Season One: Exploring ISLAND OF DECEPTION
Britrock website copyright EA Woolley
ISLAND OF DECEPTION
Quite possibly the best first year episode for it's in depth characterisation
and it's clear challenge of the normal "rules" each of those characters usually
portrays. It's an episode about survival but, as the title says, it is also
about deception and how a little white lie can go a long way...
A TANGLED WEB...
There are two main threads of deceit that run through this episode.
Both start out as small and insignificant things and end up having a major
impact on the plot.
The first example - nobody will be surprised to hear - belongs with the
Misfits. Disgruntled that the Holograms are receiving all of the captain's
attention, (even getting to play a song live), Pizzazz (we assume the creative
genius here is Pizzazz) devises a trick in revenge. Bribing a sailor, the
Misfits get the Holograms hiding in a lifeboat ready to surprise the captain
- of course, the idea is that the Misfits will quietly cast the band adrift
and let them find their own way home. Of course, because it is a classically
ill-thought out Misfit scheme, all goes haywire. The holograms, disturbed
by the noise of the winch jump out to cry "Happy Birthday!" - rocking the
boat (literally!) and sending musicians into the sea.
For the record, as a Misfit devotee, I must explain why I call this "another
classically ill-thought out Misfit plot." There is no malicious intent here
to harm the Holograms - there rarely is in Misfit schemes, if you think about
it, just reckless stupidity. Pizzazz shrieks to the Holograms "You weren't
supposed to move!" before yelling to Stormer to "put it" (the winch) "in
reverse!" The chaos also sent Roxy tumbling into the boat, so we see once
more that protective Misfit instinct as Pizzazz and Stormer do their utmost
to prevent everyone falling in. Major plot move number one here - once they're
all in the water, the Holograms and the Misfits are stranded at sea and nobody
knows that they're even gone from the boat till morning.
The second piece of deception is less straight forward and parts of it
baffle me. On the one hand, you see JErrica do one of the most genuinely
unselfish and brave things she does all series - she saves Stormer from
drowning. She is the only character to notice Stormer's desperate struggles
and hear her cry for help and she immediately goes to the rescue, shorting
her earrings and reverting to her Jerrica form as she does so. (I consider
this symbolic. Whenever Jem/Jerrica does something genuine and selfless
it usually comes from Jerrica's heart and not her confused Jem persona.)
None of this is in itself deceptive, but it is pertinent nonetheless. To
save Stormer's life, Jerrica has risked her secret identity because Stormer
knows that Jerrica saved her and immediately her concern is for Jerrica's
safety when they are all on the island.
Whatever part Jem's secret plays in any plot usually relies on some amount
of self-protective deception. However, Jem's choice of solution here baffles
me. When she explains to the other holograms what happened, they urge for
her to project an image of Jerrica. Jem says "a hologram is not the answer,
but I think I've figured out a way to fool them." This makes categorically
no sense. For a start, in order for Jem and Jerrica to be seen together,
sooner or later Synergy must project a hologram of one of them. And indeed,
at a later point in the episode, she does project an image of Jerrica and
then, at the end, one of Jem. My only explanation for this - and it's a poor
one, with many holes in it - is that for some reason it's tied up in Jerrica's
confused identity crisis - that to her Jem is the hologram, not Jerrica,
and that she does not wish to confuse which persona is the real one by darting
about projecting images of her real self. Maybe she finds it too creepy
to come face to face with herself - I don't know. But she does do it in
other episodes, so I don't know. And it would not have been hard for her
to "switcheroo" when she had a moment alone. Jem's choice of solution is
the second key plot moment. It is a dangerous lie, because it leads the
bands into the jungle where they have encounters with wild animals, not
all of whom are friendly. But, on the other side of the coin, it also leads
them to Angus Bean and the radio, which provides their escape.
STORMER'S DILEMMA
Stormer is a (perhaps the) pivotal character in this episode. She is
often a confusing character to figure out, due to the contrasting way different
writers tackle her, but I think this episode best encapsulates first season
Stormer. I said earlier that this was a story of survival and it is - in
this particular instance, Stormer's survival - not only her near-drowning
incident, but the fact she is caught between the enemy who saved her life
and the group with which she has placed her loyalties.
