GLEE Stumbles In "New Directions"

Article first published as TV Review: 'Glee' - 'New Directions' on Blogcritics.

If there’s one thing I can say about the second half of FOX’s Glee‘s 100th episode celebration it’s that it’s way better than the first. The story about how a high school principal stubbornly shuts down a second-in-the-nation ranked show choir still makes absolutely no sense, but at least the music improves, and the ending nails every emotional note better than anything Glee has done yet.

As “New Directions” opens, Holly (Gwyneth Paltrow) and April (Kristin Chenoweth) are still determined to save the club. Sue (Jane Lynch), who happens to be besties with Holly, something that comes out of nowhere, agrees to let the women try to shoehorn the New Directions into another club. They choose the agricultural one, for no discernible reason, and Holly leads all the kids in an energetic, but weird, “Party All the Time.”

This doesn’t work, of course, and Sue forbids them for trying again. So Holly and April take off to engage in illegal activities, as they should, as they do not belong at McKinley.

With them out of the way, “New Directions” proceeds through serving a number of its long-time cast members, continuing to ignore the five newbies, save for a brief scene where they reminisce alone. The quintet doesn’t even get a song, just a few scant lines, which seems a shame, given how they are built up earlier in their season-and-a-half tenure with the show. I’m still holding out hope that they start a covert, unofficial glee club in the school next year and the series ends with them revitalizing the lost organization, but we’ll see.

Instead, this episode gives due to older and former students. Tina (Jenna Ushkowitz) considers not moving to New York (yay!) when she doesn’t have a reason to. But Artie, (Kevin McHale), Sam (Chord Overstreet), and Blaine (Darren Criss) woo her into agreeing to come with a terrific “Loser Like Me” rendition (boo!) since she didn’t get into her fall back school, Ohio State. But then Tina is accepted by Brown and decides not to head to NY after all, meaning this will be her last episode for the foreseeable future (YAY!!!).

Speaking as someone who lives in the city where OSU is located, I can confidently say that it is definitely not a fall back school and has quite high standards. The fact that it was labeled as such is very offensive. Though, in the end, Brown accepts Tina when OSU doesn’t, so I guess Ohioans get the last laugh.

I’d also like to complain about how only a few dozen students graduate in a school that clearly has a much larger student body than that, but I digress.

Other parts of “New Directions” involve couples getting back together. Quinn (Dianna Agron) and Puck (Mark Salling) announce their renewed relationship with the club’s final song, “Just Give Me a Reason,” which is a good performance, but a strange way to close down the group. Brittany (Heather Morris) and Santana (Naya Rivera) reconnect, with Brit deciding to drop out of MIT and move to the Big Apple. And Santana and Rachel (Lea Michele) make up.

I’m a little disappointed at the ending of the Rachel / Santana split. It’s nice that Mercedes (Amber Riley) and Kurt (Chris Colfer) use a fair “I Am Changing” to point out how stupid the feud is. I also enjoy how Brittany helps Santana come around after Santana slaps aside Rachel’s olive branch. But Santana quitting the Broadway show, a huge opportunity, is lame, and the girls don’t exactly feel like friends, even after the heart-warming “Be Okay” reconciliation number. Is there no hope for frenemies to turn into true chums?

All of this is perfunctory, though, as the real showcase starts about two-thirds of the way through. As Will (Matthew Morrison) gives up on trying to save the day, completely out of character, the students put together an inspiring video message to his unborn child, followed by a phenomenal reprise of “Don’t Stop Believin’” This musical number begins with the surviving original members and expands as appropriate, with lots of people sharing the solos. From the video to the song, it’s one big tear-jerking scene that really feels like a series finale, everyone saying goodbye for the final time.

Why isn’t this saved for a series finale? Is it because the glee club will be revived at some point, since disbanding it flies in the face of the tone of the show? Or is it just a convenient excuse to ditch many of the newer cast and double down on the higher quality, more mature New York stuff? On one hand, I want to praise the show for finally sticking a landing, presenting one of, if not the, best sequence of the whole run. On the other hand, I want to scream that Glee should not be so depressing, and this can’t be how it wraps up, even if it’s just the close of one chapter.

