“All I know is you blew me off to be with Stubbles McCripple Pants.” -Santana
Glee is always most successful when it focuses on the stories and lives of the students as they push toward winning the next competition their Glee club comes across. This particular episode was a return form where Glee reminded of us the potential this show has. There are extremely talented kids on set so it baffles me when the show chooses not to highlight them. I knew we were going to be in for a solid episode when it appeared the focus was going to be largely on the students. However, I never quite felt like the episode fully delivered. It was as if was about to sneeze and then I looked at a light and the sneeze went away. Was my need to sneeze curbed? Yes. But it wasn’t in the most satisfying of ways.
Glee has always done performance episodes so well. But why was this one not as strong as the others? Quite simply, we’re not emotionally attached to anything going on in the club. Before we had so many different issues going on the performances were extremely cathartic. Whether it was Quinn’s pregnancy, Rachel’s love story with Jonathan Groff, or the fact that New Directions was truly an underdog story. I felt that rooting for New Directions was like rooting for Duke. No matter how average they’ve been, we still hear a lot about how great they are and inevitably they win. Now I realize this was New Directions first win at regionals, but did anyone have any real doubt? It just seemed like it would have been really really easy to beat Oral Intensity and The Warblers. They’re nothing compared to how great Vocal Adrenaline was. Yes it was interesting to hear them do original songs, but you can’t honestly tell me that performance was better than the other ones they did. This brings me back to my original point about being emotionally invested in the characters.
Glee realized that they had to play catch up with the Quinn/Finn/Rachel story so they threw it in at the end of last weeks episode and devoted a lot of screen time to it early in this episode. It all seemed so rushed. I just never felt *that* sad for Rachel when she was singing. Finn hasn’t done anything this season to merit that much attention from her. I will give Diana Aragon and Lea Michelle credit for acting the pants of their scene in the auditorium. I really felt honest emotions coming from Quinn as she admitted to Rachel that she was better and that she was going to be the one to get out of Ohio. It’s almost as if Finn was her consolation prize. I wasn’t so sure I was feeling the scene at first because I thought Quinn was being uncharacteristically mean to Rachel, but then she showed us that she was just being brutally honest and sometimes that’s going to sting a little.
Last week I really liked the Santana and Brittany story line because I felt it was came from a real place and presented some very challenging emotions for a teenager. However in this particular episode, they decided to crush all momentum that story line had going. It was simple, but all Santana had to say was “I don’t know what I was thinking.” And there we have it. Don’t be surprised if that story line never comes back. But this just highlights another problem Glee has. I know that emotions of high school students are subject to whims and passing fancies, but changing gears every two episodes really retards any forward momentum and thus we can never fully commiserate with any of the characters. Really the only properly written arc was that of Kurt and Blaine. The writers took their time and fully developed the relationship before culminating it tonight. However, because Dalton Academy is detached from the heart of the show, I felt this story fell flat as well despite the best efforts of Chris Colfer who continues to impress on screen.
It’s not enough to write one good episode, stick at the end and hope that all is forgiven. I think we can apply some lyrics from Rachel’s song to my feelings on the show: “How many times will it take to get it right.” Although I found this episode very enjoyable, I felt it never quite peaked. Glee has a lot of cleaning up to do and I’m not so sure they’re going to start the process anytime soon. I think we’re going to have to be ok with the lack of character development and choppy plot if we are going to enjoy the show going forward.
Other thoughts:
I was happy to see the show realize The Warblers really was just the Blaine show. Even Kurt realized it, and Kurt knows best. However, even though they acknowledged their problem, they sang a duet and went right back to it being Blaine singing Pink with the Pips.
I need to applaud Glee for letting the kids struggle with songwriting at first. One of my complaints with the show is that the students are so great at everything they do the first time around. So it was nice to see the development process for once. It allowed us to see Will do some real teaching, even though he blew it by telling the students to write a song based on a title they came up with.
Speaking of the songs in development, I’m going to have to disagree with Finn. I think “My Headband” > “Only Child.” If I’m rating some of these original songs, I say “Big Ass Heart” has the most potential. “Hell to the No” is poppy and catchy but comes off as a rip off of High School Musical. “Only Child” is emotional, but lacks depth. “Trouty Mouth” has a high ceiling but it could be too one note.
I realize Oral Intensity was terrible but I knew one of the dancers so I was strangely entertained. I worked with Ashley Galvan last year and I always get excited when I see my friends get work on TV.
Kurt’s line “There doing original songs” was extremely necessary, because I wouldn’t have been able to tell if Rachel’s song was currently a single or original.
Brittany line of the week: “My headband.” If you didn’t laugh when Brittany said her favorite was “My Headband” show yourself so I can shake my head disapprovingly at you.
Showing posts with label rachel berry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rachel berry. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Glee - "Sexy" Review
“Just remember whenever you have sex with someone, you’re having sex with everyone they’ve ever had sex with. And everybody’s got a random.” -Holly
Sigh. Glee. How you upset me so. Tonight’s episode “Sexy” highlighted everything I don’t like about the show. While there were a few bright spots, they were few and far between and no memorable songs to break up the mess that was tonight’s episode. Tonight we were given a theme episode. I can’t stand these poorly constructed episodes. Apparently every single person at the school, teachers included, is having a similar problem at the exact same time. It’s unrealistic. And then they have to weave songs around their point as opposed to going with songs that are right for the story and seem organic in the moment. Not too mention they decided to blast us with all sorts of visiting stars that we barely got any real time with characters.
