Glee - Never Been Kissed
Okay, I wasn't going to write anything about this episode because I found it dull and annoying, but there are a few things that are picking at me, so I figure I'm going to vent it all out here.
1) Sections don't change on a year-by-year basis, unless there was a rezoning we didn't hear about. They would still be up against the deaf school and the bad girls school. I appreciate the introduction of the new glee clubs from around Ohio, but wouldn't we have heard of them before? This is just another example of really poor writing on the part of "Glee" that they just expect viewers to overlook. I know this show is not really all that realistic, but come on. It wouldn't be the worst thing to say, "Oh, we're competing against Jane Addams and Deaf School That I Can't Remember the Name Of, as well as these two new clubs" just to add some continuity. Whatever.
2) I don't like what they did to Shannon Bieste. I don't mean imagining her in compromising positions (as Will put it, which wasn't really what they were imagining...). I mean that they deflated her character. I feel like they put her in this box, like, unconventional-looking people won't find love. Can you imagine if they'd made her into the stereotypical lesbian football coach, but a proud lesbian football coach who was insulted, but not to the point of being defeated by it? Think what a role model to Kurt she could be! Or if they didn't want to go that route, just to make her a stronger character. I understand having an inner softness, but come on.
3) Will Schuester. You are basically the same as the bully football player who gave Kurt his first kiss. How full of yourself do you have to be to think that a pity kiss from you is how someone who has waited forty years wants to have their first one?
4) I spent so much of the episode wishing (vainly, I know) that Kurt would transfer and we wouldn't have to have any more poorly conceived storylines revolving around him. That said, I think I kind of love his new love interest. Maybe we'll have a rewrite of the Rachel storyline of last season. Oh, wait, we won't, because people like Kurt so they'll let him date whoever he wants. WHATEVER. Also, who really thinks confronting a big, angry, in-denial gay football player in a public place about his possible gayness was a good idea?
5) The background moments were really enjoyable. Like the funny flack Tina was getting. And Puck singing "One Love." I think Puck/Artie is my new favorite friendship. I didn't like the mash-ups all that much, though. "One Love" is the only song being added to my iTunes this week.
6) I still think the show is strongest when it has an ensemble storyline. I will espouse this opinion until Ryan Murphy listens to me. This was close to that, but focusing on Kurt's problems is really not the way to go with this show. Chris Colfer is really strong, but I feel like the writers aren't doing justice to his character development. I think the football player is an interesting addition to his storyline, but I fear it means more emphasis on his character, and I think I've had enough Kurt episodes to last me the rest of the season. Can we have an Emma/John Stamos episode? Where John Stamos murders Will Schuester?
I don't know. Sue Sylvester's confetti cannons were really the high point of the episode for me. Her earlier scene with Quinn was a little disappointing - she added an explanation onto one of her biting one-liners, which lessened its impact. I did not care for that. Whatever. I feel like Ryan Murphy struggled as a young gay man, and this show is his outlet for expressing that, sometimes at the expense of a good show. I feel like I might be in the minority with my opinions on this episode, but maybe that's how it is. I just want "Glee" to step it up.