The Beginning is the first episode of the first season, and the 1st episode overall, of the Jem animated series. It was first aired as a 7 minute segment in its first run, later being extended in some of the later runs of the series.
Synopsis[]
Starlight Music's Jerrica Benton confronts co-owner Eric Raymond over a rigged band contest to promote The Misfits. Posing as singer Jem, she steals the show. Eric challenges her to a new contest where winner takes all plus a movie deal.
Plot[]
The episode begins with what appears to be either a red carpet premiere or a concert, with fans enthusiastically shouting out each of the Holograms' names as they exit their limo. Jem, the last to emerge, faces a barrage of questions from numerous paparazzi. Jem reflects, narrating that everything began with her father's passing, transitioning to his funeral. Here, Jem's true identity as Jerrica Benton is unveiled to us. Alongside the other Holograms and their road manager Rio, (who also happens to be Jerrica's boyfriend), Jerrica walks away solemnly. Business partner Eric Raymond catches up with them, holding a brief conversation with Jerrica and offering his assistance if needed. Rio coldly rebuffs him, stating that Jerrica has all the help she needs, leaving Eric standing alone in the rain. Despite the tense atmosphere, Jerrica acknowledges Eric's offer with gratitude before departing.
Jem reveals that her father left her two of his legacies to inherit: Starlight Music and the Starlight House. Inside the house, Rio tends to a short in the ceiling light while Aja vacuums, rhythmically tapping a drumstick along the walls as she does so. Jerrica fixes a broken sink as Kimber strums her guitar nearby. Rio shouts out to Aja, asking her to test out the light. As she flips on a nearby light switch with her drumstick, the electricity goes haywire and chaos ensues. The light sparks and the vacuum malfunctions, colliding into the ladder and causing Rio to fall directly onto the vacuum bag in the process. The dirt from the destroyed vacuum spreads into the kitchen, making Jerrica sneeze and accidentally dislodges the pipe, causing all of water to burst out. Amidst the commotion, one of the Starlight Girls informs Jerrica of further issues, to which Jerrica sarcastically responds, "Oh? Tell me about them."
Later in Jerrica's room, Shana, Aja, Kimber and Rio discuss the recent problems that occurred (although, in the rebroadcast version, Kimber's line about the plumbing and furniture was cut out). Shana states that they need money to fix the place up, and Mrs. Bailey, drying Jerrica's hair, mentions that Jerrica and Kimber's father used to secure funds from Starlight Music. Inspired, Jerrica resolves to do the same.
Upon arriving at Starlight Music, Jerrica runs past a new guard (who replaced Harry after Eric fired him) into an elevator leading her to the lobby to her father's former office. Jerrica notices a new secretary, and questions what happened to the previous one, (Gloria). The secretary quips that she doesn't know since she was only hired the week before by Eric Raymond. Jerrica confronts Eric in the office, asking sarcastially if he's making himself at home. Eric questions her visit, and Jerrica informs him that she requires money for the Starlight House, to which Eric tells her that it's not a charity and she's just a child. Jerrica reminds him that her father gave her half of the company, but Eric ignores this and gloats that he's going to turn Starlight Music into the biggest recording company in the country. He does give away that he needs fresh blood like The Misfits, who come into the office on guitar-shaped bikes and introduces them one-by-one. Jerrica yells for them to get out of her office, and Eric states that it's his office now, causing tension between Jerrica and Pizzazz. After Pizzazz, Stormer and Roxy perform "Outta My Way", torturing and tormenting Jerrica in the process. Eric states that there would be a Battle of the Bands the next day, to which Roxy states that he made sure that all the bands are all lousy, leading the Misfits to a instant victory. Pizzazz insults Jerrica one more time before Eric calmly tells Jerrica that he's in control now and there is nothing she could do about it. Jerrica angrily responds that he shouldn't be too sure of that before leaving.
Later that night, a storm is going on, and Jerrica, Shana, Aja and Kimber are in what looks to be one of their rooms. Jerrica opens a box with her name on it, and sees red star earrings. Kimber compliments them, and Aja states that Rio probably sent them to her. Suddenly, they hear thunder and the window bursts open. After shutting it, all four girls see a hologram called Synergy right before them, saying that it has come for her (Jerrica). The hologram tells Jerrica to meet her at the abandoned drive-in, and upon following the instructions, Synergy tells them to go through the wall. Aja states that she's not that crazy, but after a few words from Jerrica, goes through the wall into what looks to be illusion. The girls get out of the van, and Synergy introduces herself. And for a few seconds, turns the girls into one another before showing them all of what Jerrica and Kimber's father left for them: clothes, musical instruments and equipment, and a car. Upon seeing all the gifts, Jerrica gets an idea on how to stop Eric.
