The Presidential Dilemma

The Presidential Dilemma is the seventeenth episode of the second season, and the 43rd episode overall, of the Jem animated series.

Synopsis[]

Scheduled to play for the President, Jem and The Holograms run into trouble when Synergy is stolen!

Plot[]

The President of the United States invites Jem and The Holograms to Washington D.C. to perform for him. Since the security measures at the concert hall interfere with Synergy's signal, the band has to take her apart and bring her along.

The Misfits follow The Holograms to D.C., catch a glimpse of Synergy and report their findings to Eric Raymond. Recognizing their description of the equipment from when his detective, Malone, encountered it, Eric contacts the government and informs them that The Holograms have "smuggled" illegal technology into D.C. that poses a threat to national security.

The government confiscates Synergy and takes her apart just as a thief kidnaps the President as the final item in his collection of national treasures. Can The Holograms put Synergy back together in time to save the President?

Songs featured[]

"Star Spangled Fantasy" - The Misfits
"Time Is Runnin' Out" - Jem and The Holograms
"Freedom" - Jem and The Holograms

Trivia[]

Notice right before the song "Freedom", it shows Raya playing a guitar and Shana back on drums.
"Time Is Runnin' Out" was first sung in In Stitches.
This episode marks the first time Jerrica reveals her secret to someone else other than her bandmates. She tells the President of the United States.
Jem explains that all the members in Jem and The Holograms are holograms, but in fact Jem is the only one.
This episode is one of the few that have different animation. Some speculate this was because Marvel and Sunbow were trying to save money and those episodes were not properly made on Toei Animation. Other episodes with this type of animation are Video Wars, Journey to Shangri-La and The Middle of Nowhere.
Jerrica was offered a medal by the President, but declined and suggested Synergy deserved it more.
This is the only episode in which Synergy appears at the end and in a very peculiar way: inside a kind of dimensional passage.

Episodes
Season 1
The Beginning • Disaster • Kimber's Rebellion • Frame Up • The Battle of the Bands • Starbright (Part 1): Falling Star • Starbright (Part 2): Colliding Stars • Starbright (Part 3): Rising Star • The World Hunger Shindig • Adventure in China • Last Resorts • In Stitches • The Music Awards (Part 1) • The Music Awards (Part 2) • The Rock Fashion Book • Broadway Magic • In Search of the Stolen Album • Hot Time in Hawaii • The Princess and the Singer • Island of Deception • Old Meets New • Intrigue at the Indy 500 • The Jem Jam (Part 1) • The Jem Jam (Part 2) • Culture Clash • Glitter and Gold
Season 2
The Talent Search (Part 1) • The Talent Search (Part 2) • Scandal • One Jem Too Many • The Bands Break Up • The Fan • Father's Day • Treasure Hunt • Aztec Enchantment • Music is Magic • The Jazz Player • Danse Time • Roxy Rumbles • Alone Again • KJEM • Trick or Techrat • The Presidential Dilemma • Rock n' Roll Express • Mardi Gras • The Middle of Nowhere • Renaissance Woman • Journey to Shangri-La • Journey Through Time • Britrock • Out of the Past • Hollywood Jem (Part 1): For Your Consideration • Hollywood Jem (Part 2): And the Winner Is...
Season 3
The Stingers Hit Town (Part 1) • The Stingers Hit Town (Part 2) • Video Wars • Beauty and the Rock Promoter • Homeland, Heartland • Midsummer Night's Madness • The Day the Music Died • That Old Houdini Magic • Straight from the Heart • A Change of Heart • Riot's Hope • A Father Should Be...