Almost drowning has had a distinct effect on Stormer. Her first question
to the Holograms on the island is "Where is Jerrica?" And she pursues the
matter, despite being shouted down by Roxy and Pizzazz. Stormer is clearly
worried for Jerrica's safety. When the two groups slip into 'teamwork' mode,
she acquiesces without a murmur and actually seems to enjoy it! Very significantly,
too, she rescues Kimber from an icky, poisonous looking bug. The gesture may
not have the drama of the sea rescue, but it is clear what it means. Stormer
is repaying her debt to Jerrica by putting herself out to help Jerrica's sister.
This is a very Misfit gesture in some ways - repayment in kind so she is
no longer indebted to the enemy. But Stormer is more than just your average
Misfit - she is confused and torn because, though she helps Kimber, when
the redhead thanks her, Stormer brushes her off with an uncomfortable "ah,
forget it!" It's almost as if she's worried that Pizzazz and Roxy might
think she's over-fraternising with the enemy, and might not even understand
her motivation.
I think Stormer is very bemused about the rivalry throughout this episode.
Up to now, Jem and co have been the enemy pretty much because Eric and Pizzazz
said so, and Stormer is afraid to go against either one of them. But by the
end of the episode Stormer is beginning to see the Holograms in a little more
of a real light. She voices the fact that she does not think that the Holograms
have ulterior publicity moments for being on the island, despite what the
other Misfits think. (On a side-note here, it's almost like Roxy and Pizzazz
have to find a reason to blame Jerrica, knowing all too well that it was
Misfit pranks that led them all to be washed up on the isle!). When she has
a near miss with a wild boar, it's clear that she's shaken and would dearly
like to accept Jem's comfort, but she is aware that the other Misfits are
around and she dare not lose face.
Of course, Stormer does have another very important moment in the episode.
One that is never really explained and that fans debate about even now. In
the hermit's hut, it's clear that Angus is smitten with Stormer and she responds
to his advances coyly yet with some pleasure, even brushing aside the other
Misfits. He asks her if she believes in love and she replies "I don't know.
Love's not easy for me."
Stormer is the only Misfit to get such a romantic interlude, brief as it
is, and you wonder why it is that love is "not easy" for her. I can see two
possible answers. One is simply that, as a Misfit, she isn't able to indulge
her romantic side and take part in such "soft" emotions. (We do know from
other episodes like Broadway Magic and Britrock, and the beginning of this
episode that Stormer has a keen sense of romance.) The other possible reason
is that Stormer finds love difficult because she has been spurned before and
does not want to be hurt again. I like that theory (as readers of my fic
will know), but we will never know, so it is entirely open to speculation.
LOVE'S NOT EASY...THE SONG THAT NEVER WAS
Stormer's romantic interlude with Angus brings me to this little question.
The point was first raised on the TOJ! mailing list by - I believe - co-moderator
Shannon, that the Jem song Love's Not Easy should have played in this episode
rather than in Renaissance Woman, many episodes later. This is supported by
a number of things. Firstly, Stormer says pretty much the exact words that
could serve as a prompt for the Holograms to have a song. Second, there is
an awkward scene with Jem and Kimber about love not being easy that somehow
seems jerky and to be missing something - has a song been cut between Kimber's
sympathy and her "well, I suppose love's not easy for anyone, now how are
we going to get off this island?" remark. Third, Jem and the Holograms have
only one song in the episode (Set Your Sails). Most first year and many second
year episodes include two Jem songs, or at the very least have three songs
in them. This episode has only two overall. Finally, Love's Not Easy is the
only song from a second year episode to feature on a doll tape, suggesting
that it's composition is pre: the launch of the second edition line and therefore
it was chosen for second edition Kimber's cassette. The song fits awkwardly
with Renaissance Woman and has no explanatory preamble. I think that this
is because for reasons of episode length, the song was axed from it's original
episode and used as a filler song later on.
TEAMWORK!
There is a fair amount of amusing teamwork going on in this episode...all
of which are great to watch and raise some interesting points.
Firstly, Pizzazz's behaviour has to be discussed. When Jem first starts
to take control, she sulks and mutters about making a radio out of seashells
in the most sarcastic, sullen way she can muster. She hates that everyone
else is getting involved and listening to Jem and that she is not in charge.
However, when Kimber calls on her to help land a fish, she comes to the rescue
and has the chance to prove herself as an able preparer of freshly caught
fish!! How she acquired such a skill I am not sure - was Pizzazz also a girl
scout, maybe? Or did she learn this survival skill somewhere else? I suppose
we shall never know! But the resounding praise she receives for her cooking
at the campfire seems to bring her more into the circle and she is less of
the sulky brat. For Pizzazz, control and being the best at something are both
very important facets. By providing the food for the group she has re-established
her usefulness and has been duly praised for it. And of course, by taking
over the preparation of the fish, she has once more resumed an element of
control. This is highlighted by the Misfits' song - It Takes Alot - which
Pizzazz introduces with the instruction "Listen up! You can't stay soft and
survive!". This is the command of a leader - Pizzazz obviously feels that
it's time she took control of everything and she means to do it!