The capper of “New Directions” finds Will and Sue sharing a quiet moment alone in the empty choir room. Sue says she respects him, something completely nonsensical given how completely she has destroyed him, and her peace offering of scoring him an interview with Vocal Adrenaline is dumb.  It comes across as insincere and hokey, and while it’s satisfying to have a sweet moment between Sue and Will, the context ruins any friendship that might have existed.

So now, as has long been anticipated, the high school days of Glee are over. Will that fix what’s been wrong with the show, or will the problems merely transfer to the big city? Can the series ever repeat the emotional highs reached this week? Guess we’ll find out soon enough.

Glee airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.

"Mash Off" rocks Glee

     On this week's episode of FOX's Glee, "Mash Off," Will (Matthew Morrison) and Shelby (Idina Menzel) vow to keep their groups from fighting by staging a McKinley Mash Off. Santana (Naya Rivera) isn't thrilled, finding it impossible not to start an argument with Finn (Cory Monteith). Growing tired of her taunts, Finn plays dirty, accusing Santana of hiding in the closet. Unfortunately, someone connected to Sue's (Jane Lynch) Congressional opponent hears, and features the slur in an attack ad. Kurt (Chris Colfer) keeps his own campaign for class president clean, leading a lonely and chastised Rachel (Lea Michele) to abandon her run, throwing her support behind him.

     Mash up episodes of Glee are always special, featuring wonderful music, and "Mash Off" is no different. This time, Hall & Oats and Adele are the featured artists who get this treatment. The Troubletones slay Adele's "Rumour Has It" and "Someone Like You" with the power of Mercedes (Amber Riley) and Santana. Santana is very raw, emotionally, in the moment, and it lends the song real weight. The New Directions go a bit more classic, using "I Can't Go For That" and "You Make My Dreams." While Finn does sing lead, many of the supporting players, such as Rory (Damian McGinty) get focus, too. The result is a beautiful tribute to fantastic music. Neither group can be declared the winner, because both are excellent.

     Of course, this showdown is not the only singing in "Mash Off." Will and Shelby mash two songs called "You and I" in a fun and interesting way. It's also nice to see them play well together, making Shelby an ally, rather than an enemy, this time around, despite what may be going on with the fractured glee clubs. Breaking that spirit, the Troubletones and New Directions go for "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" and "One Way or Another" during a charged dodge ball fight that is quite effective. Puck's (Mark Salling) "Hot for Teacher" is a bit weird, feeling a little outside the typical realm of Glee in the staging and choreography, as well as the subject matter. But that doesn't prevent it from being pretty darn enjoyable.

     Puck's storyline itself, while understandable for the character, is unfortunate. He is a good guy who deserves happiness, and thinks he can have it with the woman raising his baby. While this certainly makes sense from his logical perspective, it isn't a good situation for Shelby. Puck is eighteen, so the relationship is legal, but she is a teacher at his school. True, she doesn't regularly teach him, but it could still cost her her job, as well as huge public humiliation. Shelby is smart enough to know not to act on a horny teenager's impulses. But in her loneliness, it's easy to see how she could consider Puck's offer, as wrong as she knows it is.

     When the Puck / Shelby pairing first pops up, it is a shockingly wrong. However, as it unfolds, it feels authentic and sweet. This is a testament to Salling and Menzel, who both commit fully to the situation. It is still wrong, for a number of legal and ethical reasons. Yet, it's hard not to root for the two to be together in the end. If only Puck would cool down his pursuit until June.

     Or, even better, bring back Zizes (Ashley Fink)!

