The Talent Search (Part 2)

The Talent Search (Part 2) is the second episode of the second season, and the 28th episode overall, of the Jem animated series.

Synopsis[]

As The Holograms deliberate over which semi-finalist will be their new drummer, Eric Raymond tries to bribe one of them to reveal Jem's secret identity.

Plot[]

Raya sits opposite Eric, refusing to tell him Jem's true identity after she's been so nice to her, and abruptly leaves his office. At Starlight Music, Jerrica receives a call from the ticket agent to let the group know that their Talent Search contest has been sold out. Jerrica gives Shana a call to tell her the good news, but Shana is so busy creating Liz Stratton's designs that she has to hang up almost immediately before Jerrica could invite her to the concert. Liz tells Shana that her designs for the other lead actress are even more stylish than her own - and rips up the designs, telling her to re-do them. Shana questions her choices in leaving the band while "Show Me The Way" describes how she feels.

Eric reports back to The Misfits that Raya wasn't easy to bribe and Pizzazz suggests bribing Craig Phillips, the other semi-finalist, instead, who just so happens to walk in as Stormer announces that he is her older brother. Eric and the rest of the Misfits try to convince Craig into helping them expose Jem's secret. Pizzazz forces Stormer to change his mind - and he agrees, doing it for her. Craig decides to go on a run with Aja, admitting to her than he only entered the competition to be close to her, and they share a sweet moment on the bridge. It's soon over when Craig asks Aja about Jem's identity, and she tells angrily him that it is keep secret for good reason, and she would never betray her trust, no matter how strongly she feels for Craig. He apologizes immediately, and goes back to Eric to tell him that any deal they had was off. Jetta takes some money out of Eric's wallet, and tells him to leave the rest of the meddling to her.

It is the final play-off of the Starlight Talent Search, where Raya and Craig go head-to-head in a drum duel to "Beat This". After the show is over, the audience cast their votes for who they want to win, which will be announced the following day. Meanwhile, Jetta hires a gang called The Snakes to trash the Alonso family's greenhouse, forcing Raya to cooperate with Eric.

Fortunately, Raya realizes Jetta set up the wreck due to her having her father's price orchid in her hair, and refuses to help them. Craig arrives in time to hear everything because The Misfits have threatened to throw Stormer out of the band, so he confronts them and Eric. First, he forces Eric to give him money so he can anonymously give it to Raya's father to pay for the repairs of the greenhouse; he then turns to The Misfits and warns them in disgust, "I don't know why but Stormer thinks she can't make it without you. So treat her right because if you toss her out of The Misfits, you'll answer to me personally." Later, he drops out of the competition just before Raya is announced as the winner. Raya stops Jem from transforming in public, revealing she knows her secret identity.

Shana is finally tired of Liz Stratton's egotistical behavior and quits her job as a fashion designer (much to Liz's dismay). She returns to the band and is delighted to discover just how much her friends have missed her, causing a disheartened Raya to return home. The four original band members refuse to let Raya quit, declaring that she'll be the new percussionist while Shana plays backup guitars.

Songs featured[]

Quotes[]

Raya: (to Eric) Jem's been so nice to me. No. I can't do it. I have to go.

Liz Stratton (to Shana): These designs for the other lead actress. They're gorgeous.

Shana: Thanks.

Liz Stratton: No, you don't understand. They're more gorgeous than mine! I'm the star! No one is suppose to look better than me! (rips Shana's designs in half)

Shana: My designs! Oh...

Shana (after Liz ruins her designs): What have I gotten myself into?

Stormer: Hi, everybody. I want you to meet Craig Phillips, my brother.

Pizzazz: That guy?!

Roxy: The other semi-finalist.

Eric: Is your brother?

Jetta (to Eric): Love, you want her squeezed? Is that all? It's easy. All it takes is a bit of... dosh! (steals money from Eric's wallet)

Aja (to Craig): Jem keeps her identity secret for good reasons. No matter how I feel about you, I won't betray Jem's trust in me.

Raya's Brother (as Raya walks away from the broken glass house): Raya, wait. What about your press conference? Aren't you going?

Raya: It doesn't matter. Craig will win.

Craig: You're too good for the Misfits, Mary.

Stormer: No. I'd be nothing without the Misfits. And if you don't help them. They'll... they'll.

Craig: They'll what?

Stormer: (sobbing) They'll kick me out of the group.

Raya: Jem is.. She is...

Jetta: Come on, dearie. Don't make a production out of it.

Raya (sees an orchid in Jetta's hair): It was you! (grabbing Jetta's hair and the orchid) You sent someone to wreck my father's business! So I would come begging to you!

Raya: If I didn't have a penny in the world, I wouldn't take money from you! To think I would consider betraying someone as good and kind and decent as Jem to a pack of jackals like you! (walking out the door) You'll never learn Jem's secret from me! Never!

Craig: (to the Misfits) I don't know why, but Stormer thinks she can't make it without you. So treat her right. Because if you toss her out of the Misfits, you'll answer to me. (grabs the Misfits poster and crumples it up) Personally.

Jem: (with the official winning ballet in hand) The winner is... Raya!

Liz Stratton (to Shana): I've warned you to make my co-stars to look less glamorous than me!

Shana: Ms. Stratton, I won't do less than my best for anyone. You don't want a designer. You want a flunky to feed your ego! I quit!

(As Jem walks behind the stage curtain)

Raya: Oh, the curtains! Oh, no! Jem! (steps up on the stage)

Jem: Show's over, Synergy.

Raya: (grabbing Jem's hand) Jem! Don't change!

Raya: So, when I came back to get my father's orchids, I saw you change to Jerrica.

Kimber: Wow. You've known the whole time.

Raya: Yes, (looking at Jem) but I almost sold your secret to... Eric Raymond.

Anthony: Shana says you threw her out. That she can't come back.

Kimber: But we thought it was her big chance to make it as a designer.

Aja: So we pretended we wanted her to go.

Jem: We love Shana. We miss her. We'd give anything to have her back.

Jem: (to Shana): Why did you quit the show?

Shana: I guess I just wasn't... cut out for it.

Kimber: (laughing) Ohh... terrible pun!

Mr. Alonzo (to Raya): What's wrong? Why aren't you with Jem and the Holograms?

Raya: Shana came back, so they don't need me anymore.

Jem: But we do. Since our drummer won't come to us...

Kimber: ...we decided to come to our drummer.

Jem: We want you on drums, Raya.

Raya: But Shana...

Shana: With you on drums, I can play my guitar.

Gallery[]

Goofs[]

When Jem and Raya pull up to Starlight Mansion, it is white instead of yellow, its usual color.
Before the "All's Right With The World" music video starts, Raya is wearing a blue dress, but when the song starts, she is shown in her standard outfit and then changes back into the blue dress during the song.
Kimber's hair turns blue in the middle of the "Show Me The Way" music video.

Trivia[]

Craig reveals to the other Misfits that Stormer's real name is Mary Phillips.
Stormer introduces her brother, Craig, to the rest of The Misfits. He just happens to be the other finalist in Jem's "Talent Search".
"Show Me The Way" was first sung in Starbright (Part 2): Colliding Stars.
This episode doesn't feature any songs by The Misfits.

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...