Opinions are sure to be divided on last night’s installment of Glee. While I don’t want to give away too much, the major plot points revolved around Kurt and Coach Bieste. This episode also marked the return of Mark Salling, as well as the debut of cutie Darren Criss.
Of course, let’s go back to that whole matter of differing opinions. Linda Holmes of NPR has deemed this “one of the most facile and emotionally inauthentic episodes the show has ever produced”. Meanwhile, tons of fans have reacted very positively to the themes explored within this episode. Which side of the fence do you fall on?
– Dewitt
To watch the episode, hear the songs and read more, follow the JUMP:
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FULL EPISODE:
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NEXT WEEK:
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One Love (People Get Ready) (Mark Salling & Kevin McHale): Puck has been released from juvie! In order to fulfill his community service requirements, he begins pushing around Artie’s wheelchair and “helping” him out. As you might expect with any of Puck’s schemes, this plan winds up backfiring in the end.
And cue this entirely unnecessary musical number. Although it’s entirely cute that Artie thinks busking is bad-ass, there’s no way in hell these two could make three-hundred dollars from fellow high school students. Alas, we’re completely aware that Glee isn’t grounded in reality, and this was merely a scheme to lead into a double date with Brittany and Santana. But, um, couldn’t they have chosen a better song? (2.5 Points)
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Teenage Dream (Darren Criss): Kurt visits a local all-boys prep school, hoping to spy on their acappella group The Warblers. A cute boy tells him they’re kind of like “rock stars”, drags him to a performance and then sings Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream” directly into his face. Later, we discover this cute boy is also gay! And his school is basically “Tolerance Narnia”.
Throwing all negative feelings towards Katy Perry aside, this was actually one of the show’s better arrangements. Most likely, it was stolen from some random college acapella group in Indiana, but let’s not dwell on those details. With that said, all of the potential charm was thrown out the window with the inclusion of Auto-Tune. Look, I know the show wants their recordings to sound professional, but there’s a difference between professional and overly produced. (3 Points)
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Start Me Up / Livin’ On A Prayer (Female Cast): Since this show ran out of new ideas, Schuesters pits the girls against the boys for another mash-up competition. OMG, but there’s a twist! The girls are asked to cover classic rock jams, while the boys are forced to do songs traditionally performed by girl groups. Isn’t this so wacky, guys? Who ever thought a chick would be into Bon Jovi? Aren’t vaginas programmed to hate guitars?
Seriously, this show needs to drop the fucking “mash-ups”, especially when there’s absolutely no logic behind combining the two songs. I’m perfectly cool with the girls wearing black and whipping their hair back and forth, but we didn’t need Lea Michele to tackle “Livin’ On A Prayer”. Based on the short amount of screen time she received, Amber Riley would have rocked the fuck out of The Rolling Stones. I mean, what’s the deal? Was the song not “black” enough for her to get a full solo? (2 Points)
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Stop! In The Name Of Love / Free Your Mind (Male Cast): The boys apologize to Coach Bieste for using her to kill their boners, thereby launching into a song about not being a prostitute. Wait, hold the phone! This show can get away with saying “prostitute”, but it wasn’t okay with “transsexual”?
While we’re at it, can we talk about Will Schuester’s kiss with Coach Bieste? What. The. Fuck. There was nothing sweet or tender about this moment, and I would have stood up and punched him if he pulled that shit on me. Nobody wants their first kiss to be entirely out of pity.
And I would love to thank this show for ruining one of my favorite En Vogue songs, by throwing it into a scattered arrangement with The Supremes. You know, it wouldn’t have been enough to just perform “Free Your Mind”, which would have made the point on its own… (1 Point)
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BREAKDOWN OF POINTS SYSTEM:
- 5 Points = Excellent or exceeding expectations in regards to vocal performance, choreography and arrangement. Fits well within the context of the episode, and potentially better than the original version.
- 4 Points = Not too shabby! May not be entirely on par with the original, but a fantastic effort by the actors and vocalists.
- 3 Points = Tolerable. Did not induce eye rolls or kept them to a minimum.