     Puck's feelings lead him to expose Quinn's (Dianna Agron) attempts to frame Shelby as an unfit parent. Shelby is rightfully furious, accusing Quinn of still being just as ugly as she starts the season, despite restoring her hair color and losing the piercings. And she's right. Quinn is no longer a likeable character that one can feel sorry for. Her single-minded mission to get custody of Beth is ridiculous and cruel. Quinn is still a monster, and needs some serious professional help if she is to recover from this very bad place that she is in.

     The election for class president is heating up. Brittany (Heather Morris) chooses a platform of unrealistic things, like banning tornados and going topless on Tuesdays. She would not even be allowed to declare the latter in a real school, and she would be laughed away for the former. However, somehow, in Glee world, her words are popular. Plus, she's hot. One other nameless candidate doesn't speak at the so-called "debate," in which no questions are asked, and another is even crazier than Brittany.

     Kurt, on the other hand, is taking things much more seriously. Banning dodge ball is a bold and stupid move that could backfire, given the game's popularity. However, as shown in "Mash Up," it can be a very cruel contest. Going after bullying is a great issue, though, and this is the key that might lead to victory for Kurt. It certainly sways Rachel, who is already missing Kurt as a friend, to resign as a competitor and get behind him. Together, hopefully the two will prove unstoppable.

     Glee deals with bullying plenty, but in "Mash Up," the harassment takes a more personal, more disturbing edge than previously. That may be because it's between two main characters. Santana is always quick with an insult. Lately, after quitting the New Directions, she focuses a lot of her rage on Finn. He finally can't take it anymore, and unleashes a rant about her hiding in the closet. Everything he says is true, and unbelievably cruel. It shakes Santana and viewers alike. The result is a very uncomfortable scene, where Finn crosses a line that he really shouldn't. Of course, it's also realistic, given how much she is pushing him, that he would snap in such a manner.

     The blow back is far worse than high school peer pressure. Santana being a lesbian becomes the subject of a TV ad against Sue, who is running for Congress. Sue is uncharacteristically supportive, feeling very bad for her role in it. Will and Burt (Mike O'Malley) are also there to lend a hand. Not that Santana wants any of it. She storms out, upset, as she hasn't even told her parents that she is gay yet.

     Santana's story in "Mash Up," and the surrounding episodes, is every bit as emotionally moving as Kurt's prior bullying arc. She is shaping up to be one of this fall's biggest power players on Glee, and given her talent, it's a welcome shift. One can't help but be moved by what she is going through, and want to help as the teachers try to do. Sadly, there is nothing that can be done for a fictional character. Hopefully, though, real high schoolers will watch and be changed by what they see. Glee could potentially have a real-world impact with something like this.

     Finally, it must be noted that Finn is bullying Blaine (Darren Criss) a bit, too. It's an ego thing, as Finn considers himself the male leader of the New Directions, and he feels threatened by Blaine's considerable, arguably better, talent. Blaine takes the high road thus far, even when Finn teases him with giving a solo to Rory in "Mash Off." But how much longer will Blaine be able to take it? There is going to be a serious confrontation coming up between the two of them, for sure.


     Watch Glee Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

 

     Click here for all of the Glee reviews I've ever written.

 

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Article first published as TV Review: Glee - "Mash Off" on Blogcritics.

Glee explores "The Rhodes Not Taken"

     This summer, I'll be going back to review the season one episodes of FOX's Glee. These are fresh reviews, not reposts, and I hope you will enjoy reliving the first season with me.


     "The Rhodes Not Taken" introduces recurring character April Rhodes (Kristin Chenoweth, The West Wing, Pushing Daisies). April was a senior when Will (Matthew Morrison) was a freshman in glee club, and he always admired her. After Rachel (Lea Michele) quits the New Directions, Will discovers April never officially graduated, and convinces her to take Rachel's place. April jumps at the chance, having been squatting in an empty house, imbibing heavily, and presumably sleeping with many men. April has a fantastic voice, but she's an irresponsible alcoholic, and that does not mesh well with the high school kids. Finn (Cory Monteith) sways Rachel into returning, and April heads off to try to fix her life.
     Chenoweth is amazing, of course, both musically, and with comedy chops. She is the perfect actress for Glee, so it's no wonder she's been asked back twice more since "The Rhodes Not Taken." I would never say a word against Chenoweth's personal contributions to the series, or the talent she wields with such grace and charisma. Chenoweth's presence will always be welcome, and something to look forward to, and I hope she returns to the halls of McKinley many, many more times. In fact, should Morrison ever decide to leave the series, she would make a perfect glee club director.

