'Glee' recap: 'Glease' is not a word
'That's unfortunate, but it doesn't really have anything to do with us.'
Here's two people I like on "Glee": Darren Criss and Vanessa Lengies
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How low has "Glee" sunk? They're writing their own reviews.
"Three words: 'Grease.' McKinley. Bravo," raved some idiot from the McKinley High newspaper.
I've got two words for that: Yeah, right.
Anyone who asks for more after sitting through "Glease" is either insane, a self-loathing masochist or both. Either way they should be instantly committed to "American Horror Story: Asylum," which is what I'm going to go marathon to erase the atrocious waking nightmare that is "Glee" Season 4 from my mind as quickly as possible.
I didn't commit to recapping "Glee" because I hated it. So it's actually painful for me to write about a show that I once loved, have always at least really liked, and now completely despise. But that's how quickly things have changed for me and "Glee."
There was only scene I actually understood in the entire hour. And really it was just a simple dialogue exchange:
Kurt: "Apparently the girl playing Sandy has gained so much weight she can't fit into her clothes."
Rachel: "That's unfortunate, but it doesn't really have anything to do with us."
No, it doesn't. And it shouldn't have anything to do with "Glee" either. I have no interest in watching Kitty "Gaslight" Marley into a bout of bulimia. And I have even less interest in who Marley wants to date, or anything to do with Kitty, Ryder, Marley, Jake or Unique, period. I don't want to hear them sing, I don't want to watch them dance, I don't want to see them. And yet there they are, all over "Glee" like they own the place.
Meanwhile, the original cast members have been reduced to simpering idiots who mope around because of nonsensical breakups. Oh, and Sue is really pissed that Finn called her baby "retarded," which I'm pretty sure he only did because the writers wanted Sue to have another reason to be pissed off (like they ever needed an excuse before).
Look, I loved Santana singing "There Are Worse Things I Could Do" because Naya Rivera is amazing and I'm only human. But even when we got those weird extreme close-ups of Cory Monteith and Lea Michele imagining themselves in the "You're The One That I Want" number, and then Chris Colfer and Darren Criss and Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Ushkowitz and Heather Morris and Naya Rivera were all there too, it wasn't a moving moment expressing the characters' mixed emotions over romantic separations. It wasn't a wistful callback to the glory days of "Glee." It was just a flat out depressing reminder that this show used to be fun and daring and different and crazy. And now it's not.
I know that it's so 2011 to declare you're breaking up with "Glee." And I thought we'd be OK. We made it through some really rough patches (even "Extraordinary Merry Christmas"!), but I'm not sure this relationship was really built to last.
At the moment, I can't remember what it was I ever liked about this show.
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November 16, 2012 at 6:54AM EST Reply to CommentI just watch and enjoy the bits with Cory Monteith who I adore. I don't bother wondering about the plotlines, or why the hell the newbies are suddenly more important than this season's seniors. I don't worry about what the hell they are doing with my beloved characters, y they regess and unlearn things, or what is the point of bring some back from walk-on's. Mostly I try not to question why they can't have a FULL TIME SHOWRUNNER on Glee like other network shows. And then it is ok.
Cp
November 16, 2012 at 8:48AM EST Reply to CommentThe new people are seriously killing the show for me. They are so boring.
Mike
November 16, 2012 at 9:12AM EST Reply to CommentTotally, totally agree with this review. And I also honed in on that exchange between Kurt and Rachel as summing up my feelings for this show. When your central crisis of the episode is sticking two fingers down your throat, that is what the audience will want to do watching it. Terrible!
Jessica
November 16, 2012 at 9:13AM EST Reply to CommentYou are the only critic of glee that has nailed this season right in the head. Glee has morphed into a show I cannot even describe as nothing but a mixture of bad acting and destroying the only good thing this show ever did. Finn and Rachel have been reduced to the Rachel variety show a person who no longer is someone I can root for, and Finn is a guy whose dream is to volunteer coach his old high school glee club and forget he ever cared for her. Meanwhile, the stunt casting continues flowing into this crap fest and the audience is left wondering what the hell happened to this show. They have destroyed the audience good will yet again. Goodbye Glee you could have been something special. You know this show is bad when the only thing the writers want to do is give Finn a new love interest as well further cementing this show as the worse returning show on network television. The new guy on glee should start tweeting negative comments to the critics now maybe that will force people to care about him.
Steph
November 16, 2012 at 9:20AM EST Reply to CommentThe new kids are what is running this show to the ground this season. The only moments that I've enjoyed are the ones involving the Original casts. They should've gone and leave the highschool set up and follow the original member's journey to adulthood.
winnie totally agree
November 26, 2012 at 7:55PM ESTGuest
November 16, 2012 at 11:19AM EST Reply to CommentThe Glee showrunners have really hyped up Season 4 so much that being unable to live up to high expectations is not helping the show this season. No wonder the number of live viewers is shrinking. Glee needs to go back to its roots and find its way again; it has lost its way and got distracted by its initial success. Cory and Lea are the only bright spots that keep me from giving up this show.
