The Holograms rush to save Synergy from being discovered by Eric Raymond. By the night of the Battle of the Bands, Raymond and The Misfits are desperate for some way to ensure victory over their rivals. A golden opportunity presents itself when Ashley tries to end her dealings with them. Can The Holograms save Jem and Ashley in time to win the contest?
Plot[]
The hired detective Manny Malone drives away from the wreckage he created while Synergy calls to Jerrica that there is an intruder at the Starlight Drive-in. Disguised as elderly women by Synergy, Jem and The Holograms follow Malone on his journey to the Bureau of Records, where he asks for the ownership of the Starlight Drive-in, before returning back to Eric Raymond at Starlight Music to tell him everything. This reveals to the group that Eric was behind the intrusion. Realizing that he will want to take Synergy and exploit her for his own purposes, the girls rent a moving van and head back to the Starlight Drive-in. They're horrified to see Synergy in a destroyed heap on the floor, but it turns out it was only a hologram she projected to scare Malone off. Jerrica, Kimber, Aja and Shana proceed to take her apart.
Meanwhile, Malone shows Eric the pictures and tells him that Emmett Benton owned Starlight Drive-in and offers the theory that Jem and Jerrica are the same person. Eric doesn't believe it because he's seen the two of them together before, but he does believe that Synergy is important to The Holograms' act and hires Zipper and another thug to come with him to the Drive-in to steal Synergy. Fortunately, Jerrica and the other girls manage to empty it out and leave before the men arrive, and Eric vows it'll be the last time they'll make a fool out of him. The Holograms put Synergy back together correctly and she is elated to see Jerrica, transforming her into Jem as they sing "She's Got The Power".
The day of the Battle of the Bands has arrived and Pizzazz is very mad that none of Eric's brilliant schemes have worked, and it looks like Jem and The Holograms are going to win. Pizzazz suggests he do something, and fast. Ashley knocks on Eric's door to return the $30 that The Misfits gave her. Eric inquires on who she is and Roxy tells him she's a good for nothing Starlight orphan and a miserable brat. He tells The Misfits to leave her with him while they get ready for the concert. Stormer lingers for a moment, wondering what he's going to do to Ashley, but is called away by her bandmates.
The Holograms are preparing for the concert, when Eric calls Jerrica to tell her that he is holding Ashley hostage and that Jem and The Holograms must meet him at the Starlight Drive-in or else. Jerrica tells The Holograms what happened and they're all determined to go with her, although they know this is blackmail to distract them from the battle. She then vaguely tells a suspicious Rio that they have something to do before the concert and the band takes off.
Backstage at the concert, Eric gives Ashley to The Misfits and tells them to hide her while he goes to a meeting. Ashley attempts to from Pizzazz and Roxy. They end up catching her and decide to lock her in a chest. Stormer stays behind to help Ashley, but Pizzazz and Roxy come back and find her and tell her she has to pick a side. Stormer apologizes to Ashley and goes off with her friends.
Jem and The Holograms meet Eric at the drive-in. When Kimber notices that they are surrounded by thugs, she warns Jem to get out of there. Jem takes off in the Roadster, attempting to leave, but Zipper cuts her off. She gets out and runs into the lot, where Zipper grabs her while on his motorcycle. Synergy calls out but Jem tosses one of her earrings on the ground.
Meanwhile, the concert is underway and The Misfits prove to be a real crowd pleaser singing "Takin' It All". Howard Sands explains to the audience that their applause will be measured by a huge guitar applause rock-o-meter. Eric then asks the audience to cheer one more time for The Misfits as the star lights reach up to the second to last star. Eric begins gloating that The Holograms will lose by default if they fail to turn up by intermission.
Rio pounces on him and demands to know where the girls are. They are interrupted by Ashley's screams coming from a forklift heading for the trash crusher. Stormer yells that Ashley's in the trunk and Rio pulls it off the belt just in the nick of time. Ashley tells Rio The Holograms are at the Starlight Drive-in. Howard informs Rio to hurry or else The Misfits will win the contest.
Back at the drive-in, Jem is giving instructions to Synergy. Synergy then makes a series of Holograms to fool Zipper's thugs into thinking that they're lions on the inside and cops outside. The girls make a run for it but Zipper grabs Kimber before they get the chance to get out the door and locks her back in.
Synergy disguises Jem, Aja and Shana as three versions of Eric to confuse Zipper long enough for Kimber to slip away. They manage to throw a crate over him when Rio arrives with the police. After kissing Rio, Jem picks up her lost earring before heading off to the concert in a police car.
The audience is chanting for Jem and Howard starts to announce that the winners are The Misfits, but Jem and The Holograms burst onto the stage and completely blow the crowd away with "Music Is Magic". Ashley is reunited with the other Starlight Girls in the front row watching the concert.
In an attempt to get away, Eric hops into the Rockin' Roadster but the cops surround him and arrest him for kidnapping. The audience's applause lights up the stars to the top of the guitar neck which makes Jem and The Holograms the official winners of the Battle of the Bands and the legal owners of Starlight Music and Starlight Mansion.
As the victory fireworks skyrocket overhead, The Misfits can't believe they've been defeated again, but Pizzazz reminds them they that they are still The Misfits. Jem and The Holograms celebrate their victory.
Jerrica and Rio go to Starlight Music and throw away Eric Raymond's name tag and go into her office, only to discover Eric's in there. He finishes packing some things, including a photo of Synergy, into his shopping bag telling Jerrica that it's amazing what lawyers can do if you pay them enough.
As he begins to leave, he smacks Jerrica in the face, but Rio in turn punches him out of the office. Jerrica tells Rio that she will make something great out of Starlight Music, something that would make her father proud. The couple then hold each other as the fireworks go off.
When The Holograms use holographic disguises to pass as elderly women, Shana appears with white skin.
Trivia[]
This episode was the last of the initial five episodes before the show was picked up to series, otherwise known as the "Truly Outrageous" episodes. The others were written and produced later on.
The three segments for this episode were titled "Synergy", "Prisoners" and "The Big Contest".
This is the first episode where someone, other than the people who know, has suggested that Jem and Jerrica are the same person.
The compilation movie of the first five episodes ended right after Jem and The Holograms were announced as the winners, while the TV version had a few minutes more added in.
Eric slapping Jerrica was edited out of the original video tapes and also when some countries aired the show.
