The Young and the Relentless

Seasons 1 & 2
DVD Box Set
Region 1 NTSC

Seasons 1 & 2
DVD Box Set
Region 2 PAL
(Sliders Story No. 21, starring Jerry O'Connell)
  • teleplay by T. Edward Anthony & Von Whisenhant
  • story by Michael X. Ferraro and T. Edward Anthony & Von Whisenhant
  • directed by Richard Compton
  • music by Anthony Marinelli
  • produced by Mychelle Deschamps (and Jon Povill, Tony Blake and Paul Jackson)
  • Production # K0814
Story: Finding Quinn's double floating lifeless in a mansion swimming pool drags Quinn and Wade into their married doubles' cutthroat corporate lives, where the drive to succeed financially has a deadline of the mandatory retirement age of 30. Meanwhile, Rembrandt and Arturo are considered "over-age", and become accused of breaking many of this world's bizarre by-laws.

Buyers' Guide Review

by Martin Izsak

(A more in-depth analysis, containing "SPOILERS" and intended for those who have already seen the program, can be accessed here.)


Perhaps it was internet misinformation spawned by season two's production code sequence that caused me to think I was watching the season finale when I originally sat down to the first broadcast of this story. Although the episode doesn't deliver anything special enough to be considered "season finale" material, we still get one of season two's better episodes, easily setting up anticipation for interesting angles for the story to go through, and bringing both of two separate plots to quite satisfactory conclusions.


The wormhole effect is done on the cheap during the opening, relying on a piece of stock footage from the pilot and leaving everything else just off-screen, aiming for some stylistic points instead with foreshadowing and humour, and having some success at it. Not a great story to introduce new viewers to the series with, but nice variety for those already familiar with the show.

It isn't long before the main A-plot premise hooks the viewers in for the ride: Quinn and Wade's doubles were rich, married to each other, and have corporate lives complicated enough to get Quinn's double killed. Perhaps even more significantly, this really is the first story of "Sliders" that allows Sabrina Lloyd to spend significant time portraying one of her doubles, and she sinks her teeth into this doozy of a new role and makes it unforgettable. Very nice job. Another set of excellent touches are all the constant reminders of the contrasts between our regular Quinn and Wade and their corporate doubles, and whether our regulars would make a better or more successful couple. Great subject matter. One can't help staying tuned in for all the character details of this story, while its successful mystery plot becomes icing on the cake.

The guest characters for this A-plot aren't the greatest, but neither are they meant to be its great draw. To some extent, they are background, and as such, they work.


Rembrandt and Arturo are off on a completely separate B-plot for this story, although it very nicely demonstrates the natural flip-side of the world's age-related premise and makes real some of the pressures at work in the A-plot. This B-plot seems to have better guest characters in the long run, with the judge and attorney standing out well.

The music for this story is surprisingly lively, bordering on pop-tunes all the way through. One gets the sense that Anthony Marinelli may be imitating the style of other shows or movies which may have helped inspire this story's premise and style. For style, "Dynasty" and "Dallas" come to mind, as well as the soap-opera with the nearly identical title to the episode's own. However, the world's premise draws closer parallels to the film "Logan's Run".


This story's closest rival in the rankings is probably "Obsession" (story no. 19), although I feel that "The Young and the Relentless" will squeak past it due to having greater dimensions for character outcomes and a more entertaining resolution. Parallel Wade in particular is a unique creation that no Sliders fan will want to miss.



This story has become available on DVD. Click on the Amazon symbol for the location nearest you for pricing and availability:

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


Comments on this article are welcome. You may contact the author from this page:

Contact page


LYRATEK.COM


Read the Buyers' Guide Review for the next story: "Invasion"



Home Page Site Map Star Trek Doctor Who Sliders Episode Guide Catalogue