The scene changes to the Battle of the Bands competition the next day, to which Eric Raymond announces three bands that are competing against the Misfits, all of which got negative reactions from the audience until he announces the Misfits, who get a very positive response. Before he could announce the winners, Jem performs Only The Beginning, leaving The Misfits and Eric Raymond completely shocked, which after she finished singing and introduced herself and her band. Eric Raymond angrily walks up with a complaint, then asks who invited them, Jem states that Jerrica was the one that invited them. Upon making a hologram of her, Jem turns back into Jerrica and runs to where the hologram was standing, emphasizing that she does not tolerate rigged contests. Eric challenges her to a Battle of the Bands to be held in six months' time for 100% control of Starlight Music and Jerrica accepts. A film producer named Howard Sands offered to support it, saying that the winner would get a movie contract and his mansion. Pizzazz states to the other Misfits that they would win it, and then, deliberately steals Jem and the Holograms' instruments, driving away in their van. Noticing their instruments where gone, Jerrica, Aja, Shana, and Kimber go after them in the Rockin' Roadster, until Roxy and Stormer deliberately throw their instruments at them, making the Holograms end up at the edge of a cliff. Jerrica quickly makes a hologram of Jem, and tells Synergy to make the hologram get help. The hologram of Jem waves to Rio, who was passing by, and tells him the Holograms were in trouble. Rio drives to the cliff and saves Jerrica and the others, ending up in the newspaper the next day.
Eric crumples up the newspaper featuring Jem, and tells the Misfits that one-million dollars worth of publicity, along with stating that they're lucky Jerrica didn't call the police on them. The Misfits tell him to lighten up, and that it's not their fault that Aja couldn't drive, but she could. Eric tells them to leave the serious business to him and tells them he'll see to it that they win. The Misfits then perform "Winning Is Everything".
Meanwhile, at the Starlight House, the Starlight Girls (excluding Krissie, who was nowhere in sight at the moment until the next episode and Laura isn't seen until season 2) give Becky and Lela money for the Honor Jar so they can buy a new refrigerator for the house, according to Lela they only needed $30 more. Later on, Jerrica catches Ashley (one of the Starlight Girls) trying to steal Lela, Deirdre, Becky, Ba Nee, Terri, Krissie (even though she doesn't until appear the next episode), Marianne, Anne, Joellen, Nancy and Delaree's money from the Honor Jar to try and rip them off until she was caught by the Holograms, Jerrica tells her to put it back. Later, the girls punish Ashley by making her pay $30 for the Honor Jar.
Later on, Eric hires Zipper to scare the Holograms and, in the process, burns down the Starlight House.
Songs featured[]
- "Outta My Way" - The Misfits
- "Only The Beginning" - Jem and The Holograms
- "Winning Is Everything" - The Misfits
Other songs[]
Quotes[]
- Jem: Show time, Synergy.
- Eric Raymond: [to Jerrica] What are you doing here?
- Jerrica: I need money for Starlight House.
- Eric: (chuckling) Well, this is a business, Jerrica, not a charity.
- Jerrica: How dare you use my father's company to promote this... this trash!
- Pizzazz: (gets up and confronts Jerrica) Who are you calling trash, you little wimp?
- Synergy: Welcome, Jerrica Benton. Come. Continue to drive forward.
- Kimber: What? Through the wall?
- Synergy: Do not be afraid. Things are not always... (Synergy goes through the wall) what they seem!
- Jerrica [to Synergy]: Who or what are you?
- Synergy: I am Synergy. A holographic computer designed to be the ultimate, audio/visual entertainment synthesizer.
- Roxy: It's not our fault that Aja chick can't drive.
- Kimber: Now what are we gonna do?
- Shana: Well, we can't just stay here!
- Aja: Come on. We can climb out. (stands and the car rocks forward)
- Shana: (shouting) Sit down!
- Aja: Hey, I'm crazy, but I'm not that crazy.
Gallery[]
Goofs[]
- Just before the flashback of how it all began, Jem is missing her earrings.
- In the scene where Jem introduces herself and the Holograms after the first Battle of the Bands, Kimber's keyboard is not painted into the scene.
- Despite Jerrica having inherited Starlight Music and Eric taking full control, it's surprising that Jerrica doesn't consider taking him to court and suing. It's possible the reason why she didn't is because hiring an attorney cost a lot of money add to that with court fees and such a legal battle could go on for months.
Trivia[]
- This episode up until The Battle of the Bands were mini series episodes and so because of the show's success, the show was picked up for a complete series. They were originally broadcast as fifteen seven-minute segments between October and December 1985.
- The three segments for this episode were titled "The Beginning", "The Challenge" and "Fire!"
- When the series' first episodes ran, the songs were shorter, but once it was picked up, songs were looped and scenes reused to expand the songs.
- The last names Benton, Leith, Gabor and Elmsford were real scientists who were key developers in holograms.
- Jem's name was originally M. The letter "M" couldn't be copyrighted, so it was changed to Jem. Jerrica's name originally was Morgan, Kimber was Aja, Aja was Jade, Stormer was Roxy, and Roxy was Rue.
- Eric Raymond's name was based on the first and middle name of Christy Marx's brother, Eric Raymond Marx.
- Unlike most episodes of the show's first two seasons, this episode features two Misfits songs and only one Jem and The Holograms song. It's usually the other way around.
- Weirdly enough, Emmett Benton gave the earrings to Jerrica, even though Kimber has always displayed her musical talent while she was growing up and it was seen in flashbacks of Jerrica and Kimber growing up that she did (although, it was revealed in the series bible that Jerrica knows how to play the guitar, showing she does have a little musical talent in her.)
- When Ba Nee tells the group she walked Mrs. Ledger's dog, this was actually a reference to cartoonist Peter Ledger that Christy Marx was married to at the time the episode was written.