(Originally posted on 11-16-2011)
So I was planning on writing an entry about pornography and the way society views female sexuality. Then I watched "Glee" and I felt like I wanted to complain about this more because I spent most of last night thinking about the other thing and this is fresh on my mind. Clearly I should have written the other article last night but hey, hindsight and all.
Back in May after the second season of "Glee" concluded I wrote an entry outlining the reasons why I would probably end up walking out on it during the third season. My three big problems with the show that made it so unenjoyable for me were listed as 1.) the humor being forsaken in favor of tear-jerking, 2.) a lack of diverse music, and 3.) a lack of consistency and development in the relationships and characters.
Now, the first episode of this season of "Glee" was fairly unremarkable but it was followed up by two good episodes and one okay one. Issue number two regarding the music was quickly proven to no longer be a problem as the music actually did become more interesting in terms of diversity in genre and release date. Issue number three was slowly proven to be in the progress of being fixed as relationships remained consistent with the previous season.
The most important change to this season however was a clear establishing of ongoing conflicts. We were given a lot of them but because it was implied that they would not just be a one episode theme that would be dropped immediately after, I was willing to go with all of them. They were
* Finally realizing that Quinn's behavior last season was nonsensical after her pregnancy, they brought back Shelby and reintroduced Quinn as more damaged from her experience with the ultimate goal of getting custody of her daughter. Shelby's presence would also lead to a break down into two separate glee clubs.
* Rachel and Kurt realize that they are merely big fish in a small pond and realize that they have to stand out even more if they want to go to a good school and be Broadway stars thus leading to the "race for class president" plot.
* New Directions is going to put on a production of "West Side Story" leading to smaller conflicts of casting and production (and also the wonderful Mike sub-plot).
* Sue is running for Congress on the platform of cutting school arts programs.
Aside from this there are also the contained conflicts inherent in relationships, those being:
* Will and Emma
* Rachel and Finn
* Santana and Brittany
* Kurt and Blaine (who has transferred to McKinley for convenience sake; I don't mind)
* Mike and Tina (who have always been drama free)
Of these five the only one that I can see failing at this point in time is Santana/Brittany because it has always been made pretty clear that the feelings there are uneven. And if it does, I hope it is done well and that the other ones are mostly kept because relationship drama is the most boring kind this show produces outside of intentional tearjerkers.
So what went wrong if everything was set up so well?
Mainly, the writers have plotline ADD and a tendency to relapse into bad habits of cheese and so-called "heart-warming" moments.
We are one forth, ONE FORTH, of the way through the season and already what could have been great plots are gone. The "West Side Story" plot was the one I personally enjoyed the most and somehow they were able to cast the show and have opening night in the process of three episodes with virtually no rehearsals. This makes no sense. There was a lot that could have been done here in the way of a plot that could carry them to the middle of the season (as school musical productions always do) but it was wrapped up so fast so they could presumably get onto random episodic conflicts. I say this because while I know they have sectionals coming up, there have never really been episodes about the process of sectionals. It's usually more like, "What songs? These? Okay" in the sectionals episode itself.
This also kind of blew the whole Mike sub-plot that was extensively praised by everyone. Sure, his dad still is mad at him and this may come back again but probably will be pushed into the background like it was in episode five in favor of the main characters.
The other good plot that was entirely blow was the class president plot. In the race, Rachel, Kurt, and Brittany are all running for very different reasons but the only real conflict here has been between Rachel and Kurt. Unlike the "West Side Story" plot, this plot would need to be wrapped up a lot quicker because it's for president of that year but the way it was handled was just expected and cheesy thus showing that in times of confusion the writers default to their usual bag of tricks from season two. Rachel had another attack of the ego check and realized she was in the race for the wrong reasons, backing out and supporting Kurt thus making them friends again. Now it's true that this kind of had to happen in order for the "Rachel and Kurt are trying to be stars" plot to come back and this does still put up the question of whether or not Kurt will win; I just hated the way they handled it. Remember in the first season when Rachel was unapologetically full of herself even when she was doing something nice? They really messed her character in the second season with all her "changes of heart" because now everything she says seems false. Oh wow, conceited Rachel was able to look past herself! Let's all be shocked and pat her on the back AGAIN. Is she humble or egotistical? Pick one. You can't just have her change her mind to change the plot.
Luckily, the separate glee clubs bit is still there and they are clearly now trying to turn to plot over to rivalry between them which I'm frankly sick of. There is always glee club rivalry on the show. The fact that the club is split is not as exciting a drama as you think, writers. Try harder.
The Quinn and Shelby plot is still there too with the added complication of Puck being into Shelby. I have no problem with this. It's the only thing that is really remaining believable.
The Sue subplot is so tired I can't even raise a stink. Now in the interest of political correctness her meanness has just gotten over the top to avoid viewers being up in arms about the hot topic issue of bullying in school.
There's one more problem I have with the format of the show: they are still far too aware of their teenage audience and have gone back to make teen issue themed episodes in the interest of them. Episode five was the sex episode. Episode six was the bullying episode.
First of all, both these issues were addressed before: Do "Like A Virgin", "Sexy", and the Karofsky subplot ring bells?
Secondly, I think both these episodes were handled terribly. They were both full of so much facepalm-inducing heart-warming moments it was actually hard to watch them.
The first was so pathetically formulaic in terms of plot and character, anyone who has seen all of season two could have written it. The way things played out was so predictably bad (Rachel wants to have sex to further career, Blaine approaches things wrong, they both fix crap and do it on the same night before their next performance staged in such a way as to indicate that, yes, boning improved performance and teen sex is great through an overly romanticized filter).
The second episode had the same formula of knocking down Santana using her sexuality (this has been done before right?) when really she should just have some actual disciplinary action taken against her for her bullying. Nope, best to leave this in the hands of the students to force her into something she is not ready for. She needs a therapist and a suspension. And, hey "Glee", since when is bullying wrong? Oh wait, I know. It's wrong when you decide it's wrong. Specifically, it's wrong when it involves a gay character. Oy.
So in conclusion, the music has improved and I am glad that relationship square-dancing seems to be gone but the fact is, "Glee" still can't keep a good plot afloat nor a good character progression and the humor is still riding along backseat to the drama and teen audience pandering.
And honestly, I don't get joy from the show anymore. I enjoy a good music number as much as any theater nerd (the "Rumour Has It/Someone Like You" mashup in this episode was wonderful) but there is not enough substance here to really keep me from getting bored. I am not a teenage girl and even when I was I had no use for the kind of teen drama and fluctuating characters that "Glee" provides.
Can "Glee" be saved for me? Well, I truly thought it could at the beginning of the season but the writing just keeps falling back into it's comfortable pattern it established in season two.
I do not await the next episode. Whether or not I will watch it has yet to be determined.
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