Anyone have a theory on why the timer was counting down. I think he probably stole it from another set of sliders. I felt like they should have touched more on that part instead of just having the architect die and not explaining anything about his timer.

I wish I could re-do this series with some genuine thought behind it. Let these four learn from their experiences instead of constantly bumbling into the same stupid situations over and over again (Quinn gets infatuated with a pretty face, Wade is self-righteous and never stops to think, the Professor is the voice of reason while Remy is the big-hearted joker).By now they should have made improvements to the timer. They should be carrying it in a special holster so it doesn't always get lost. They should be carrying simple concealed hand-weapons; a small computer to keep track of the worlds they've visited and record all they've learned; gold and silver currency; and they should have developed a standard routine for scouting a world before acting. For example, no interaction until they read a newspaper, visit the local library and read a short history, etc.It's such a clever idea but the execution was never more than simple bumbling amusement. No one ever approached it from a thoughtful, scientific or anthropolocial perspective.For an example of a show that has really thought out an alternate reality and explored it in depth, see Kings.

Too focused on a monster not on the society. I miss the great stories of the first season.

The last two episodes were good, but this one... This was a B flick. Where was Bruce Campbell for this one? A lot of the episodes, especially the first two seasons, always have an air of plausibility. This one was just stupid. By the way, anyone notice that the necrology operating room was the same set from episode 11?
The comment about random sliding with the override, I thought it was already random, and since they knew that, why don't they always do it? I can only assume that they may visit worlds that they've already been to. Or is that the definition of...oh great, I've gone cross-eyed. I bet FOX had a big turnover with continuity directors.

their righteousness always gets them in trouble. it's what the Joker called "a misplaced sense of self-righteousness."

The Blue Pyramid at 1:32, unless I am mistaken, is located on the campus of Cal State Long Beach. As for the show, some programs get better after a few seasons, some decline. This show has always had a corny, Jules Verne quality that was engaging and suspenseful. But the big bug looked like something out of a B Sci-Fi movie from the Fifties.