Ever since the final episode of Glee in December, I have been anxiously awaiting its return. Multiple sing-a-longs with both albums, repeated viewings of past episodes and devouring morsels of information about the upcoming new episodes kept me appeased, if not entirely satisfied. And after almost four months of impatiently waiting, the long anticipated date of April 15th arrived.
I was stoked. I was so excited I walked around with a completely dopey grin on my face. I could wait to see how things were going to go with Emma and Will, what was going to happen between Rachel and Finn, if things were going to be any better for the Glee kids now that they had won regionals, who the new characters I heard were joining the cast were going to be and where Sue Sylvester would fit into the world without her beloved Cheerios.
Maybe my expectations were too high, or maybe because they had to re-establish some of the conflict that seemed to be resolved in the previous episode, but for some reason I found this episode a bit of a let down in a lot of ways. It felt like the Sectionals episode had moved characters forward, into a new place, and now this new episode came along and pushed everyone back a step or two. Overall I guess it was a decent episode, but three things in particular really bothered me:
1) Schuester the Scumbag: What was with the hook up between him and the Vocal Adrenalin director? Look I know he just got out of a bad relationship, but that doesn't give him the right to go whoring it up with the first skank who comes his way. And the whole thing about the song with Emma? Telling her it was the "perfect song" for them, and that he'd "always had a soft spot" for it? Yeah of course you did, it was you song with your ex-wife! Not cool buddy.
2) Rachel/Finn/Jesse: I like the idea of the love triangle, I really do. And I like the idea of an ambitious male who can understand that side of Rachel's personality. What I don't like is the obvious angle of Jesse being a "spy" for Vocal Adrenalin. Was anyone shocked that right after he gave Rachel that "I would never hurt you speech" he shared that knowing look with Female Schuester over Rachel's shoulder (while kissing her no less)? I think not. And Finn? Well really he just sucked all episode. I was disappointed that he fell for the Brittany/Santana thing, and the way he was so wishy-washy about Rachel. It just all felt so contrived.
3) Sue's return: I was really looking forward to seeing how Sue was going to get herself back into the school, and what was going to happen with the Cheerios. I thought the writers would find some clever way of re-introducing her in a different role to the school community and was really interested in seeing what they would do. Instead they used some obvious blackmail scenario to basically undo everything the past season had done with her character. All within the first five minutes of the episode.
Overall, I am still excited to see where this season will take us. But the first episode felt less like the "Road to Regionals" and more like the first steps of the "Road to Sectionals". Here's hoping they find their way back on track soon.
Favourite Song: Gives You Hell - All American Rejects, sung by Rachel. This was the only time in the episode where all the kids in Glee performed together AND seemed to be having fun. Plus I loved the emotion she injected into it.
Favourite Quote: "Did you know dolphins are just gay sharks?" - Brittany to Santana. Her delivery of the line was just perfect. Stupid yet earnest.
Next week: Madonna!!! A whole episode of Madonna songs! Things are definitely looking up!
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