- 2 Points = Could be a variety of factors, including poor song choice or lackluster performance. Boring or uninspired. May be an insult to the original artist.
- 1 Point = Absolutely painful. Couldn’t wait for it to be over.
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SLIGHTLY UNRELATED:
I loved this episode. I couldn’t wait to gleek out on here about it, because I really think that it will help alot of young people deal with their own feelings and dealing with stereotypes. Coming out for anyone is their own process; it’s never the same for anyone…and even if it’s just a tv show, it can be a spring board to help someone gain the COURAGE to do what they feel is needed at the right time.
To me, last night’s episode as a whole was just one big “WTF moment.” Usually, I’m not to shocked by anything on television, and pretty good on predicting where plots will go in a story, but last night I was so thrown. When the bully kissed Kurt, I was pretty much utterly speechless. All I kept repeating was “omg, omg, omg”, lol! I was kind of grossed out when Will went in to kiss Beist. I know that was the point of the episode, but I couldn’t help but turn away. The songs were all terribly weak in my opinion, plot still has yet to go anywhere, and at this point, i’m just sticking around because I’m already this far along. I thought Darren Criss would appeal to me more than he actually did. Hmm…go figure…
Maybe you should stop commenting on Glee and just stick to the porn, Dewitt.
First off, I’m in the other camp that liked the episode a lot. Maybe Linda Holmes of NPR who “lives in Takoma Park, Md. and devotes herself to perfecting her recipe for iced coffee” knows better than a gay man who has lived through a lifetime of name calling and bigotry, but the show is fantasy so why not let us enjoy it for that??
Second, while the musical numbers weren’t the best the show has done, the “Teenage Dream” number was great. It wasn’t “stolen from some random college acapella group in Indiana” – in fact, the Tufts University Beelzebubs provided the background vocals. Tufts University, you’ve heard of that, haven’t you Dewitt? It’s in Medford. Just outside of Boston…pretty close to you.
geez
have a few issues with the episode. It is unrealistic to expect an all boys school in Ohio to be “yay gay.” And before you go on an “it’s a TV show not reality tangent” let’s get real about the fact that they are attempting to address a real issue and doing it unrealistically is irresponsible. As for the homophobe kissing Kurt issue, it was derivative. The self-loathing homosexual that manifests that loathing into violence toward out gays has been done before and done better. See Season 2 episode of Buffy called “Phases” where the bully comes out.
Last night “Glee” was great. Love the gay kiss, we want more ! ! !
Personally, I loved the episode. I’ve been where Kurt is and I ran, like Blaine. The episode hit all the right notes for me.
I will admit the Schuster/Bieste kiss was entirely horrible… but it sort of worked. In a sick, twisted sort of way.
The girls’ mash up was fun. It wasn’t excellent or anything, but it was fun. The boys’ just wasn’t that great. I wanted more of “Stop! in the name of love” in the mix… or maybe “I’m coming out!”
I hope that bully becomes Kurt’s boyfriend it would be interesting to see kurt help him slowly come out
I hope that bully becomes Kurt’s boyfriend it would be interesting to see kurt help him slowly come out
I would lick Harry Shum Jr. six ways from Tuesday…..HOT!
When I saw the bully kiss kurt, I was shocked, and then totally thought that was who his bf would be later on this season. As for the songs, they were pretty good. BTW, the next episode isn’t in two weeks, IT IS next week. Didn’t you watch the preview?
I thought the ep. was weak. The gay kiss was a violation and not hot or cool. The whole bully being gay was pathetic. They have turned Kurt into one huge ball of cliches. This episode did no justice to the GLBT community. I am sick and tired of Kurt whining and bitching he needs to man up. Screaming in a bully’s face to “Go ahead and hit me” is not courage, Courage would be punching the fuck out of the bully. Baseball bat would have done well also. I also had a problem with Kurt “Outing” the bully to Blaine. They should have had the bully and Kurt to have a private “Talk” and get the bully to at least vent a little to get an insight of where he is at with his sexuality. Now we have 2 troubled teens one a victim and one a bully masking his sexuality by being a bully. The last shot of Kurt just sitting there defeated pissed me off. You can be effeminate and be an ass kicker. They just chose to make him weak and afraid. This ep. may empower a 7 year old but not a teenager. It’s one thing to show the fear and pain of being bullied but, they stop short of really having the courage to have the guts to fight back. Fighting back is not looking like your about to cry every other half an hour.
