Post Traumatic Slide Syndrome Seasons 1 & 2 DVD Box Set Region 1 NTSC Seasons 1 & 2 DVD Box Set Region 2 PAL

(Sliders Story No. 18, starring Jerry O'Connell) written by Nan Hagan directed by Adam Nimoy music by Stephen Graziano produced by Mychelle Deschamps (and Jon Povill, Tony Blake and Paul Jackson) Production # K0812 Story: While seeing a non-directive psychiatrist, Rembrandt recounts the story of how the Sliders finally reached home and returned to their normal, interrupted lives. Now free of the never-ending journey, Professor Arturo's loyalties to his fellow Sliders seem to have come undone. But perhaps Quinn is having the hardest time readjusting, preferring a state of denial. Is it possible that one or more of the Sliders have gone off the deep end? Who can be trusted to know the real truth?

"Sliders" hits one of its all-time highs with this episode, which manages to be a successful and enjoyable mix of tons of good elements, particularly those which are unique for this show. Nan Hagan's writing, combined with good direction and outstanding performances, creates that sense of magnetism that pulls viewers into and along with the story, while injecting surprise twists at every turn to keep things lively and interesting. This story is definitely one of the big winners of season two.

The psychiatrist's couch provides an interesting frame of reference through which the rest of the story is told, and in this case, it is made to work very well. Outstanding.

The usual wormhole scene follows, and at first tempts one to believe that the effect will be done on the cheap. Not so, as Rembrandt makes one of the best and most spectacular on-screen exits from the effect that the show has ever boasted - a moment that the scene clearly plays to and derives excellent entertainment value from. Sweet.

The main premise quickly sets in.... What would happen to these four characters if the "Gilligan's Island Syndrome" story-arc came to a close, and they actually got home? The story indulges in exploring the possibilities, and the results are fascinating, providing something far different than the usual episode would normally give us. As good as many of the character bits were in the previous story "In Dino Veritas", this story delivers at least twice as much character gold, and of a more emotionally powerful, effective calibre, partly by keeping such moments in context instead of in clinically detached dialogue. Indeed, Jerry O'Connell and Sabrina Lloyd deliver some of their very best performances ever on the show here in this story, miles ahead of what they achieved on the original pilot episode, and I think this story finally out-does the pilot.

Recurring guest stars include Don MacKay as Rembrandt's manager Artie, who gets his greatest character expansion here and makes the most of it. Superb. The story also gives Deanne Henry her biggest opportunity to play Quinn's mother. It certainly worked for me when I first saw it, since it was my first impression of his mother ever. Henry has a good take on the role, satisfying all but those who may fixate on the other actress who originally played Quinn's mom in the pilot.

Stephen Graziano does some of his best season two work here in this story, filling the soundtrack with lively, bubbly musical pieces, and coming up with a nice recurring theme for the psychiatrist sections of the story. Nice stuff.

There is a bit of a hole here in terms of "Sliders" problematic long-term set-up, although I'll only get into spoilers like that in the in-depth analysis version of this review.

Considering what this particular story is about, I think the choices made for concluding this episode the way the writer and producers did was correct, and works very well. Excellent!

There's not too much more to be said about this one without giving away some of the good stuff. It's a real nugget of gold amongst the usual Sliders pebbles, having just the right combination of drama and humour, character and plot, suspense and surprise, anticipation and delivery. This episode proves why "Sliders" is the television gem that it is. Fun, thought-provoking entertainment.

Seasons 1 & 2 DVD Box Set Region 1 NTSC for the North American market: in the U.S. in Canada	Seasons 1 & 2 DVD Box Set Region 2 PAL for the U.K.	Season 2 DVD Box Set Region 1 NTSC - new for 2012 for the North American market: U.S. Canada 1 Canada 2

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