Rediscovering Synergy, Jem’s Synergy!

I’m rediscovering Jem through my four-year-old, and it’s truly, truly, truly outrageous.

I like to weave in fun experiences with technology and my kiddos whenever I can.  Thanks to the beauty of Netflix streaming, one of those experiences has been re-watching episodes of 80’s rockstar cartoon icon, Jem. That’s right, Jem, where the music is contagious and the fashion is outrageously gorgeous.

Have you seen an old episode of Jem lately? No? You should.

Not too unlike a Thursday evening Scandal recap, Jem opens each episode with an overview on what you’ve missed in previous episodes. Our Mother-daughter Rockstar-Viewing takes place on Sundays, and we can both use the weekly recaps. We sit on the couch, me with coffee and she with a glass of water in a wine glass.

For each 22-minute segment, we are mesmerized by the internal-struggle Jerrica goes through as she has to shift identities into Jem.  Her long love, Rio, is essentially in love with two different people, yet he doesn’t know that they are the same woman. Meanwhile, the constant bickering and concert sabotage by the Misfits adds in a hilarious element of drama.

Somehow, the insertion of music videos, outfit changes, and endless wisdom of Synergy add a light-hearted tone to the dramatic love triangle and band conflicts. The fashion of Jem is constantly changing. The attention to detail with every scarf, belt, and large earring is the epitome of the 80s elite fashion.  My daughter and I belt out tunes, try to match the outfits and walk around reciting dialogue to each other.

I – we – can’t get enough of it.

Yet, here’s where I have a conflict: the Jem movie, which is currently in production. Not only was the original writer, Christy Marx, not looped into the film, but most of the writers and actual makers of the film are guys. I don’t know if I can see myself going to see the actual movie.  I can’t help but wonder if the film will take the magic away of the animated series — the magical moments I share with my kiddo on the couch.

But for now, we have our truly, truly, truly outrageous Sunday evenings together, mom and daughter, on the couch. And let’s be real. How fun is it to walk around a store with your kid and whisper ‘Showtime, Synergy’?

Blagica Bottigliero
Vice President of Digital Media