Glee Blog – Episode 1

I can’t stand it any longer.  I’ve watched a couple of episodes of season 2 and I just have to put my ranting into written words.  What was once a surprising new show has fallen into the pit of mediocrity alongside Heroes and 24 and the many other mainline network shows that for some reason, decided not to write a story anymore and instead, have characters drift aimlessly around spouting the occasional witty retort, demonstrate some CG power, or shot a few bad guys.
It’s time to stop the passive complaining and analyse these shows for what they really are.  Let’s take a closer look at Glee and see what kind of worms are under the log getting picked at by birds.

In case you missed it, here’s what happened in the first few episodes

Episode 1 (I already have a bad feeling about this just writing Episode I; as if Jar Jar Binks is going to show up and ruin my childhood dreams…I digress)

If the Glee producers had called me last year and asked for my advice on how to end Season 1, which they should have, I would have told them to have New Directions lose (which they did), cancel the glee club (also did), but not bring it back and have it totally disband, Schuester go into a depressing spiral, Rachel turn emo, etc. etc.  That way, you can start the new season with a bearded Schuester, living in a trailer (see Wayne Rooney in Nike commercial), eating beans, and wondering why all his dreams of living his dreams through his students have been crushed. (That’s what he’d be thinking because that’s why most teachers get into teaching…trust me).  The glee club would be forced to go underground and “sing-out” against their oppression making it a little grittier and give the writers more to work with.  As it stand now, it’ll be the same plot trajectory of practicing for Sectionals, to Regionals to Nationals, which apparently are in New Yoooork…that song has been stuck in my head for days now.

But alas, the producers didn’t call me so here we are. Episode I (could that Jewish blogger kid be considered Jar Jar? He’s really annoying.)

Since it’s a coupe weeks old, I’ll be brief and point out the goods and bads

Goods

• Coach Beist I like because she’s a good opponent for Sue because honestly, I was getting tired of her constant tirade against Will’s hair. How many ways can you make fun of a perm?

• The “Asian Couple” is a good side gag.  I especially liked the Asian Camp with kids sitting around clicking their cell phones.  If this intrudes too much into the main story lines, which I’m sure it will, it will move to the crap pile.

New characters!  Yay, but will they be used properly.  If I know one thing about network TV shows run by producers and executives looking to capitalize on success, then no.

That “New York” song that I can’t get out of my head…good one.

Bads

• Rachel.  Oh wait, she’s the Jar Jar of the show.  If only Obi Wan had ended that sorry existence with a careless lightsaber swipe.  Maybe he could do the same for Rachel’s bangs.  What’s with the bang thing?  They did it to Bill in the second season of ‘True Blood’ where he went from Southern gentleman to urban hipster in one night. Who let the hair and make-up person make that decision?

Rachel and Fin. He’s cool and she’s not and no one wants to see a couple like that.  Considering they didn’t really make it believable when they “fell in love” last season, to keep it going is just painful. Bring back Jesse or something (another character poorly used) so he can break them up.  Maybe he could be a teacher’s assistance needing to get community service hours for doing something bad in the Fine Arts college like using someone’s bassoon as a bong or something.

Arty’s fixation on getting Tina back by playing football and developing abs.  Come on man.  Get yourself a chin-up bar and get at it.  We all know your hands work because you do that little half-wave thing when you hear someone singing. And you might have a better chance with the ladies if you weren’t in the boyband NLT. And play football?  Did you really read the rule-book Fin because I don’t think someone in a metal chair qualifies as a running back.  He can’t even run!

That’s it for Episode I. I’m sure there’s more to be happy and sad about and I’ll be sure to make a note when the thought comes.