I loved it 100%. It ticked all the boxes for me. I know there is division over the jock forcing the kiss on Kurt, but if that starts to make people look on bullies differently, like they are all closet cases and then chastised for it, well, that would be great! I think this episode can do a lot more than all the “It Gets Better” stuff. As great as those are, this is incredibly relevant and not a me-too bit of PR. LOVED Teenage Dream so much. Hate KP but liked the song. Now I have an excuse to blast it.
touchy touchy
touchy touchy
touchy touchy
round here it’s pronounced “meffid.” now he shouldn’t have trouble finding it.
You’re totally entitled to your opinion of the songs, but I’d rate them a whole lot higher. The mash ups were fun! It seems like you really don’t like the show anymore… ever considered passing on the reviewing duties to one of your more positive collegues?
I can get over this isolation thing the writers are beating us over the head with.
This is 2010. I graduated in ’06. I was one of like 2 gay kids in my school, and I didn’t like the other one. Why isn’t Kurt on Facebook or some gay teen board looking for a kid in the next town/county to talk to? Why isn’t he sitting down with Rachel’s dads, who I would think are a living, breathing “It Gets Better.” I get it, the show needs him to be lonely, but acting like he has no outlet for other gay contact is just stupid. I was lonely, and I found people to talk to.
I can get over this isolation thing the writers are beating us over the head with.
This is 2010. I graduated in ’06. I was one of like 2 gay kids in my school, and I didn’t like the other one. Why isn’t Kurt on Facebook or some gay teen board looking for a kid in the next town/county to talk to? Why isn’t he sitting down with Rachel’s dads, who I would think are a living, breathing “It Gets Better.” I get it, the show needs him to be lonely, but acting like he has no outlet for other gay contact is just stupid. I was lonely, and I found people to talk to.
Uh…have you ACTUALLY been in a school where you are the only gay person? When you are totally and utterly alone, and no one…I mean NO ONE…understands what you are going through? Where you are picked bullied every fucking day by assholes?
Based on your response, no, you haven’t. Now put your big girl panties on and shut the hell up.
LOL…Yes i was out in HS. No i wasn’t bullied because people knew i wasn’t having it. I got into a discussion about how sick being gay was against a jock and his friends that told me they would kill their brother if he was gay and i let him know in no uncertain terms to “Fuck Off” and that i may lose a fight but he would know i had been there. You see when you can look someone in the eye and show them that your not afraid bullies usually back the fuck down and re – think the situation. If your gonna go toe to toe with someone they need to believe that can take it as far as they can. That’s having fucking balls. You carry yours in your purse then people will walk all over you. I have worked with a damn former airborne member with 28 confirmed kills and stood toe to toe with him and let him know i wasn’t scared. That’s what the show should be showing and not Kurt submitting to getting bullied. It’s always people like you that wonder where the fuck your rights are when you aren’t willing to stand up to people and demand them.
“Big Girl Panties” …LOL is that meant to be degrading? I guess those guys branded that shit into you good. All that self loathing is still there.
Exactly! WTF.
Exactly! WTF.
i do not comment often but the kiss the bully gave kurt just rubbed me the wrong way. if there is a point to it (which i am assuming is to show that the extreme cases of homophobia are from closeted self loathing homosexuals) then ok. however it seems like there is probably a better and not as unrealistic way to deliver that. also i appreciate the camp of this show but if it is also going to take itself so seriously with societal issues and all that jazz then it starts feeling and looking like a very low budget after school special on tolerance. a good lesson thrown in never hurt anyone but terrible acting and pacing along with it certainly does.
The first thing that went through my mind when the bully kissed Kurt was, “OMG! Dewitt just got so excited that he peed a little on his sofa!” I am actually shocked that you didn’t write an entirely separate post about how the object of your sexual desire might actually be gay!
This is probably the worst Glee episode ever.