     That being said, the character of April is far from appropriate in a school setting. In a twisted variation on Never Been Kissed, April recaptures her high school glory by giving Kurt (Chris Colfer) alcohol and showering, and likely sleeping, with the football players, including Puck (Mark Salling). Emma (Jayma Mays) comments on the bad behavior to Will, disapprovingly telling him that April's backpack is always "clinking with empties." If Emma notices, surely other teachers do, too, and they do not share Emma's loyalty to Will. Glee sometimes goes down outlandish paths, but this is one of the most unrealistic. April would never get away with acting like this in high school, especially with the extra scrutiny that she surely faces, being an adult in a typical childish setting.

     But the inappropriateness does not end with April. I remember being shocked that a high school would allow Will to stage a production of The Rocky Horror Show in season two. Not only is Sandy (Stephen Tobolowsky) doing Cabaret, which has at least as much adult content as Rocky Horror, but he speaks of putting on Equus, including the full nudity aspect. Even if Principal Figgins (Iqbal Theba) gives his staff a very loose leash, none of this would ever happen. Figgins would likely lose his job, and so would all of the teachers that went along with the schemes. Suspending disbelief only goes so far.

     "The Rhodes Not Taken," like a handful of other episodes of Glee, is particularly sex obsessed. Besides April sleeping with students, Jacob Ben Israel (Josh Sussman) tries to trade a good review in return for seeing Rachel without her shirt on, and Finn plays on Rachel's sexual attraction to him to get her to rejoin the New Directions. This is not a complaint. At times, Glee can actually seem a little chaste, since it follows the "good" kids at McKinley High, and has an innocent, crackerjack quality to many of its musical numbers. I applaud the inclusion of an adult topic, when kept between students, as sex truly does rule many high school minds and bodies.

     Well, that, and gossip. At this point, none of the non-jocks are friends with Quinn, or very close to Finn, so it's forgivable that they take such delight in the pregnancy scandal. Luckily Glee will soon correct that, and many students will face the realities of such an occurrence, not just scoff about it.

     Unfortunately, it's really unfair of Finn to play on Rachel's attraction. Finn is many things, but his devious side is not one that comes out all that often, and hurts his character when it does. He was not raised to act like this, and even though it's in service of the glee club, it's hard to forgive Finn for hurting Rachel in this way. Rachel is willing to set aside a lot of her own interests for Finn, and if he cares about her at all, he shouldn't ask her to, let alone trick her.

     Rachel angrily tells Finn, after being hurt, "My dreams are bigger than that... They're bigger than you." I'm not convinced this is strictly true. The same issue crops up at the end of season two. Rachel is torn between singing on a Broadway stage and her desire to be with Finn. Even though her words say that her professional goals come first, her actions often make Finn more important. It will be interesting to see how she eventually chooses. If she, and fans, are lucky, she will not have to pick. Finn should allow her to be a star, and stand by her as she is.

     Rachel isn't all selfish. She claims friendship is the reason she returns to the New Directions. This is debatable, but I'm willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. She is still new to having peers care about her, but as the series goes on, Rachel will form close bonds with several of the others.

     It doesn't seem like there is a ton of music in "The Rhodes Not Taken," yet the songs that are performed are above average, if not including a couple of the best numbers in all of Glee. Interestingly, this episode also contains some actual songs used as background music, sung by their original artists, not the cast. Other shows do this all of the time, of course, but Glee rarely does so.