Eric
November 16, 2012 at 11:26AM EST Reply to CommentMy major problem with people like this reviewer declaring that they are over Glee or that it is so far from the supposed glory days of season 1 is this: Have we been watching the same show? Glee has always been wildly uneven, preachy, heavy handed, character development has been non existent or when it happens it is quickly undone. This has been happening since the first season which people always point to when they complain about how terrible it is now. So, why are you "breaking up" with the show now? Why didn't you do it back in season 1. People act like Glee has changed. It hasn't. It is the same show.
katherine it's always been wacky but the only real reason people tuned in was for the cast. now they've basically recreated the cast but with different people who are boring and no one wants to watch that. if they were smart they'd be able to intertwine story lines with noobs and the originals so we at least give somewhat of a crap about them, but alas... it's glee
November 17, 2012 at 1:28AM ESTSCN
November 16, 2012 at 1:03PM EST Reply to CommentIt really sums up how much expectations for Finn’s story, even among Finn fans, have gone down when you have them getting all excited about Finn pretending to direct some dumb high school musical or mopping the floors or whatever it is he does now (oh, and pretending to direct the glee club as well, at which he will probably also fail miserably). What I’ve learned from ‘Finn’s story’ – well, not really a story, just a sequence of disappointing events – is what Glee is really about: How the Rachels and Kurts of the world go on to bigger and better things while people like Finn fix their cars. That’s the real Glee. That’s what Finn gets for being ‘the everyman’, that’s what he gets not being one of the writers’ precious little favorites. Finn gets the privilege of propping up the new faces in Lima. He counts for less among the ‘writers’ than they do now.
SCN
November 16, 2012 at 1:03PM EST Reply to CommentWrite a comment...It really sums up how much expectations for Finn’s story, even among Finn fans, have gone down when you have them getting all excited about Finn pretending to direct some dumb high school musical or mopping the floors or whatever it is he does now (oh, and pretending to direct the glee club as well, at which he will probably also fail miserably). What I’ve learned from ‘Finn’s story’ – well, not really a story, just a sequence of disappointing events – is what Glee is really about: How the Rachels and Kurts of the world go on to bigger and better things while people like Finn fix their cars. That’s the real Glee. That’s what Finn gets for being ‘the everyman’, that’s what he gets not being one of the writers’ precious little favorites. Finn gets the privilege of propping up the new faces in Lima. He counts for less among the ‘writers’ than they do now.
SCN
November 16, 2012 at 1:04PM EST Reply to CommentIt really sums up how much expectations for Finn’s story, even among Finn fans, have gone down when you have them getting all excited about Finn pretending to direct some dumb high school musical or mopping the floors or whatever it is he does now (oh, and pretending to direct the glee club as well, at which he will probably also fail miserably). What I’ve learned from ‘Finn’s story’ – well, not really a story, just a sequence of disappointing events – is what Glee is really about: How the Rachels and Kurts of the world go on to bigger and better things while people like Finn fix their cars. That’s the real Glee. That’s what Finn gets for being ‘the everyman’, that’s what he gets not being one of the writers’ precious little favorites. Finn gets the privilege of propping up the new faces in Lima. He counts for less among the ‘writers’ than they do now.
Jonnybon
November 16, 2012 at 2:14PM EST Reply to CommentI haven't watch GLEASE yet, but for the most part, this new season is a HUGE IMPROVEMENT on the awful Season 3.
SH
November 16, 2012 at 6:01PM EST Reply to CommentWow, I couldn't stand a lot of Season 3 and I think the writing and the show has been much better this season. The main thing I didn't like about last night's episode was the eating disorder storyline. Everything else I thought was actually pretty great.
EN
November 16, 2012 at 6:29PM EST Reply to CommentAs others have posted, I have to agree with this. I think what killed Glee for me last night was the meaness they call "Kitty" and the horrible things she does. Convincing a fellow student that she should try bulima is appalling and disgusting.
There are so many females with eating disorders....I feel a show of this mangnitude just glorified that.
Lauren
November 16, 2012 at 6:48PM EST Reply to CommentGeoff, is like you're reading my mind.
I HATE THE NEW CAST OF GLEE!!! I miss Naya so much and I miss the rest of the cast too. I can't stay with Glee, I can't watch something that I'm not enjoying anymore. Also, I don't understand why Naya is not on the show anymore, it's criminal.
