Synergy
Synergy
Character Analysis
You might think it strange for me to choose to do an analysis for a computer,
and perhaps you'd be right. But Synergy is far more than simply a machine
that projects Jem's hologram. It is very easy to believe at certain points
that Synergy is at least part human herself, her moods and emotions mirror
those of her companions and she is always on hand with advice and encouragement.
In order to fulfil the requirements for being categorised simply as a machine,
Synergy would have to omit any kind of independant
thought from her behaviour. However, this is not the case. In Midsummer
Night's Madness, she takes it upon herself to invent a new identity for
herself in order to make Jerrica listen to her advice about Rio. In Music
Awards, when Jerrica asks Synergy for some brand new effects, Synergy's
tone is less than enthusiastic (I still maintain that the dangerous laser
show that follows is less to do with Techrat's jammer and more to do with
Synergy's own mischievous streak). She also takes over the light show and
announces the Holograms off her own bat in The World Hunger Shindig. And
when you watch the "She's Got The Power" video from the extended Truly Outrageous
episode, Synergy gives so much attitude and personality during the animation
there that you can easily believe she is capable of independant thought!
In Out of the Past, however, the true motivation behind Synergy's motherly
behaviour is revealed, when the girls find out that Emmet programmed her
with parts of Jacqui Benton's personality. Despite the fact Emmet created
her partly to help him get over his grief at losing his wife, Synergy, by
his own admission, became far more than that, and entirely deserves to be
referred to as 'She' rather than 'it' by her charges.
Friendships/Roles
Synergy takes her job as the mother figure for Jerrica and especially Kimber
very seriously indeed. She is very conscious of her own safety, but her
extreme loyalty to the task Emmet set her inspires her to try and produce
a hologram even when the FBI are pulling her apart in Presidential Dilemma.
Equally, when Jerrica loses the earrings in China, the Holograms seem just
as lost without Synergy's guidance as they do without the Jem hologram,
resorting to stealing earrings from a museum in their desperation. It is
hard also to believe that Synergy did not play a huge role in the creation
of Jem herself.
In out of the past, Synergy is eager to dissasociate herself from being
the incarnation of Jacqui, as much to tell the girls she is an individual
as anything. However, she is not always appreciated by the Holograms. Already
mentioned is the incident in Midsummer Night's Madness, but there are others.
Shana doubts her abilities (and is quickly disproven) in Search For The Stolen
Album, and Kimber doesn't invite Synergy to her wedding, despite all the
valuable advice the computer provides in Scandal. Also, Synergy's opinion
is not sought at the end of Out of the Past, when Aja hunts through her
memory banks - a risky procedure which could have cost the computer her
life.
Synergy's bond with the Holograms is absolute, but, since no other character
of import knows of her existance, it's impossible to say she has any real
relationship with the rest of the cast :)