Why the Warblers > New Directions
I definitely have favorite characters on Glee. I also found the downloads of the songs New Directions will be singing for Regionals (2.16, Original Songs) and I was not impressed. This is what results.
Why the Warblers > New Directions
1. The Warblers hold actual auditions for their solos. In New Directions, Mr. Schuester either assigns them (2.09 Special Education) or you have to challenge Rachel to pry them out of her cold, dead hands (Mercedes in Season 1 before Sectionals).
2. I adore the sound of male a cappella groups. I don't know much about them, but they seem more complex then New Direction's arrangements.
3. The choir director of (Mary Addams?) the troubled girls choir from season 1 had it right, New Directions is a bunch of privileged misfits. They all have families and homes and the majority of them are probably pretty popular when they are not actively doing glee club related things.
4. In New Directions Kurt had to shout to be heard, in the Warblers everyone has a voice.
4a. Wes might have an inappropriate love for his gavel but he uses it (2.11 Silly Love Songs) to keep everyone in line so everyone's opinions can be heard, even if the process is stilted and formal.
4b. New Directions regularly recruits kids to be a "warm body" so they have sufficient numbers to compete (Jacob, Sunshine, Lauren). Their style allows them to have dead wood swaying in the background while Rachel belts out her latest solo. The Warblers use all their voices to provide the music, harmony, and melody.
5. New Directions uses the abilities of a few special specialists to paper over the weak spots of the rest of members. Mike and Brittany were spectacular in "Valerie" but they were out in front because the needed to distract from the less skilled dancers in the back. New Directions regularly uses soloists to carry the majority of the songs.
6. The Warblers, an all male choir, don't seem to care if they do songs from female groups. "Teenage Dream" in 2.06, "Bills, Bills, Bills" in 2.11. Contrast with New Directions, which has in the past had issues doing numbers from female artists (Madonna episode, Theatricality, Never Been Kissed). In 2.11 the unity and enjoyment the Warblers show in doing a song from Destiny's Child contrasts with the turmoil and homophobia McKinley was struggling with.
7. The Warblers have been preparing for Regionals since 2.11 (Bills, Bills, Bills) and even preview their songs in front of a test audience for feedback (and to get numbers from girls). New Directions still hasn't learned the choreography for their songs and will be learning all new original numbers a week before competition.
8. Nude Erections is a worse nickname then the Gargalers.
Bonus! Dalton > McKinley
9. No tolerance bullying policy.
10. Academics. I was agast at Kurt's statement that he wasn't challenged academically at McKinley. Realistically* Dalton is likely much better for Kurt's college prospects.
*Lol, it's Glee! I know, I know.
11. Larger potential dating pool for Kurt. =)
ETA Post episode: Well, I was certainly in a bitchy mood and worked up. "Everythings Klaine..." really does work. "Original Songs" did show several strong points that they have against the Warblers. The Warblers usual style is crowd pleasing popular numbers ("Top 40"). What they don't usually do is a heartfelt. emotional number like Candles which lost them the competition. Emotional numbers like that are ND's style, though I have big doubts that Will would have let Blaine and Kurt perform a romantic duet for competition.
Why the Warblers > New Directions
1. The Warblers hold actual auditions for their solos. In New Directions, Mr. Schuester either assigns them (2.09 Special Education) or you have to challenge Rachel to pry them out of her cold, dead hands (Mercedes in Season 1 before Sectionals).
2. I adore the sound of male a cappella groups. I don't know much about them, but they seem more complex then New Direction's arrangements.
3. The choir director of (Mary Addams?) the troubled girls choir from season 1 had it right, New Directions is a bunch of privileged misfits. They all have families and homes and the majority of them are probably pretty popular when they are not actively doing glee club related things.
4. In New Directions Kurt had to shout to be heard, in the Warblers everyone has a voice.
4a. Wes might have an inappropriate love for his gavel but he uses it (2.11 Silly Love Songs) to keep everyone in line so everyone's opinions can be heard, even if the process is stilted and formal.
4b. New Directions regularly recruits kids to be a "warm body" so they have sufficient numbers to compete (Jacob, Sunshine, Lauren). Their style allows them to have dead wood swaying in the background while Rachel belts out her latest solo. The Warblers use all their voices to provide the music, harmony, and melody.
5. New Directions uses the abilities of a few special specialists to paper over the weak spots of the rest of members. Mike and Brittany were spectacular in "Valerie" but they were out in front because the needed to distract from the less skilled dancers in the back. New Directions regularly uses soloists to carry the majority of the songs.
6. The Warblers, an all male choir, don't seem to care if they do songs from female groups. "Teenage Dream" in 2.06, "Bills, Bills, Bills" in 2.11. Contrast with New Directions, which has in the past had issues doing numbers from female artists (Madonna episode, Theatricality, Never Been Kissed). In 2.11 the unity and enjoyment the Warblers show in doing a song from Destiny's Child contrasts with the turmoil and homophobia McKinley was struggling with.
7. The Warblers have been preparing for Regionals since 2.11 (Bills, Bills, Bills) and even preview their songs in front of a test audience for feedback (and to get numbers from girls). New Directions still hasn't learned the choreography for their songs and will be learning all new original numbers a week before competition.
8. Nude Erections is a worse nickname then the Gargalers.
Bonus! Dalton > McKinley
9. No tolerance bullying policy.
10. Academics. I was agast at Kurt's statement that he wasn't challenged academically at McKinley. Realistically* Dalton is likely much better for Kurt's college prospects.
*Lol, it's Glee! I know, I know.
11. Larger potential dating pool for Kurt. =)
ETA Post episode: Well, I was certainly in a bitchy mood and worked up. "Everythings Klaine..." really does work. "Original Songs" did show several strong points that they have against the Warblers. The Warblers usual style is crowd pleasing popular numbers ("Top 40"). What they don't usually do is a heartfelt. emotional number like Candles which lost them the competition. Emotional numbers like that are ND's style, though I have big doubts that Will would have let Blaine and Kurt perform a romantic duet for competition.