Lauren *it's
November 16, 2012 at 6:51PM ESTHP
November 17, 2012 at 1:40AM EST Reply to CommentIt pains me to say this about a show that I grew to love, but it has gone too far. I just have to say thank you, I couldn't have said it better myself and I'm glad that other people see the flaws that are evident in this show. In a perfect world, they wouldn't have thrown those new characters at us. Maybe if we weren't ambushed with them, then I would rethink my feelings for them. They have pushed the old cast aside, the cast which many of us fell in love with, and turn this show down the gutter. What ever happened to character development? Obviously, something they forgot this season, and last season, to add to it. What ever happened to this show being a comedy? Jokes about bulimia and eating disorders are not funny, and it leaves me thinking if they even watch the show before it premiers or if they even know what kind of things they are writing. How could they conveniently forget all the jokes about Santana possibly having an eating disorder or what Mercedes went through? The new Ryder kid is dyslexic? Wow Glee, do you remember SAM? He clearly stated he was dyslexic when we first got to know him. This show is just going to waste, because they don't know how to develop characters, how to not reuse story lines, and for lack of creativity. The list of continuity errors and just obvious flaws goes on and on, but what a waste it is to think that they will decide to acknowledge people other than the ones who are obvious kiss-ups. I highly doubt that they will get off their high thrones and see it the way we see it. They obviously don't care about their viewers, and if they ever do it will already be too late since many of us are about to jump of the horrible wagon that is called Glee.
J
November 17, 2012 at 1:48AM EST Reply to CommentThe last line says it all. Thank you for writing one of most honest reviews about show I used to love.
Alex
November 17, 2012 at 3:27AM EST Reply to Commentthis is such a bad article. you're not reviewing. you're just complaining. get another writer.
Sr
November 17, 2012 at 4:37AM EST Reply to CommentDianna Agron… too bad she's barely on anymore
Mudassar Ahmad
November 17, 2012 at 10:31AM EST Reply to CommentYou're a horrible critic. Not because you are hating on Glee, but because you have so narrow-mindedly and crudely compared the current season 4 of Glee, with it's predecessors, Season 1,2 and 3. You're claiming that Glee isn't 'fun, daring, different and crazy', because it's original cast aren't in the spotlight anymore? Wow. Look who's hating 'different' now. The producers and directors of Glee have taken the meticulous reality check on the typical highschool scene that Glee deals with. 1) Highschool students don't stay students forever. They grow and emerge as more mature adults, dealing with a seperate obstacle: College. That's why you can't have your lovebirds Rachel and Finn making out in the corridors of McKinley High. Accept that they've moved on, and Glee needs to replenish the highschool cast. 2)Purging, and bulimia are serious issues in the U.S. teenage scene. It's a problem that needs to be dealt with in a more effective way, the Glee way, and they've done that perfectly. 3) Glee is a show about a show-choir group. It's not a show about Rachel, Finn, Kurt, etc. They're members who have been in Glee club, and who have owned Glee club; but not anymore. The new Glee members can do whatever they want; sing, dance and laugh in Glee club, because they are it's inhabitants now. They OWN Glee club.
Your's Sincerely,
A True Gleek
KC "Glee is a show about a show-choir group. It's not a show about Rachel, Finn, Kurt, etc."
November 18, 2012 at 5:59AM ESTYou are making the same mistake the show runners made when shoving the old cast aside in favor of some lame copies. You can't force the audience to love a show for a certain aspect of it but not another. And it just so happens, that a big part of the audience (and surely the whole fandom) loves the original cast, not the tired and repetitive choir room concept. I personally couldn't care less about the glee club. I care about the characters I grew to love. The characters that graduated and outgrew their show choir. I want to see them evolve, not being shoved aside so all their old storylines can be rehashed with bland copies.
1872
November 17, 2012 at 11:35AM EST Reply to Commentagree. I just watch this episode to see Naya Rivera tbh. Don't give a damn about the new kids.
Sam Same here.
November 18, 2012 at 3:36PM ESTkayla
November 18, 2012 at 3:41PM EST Reply to CommentI was looking forward to the Rachel/NYADA storyline but now I couldn't care less about it. I can relate to Finn feeling lost after high school and his insecurities, but I'm not interested in seeing him run the glee club. I don't mind the new characters, but I'm NOT interested in seeing love triangles between them. I understand that the show can't just continue to revolve around the old characters and that they have to graduate which is why I was looking at these new characters with an open mind. But I am just so sick of all the love triangles Glee constantly insists on doing. I think I'm gonna have to resort to just watching this show when my faves (Naya, Mark, Dianna, Mercedes, Mike) are on it. This season hasn't been completely bad, but it's just not maintaining my interest anymore.
De Niro
November 20, 2012 at 1:29PM EST Reply to CommentThis jackass actually defends season 4:
http://whatculture.com/tv/glee-the-most-important-show-on-tv.php
HC
November 23, 2012 at 2:56AM EST Reply to CommentI gather this website sometimes uses actual monkeys to write stuff. If your going to recap, then recap. If you're going to critique, include elements that actually resemble a critique, you know, like critical thinking skills. And if you hate it, create a cogent argument and state why it you hate it using a thoughtful analysis. Don't just throw a whiny tantrum. Otherwise, you're wasting our time. Wait, maybe you're the sophomore critic fatale who wrote a glowing review of McKinley HS's production of Grease? Because your critique of "Glease" was just that - sophomoric. Time wasted. Mine.
AM7
November 26, 2012 at 11:45PM EST Reply to CommentMark Christopher Lawrence goes from Chuck to this nonsense - yuck