Just so you don’t think I’m some ball of hate toward the show, let’s start with the positive. Tonight was an amazing episode for Santana and Brittany. Naya Rivera continues to amaze me. We’ve seen her sing and dance at high levels, but tonight she really flexed her acting skills. Her scene in front of the lockers with Brittany was elegant and understated just enough. It would have been easy to play extremes and it would have seemed disingenuous, but she played hurt and conflicted very well. These types of scenes and relationships are what make the show so great. So it’s baffling when they stray from such honest and real emotions for cheap jokes and forced situations. I’m not saying I need every scene needs to be a heartbreaking emotional experience tonight, but I think the show thrives when see kids in honest situations reacting in honest ways. There was a nice attempt with Kurt and his dad,but the Kurt story line seems so disconnected that it’s hard to muster up the same empathy for his situation.
My lack of interest in Kurt’s story line is a manifestation of a bigger problem on Glee’s hands: there are too many plots. It seems simple enough to fix, but Glee can’t help themselves. Every week there seems to be a new story or a new character that wasn;t there before that takes up large portions of the episode pushing stories we actually care about to the back of the line. This week it was the reintroduction of Holly Holiday. Gwenyth Paltrow is currently trying to reinvent her career as a total performer. While I very much enjoy Gwenyth’s peformances, I just feel like she robbed too much of the episode. High on the list of things I don’t care about is Will Schuster’s love life. At one point, I cared very much. I think he had a real nice thing with Emma, but then Glee decided to take Emma PIllsbury away from us to the point where it’s hard to think about their relationship in the way we once did. I enjoy the adults presence when they are their as guides for the students. Perhaps instead of so much time devoted to Will trying to get his freak on, we could have seen more of Quinn and Finn making their relationship strong again. This was the show’s original power couple! Yet their relationship tonight felt like an aside. And when was the last time anyone heard from Tina, Mike Chang, Brittany or Sam? Heck even the diva herself, Rachel Berry, took a big backseat tonight. The show needs focus and it needs to find it quick.
Themed episodes are also a plague on the show. Just think of certain stories we had to endure tonight that we wouldn’t have had to if the show hadn’t decided that everything had to revolve around “Sexy.” First in line is the Lauren and Puck sex tape story. First of all, gross. Second, how ridiculous is it that that’s even a suggestion. Lauren was originally painted as this sassy smart woman who was leaps and bounds ahead of Puck mentally, but now she thinks just having a sex tape will bring her fame and a fragrance? Ugh. The Dalton Academy’s “sexy” foam party was laughable at best. The show is just constantly trying to make sure we don’t forget about Kurt, but honestly, I wish they’d leave him out until regionals. The “Afternoon Delight” number was a nice and funny gag, but did we really need John Stamos to come back? I realize the show wanted everyone to see that Emma was conflicted with her emotions, but it was just yet another character the show had to share screen time with. My problems with Sue Sylvester have been well documented, but I actually her when she’s used correctly, so when she was used tonight in a realistic way to deliver the “sexy” news to Kurt, I welcomed the change of pace she brought.
So Glee? If you’re listening, will you please focus your show? Please. For those of us who loved what it once was and know that it still can be. Do it for us, because we were here first and we’ve remained loyal. Please, do this for us. Thanks in advance.
Other thoughts:
- Doesn’t it seem like every teenage male Kurt’s dad comes into contact with seems like they all have something he can relate too? Did they really need Blaine to know about cars? And for that matter, isn’t Finn Kurt’s brother? Can we see any of that story? Oh well...
- Kurt and Blaine need their own spinoff series in that coffee shop. It just seems like every scene takes place there. I think I might be able to order Kurt’s coffee for him before too long.
- Something about lead characters on network shows having crushes on girls named Holly. Michael Scott from The Office and now Will Schuster. Remind me not to name my girl Holly because it will lead to many unwanted crushes.
- One adult I do always like, but only in very small doses is Principal Figgins. Coach Bieste has her moments, but did we really need her one moment on camera tonight as just a reminder of another story we weren’t getting too?
- Glee always brings up social issues that I have forgotten existed since I’m no longer in school. Growing up in Texas, we didn’t have a sex-ed class. We had health class where we briefly touched on sex, but only as a means of reproduction. There’s a lot of people wanting to talk about the difference between abstinence only and safe sex practices. But what I thought was interesting was that Blaine brought up that there’s no real information for gay teens in sex-ed classes. Is this a real issue? I’d imagine so. I can’t imagine a gay teen sitting through class listening to everyone else get their questions answered but feeling to afraid or ashamed to ask theirs. Just never really thought about it.
Brittany line of the week: “ I get my information from Woody Woodpecker cartoons.”