     The beginning of the episode has yet another rendition of "Don't Stop Believin'," with Quinn (Dianna Agron) standing in for Rachel. It sounds good, though it is cut very short by Quinn's morning sickness. As such, it's hard to tell if Quinn is up to the task. Her fellow students certainly don't think so.

     The New Directions later perform "Last Name" with April, which is good, but not great. Country music is fine for Chenoweth, but it's not exactly in the wheelhouse of the cast. They do a serviceable job, but it's quickly forgotten. This is probably because the number that follows, "Somebody to Love," is downright amazing. The power and vocal talent showcased among several of the group shakes the rafters, and is a top notch example of what the kids can do.

 
     Will and April sing "Alone" in the bowling alley, and much like "Last Name," it's good, but not particularly memorable. The pair need a sweet moment to show how they have bonded this week, and Will finally gets to sing with his former idol, something that is expected in such an episode. There's not really anything specific to complain about, but not much justifiable praise to heap, either.
     Rachel also performs part of "Cabaret," which is hard to enjoy because of Sandy's incessant interruptions. Rachel and April do "Maybe This Time" from separate rooms, and that, along with "Somebody to Love," is the highlight of the episode. Both women have very strong belting voices, and kill a song meant for a diva, which they arguably are. Chenoweth has plenty of experience on the Broadway stage, but Michele holds her own, and proves that she has a future in this field. Wonderful job!

My Weekly Random Bits:

     Jacob Ben Israel is slightly stalking Rachel throughout season one. It's too bad he's reduced to a very occasional cameo in season two. Sussman is very funny.

     I understand Puck and Matt (Dijon Talton), whom we never find very much out about, sleeping with April, but Mike Chang (Harry Shum Jr.), too? Even though Mike is on the football team, he always comes across as a very unusual type of athlete, and certainly not just a boy who would chase anything in a skirt, like his teammates. Chalk this one up to the creative team not yet knowing who Mike is, or his place in the show, yet.

     Emma tells Finn that there are far more music scholarships available than athletic ones. While much google searching has not given me exact numbers, this statement seems circumspect. Wwhen broken down to Divison I football scholarships versus number of kids competing for them, as compared to overall music scholarships at every college, the figure is definitely correct. However, many music scholarships only give a little bit of money, far from a full ride. And both represent very different levels of success for the future. Basically, what Emma says is incomplete, at best, and irresponsible, at worst.

     Glee has a love affair with Wicked. There is nothing wrong with that, as it is a fantastic show, and still relatively new, as compared to many other musicals. Both stars of the original Broadway version, Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, play recurring roles on Glee beginning in season one. Some of the most memorable Rachel and Kurt songs from the first two years are from Wicked. Rachel and Kurt even get on the Wicked stage during the New York-set season two finale. "The Rhodes Not Taken" begins that love affair, which shows no signs of abating. Is it too much to hope for a Joel Grey guest spot next year?

     Look for another season one review soon!

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for all of my Current Season Reviews.

     To purchase Glee DVDs, streaming episodes, music, and more, please click here.

Article first published as TV Review: Glee - "The Rhodes Not Taken" on Blogcritics.

In a "Showmance" with Glee

     This summer, I'll be going back to review the season one episodes of FOX's Glee. These are fresh reviews, not reposts, and I hope you will enjoy reliving the first season with me.

     I'm only just beginning the look back at Glee's first season, but I am confident that "Showmance" will number among the better episodes. It has many laugh-out-loud moments, as well as some fantastic musical numbers. Sue (Jane Lynch) is at the top of her game, trying to sabotage the New Directions and handing out zingers. The story stays solidly in the Emma (Jayma Mays) / Will (Matthew Morrison) / Terri (Jessalyn Gilsig) / Ken (Patrick Gallagher) love web, as well as the triangle between Rachel (Lea Michele), Finn (Cory Monteith), and Quinn (Dianna Agron). As theorized in the review for "Pilot," these are likely the stories worked up ahead of production, and thus, keeps with where the writers are strongest while beginning the series.


