I’m back! At least for this week filling in for Tara, so a crash course of Glee episodes was in order to get caught up for this week’s episode, and you know what? I’m really pleased with the excellent storytelling, writing and, most of all, consistency of the characters. They’ve even reigned Sue in a bit and I have to say that this season has been very satisfying as compared to the rollercoaster that was Season 2.
The last few episodes have focused not only on the national elections, which saw Sue running for Congress on a platform of defunding the arts and sensational lies (she only just remembered why she really got in the race in the first place), but the McKinley High Senior Class President election as well, which pitted Kurt, Brittany and Rachel against one another. It was nice to see Burt Hummel pull out a Congressional win over Sue (they really couldn’t have sent her to D.C. anyway), but unsurprising that Brittany, with her sugar-coated, inane plegdes, won class president. What’s more shocking is that Kurt considered cheating, and that Rachel actually did stuff the ballor box for him.
Rachel … one of the most schizophrenic characters on television has finally been brought back to reality this season. Last season, she was all over the place from episode to episode and her selfishness knew no bounds. This season she’s actually been likable, she bowed out of the race to help Kurt (although had she stayed in the race, she might have drawn some “girl power” votes away from Brittany), and committed a crime to ensure his win … except she went just a little overboard by giving Kurt a win by more votes than there are seniors at McKinley. Her confession led to a week-long suspension, which goes on her “permanent record,” and being barred from competing at Sectionals. What will New Directions do without its self-acknowledged star?
I really have to give kudos to the writers for the coming out storyline with Santana. I’m one of the few who felt the bullying story last season started off well, although the resolution of that was kind of fudged (but it was nice to see Karofsky pop up in a local gay bar a couple of weeks ago having a pleasant chat with Kurt), however, I think the Santana story has been taken on with real sensitivity. When it was discovered in the last episode that Sue’s rival candidate was going to out Santana in a political ad, everyone, including Sue, came to her defense. This week, her friends in New Directions also showed their support even though she tried to keep that steel wall of defense around her. Who ever thought “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” would bring tears to your eyes? Finn’s rendition did, and broke down that wall allowing Santana to finally be free.
Unfortunately, Santana’s grandmother was not as accepting and after Santana revealed her secret, her grandmother told her she never wanted to see her again. Too many kids have dealt with this in real life, and I’m sure there are some people out there setting their hair on fire because of this “immoral” storyline that their children are being forced to watch, but if this helps one kid out there who feels different then that is something to applaud. But now that Santana has been freed, will she still continue to have that bite that I love so much in her? I think Naya Rivera‘s work on Glee has grown leaps and bounds and she’s one of my favorite people on the show. She gets some of the best lines, but Rivera can say volumes with just her expressions. I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of her whithering put-downs, but I hope Santana still gets to be the mean girl once in a while.
Other highlights and quotes:
“I’m gonna lose unless I pull a JFK.” — Kurt, facing the reality that he could lose the election
“You … you’re going to shoot Brittany?” — Rachel
“While there’s nothing I’d love more than having two pretty ponies serenade me, I think we’d get further staging a gelervention for Blaine than singing lady music.” — Santana to Blaine and Kurt
“Wait, are we talking lady on lady or girl on girl, because there’s a big difference.” — Puck ruminating on the class musical assignment
“Why would someone assume I’m a friend of Ellen just because I’m mannish, and highly aggressive, and have short hair, and I only wear track suits, and I coach a girls’ sport, and I married myself? It just doesn’t make sense.” — Sue’s diary entry
“My mom is going on a Christian wine-tasting boat down the Ohio River on Friday.” — Quinn
“The Jesus Booze Cruise.” — Puck
“I have to take this. It’s a reporter from USA Today, the newspaper for people who can’t read.” — Sue
And if you enjoyed any of the songs on this week’s episode (I absolutely loved “Constant Craving”), they are all available at iTunes. Just click on the link below, purchase the song for your enjoyment and give a little support to CliqueClack as well.
Clacked by Chuck Duncan 
on Nov 30, 2011 @ 00:19 EST5EDT
Thanks so much for filling in buddy. Good post! And I agree Naya Rivera is uber talented.
BTW if you loved “Constant Craving”, you would dig that whole k.d. lang album. It’s her best by far, I think.
I’m really liking this season as well. Seems they’re back to the good grass roots.
*POST AUTHOR*
Thanks! My pleasure. I’m glad the show seems to be back to its season one goodness, combining story, character and music more organically than most of the awful theme episodes.
And I’ve played that kd lang CD to death! It was on constant rotation in my car when it first came out. I even saw her in concert. It really is her best album (and I absolutely love her version of the Bond theme for “Tomorrow Never Dies”).
I too, listened to that tape (remember tapes?) until it literally fell apart. Saw her tour of that release and cried three times. She was utterly amazing.
They’re dressing Kurt like an alien now, with every outfit crazier than the last. I don’t think this episode lived up to “The First Time” from a few weeks ago, but it certainly showed more nuance and shading than “Glee” is known for. Finn, of all people, was surprisingly effective in his scenes–did the actor get lessons? They seemed to give all Sue’s put-downs to Santana, and then gave us a good reason–defensiveness–for them. Her scene with her abuela was the most realistic kid-family member scene outside of Kurt and his dad, even if the outcomes were opposite. Puck seemed to gain about a hundred IQ points and had smart observations about everything.
The Bieste storyline continues to be much more moving than you’d expect, mostly based on Dot Marie Jones’s dignity and integrity in playing those dramatic moments. Why they keep making her a glutton (turducken now? what’s next, a whole pig?) for unfunny comedy scenes I don’t understand.
This was another episode not written by one of the three creators. I think the best thing they’ve ever done is get a writing staff for this show. The new writers treat the characters and their situations with more respect than the creators have, even bringing in elements of continuity, like Finn’s affection for Santana because she was his “first”.
*POST AUTHOR*
I have to agree about Kurt’s wardrobe. Where in Lima, Ohio would he find all of those outfits (sorry, it doesn’t seem to be a fashion hub in my mind), and does the family auto repair business rake in that much dough for him to afford those clothes?! That sweater was just too much.
I did notice there is a staff writer credited now, and I agree that having a real writing staff, or at least one person in charge of keeping everyone in line, has helped the show immensely. I just hope they keep up the good work, but I feel like we’re back to the promise season one held for the future of the show.