The Holograms are rather dim here - and they also lay themselves open to
fan criticism. Throughout the series, the Holograms bitch and bitch about
the Misfits, how they play, what their music sounds like, etc. Yet on the
island they sit quietly and listen to the Misfits perform, enjoying the song
without a murmur of complaint. This indicates that their unpleasant remarks
in other episodes are probably rooted simply in annoyance that the Misfits
even dare record any song, and that they are worried about the competition,
not at all that the music is rubbish. Whilst the Misfits insult Jem and the
Holograms themselves, the Holograms always target their rivals' work - and
that's a bit below the belt for heroes :)
The reason I say they are dim here is because during the performance of
the song, Pizzazz acquires the first aid kid. And yet the Holograms go to
sleep oblivious, allowing the Misfits to creep away in the night unseen.
This seperation is key because it is only when the Misfits seperate themselves
from the pack that they get into danger. In the Holograms' favour, annoyed
though they are, they do come to the Misfits' rescue, and Jem uses Synergy
to project a herd of elephants to save them from the wild boar. (Aja later
makes the mistake of trying to give the Holograms credit for this rescue,
which basically marks the end of any friendliness between the two groups as
they leave the island. But then, it was never going to last. Roxy is already
not keen on the idea of being friends, even if Kimber is!)
The Misfits and Holograms work well as a team. If nothing else, it proves
that when there is a crisis, the two groups can more or less put their hate
aside and work together. That would disprove any claim that any of the characters
were 100% evil and selfish. But then, no sensible Jem fan would believe that,
anyhow!! ;)
Finally, there is one other piece of teamwork I must mention. That is the
teamwork back on the boat!! At the start of the episode, Eric mentions how
he hates boats and asks "why couldn't we fly to the island like normal people?"
Eric is not seen again till the end of the episode - we can only assume that
he gets seasick! But when we do see Eric again, he is in company with Rio.
It's the most unlikely scene ever, but these two have banded together in the
same way as the girls have on the island in order to rescue their missing
bands. And it proves that both Rio and Eric value their groups more than they
value the rivalry between them. For Rio this is no surprise, but it does
show a shred of human compassion in Eric that he has omitted even shaving
in his vigil in the control room, waiting for news of his protegees!
IT TAKES A LOT...
It's worth noting for a moment the Misfit song "It Takes Alot" which is one
of those songs that isn't about them being the best, but is about survival
and being tough - "It's a jungle out there, so you had better beware."
I've already cited in my Starbright review the possibility of Pizzazz's metaphorical
jungle for showbusiness...I think this song returns to that theme very nicely
:) Though of course it is recycled for Rock and Roll Express, it is far more
at home in Island of Deception. The lyrics are nicely ambiguous - "don't
go turning your back, no telling what may attack" could refer to the wilderness
in which they find themselves, or could equally be a Misfit warning to the
Holograms - "Watch yourselves, because we're here and we'll pounce if you're
not prepared." There is a lot of use of nature and wildlife, too -in this
video 'Zazz falls into a spider's web, all three Misfits transform into fireflies,
Pizzazz uses the fire as "magic" to change their attire and Stormer scares
Kimber with a tribal mask. All of these things indicate that the Misfits
associate themselves far more with the wild than maybe people expect. There
is none of the materialistic things that you usually think of when you think
of a Misfit video - no money, no cars, screaming fans, lights. Just them
proving that they are more adept to surviving a hostile environment than
the Holograms. And what environment is more hostile in the Jem series than
the music industry? Stands to reason ;)
CONCLUSION
I love this episode. Stormer gets a major role, we get to see some
sides of characters that we don't often get to see, and there is a heck of
a lot of discussion material in the episode, much of which I have only barely
touched upon. True, it is another time when we see the Misfits eating...and
eating plenty...whilst in contrast the Holograms seem to avoid the need to
eat - Jerrica even claiming to "skip dinner for a nap" so that she can become
Jem at the captain's table!
It's also an episode with a strong message - small lies can get you into
big trouble!!
Episode rating: 8.5/10.
Original site concept c. 2001
This version c.2014
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