Dave was hot
So a lot of the complaints people are having about the episode are valid. Lacklustre mashups, uncalled for musical numbers and odd, unfounded passion-while-singing (via Kurt and that cute boy, what was his name). That bit about the passion targeted toward Kurt will only make sense if they hook up in the near future. Anyway, all of that aside, it really seems like Glee is just getting really REALLY preachy. I get that this season is supposed to be focused on Kurt, and the struggles he experiences with his sexuality, but is that ALL the show is going to be about? Kurt’s sexuality? While I think it’s great that the show is potentially changing the minds of the ignorant, I can’t help but feel like the quality of the episodes is being overwhelmed by the message.
Yes!! I love that episode of Buffy. It was especially hilarious because Xander was not gay.
Fun fact, the Tufts University Beelzebubs (me included) provided the background vocals for the acapella number 🙂
Fun fact: I was a former acapella nerd.
The Beelzebubs were great back when I was in college, and I’m sure they’re still great today. Since I try not to read TOO much about Glee before writing about the episodes, I missed that they provided background vocals.
Honestly, I’m just frustrated when people praise the arrangements on the show, not realizing they were taken from another source. I’m waiting for the day when the producers ACTUALLY steal an arrangement from some random college acapella group in Indiana, and then silence their voices because they didn’t technically own the rights to the song. Just sayin’!
Yes, there were issues with the way this weeks thematic concerns were dealt with, but all in all, it was an interesting episode. I love that all these elements are being picked apart and are dividing people. It means they are working; they are making the public really think about these issues.
As for the music, I have to agree whole heartedly with Matt. It really does seem like you no longer like the show, Dewitt. It also seems like your grievances with the show not responding exactly to your expectations of the plot has been translated into negatively responding to the music. It’s a shame, because the songs were a lot better than you are professing. Teenage Dream, especially.
Did anyone else think Kurt’s kiss with the bully (Max Adler) was kind of hot?
I mean…. we had the locker room, the football player, a little bit/a lot of aggression. It was a pretty complete fantasy.
Isn’t it funny how the show’s only gay character kiiiind of gets kissed and kind of might possibly-hint-hint-wink-wink have a boyfriend? But hey! they can’t get too obscene – this is a family show. duh….
Meanwhile, this weeks topic for the heterosexual story lines: premature ejaculation.
And I agree about the auto-tune! It was worse than ever. Their voices sounded 100% computer generated.
A straight friend wandered in to the room about 2 seconds before Kurt stormed into the locker room. I was like, “oh look, they’re gonna end up kissing,” and my friend looks at me like I’m crazy…
He was floored that I “knew” it was gonna happen, I just laughed.
There were some moments in the boy’s school song I was really, really into. That was pretty cool.
While the balls you apparently don’t carry in a purse may be filled with vinegar, his weren’t.
I was out and everyone knew exactly what would happen if they said anything. You know what happened? Anonymous seniors would attack my Freshman brother. Make comments to my middle-school-aged sister when she’d come around the high school for after-school stuff. Graffitied street signs around out house.
Sometimes, when the bully knows you’ll fight back and can fight back harder, their base cowardice is all that’s left and they do more damage than breaking your nose.
It seems that some of you feel that there are certain aspects about the show this week that seem “unrealistic” and are up set by it. While I agree that since it is a show that one might expect some far fetched action and/or dialogue to take place I disagree that some of your complaints are valid. The kiss between Kurt and his bully is believable and I saw it coming before it happened. No, it is not true that all bullies who pick on homosexuals are gay themselves it is true that bullies typically bully those that remind them of the negative parts or what they consider to be negative about themselves. The argument that it has been done before is true but that is because it happens and will continue to do so. I may not be from Ohio but I am from Indiana and the thought that there is a school in the Mid-west that preaches tolerance is believable. While everyone in the school may not like it, they will fake it and keep their mouths closed for fear of suspension or expulsion. It was an alright episode..not great but not bad either!
I thought this episode was definetely one of the best of Season 2 so far. And for once, it wasn’t because of the musical numbers (which were fairly unremarkable in this episode, in my opinion).