     First, a look at the music. The episode features "Le Freak" very early on, but this is a terrible rendition. Vocally, it isn't too bad, but the awkward choreography and visible uncomfortableness of the glee club kids with the song makes it a little painful to watch. I do not believe this is a mistake, but rather, a demonstration of how modern students do not always relate to older material, especially when said material is not fresh or hip at the time it is being performed, or arranged to be such. Instead, the actors wonderfully portray just how bad an idea it is for them to perform this number.

     Also excruciating is "Push It." I am less convinced this is intentional. The New Directions, led by Rachel, decide to circumvent Will's wishes and do a sexy bit. While Emma and Figgins (Iqbal Theba) bounce along to the ditty, Sue's reaction is much more authentic of an educator. What is going on onstage is an orgy simulation done by a number of clearly not sexually confident teenage kids. It's disturbing, creepy, not at all attractive, and I do not believe it would lead to the eruption of cheering, no matter how hormonally crazy the student body may be. Not at all an effective number.

     These two misfires (one an artistic choice, and one a mistake) are balanced, however, by some really home-run efforts. "Gold Digger" is the first, with Will leading the kids in a soulful rendition of the piece. From Mercedes's (Amber Riley) sassy "Oh, I got this!" to the vocal runs done by both Mercedes and Artie (Kevin McHale), this song works on so many levels. Will's leadership in it might seem like he is trying to recapture his youth and own glee club experience, save for the fact that he actually is teaching while credibly singing. It's a perfect scene with the cast doing what they do best. Even when there are only a handful of kids, they can deliver.

     The second song that slays is "I Say a Little Prayer," which serves as the audition piece for Quinn, Santana (Naya Rivera), and Brittany (Heather Morris), who is first seen in this episode, but gets none of her trademark one-liners, or any dialogue at all, for that matter. The three evoke an image of a well tuned, albeit evil, machine. At this point, the Cheerios members do not want to sing or help the group, but have ulterior motives. The cold stares and glares, especially from Quinn, throughout an otherwise sweet song make this apparent to the viewer, if not Will. Fantastic execution.

     Finally, Rachel's "Take a Bow" leaves quite an impression. It's one of the highlights of the complete season one soundtrack, still easy to recall almost two years after it first airs. Michele expresses all the emotions Rachel is feeling with a soaring voice and expressive face. The power of the music sets it apart from many other Rachel solos, and she is truly experiencing the lyrics, not just going through the motions. Kudos, Ms. Berry. And to you, Ms. Michele.

     On to the juicy shipper stuff! In "Showmance," Rachel joins the celibacy club to get closer to Finn, though Quinn is quick to try to sabotage those efforts, and in fact, joins New Directions because she actually starts to see Rachel as a threat after Rachel's speech about celibacy not working. Up to this point, Quinn is counting on Rachel's geek status to repel Finn. But now, not only is Rachel sharing Quinn's boyfriend's newly exposed passion, she is making known she can connect with him in other ways, too. It may not be proper, though Rachel claims to not be trying to break up the relationship, and maybe in her mind she isn't. But Quinn gets the message, and is spurred to fight back.

     Two awesome Quinn lines in the celibacy club scenes that must be remembered: "It's all about the teasing, and not about the pleasing" and "If the balloon pops, the noise makes the angels cry."

     Rachel is correct on her stance about sex ed, and articulately expresses the truth that many intelligent adults know: celibacy just does not work for teenagers. Contraception is a more effective teaching tool. By putting herself out there as a sexually viable candidate, Rachel is offering something to Finn that Quinn is not giving him. Taking into account his racing hormones, it is no wonder that Finn goes for it. Their kiss probably should not happen. Not every teenager lets his or her biological need overrule morality and sense. But in the charged situation that Rachel sets up, it is not surprising that a kiss occurs. Rachel is ruthless in getting what she wants. At this point, while Rachel and Finn's growing attraction is nice to watch, if Quinn were not such a witch, viewers would be rooting for her.

