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Recap / Sliders S 05 E 14 Heavy Metal

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Originally aired October 1, 1999

Written by Chris Black

Directed by Guy Magar

A malfunctioning timer dumps the Sliders in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, where they are picked up by a merchant ship. Unfortunately, the ship is taking them out of their sliding radius, thus diminishing the likelihood of a safe slide, so they must join a pirate crew in order to get back to California.


Tropes present in the episode:

  • Alternate History: Diana discovers that there is no record of aluminium on this world, which meant (among other things) no modern airline industry and a focus on maritime operations.
  • Continuity Nod:
    • Mallory tells the pirates stories of the motorcycle jousting he participated in.
    • Redfield is a double of a minor antagonist from "Way Out West", though the Sliders don't acknowledge this.
  • End of an Age: The crates Paxton stole contain material that can revolutionize the world's limited airline industry. Paxton intended to destroy it, and Maggie guesses why: airplanes used for shipping would make merchant ships obsolete, which means pirates become obsolete.
    Paxton: I'm not ready to give up our way of life.
    Maggie: And you think by destroying this one shipment you're gonna save it?
    Paxton: It's a start.
    Diana: If you destroy this stuff, someone else is gonna make it.
  • Everyone Has Standards: Paxton is a benevolent pirate who defends the community his crew lives with and won't tolerate a crew member who enjoys killing.
  • Friendly Enemy: Subverted. Paxton and Renfield keep referring to each other as old friends, but always in sarcastic tones, They hate each other due to their history.
  • Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: The group intended to sneak off during the warehouse break-in, but then Redfield's men get the drop on the crew. Redfield was going to excuse Paxton and his crew on sight, so Maggie botches the team's chance to get away in order to save the pirates.
  • Properly Paranoid: Mallory picks up on how there's something going on between Maggie and Paxton.
  • Race Against the Clock: With a twist from the usual format. With the timer having problems, the group is worried about trying to slide outside of their radius and need to get back within the appropriate area before the countdown is done.
  • Roaring Rampage of Revenge: Subverted. Paxton wants the ultimate revenge against Redfield for the deaths of his wife and son, but Maggie manages to talk him down during the climax.
  • Sadistic Choice: Mallory and Brice are captured by the Coasties, who demand the stolen crates be returned. If Paxton agrees, it will ultimately lead to the end of the pirates' way of life; if he refuses, the captives will be publicly executed.
  • Take a Third Option: Paxton intended to go through with his original plan, but Maggie manages to guilt him into not just abandoning Mallory and Brice. However, rather than simply return the material, Maggie and Paxton set up a trap.
  • Tempting Fate: With the ship moving them out of the slide radius and no one way to get back to land by air, Mallory quips they could try a mutiny. Cue an explosion outside.
    Mallory: Joke! That's was a joke!
  • What the Hell, Hero?: The others are not happy about Maggie going back to save Paxton, as it botched their attempt to get back to their sliding radius. Mallory is the most vocal in condemning her, while Diana is also pretty peeved. Even Rembrandt expresses disappointment in her actions.
  • Wrong Genre Savvy: Mallory thinks he can sweet talk Paxton into letting the Sliders join the crew, citing his own criminal past and how gangs always look for new recruits. It just never occurred to him that Paxton would think this could be an attempt by the authorities to get a mole in his crew.

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