Just be a queen
Ok, so I've taken some time to digest my feelings on Glee...
Things that were awesome:
*Unpretty/I Feel Pretty: definitely the best mash-up Glee has ever done, and my favorite number of the episode. Finn's song wasn't bad either, they actually gave him something in his vocal range for once!
* I almost liked Will/Emma again. I think Will was too confrontational/mean about it, but I'm glad that he convinced Emma to finally get help. He was right about her deflecting and using her job as an excuse to focus on other people's problems rather than her own, but even when he's helping people he still comes off like a douche :/ Jayma really hit it out of the park in the scene with the psychiatrist too, I just wanted to give her a hug.
* No more Warblers numbers for awhileKurt is back! Everyone saw this coming a mile away of course, but I like the way they went about it. More on Santana's role in this later. I did like the "Somewhere Only We Know" number, but I'm glad we can lose the blue-blazered backup singers now. Don't get me wrong, I like Kurt and Blaine when they aren't giving me a toothache with their sweetness, but the Warblers don't do much for me as backup singers because, well, they don't do much. My favorite Blaine number so far was his "Don't You Want Me?" duet with Rachel.
*Moar Brittana/Santana is the Queen Bitch of my heart. Love, love, love what they're doing with her storyline. She's trying to become prom queen, but it's for the sake of getting Brittany back, not status or power. She's blackmailing Karofsky, but it's to keep him from bullying Kurt so he can rejoin the glee club. She's being devious and bitchy, but for good reasons! Even wearing a ridiculous fur hat, she almost made me cry with the sheer longing of her gazing at Brit.
I really like the Santana/Karofsky beard/anti-bullying alliance. I was really shocked when they revealed that Karofsky was a closet case. I know a lot of people saw it coming, but to be honest I just never really paid attention to him before that, I didn't even know he had a name. But since that episode, I've wanted them to do a nice redemption storyline for him. I'm really glad, however, they aren't having Kurt be the one to "redeem" him. For one, Kurt does not need that bullshit, he shouldn't trust Karofsky, he doesn't need to forgive him or like him, it's not his responsibility. Dave does deserve a chance, but he has personal issues to work out coming to terms with his gayness, and not only should that not be Kurt's problem, I don't think he could help even if he wanted to. Kurt has pretty much always been out and proud and fabulous, Dave can't really relate to that. But Santana...she not only plays for his team, she's just like him, closeted, not willing to risk her popularity yet, (mistakenly) thinks she doesn't fit the "mold" of gay and doesn't want to change into a stereotype. Obviously she doesn't need to get a flattop to be a lesbian, she already is one (born this way!) but that's something she and Karofsky are both figuring out, and I think Santana's getting there faster. And when she does come out, it will be in a big and inspiring way that just might ease Karofsky towards the closet door as well. It's a little bit of redemption for Santana too, she's done her fair share of bullying.
And then they had another locker scene... Don't let anyone tell you Brittany is completely oblivious, she knew Santana wouldn't put Lesbian on her shirt, so she gave her that little push to be honest. Obviously the point where she and Artie are over is coming soon, she just wants Santana to stand up and be proud of her love. Also, lolllll Lebanese. That would totally be my shirt. I actually am 1/4 Lebanese, and 1/2 Lesbian too :P
(Wow, sorry I'm being so tl;dr, almost done, promise)
Things that were lolarious:
* "The only straight I am is straight-up bitch."
* The Bully-Whip uniforms! Berets, really??? Lollllllll.
*Flash mob! That was a cute little scene, reminding Rachel that Barbra is her idol, and her nose is fine as-is.
*Mike/Tina making out after Tina quotes Ghandi. "I love you so much right now!" *cue gratuitous tongue*
Things that were "Huh, really?"
*Quinn finally gets some backstory. Pretty, perfect Christian girl used to be fat, big-nosed, and called Lucy, but she dieted and worked out like mad, got a nose job, transfered schools, and started going by her middle name. Then her rival outs her former fatness to the whole school. Now where have I heard this story before?...... Oh yeah, they ripped it straight from Hilary Faye in Saved! I'm sure it's supposed to be inspiring and all, but for me it's been there, done that, done better. But I did like the little moment with Lauren where she apologized and Quinn told her she respects her confidence.
Overall
As you could probably tell from my multitude of words, I did really like this episode. Plenty of Santana, decent group interactions, mostly good musical numbers. And it really reminded me just how much representation Glee puts out there. I mean it has the whole gay spectrum, from out-and-proud to closeted bullies to pansexuals who are confused about breakfast. So I keep watching, even though it's hit and miss with storytelling and continuity, and sometimes makes me facepalm or WTF or get extreme secondhand embarassment. I still like this show.
