And Finally, Some Appreciation for the Not-Changs

[lookninjas]

Note: This recap got into some discussion of racism, mental illness, and child abuse (if you've seen the episode, you know exactly who I'm talking about right now.) There's also some relatively minor speculation on the possibility (possibility, because I'm not willing to judge just yet, but I'm worried) that Mercedes' relationship is more harmful

Comments

[lls_mutant]

I thought the same thing about Mercedes and Shane. I wonder if the writers realized what they were doing? because if they did, that really would be an interesting plot for Mercedes, and I'd enjoy them exploring that. But if they didn't... ::gleeheaddesk:: But yeah. MAJOR alarm bells.

I think the big difference for this Rachel vs. Mercedes showdown was this time they had the balls to follow through to where such a showdown needed to go. If they were going to explore it, it had to go someplace new, and this did the trick.

Emma's parents are horrid, horrid people. I agree with you- I thought Glee actually did a good job with most of that plotline. I have issues with Will and almost always will- and with aspects of Emma- but that moment when she was praying and he got down on his knees and prayed with her... that was the absolute best that Glee has ever handled religion or the Will/Emma relationship. That was just such a beautifully done, understated gesture... man.

Actually, I pretty much agree with everything you said. I really, really liked this episode, and while I don't know if it was the Best! Episode! Ever!!!, it was easily in my top 10.

[lookninjas]

Mine too. It was interesting, it was complicated, and hopefully it's setting us up for more interesting and complicated stuff for the rest of the season.

What I loved about that Emma/Will moment was that he flat-out admitted that he has no idea what he's doing. He doesn't know how to help her. The best he can do is be by her side in that moment. I thought that was lovely.

With the benefit of a week's hindsight, I kind of love that Mercedes isn't just hugging and making up with Rachel. Because Kurt wasn't wrong when he said that Rachel was going to start pushing her friends away if she insisted on making everything an epic competition. At the same time, though, I wish Mercedes hadn't lashed out at everyone else along the way. Will, yes. Rachel, sure. Kurt and Finn and Puck and Quinn and Tina and Brittany and Mike? They didn't deserve that. They have the same problems she does. And I hope we don't see more of that coming from her, because that was a let-down.

[lls_mutant]

Yeah. I still love Mercedes because we know her, but if this week had been my introduction to her, I wouldn't like her much at all. I really wish that the show would just address the dropped Kurt-Mercedes friendship. Even just a conversation or a line that they've grown apart. But then, they can't get a pair of stepbrothers to have a conversation in three episodes, so...

I saw something somewhere about the difference between Rachel and Kurt and how they treat competition, and that's when they're faced with the choice of role vs. relationship, Rachel will take the role and Kurt will take the relationship, every time. I thought that was such a great summation somewhere of their personalities and the ultimate difference between the two, and Rachel herself. I've been curious to see what Mercedes would do in that situation, but we've never seen her really put there until now. I agree, I do hope we either see her lay off the others, or see some comment about how that's really very odd for Mercedes. I mean, yeah, she's a diva and she's not afraid to call people on their shit, but at the same time, she's been a good friend to a lot of these people. (I wish the writers had a clue what they were doing with her- maybe they do now, though? Two more weeks. ::sigh::)