**Spoilers**
Adventure, comedy, scifi. All of these are what made Sliders great, and there’s something else… somber scenes. Sliders wasn’t afraid to push the boundaries to touch your heart and create a range of emotions throughout the series. I’ll outline the top 5 scenes that will water your eyes.
Honorable Mention: I’ll never forget you
Malcolm Eastman is the kind of child that’s somewhat common these days. Raised with no parents, left to virtually fend for himself and rude upon approach. However what’s different with Malcolm is that deep down inside he’s a good kid and eventually proves it. This character is only seen in three episodes of the series yet there’s an amazing bond that was built been he and Rembrandt. It’s so strong that the final scene of season three’s “Dinoslide” is one of the most gripping scenes of the season, Malcolm: (sighs) I’m not gonna ask you to promise you’ll come back. I’ll just hope for it.” Rembrandt: “Me, too.” Malcolm (gives drawing to Rembrandt): “So you won’t forget me.” Rembrandt: “I will never forget you, son. Not in a million years.”
5. God, I’m so sorry
A pill bottle, house arrest and a clever plan all come together to create a somber scene in the season two episode “Obsession”. A ‘seer’ who is obsessed with Wade, places her under virtual house arrest. Wade receives a pill bottle with a note, and is soon after found dead. Quinn beats himself up after the ambulance slowly drives away, “Why did I have to take you with me? I didn’t know what I was doing. God, I’m so sorry.” The fact that everyone had always hoped that Quinn and Wade would get together is part of the reason which makes this scene so gloomy. Nevertheless Wade is unharmed, all part of an elaborate scheme by the Sliders to escape from the seer.
4. …he was dead
Rembrandt rises from his seat as Wade and the Professor enter the room. He turns with tears in his eyes. Wade asks, “Rembrandt? What’s wrong? Where’s Quinn?” Rembrandt doesn’t respond. The Professor presses him, “Mr. Brown?” Rembrandt struggles to find the right words, “When I got there… he was in an operating room. He was just lying there… he was dead.” Rembrandt continues to explain the situation. The Sliders hug in despair and Arturo grievingly falls into deep regret, “I never had the courage to tell him so often I wished he was my son.” On initial impact the viewer was led to believe that Quinn was in fact dead, only until the next scene we find he awakens from an Egyptian experiment on an operating table. “Slide Like An Egyptian” is one of the better episodes of season three and is sure to tug at your heart.
3. I love you, man.
The thought of leaving Quinn on a world alone forever is almost too much for the Sliders to bear, including the viewer. And that’s nearly what happens in the season two episode “Gillian of the Spirits”. This scene truly shows the love and bond that each slider has, not only for Quinn but one another. (vortex opens) Rembrandt (looking at a translucent Quinn): “Come on, Q-Ball, let’s go. Quinn: “I can’t, Rembrandt. The vortex isn’t active on the astral plane. You’ve gotta go without me.” Arturo: “He’s right. Go.” Rembrandt: “I love you, man.” Quinn: “I love you too, “Crying Man.” Arturo: “Mr. Mallory, we will find a world where there’s technology and I promise I will come looking for you. Goodbye, my boy. This is the hardest thing that I’ve ever done.” Quinn: “Thank you, Professor.” Wade: “I’m not going to leave you.” Quinn: “This is no time to be noble Wade. There’s nothing you can do for me here. The next slide might take you home. Go, before it’s too late. Go! Go!” Wade: “Damn you.”
2. I’ll be there
Old wounds are reopened in the season five episode “Requiem”. This entire episode is hard to watch emotionally through and through. Rembrandt is led to a world by Wade who is captured by the Kromaggs, all the while the rest of the Sliders think Rembrandt has lost his marbles. Keep in mind the last time we saw Wade was season three. Rembrandt’s eventually proven right, and Wade saves the Sliders lives from the Kromaggs in the end. (on a serene world) Maggie: “Everyone’s gone now. The Professor, Wade, Quinn, Colin, Remmy. (sniffles, hands off timer) Here… you guys go on without me. I’m through. I’ve come to the end.” (vortex opens, Rembrandt emerges) Maggie: “Remmy. Thank God. What happened?” Rembrandt: “I don’t know what happened. But Wade did it. She tore ’em apart. She destroyed the manta ship, the control room, everything. And then she brought me here.” Mallory: “What happened to her?” Rembrandt: “I don’t know. Wade’s gone. But somehow, I feel, I sense…” (Rembrandt stalls as Maggie touches his lips) (Rembrandt sees Wade’s reflection in pond) Wade: “I’ll always be with you, Remmy. Whenever you need me, I’ll be there.”
1. Get them home
Probably the most heart-wrenching scene not only of the series but of TV history is the infamous death scene of Professor Arturo in the “The Exodus, Part II”. Yet why? For one John Rhys-Davies is a great actor but beyond that creators Tracy Tormé and Robert K. Weiss crafted a beautiful character right from the beginning. The Professor was the type of guy who everyone always looked up to as a father figure. He was the one you could always go to for advice and he never failed to tell it just like it was. By the way did I mention John Rhys-Davies (Arturo) wrote the two episodes that finished off his character? Although it’s debatable as to whether the ‘real Arturo’ died or not that’s beyond the point. This final scene will forever be etched in our memory and hearts. Quinn: “Professor.” Arturo: “Get them home.” Rembrandt: “Professor, hang in there. Hang in there.” Wade: “You’re coming with us.” Arturo: “Sliders..”