Things that were awesome:
*Unpretty/I Feel Pretty: definitely the best mash-up Glee has ever done, and my favorite number of the episode. Finn's song wasn't bad either, they actually gave him something in his vocal range for once!
* I almost liked Will/Emma again. I think Will was too confrontational/mean about it, but I'm glad that he convinced Emma to finally get help. He was right about her deflecting and using her job as an excuse to focus on other people's problems rather than her own, but even when he's helping people he still comes off like a douche :/ Jayma really hit it out of the park in the scene with the psychiatrist too, I just wanted to give her a hug.
* No more Warblers numbers for awhileKurt is back! Everyone saw this coming a mile away of course, but I like the way they went about it. More on Santana's role in this later. I did like the "Somewhere Only We Know" number, but I'm glad we can lose the blue-blazered backup singers now. Don't get me wrong, I like Kurt and Blaine when they aren't giving me a toothache with their sweetness, but the Warblers don't do much for me as backup singers because, well, they don't do much. My favorite Blaine number so far was his "Don't You Want Me?" duet with Rachel.
*Moar Brittana/Santana is the Queen Bitch of my heart. Love, love, love what they're doing with her storyline. She's trying to become prom queen, but it's for the sake of getting Brittany back, not status or power. She's blackmailing Karofsky, but it's to keep him from bullying Kurt so he can rejoin the glee club. She's being devious and bitchy, but for good reasons! Even wearing a ridiculous fur hat, she almost made me cry with the sheer longing of her gazing at Brit.
I really like the Santana/Karofsky beard/anti-bullying alliance. I was really shocked when they revealed that Karofsky was a closet case. I know a lot of people saw it coming, but to be honest I just never really paid attention to him before that, I didn't even know he had a name. But since that episode, I've wanted them to do a nice redemption storyline for him. I'm really glad, however, they aren't having Kurt be the one to "redeem" him. For one, Kurt does not need that bullshit, he shouldn't trust Karofsky, he doesn't need to forgive him or like him, it's not his responsibility. Dave does deserve a chance, but he has personal issues to work out coming to terms with his gayness, and not only should that not be Kurt's problem, I don't think he could help even if he wanted to. Kurt has pretty much always been out and proud and fabulous, Dave can't really relate to that. But Santana...she not only plays for his team, she's just like him, closeted, not willing to risk her popularity yet, (mistakenly) thinks she doesn't fit the "mold" of gay and doesn't want to change into a stereotype. Obviously she doesn't need to get a flattop to be a lesbian, she already is one (born this way!) but that's something she and Karofsky are both figuring out, and I think Santana's getting there faster. And when she does come out, it will be in a big and inspiring way that just might ease Karofsky towards the closet door as well. It's a little bit of redemption for Santana too, she's done her fair share of bullying.
And then they had another locker scene... Don't let anyone tell you Brittany is completely oblivious, she knew Santana wouldn't put Lesbian on her shirt, so she gave her that little push to be honest. Obviously the point where she and Artie are over is coming soon, she just wants Santana to stand up and be proud of her love. Also, lolllll Lebanese. That would totally be my shirt. I actually am 1/4 Lebanese, and 1/2 Lesbian too :P
(Wow, sorry I'm being so tl;dr, almost done, promise)
Things that were lolarious:
* "The only straight I am is straight-up bitch."
* The Bully-Whip uniforms! Berets, really??? Lollllllll.
*Flash mob! That was a cute little scene, reminding Rachel that Barbra is her idol, and her nose is fine as-is.
*Mike/Tina making out after Tina quotes Ghandi. "I love you so much right now!" *cue gratuitous tongue*
Things that were "Huh, really?"
*Quinn finally gets some backstory. Pretty, perfect Christian girl used to be fat, big-nosed, and called Lucy, but she dieted and worked out like mad, got a nose job, transfered schools, and started going by her middle name. Then her rival outs her former fatness to the whole school. Now where have I heard this story before?...... Oh yeah, they ripped it straight from Hilary Faye in Saved! I'm sure it's supposed to be inspiring and all, but for me it's been there, done that, done better. But I did like the little moment with Lauren where she apologized and Quinn told her she respects her confidence.
Overall
As you could probably tell from my multitude of words, I did really like this episode. Plenty of Santana, decent group interactions, mostly good musical numbers. And it really reminded me just how much representation Glee puts out there. I mean it has the whole gay spectrum, from out-and-proud to closeted bullies to pansexuals who are confused about breakfast. So I keep watching, even though it's hit and miss with storytelling and continuity, and sometimes makes me facepalm or WTF or get extreme secondhand embarassment. I still like this show.