Sliders/The Weaker Sex

The Weaker Sex
Season 1, Episode 8
Airdate	May 3, 1995
Production Number	70406
Written by	Dawn Prestwich & Nicole Yorkin
Directed by	Vern Gillum
← 1x07 Eggheads	1x09 → The King Is Back
Sliders — Season One

The Weaker Sex is the eighth episode of the first season of Sliders.

Starring: Jerry O'Connell (Quinn Mallory), Sabrina Lloyd (Wade Wells), Cleavant Derricks (Rembrandt Brown)

and John Rhys-Davies (Arturo)

Guest Stars: Sara Botsford (Mayor Anita Ross), Robert Curtis-Brown (Danny Eizenbach), Jill Teed (Serena Braxton)

Co-Starring: Alf Humphreys (Pete), Andrew Wheeler (Ken)

Featuring: Liza Huget (Lois), Peter Kelamis (Glenn), Douglas Sills (Ed), Joe Maffei (Bernie), Teresa Barnwell (Hillary Clinton), Tamara Stanners (Jeanie Moses), Leigh Morrow (Anchor Woman), Peg Christopherson (Female Shopper)

Plot Overview

Arturo struggles with the concept of having a lower status on an Earth where women are the dominant sex. Short of money, the group decide to get jobs and whilst Wade revels in her new position, Rembrandt and Quinn learn how it feels to be on the receiving end of sexism. Meanwhile, to the surprise of the group and the populace, Arturo decides to turn the tables and run for Mayor.

Notes

Brave New Worlds

• Hundreds of years ago women got fed up with men going off to kill each other in war and began to take control. This has led to a power dynamic switch between the sexes and one consequence was the decline in war and violent crime.

• Little is known other than that San Francisco seems to be a tropical environment and is some kind of vacation destination.

Timer

• Roughly 6 and half weeks

• 9 days, 4 hours, and 32 minutes

Arc Advancement

Characters

• Lois refers to Quinn as Wade's boyfriend. That he doesn't refute this suggests they have accepted their feelings and are in a relationship.

• Wade hints that Arturo's actions may not necessarily be rooted in sexism, but that being treated like a second-class citizen is a wound to his ego.

Referbacks

• Wade recalls Arturo's preaching of "no involvement with the locals," a position they debated in "Summer of Love" and "The Prince of Wails".

Trivia

The Show

• This episode gained some attention in 2016 when Hillary Clinton became the Democratic nominee for President. It's also of note that the vendor in which the group learns she's president is named Bernie's, as Bernie Sanders was her main contender in the primaries.

Behind the Scenes

• This was the 7th episode filmed.

• The character of Carol Johnson is actually named in the credits as Jeanie Moses because it was meant to be based on CNN correspondent Jeanne Moos.

Allusions and References

• The attempted assassination of Arturo is modelled on the attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan in 1981 by John Hinckley Jr. Arturo had earlier quoted Reagan from when he was lying a hospital bed in recovery and said "I'd rather have been in Philadelphia."

Memorable Moments

• Arturo reluctantly attempts to kiss a baby to win over voters and winds up chasing a father down in an attempt to kiss his infant child.

Quotes

• Rembrandt: I'm getting awfully tired of landing on my butt. Can't you do something about that?

Quinn: You know I can't. I think you ask just to annoy me a little.

Rembrandt: Actually, I ask to annoy you a lot. Little by little, I'm getting even with you, Q-Ball.

• Arturo: Allow me, madam. It would be my pleasure to press your button.

Mayor Anita Ross: Five.

Arturo: Oh, you're going to the fifth floor, too. There you are. Chivalry is not dead.

Mayor Anita Ross: How lucky for us.

Arturo: Oh, a woman with a dry sense of humour. How delightful.

Mayor Anita Ross: A man who presses buttons. How interesting.

Arturo: Well, there's far more to me than a sense of gallantry, madam, as you yourself could find out over a fine candlelit dinner.

Mayor Anita Ross: Now, that's very tempting, but, you know, I don't like large men, or men with beards, or phoney English accents. Other than that, you might have had a chance.

• Arturo: They laughed at Ross Perot.

Wade: They still do.

• Glenn: So did you hear? Maximillian Arturo is up to 20%.

Ken: Pathetic.

Quinn: Why is it pathetic?

Ken: Come on! A man in political office? Next you'll be telling me men should fly airplanes.

Quinn: Who says they can't?

Ken: Men have too much testosterone. Look at women. They only cycle once a month. Men cycle every 20 minutes. As many mood swings as I go through in an afternoon, I wouldn't want to be in charge of anything.

• Arturo: I am running because I really care. I favour the good things in life. I oppose the bad things in life. A vote for Arturo means you care, too. Together, we can make a difference.

• Arturo: I don't believe that anyone has ever captured my essence so beautifully. That moment when I changed that disgusting little brat's diaper. Classic.