The Bands Break Up is the 31st episode of Jem. It was written by Marv Wolfman and Cherie Wilkerson.
The episode starts with Kimber feeling unappreciated in her band after the others don't take her seriously. On the same day, Stormer tries to present a ballad to Pizzazz but gets cruelly rejected because the song isn't hard enough for her, In the evening, both women end up brooding at the same club. When the owner of the club spots the two famous musicians, she shines a light on them and asks the duo to sing for the audience.
As it turns out, Kimber and Stormer end up bonding during the musical number. The once-enemies quickly become best friends. The two soon become playing together every night. Stormer and Kimber end up getting talked to by a sneaky-looking music promoter named Dave Daniels. The two sign a contract, but it turns out that Raymond is behind it. Kimber has signed away Starlight Studios if she doesn't produce the album.
Stormer hasn't been practicing music with her band since Pizzazz rejected her song. The Misfits don't sound right without her so this upsets them all. Likewise, Kimber hasn't been hanging around her band, on the job or otherwise. Neither group like how the other woman is influencing their friend. The two bands try to intervene but Stormer and Kimber refuse to be separated.
When it comes to making their new album, neither Stormer or Kimber are having much success. They keep running into problems in production. The Misfits and the Holograms aren't doing much better with their missing members. The Misfits try to bribe Stormer into coming back but she still ends up running back to Kimber.
Kimber and Stormer finish their record just in time to stop Raymond from taking over Starlight Studios. When Raymond tells them the album won't sell without promotion, Kimber turns to her older sister for help.
After the album turns out to be a success, The Misfits arrive and start begging Stormer to come back with them. Stormer agrees, as long as they treat her with more respect and treat her as their equal. Kimber and Stormer part on amicable terms after sharing a hug.
This episode contains examples of:
- 10-Minute Retirement: Stormer and Kimber quit their bands for a few weeks at best.
- Beware the Nice Ones: Stormer is usually passive and only acts mean around her friends, but, due to her poor mood, she's quite snappy to Kimber at the start of the episode.
- Character Development: This episode is likely the most important character for Stormer character-wise, with her becoming more confident and learning how to better stand up for herself.
- Dating What Daddy Hates: In this case it's "Befriending What Sister Hates". Kimber's band, especially Jerrica, are disappointed in Kimber's friendship with a woman like Stormer.
- Drunk on Milk: Stormer goes to a night club to drown her sorrows in vanilla colas and hot fudge sundaes. Kimber does the same with peach shakes. Considering their Vague Ages, it's possible that both are under the minimum age for drinking in California.
- Dude, Where's My Respect?: Both Kimber and Stormer feel their hard work isn't appreciated by their respective bands. They take to becoming a duet because of positive crowd response and because it ends up being a largely respectful partnership.
- Duet Bonding: Stormer and Kimber become friends after singing "I'm Okay" together.
- Heel–Face Turn: Subverted. Stormer is given a chance to join the Holograms but she ends up returning to the Misfits.
Word of God is that she'd never join them anyway. - Positive Friend Influence: Why Pizzazz forbids Stormer from associating with Kimber.
- Pseudo-Romantic Friendship: It verges on Hide Your Lesbians, but on paper Stormer and Kimber are very close friends. They hold hands, hang out together constantly, and have a clear connection.Stormer: At least your group cares about you...Kimber: I... care about you, Stormer.Kimber: Friends?Stormer: Friends forever, against the world!
- Significant Wardrobe Shift:
- When Stormer is around Kimber she begins dressing in lighter colours and cuter patterns.
- It's obvious that some of Stormer's edge has rubbed off onto Kimber.
- Singing Voice Dissonance:
- Stormer keeps her rasp, but her singing voice is much deeper than her talking voice.
- Kimber's singing voice sounds much older than her normal voice.
- Start My Own: This is the plot of the episode. Kimber and Stormer start their own duo after feeling mistreated by their bands.
- Status Quo Is God: This episode is one of the most obvious instances in the show as, by next episode, Stormer is back to being cutthroat with Kimber and the others. There's no Call Backs to their friendship except for one in "Roxy Rumbles" and possibly when the Misfits turn up at Ba Nee's farewell party in the series finale.
- Surprisingly Realistic Outcome: Turns out making all of the crucial decisions that go into making an album is harder than it looks.
- Sweet Tooth: Stormer shows a liking for sundaes and eats them in at least two separate scenes.
- Toxic Friend Influence: Why the Holograms oppose Kimber performing with Stormer.
- Troubled Production: Back2Back had a lot of issues, from the original backup singers being terrible to Kimber and Stormer having differing opinions on how the music should sound.