Sigh. Glee. How you upset me so. Tonight’s episode “Sexy” highlighted everything I don’t like about the show. While there were a few bright spots, they were few and far between and no memorable songs to break up the mess that was tonight’s episode. Tonight we were given a theme episode. I can’t stand these poorly constructed episodes. Apparently every single person at the school, teachers included, is having a similar problem at the exact same time. It’s unrealistic. And then they have to weave songs around their point as opposed to going with songs that are right for the story and seem organic in the moment. Not too mention they decided to blast us with all sorts of visiting stars that we barely got any real time with characters.
Just so you don’t think I’m some ball of hate toward the show, let’s start with the positive. Tonight was an amazing episode for Santana and Brittany. Naya Rivera continues to amaze me. We’ve seen her sing and dance at high levels, but tonight she really flexed her acting skills. Her scene in front of the lockers with Brittany was elegant and understated just enough. It would have been easy to play extremes and it would have seemed disingenuous, but she played hurt and conflicted very well. These types of scenes and relationships are what make the show so great. So it’s baffling when they stray from such honest and real emotions for cheap jokes and forced situations. I’m not saying I need every scene needs to be a heartbreaking emotional experience tonight, but I think the show thrives when see kids in honest situations reacting in honest ways. There was a nice attempt with Kurt and his dad,but the Kurt story line seems so disconnected that it’s hard to muster up the same empathy for his situation.
My lack of interest in Kurt’s story line is a manifestation of a bigger problem on Glee’s hands: there are too many plots. It seems simple enough to fix, but Glee can’t help themselves. Every week there seems to be a new story or a new character that wasn;t there before that takes up large portions of the episode pushing stories we actually care about to the back of the line. This week it was the reintroduction of Holly Holiday. Gwenyth Paltrow is currently trying to reinvent her career as a total performer. While I very much enjoy Gwenyth’s peformances, I just feel like she robbed too much of the episode. High on the list of things I don’t care about is Will Schuster’s love life. At one point, I cared very much. I think he had a real nice thing with Emma, but then Glee decided to take Emma PIllsbury away from us to the point where it’s hard to think about their relationship in the way we once did. I enjoy the adults presence when they are their as guides for the students. Perhaps instead of so much time devoted to Will trying to get his freak on, we could have seen more of Quinn and Finn making their relationship strong again. This was the show’s original power couple! Yet their relationship tonight felt like an aside. And when was the last time anyone heard from Tina, Mike Chang, Brittany or Sam? Heck even the diva herself, Rachel Berry, took a big backseat tonight. The show needs focus and it needs to find it quick.
Themed episodes are also a plague on the show. Just think of certain stories we had to endure tonight that we wouldn’t have had to if the show hadn’t decided that everything had to revolve around “Sexy.” First in line is the Lauren and Puck sex tape story. First of all, gross. Second, how ridiculous is it that that’s even a suggestion. Lauren was originally painted as this sassy smart woman who was leaps and bounds ahead of Puck mentally, but now she thinks just having a sex tape will bring her fame and a fragrance? Ugh. The Dalton Academy’s “sexy” foam party was laughable at best. The show is just constantly trying to make sure we don’t forget about Kurt, but honestly, I wish they’d leave him out until regionals. The “Afternoon Delight” number was a nice and funny gag, but did we really need John Stamos to come back? I realize the show wanted everyone to see that Emma was conflicted with her emotions, but it was just yet another character the show had to share screen time with. My problems with Sue Sylvester have been well documented, but I actually her when she’s used correctly, so when she was used tonight in a realistic way to deliver the “sexy” news to Kurt, I welcomed the change of pace she brought.
So Glee? If you’re listening, will you please focus your show? Please. For those of us who loved what it once was and know that it still can be. Do it for us, because we were here first and we’ve remained loyal. Please, do this for us. Thanks in advance.
Other thoughts:
- Doesn’t it seem like every teenage male Kurt’s dad comes into contact with seems like they all have something he can relate too? Did they really need Blaine to know about cars? And for that matter, isn’t Finn Kurt’s brother? Can we see any of that story? Oh well...
- Kurt and Blaine need their own spinoff series in that coffee shop. It just seems like every scene takes place there. I think I might be able to order Kurt’s coffee for him before too long.
- Something about lead characters on network shows having crushes on girls named Holly. Michael Scott from The Office and now Will Schuster. Remind me not to name my girl Holly because it will lead to many unwanted crushes.
- One adult I do always like, but only in very small doses is Principal Figgins. Coach Bieste has her moments, but did we really need her one moment on camera tonight as just a reminder of another story we weren’t getting too?
- Glee always brings up social issues that I have forgotten existed since I’m no longer in school. Growing up in Texas, we didn’t have a sex-ed class. We had health class where we briefly touched on sex, but only as a means of reproduction. There’s a lot of people wanting to talk about the difference between abstinence only and safe sex practices. But what I thought was interesting was that Blaine brought up that there’s no real information for gay teens in sex-ed classes. Is this a real issue? I’d imagine so. I can’t imagine a gay teen sitting through class listening to everyone else get their questions answered but feeling to afraid or ashamed to ask theirs. Just never really thought about it.
Brittany line of the week: “ I get my information from Woody Woodpecker cartoons.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)