal the situation to avoid a panic; he intends to set the record straight.
- Break Out the Museum Piece: Bennish mentions that he got "Fat Boy" from a museum, where it was collecting dust as "Einstein's Folly."
- Brick Joke: When the Sliders arrive, they see a store owner rip up a parking ticket, as the world's about to end. At the end of the episode, he's issued a new ticket by the same meter maid.
- Brutally Honest: Dr. Antonovich doesn't beat around the bush, saying they're all pretty much doomed.
- Bunny-Ears Lawyer: Quinn observes that this Bennish is like the one back home: a pothead who nonetheless has a genius intellect.
- Call-Back: In the pilot, Arturo mentioned that Einstein and Oppenheimer lamented giving the world the atomic bomb. Here, they arrive in a world where they did not follow through with their discovery.
- The End... Or Is It?: Bennish having the schematics and musing what'll happen if anyone gets out of line.
- Face Death with Dignity: Wade says she doesn't fear dying because she's done more sliding than she did back home and that her doubles will live on.
- Failure Is the Only Option: Quinn finds his double's home, along with technology not too different from his sliding equipment. However, his attempt to apply it to the timer ends up failing.
- Gallows Humor: Bennish asks Arturo if they'll share the credit for completing the atomic bomb. The Professor replies that, if they're successful, there'll be more than enough credit to go around, and if they're not, "there won't be another major lifeform on the planet for about a hundred million years."
- Let's Split Up, Gang!: Rembrandt leaves to be by himself, much to Quinn and Wade's disappointment. Arturo heads to the gathering of scientists to see if there's anything that can be done, leaving Quinn and Wade to go to the Mallory house.
- Man Hug: Quinn and Rembrandt before the rocket is launched.
- Mood Killer: Just as Quinn and Wade start kissing, Arturo barges in.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Arturo openly address the ramifications of letting a society have a nuclear weapon and "do we have the right to give them that threat?" Bennish logically points out that if they don't, there won't be any society left and Arturo has to agree. However, Bennish's actions make Arturo realize that while the world may be saved for now, he's just provided Bennish with major power.
- Nuclear Option: Arturo works with Bennish to build an atomic bomb, and he intends to slide out with the blueprints to the bomb so it won't fall into the wrong hands, but he ends up losing the blueprints...which are found by Bennish, who declares no one's going to mess with him now.
- Obfuscating Stupidity: Bennish quietly grabbing the dropped schematics means he knew Arturo was trying to prevent him from being able to make more atomic bombs. Bennish was just biding his time to get the schematics back.
- Oh, Crap!:
- A one-two punch occurs in the Cold Open: the Sliders learn that an asteroid is about to hit the Earth in two days... when the timer states the next portal opens in three.
- Arturo is stunned silent over the idea of Bennish having control of the atomic bomb when this is all over. He then takes a key schematic and puts it in his pocket, but it falls out after the bomb destroys the asteroid. At the end of the episode, he frantically goes through his pockets to find the blueprints but can't and is forced to leave without them.
- Only Sane Man:
- The meter maid and the priest are among the few people just trying to do their jobs during a difficult time.
- Rembrandt proves to be this at the end of the world party, becoming openly disgusted with the game of Russian Roulette that he stumbles onto.
- Police Are Useless: Rembrandt passes through a street full of people partying and causing property damage. A cop is among them and doesn't particularly like Rembrandt's disturbed glance.
- Race Against the Clock: The asteroid will hit in two days, and the vortex isn't due to open for three. Quinn gets to work trying to find a way to open the vortex faster, but his equipment ultimately shorts out. Arturo encounters Bennish at a meeting of scientists and teams up with him for the Nuclear Option, working 'round the clock. By the time the bomb is launched, there's less than 17 minutes to spare.
- Running Gag: Bennish calling the bomb "Fat Boy," and Arturo correcting him by saying it's "Fat Man."
- Russian Roulette: Rembrandt decides to attend a "last days" party, but stops upon seeing that some of the attendees are playing with a revolver.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: With Arturo working with Bennish and Quinn trying to salvage his sliding equipment, Rembrandt decides to attend a Last Days party.
- Ship Tease: What Quinn and Wade's subplot ultimately builds to.
- Teeth-Clenched Teamwork: Bennish's quirks quickly grate on Arturo, particularly the constant loud music.Arturo: Mr. Bennish, if we survive, I promise you this: I will dedicate my life to isolating the gene that makes you so obnoxious, and I will destroy it.
- We Help the Helpless: On the brink of the end of the world, a priest suggests Rembrandt join his church's charitable efforts. Rembrandt would rather have fun in his final hours, but he realizes the guy had the right idea and returns to the church with Caroline.
- What the Hell, Hero?: With no chance to slide out before the asteroid hits, Rembrandt lays into Quinn for getting the group into this mess.
- Wrong Genre Savvy: Quinn's double thought the vortex was a doorway through time instead of the multiverse.
