Colin Mallory - Traitor?

Traitor?

According to Marc Scott Zicree, a writer for the show, the retcon from "Genesis" was originally intended to be a red herring. The idea was that Colin was actually a clone of Quinn created by the Kromaggs as a sleeper agent within the sliders. In the original draft for "Revelations," he would flip, attacking Quinn and ending the season on a cliffhanger.

This would probably have had the effect of simplifying the somewhat complicated (and largely financially unresolvable) plot progression of the show. Nevertheless, because this would render Charlie O'Connell's character unusable in a regular capacity after Season 4, and because by that time Jerry O'Connell's residency on the show depended on his brother's presence (and because this was all before anyone knew the brothers would be departing) David Peckinpah vetoed the idea. The veto of Zicree's idea was finalized with "Lipschitz Live," in which Colin has a double (which would mean he couldn't be a clone of Quinn, unless the double is also a clone). Curiously, Charlie O'Connell also appeared in the season 3 episode "Dragonslide" as Officer O'Hara and also as Kit Richards in the episode "As Time Goes By". Although no relationship was mentioned at the time, it is assumable that O'Hara and Richards may be doubles of Colin under different names. Retroactively solidifying Colin into the series prior to his actual season 4 introduction.