GI Joe: There's No Place Like Springfield

GI Joe: There's No Place Like Springfield

What a way to end a season. 

This is the season finale of the first season in 1985, and it is certainly one of the most talked about episodes even today.  The subject matter for the episode was very serious and it dealt with psychology and twisted mind control. 

I remember getting freaked out when Roadblock is shown going inside the infamous car wash and melting in front of Shipwreck.  He says, “It is sure was hot in there.” 

For a show made for selling toys to children, I’m surprised they got away with the stuff they did in this episode.  The two-part episode gives a clear look into what makes Shipwreck tick.  Even though he’s a guy that loves being single, deep down he wants a family.  Cobra gives him that family and takes it away.  Even though he has a family now, he can’t get over the loss of Lady Jaye.  I always thought there was hint of attraction to Lady Jaye from Shipwreck, but Flint and Jaye were partners. 

The synthoid technology would come into play on GI Joe’s sister show Transformers.  In that story set 20 years in the future, Cobra Commander sells his synthoid technology to terrorists in 2006. 

Anyway, check out the full episodes below.  Cobra!!!

Part I

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero - S1E54 - There's... by EagleEye1982

-I like the crazy professor.   He puts the formula in Shipwreck’s mind…the worst place to put it. 

-Seeing the USS Flag take heavy damage was cool thing to see back in the day.  You could almost buy that the ship went down after the battle.  But, it really didn’t. 

-Shipwreck’s daughter has a very anime look to her. 

Part II

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero - S1E55 - There's... by EagleEye1982

-There are some funny moments with Cobra scientists getting interrupted by Shipwreck’s intrusions.  I like the mechanical mini-jets crashing into the Cobra guards. 

-Creepiest moment II:  Seeing Shipwreck’s family pointing guns at him and his bird destroying his fake family.   Supposedly, reruns of the episode edit out the little girl holding the gun at Shipwreck.  I guess they got complaints.  But, they didn’t have a problem with showing the little synthoid girl dying. 

-When Shipwreck reads off the secret formula, I got a good laugh because Shipwreck would have never said those complex words. 

-Who is Crimson Guard cadet Demming?: It just seems strange that she is introduced and only plays out in this one scene. When I watched the episode again, I thought she was Lady Jaye in deguise, but that got thrown out the window when she starting trying to get answers from him and going crazy herself. Was her character ever paid off in later episodes?

Cobra Commander on Transformers