     A memorable Finn line, highlighting Glee's trademark tongue in cheek humor, comes after Finn decides he needs a break to feed his hunger while rehearsing with Rachel. She has a picnic spread already set up just feet away from them and offers him food, and he says, "Wow, I was wondering what that was all about." Observant much?

     Keeping with the theme of aggressively trying to offer men stuck in a bad situation a "better" option, Emma makes a play for Will. Her staying and helping him clean during his part time janitorial job can not be mistaken for anything else. The difference is, soon after Ken is there to offer Emma sane, sound advice, and she is in her right mind enough to take it. While Ken may not be the man for Emma, she should move on and give someone else a shot. Will is not available, and as long as he's been with Terri, she doesn't want to be the rebound, should he leave his wife, anyway.

     Terri is actually sympathetic in "Showmance." She learns her pregnancy is hysterical, not real, and she decides to tell Will. She cooks him a special dinner and waits up, lighting candles and being as caring as possible to try to soften the blow. The decision to lie comes quickly, and is clearly seen in Terri's eyes. Will is too excited about the baby for her to dash his hopes. It's a moment that shows how much she cares for her husband, and proves how great Gilsig is as an actress. Terri almost immediately regrets not telling the truth, as he hugs her to him. In a rare glimpse, we see that Terri does love Will, and their romance is real. Her mistake, then, is not the initial lie, which is told from a place of love, but carrying on the charade for months afterwards.

     I do want to know, do the Glee writers consider a guy touching a girl's face tenderly the height of romantic action? Both Will and Finn do so to Emma and Rachel in "Showmance."

     And now some random continuity notes:

     This episode is the first appearance of Jacob Ben Israel (Josh Sussman). Throughout season one, he will become one of the most oft-seen recurring characters. He still occasionally pops up in season two, but much less frequently.

     All of the recurring football players are still not shown in "Showmance," despite multiple shots of the football team together. Granted, it is unlikely the dozen or so players in the episode comprise the entire team. But it is still disappointing that all four major supporting actors are not present again.

     The origin of Emma's issues are revealed in this episode, never to be spoken of again (so far). Her brother pushed her into a runoff lagoon at a dairy farm when she was eight years old. This adequately explains why she is so germophobic. The second claim, that she doesn't eat dairy, I cannot verify at this time. Can anyone remember ever seeing her eat a piece of cheese? Something to try to keep in mind going forward.

     How wrong is it that Emma tells Rachel that not having a gag reflex will be a good thing later in life? I mean, perhaps the quip isn't entirely out of character, but it is far from appropriate. Besides, Emma surely doesn't have any first hand experience, given her condition.

     Quin expresses her vibrant desire to be prom queen, berating Finn for screwing up her chances by joining the New Directions. This is an arc that will culminate in the late season two episode "Prom Queen," so it's nice to see the beginnings come so early of such a long running plot point.

     Sue claims to have euthanized her mother during one of her rants. We know this is not true, as Carol Burnett later guest stars as said mom. Sue sometimes does speak in exaggerations, and says shocking things for effect, so this isn't a problem, per se, just something that catches my attention.

     How does "99 Luftballoons" belong on a song list that is all about God and circuses? It's a wonderful example of parents not understanding the things they approve and disapprove of on lists pertaining to school. See also, banned classic books in libraries, and grownups who think reading Harry Potter will lead to anti-Christian ideas, even though the series is all about love triumphing over evil.

     Tulipalooza is in Michigan, not Ohio.


     I welcome all of your musings and insights in the comments section below. The review of Glee #1.03 "Acafellas" will be posted sometime during this week, so please check back!

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for all of my Current Season Reviews.

     To purchase Glee DVDs, streaming episodes, music, and more, please click here.

Article first published as TV Review: Glee - "Showmance" on Blogcritics.

