Ep 9. The Oz Effect

The Oz Effect is the ninth episode of M.A.S.K's first season. It originally aired on November 16, 1985. In this episode, M.A.S.K. is contacted by a former scientist who has an incredibly advanced piece of technology that's rightfully worth a fortune. V.E.N.O.M. finds out and tries to steal it. They succeed, but they soon realize that their acquisition is so advanced that they cannot even comprehend how to use it. Meanwhile, M.A.S.K. uses their own tech to try and stop V.E.N.O.M. from misusing the device and causing unimaginable destruction.

In the episode, viewers are introduced to a reclusive old inventor, Arthur Simonson, who has created a machine he calls the Molecular Auto-Tuner, or M.A.T. for short. He makes contact with M.A.S.K. to help him retrieve the device after V.E.N.O.M. steals it. The M.A.T. is a device that can turn any molecule into any other molecule in existence.

As M.A.S.K. races to get the M.A.T. back from Miles Mayhem and his crew, V.E.N.O.M. discover how to use the device and the true power it holds. They begin to transform items around them into weapons and other devices, testing out the true extents of the machine's abilities. This causes the group to realize that V.E.N.O.M. must be stopped at all costs since they could basically do whatever they wanted with the device.

As the episode progresses, it becomes a race against time for M.A.S.K. to locate V.E.N.O.M.'s hideout, retrieve the device, and save the city from disaster. Along the way, viewers are treated to a few new masks and vehicles, including the Firecracker sports car, and the Rescue Mission helicopter.

One of the standout moments of the episode is the clever tactics used by M.A.S.K. to stop V.E.N.O.M. from using the M.A.T. against them. Not only do the M.A.S.K. agents use their individual masks and gadgets, but they also work together to make sure that V.E.N.O.M. doesn't have an opportunity to do any real damage.

In the end, V.E.N.O.M. is stopped, and the M.A.T. is returned to Arthur Simonson where it belongs. The episode ends with the old inventor returning to his lab to continue his work, unaware of the danger he narrowly avoided. The episode also sets up future episodes in the season by hinting at a bigger conspiracy going on in the background.

Overall, The Oz Effect is a thrilling episode of M.A.S.K. that combined action, suspense, and science fiction all in one package. It features some of the coolest gadgets and vehicles in the show, while also raising some serious questions about the limits of technology and the dark side of experimentation. Fans of the show will no doubt enjoy this episode, while newcomers will find it a riveting introduction to the colorful world of M.A.S.K.