Island Of Deception - Episode Guide

#5205-20 Island Of Deception
Written by Mary Skrenes

Synopsis:
Jem and the Holograms are going on a cruise on the way to their next concert in Saint Thomas at the Virgin Island. The Misfits go along to find out what they're up to. After a failed result of one of the Misfits' tricks, both groups fall overboard and end up on a deserted island. Now Jem and the Holograms have to get along with the Misfits and survive.

Characters:
Jem/Jerrica and the Holograms, The Misfits, Rio, Eric, Starlight Girls (Ashley, Ba Nee, Krissie, Deirdre, Terri, Lela, Marianne, Joellen, Becky, Nancy, Delaree), captain Warren of the "Bahama Queen", Angus Bean, Krebbs.

Focus:
Jerrica, Stormer.

Locations & vehicles:
Bahama Queen cruise ship, island, boat.

Songs:
"Set Your Sails" Jem and the Holograms
"It Takes Alot" The Misfits

Instrumentals:
"Set Your Sails" by Jem and the Holograms.

Genres:
Adventure, Action, Romance, Humor.

Original airdate:
8 November 1986.

Releases:
Released on VHS. Released on DVD.

International:
Italy: Aired on TV. The episode title was "L'isola" (The Island).
France: Aired on TV. Released on VHS. Released on DVD. The episode title was "La Déception" (The Disappointement).
Holland: Aired on TV.
Venezuela: Aired on TV. The episode title was "La Isla De La Decepción" (The island of deception).
UK: Aired on TV. Released on VHS.
Australia: Released on DVD.
New Zealand: Released on VHS.

Behind the Scenes:
A messsage from the writer Mary Skrenes:
When I wrote for Jem, each show was structured for three acts and three music videos. The lyrics were suggested by me for visuals I came up with that would go with the plot. The first song, "Sailing away to Adventure" was pretty fluffy. "Island of Deception" was built around the concept of the Misfits singing “You Can’t Be Soft and Survive" I'm not sure why they cut the third song. I imagine that, perhaps, "Love's not easy" was also a strong song but would detract from the impact of the second song. I will say that Britta had and has a great voice. I always wondered at the flakes that were making it as pop singers instead of her. She and the others did some lovely harmonies that still ring in my mind's ear.

Trivia:
Eric hates the sea, he prefers to fly.

Stormer almost discovers Jem's secret when she is rescued by Jerrica.

Synergy's transmission gets blocked too deep under water.

Jerrica was a girlscout.

Pizzazz knows how to clear a fish.

Kimber is afraid of Spiders, Stormer isn't.

Stormer says a title of a Jem and the Holograms song, "Love's Not Easy" and Kimber repeats that line, which is the title of Jem song that was yet to come in many episodes later, and this episode only had two songs.

We get to see Rio unshaved. Apparently purple isn't his real hair color since his beard is not purple.

Jerrica figures out in advance that Rio can't hug a hologram, so she makes sure she is Jerrica, and since Jem has to be there too, she makes a hologram of Jem next to her.

Kimber suggests that Jem and the Holograms and the Misfits become friends and Stormer practically agrees, but Roxy and Pizzazz don't.

Although the fashions worn by the Holograms and the Misfits are ruined in this episode, several of them appear fixed up in later episodes.

The song "Love's Not Easy" by Jem and the Holograms, which appeared in the episode "Renaissance Woman", may have been made for this episode. Kimber says the line "love's not easy" in this episode, and it's the only song that appeared on a cassette with the dolls before it was shown in the cartoon.