Glee - "Grilled Cheesus"

     Another week, another Glee. But this week's offering was far from ordinary. I dare say it might have been the most emotional, and philosophical, episode of the series to date. Titled "Grilled Cheesus" after the (appropriately) cheesiest plot in the episode, this week was about all thing's faith, whether or not you believe in a higher power. Each Glee kid looked to their own ideas, and although the episode was vague on what those might be, the most important plots were sound.

Kurt (Chris Colfer) was the star, as his father, Burt (Mike O'Malley), took ill and would not awaken. Kurt is an atheist, and didn't appreciate his classmates' prayers. Each of them wanted to support him, but frequently brought God into the discussion. Thankfully, Glee did not take the atheism bad route. Yes, Kurt accompanied Mercedes (Amber Riley) to her church, and appeared move at their outpouring of song. But even after that, sitting by his father's hospital bed, he proclaimed that what he believed in was his father, not God. It's refreshing to see television not be so pushy about Jesus, and to have an actual atheist, who won't be swayed into a conversion, represented. In our nation, it's actually pretty rare.

Accordingly, Kurt did finally get a great solo this week. He sang the most weepy version of the Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand" that I've ever heard. The song was interspersed with scenes of Burt playing with a young Kurt (Adam Kolkin, a spitting image). Burt helped him learn to ride a bike, and even had a tea party. As a single parent, who is pretty much a picture of blue collar stereotypical masculinity, raising an out and proud gay son, Burt has struggled to show Kurt how much he cares. However, the characters has always been supportive, and again, it's nice to see such a character as Burt on the air.

Other cast members who hadn't had any big ballads yet this season also got to stretch their vocal chords. Mercedes belted out on not one, but two songs. Puck (Mark Salling) rocked Billy Joel's "Only the Good Die Young". Even Tina opened the awesome group number "What If God Was One Of Us" with some pretty fantastic vocals. Finn (Cory Monteith), whom I often am underwhelmed by, got to show off a bit more with "Losing My Religion". And Rachel (Lea Michele) introduced middle America to Yentl.

The title refers to Finn's subplot, where he makes a grilled cheese sandwich and thinks he sees Jesus on it. Being the bonehead he is, he cuts the half without the savior on it and eats it, then saves and prays to the Christ image. His prayers are shallow, wishing to win a football game or touch Rachel's boobs, but they come true, giving him faith. When his belief in the sandwich is shaken later in the episode, not because a prayer doesn't come true, but just because the guidance counselor tells him he's wrong, it's a bit weird. This was definitely the weakest part of the episode, and it illustrates perfectly why I find Finn one of the lesser characters.

Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) is one of the best, though. This week we got real Sue emotion, a rarity. Her older sister, Jean (Robin Trocki), who has Down Syndrome, was revisited, and Sue's lack of faith in God was explained eloquently. I was disappointed that her disbelief was shaken so easily, but I'm not sure she ever was a true atheist. Rather, she may just have been mad at a God that would allow her family the suffering they went through. Her taking up Kurt's case, protesting Will (Matthew Morrison) allowing religion into his classroom, seemed sincere, rather than with the malice she usually attacks her nemesis. Lynch is a fine actress, and her Emmy for the part this year was well deserved. It's always an honor to see her take Sue to a new level.

The only real surprise was a lack of Quinn (Dianna Agron) plot, as religion has been an important part of her story. With her teenage pregnancy and lac of supportive parents, we've seen Quinn turn to Jesus before. The episode was already full, but would it have been nice to allow her a chance to revisit that arc.
Taking the whole episode into account, even with the Finn distraction, this will surely be one of the better episodes of this season, if not in the series as a whole. It was the first truly weepy episode. And the actors involved, especially Lynch and Colfer, proved they can handle the challenge that comes with depth. Kudos.Glee

Glee airs Tuesday nights at 8pm on FOX.

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Article first published as TV Review: Glee "Grilled Cheesus" on Blogcritics.