Glee
Let's start with the end, because the end, my god.
Unique's performance of "I Know Where I've Been" from Hairspray was flawless. Flawless. And wonderfully staged as well. It was obvious that Will was entrapping Vocal Adrenaline somehow (the reaction shot when the stage lights came on - hilarious!) but I didn't really know where it was going to go. When Unique came out and started singing it took me a few minutes to place the song -- I have the Hairspray movie soundtrack, and I knew that it was something that Queen Latifah had sung, but for some reason I was thinking Chicago at first, but that's neither here nor there. Then the stage lights coming up all the way to reveal the choir -- stunning! For a second I thought, "oh, how touching, they got the whole school in to support their coach" and then I realized "omg, that entire stage is filled with transmen and transwomen." And what was really powerful about it for me was that it was just regular people, all ages and colors and races... and not some Hollywood ideal of the Beautiful Woman Who Has a Startling Secret that we normally get if we get a trans* storyline at all.
(Incidentally, I stopped watching this week's Backstrom about six minutes in and won't be tuning in again. The show has no redeeming value, and there's a million procedurals.)
So, I mean, I know that Will going off to coach for Vocal Adrenaline in the first place had never made sooooo much sense, but I'm glad it finally paid off in spades.
The Kurt/Blaine storyline advanced, speaking of Obstacles That Never Made Sense. I kind of love that Karofsky was like "dude, I'm a catch, I'll be fine, just go." He had every reason to have been hurt, and the actor did a good job of conveying that he kind of was, but he knew it was coming anyway. (Blaine running through a hall is kind of overdone at this point, no?)
Meanwhile, I love how self-aware this season is. I sporfled when Will asked Rachel and Kurt if any of the kids had problems and they said they didn't know, they never really talk to them. Even Mercedes was like, "wait, which one?" when she got paired up for the duet.
The music was pretty strong this week, except the Kurt/Blaine duet was kind of lame... I don't know that song, but listening a second time is it like One Direction or something? It sounds very boyband-y and generic. Rachel and Sam on Time After Time were great; I think that song has to be one of the most-frequently-covered songs ever, and I think I've yet to hear a cover of it that I dislike... Cyndi Lauper deserves all the awards ever for that one. I confess I winced (and felt sympathy for VA) when Will started rapping, but at least Unique rescued it.
I don't even know who Sue Sylvester is at this point, which I think is the point, whatever, it's funny and my heart is warmed.
Emma is not chained up in a basement somewhere!
Unique's performance of "I Know Where I've Been" from Hairspray was flawless. Flawless. And wonderfully staged as well. It was obvious that Will was entrapping Vocal Adrenaline somehow (the reaction shot when the stage lights came on - hilarious!) but I didn't really know where it was going to go. When Unique came out and started singing it took me a few minutes to place the song -- I have the Hairspray movie soundtrack, and I knew that it was something that Queen Latifah had sung, but for some reason I was thinking Chicago at first, but that's neither here nor there. Then the stage lights coming up all the way to reveal the choir -- stunning! For a second I thought, "oh, how touching, they got the whole school in to support their coach" and then I realized "omg, that entire stage is filled with transmen and transwomen." And what was really powerful about it for me was that it was just regular people, all ages and colors and races... and not some Hollywood ideal of the Beautiful Woman Who Has a Startling Secret that we normally get if we get a trans* storyline at all.
(Incidentally, I stopped watching this week's Backstrom about six minutes in and won't be tuning in again. The show has no redeeming value, and there's a million procedurals.)
So, I mean, I know that Will going off to coach for Vocal Adrenaline in the first place had never made sooooo much sense, but I'm glad it finally paid off in spades.
The Kurt/Blaine storyline advanced, speaking of Obstacles That Never Made Sense. I kind of love that Karofsky was like "dude, I'm a catch, I'll be fine, just go." He had every reason to have been hurt, and the actor did a good job of conveying that he kind of was, but he knew it was coming anyway. (Blaine running through a hall is kind of overdone at this point, no?)
Meanwhile, I love how self-aware this season is. I sporfled when Will asked Rachel and Kurt if any of the kids had problems and they said they didn't know, they never really talk to them. Even Mercedes was like, "wait, which one?" when she got paired up for the duet.
The music was pretty strong this week, except the Kurt/Blaine duet was kind of lame... I don't know that song, but listening a second time is it like One Direction or something? It sounds very boyband-y and generic. Rachel and Sam on Time After Time were great; I think that song has to be one of the most-frequently-covered songs ever, and I think I've yet to hear a cover of it that I dislike... Cyndi Lauper deserves all the awards ever for that one. I confess I winced (and felt sympathy for VA) when Will started rapping, but at least Unique rescued it.
I don't even know who Sue Sylvester is at this point, which I think is the point, whatever, it's funny and my heart is warmed.
Emma is not chained up in a basement somewhere!