GLEE: Never Been Kissed
Thought I'd swing around and share some thoughts on Glee this week, especially regarding the you-know-what with you-know-who.
I don't even want to comment on whether or not Karofsky is the jock boyfriend. I doubt it. It could work, but do I trust the show to handle it in an appropriate way? No. That is a storyline that would need to cover an extremely extended period of time (like several seasons, imo) with great patience (lol, does Glee know what patience is?) and sensitivity to heal raw wounds. However, I will respond to a lot of people commenting on how cliché it was for him to be gay. Yes, it's been done before, but I still think it's important. There are a lot of people who have never seen that Buffy episode. There are a lot of young viewers who haven't been exposed to this kind of storyline/television before, period. Therefore, I think it's still very valid. Nothing else on television at this moment is quite like what Glee is doing with Kurt and those around him. I've been reading a lot of reactions to Karofsky and the kiss, and so many people have come out and said, "I was him/I knew him in high school."
What I really want to talk about though is this weight issue and Karofsky. There's a very damaging stereotype for young gay men to be thin twinks. I've heard my TA in TCSA comment about how other men have actually scoffed at him because he's overweight. There's a big divide in fandom over Karofsky right now. Either we should hate him for stealing that kiss or we should understand his plight. But I've heard one too many comments from Team Karofsky saying, "Well, I'd like him as Kurt's boyfriend if he lost weight" and it terrifies me. The actor, Max Adler, isn't fit in the Hollywood way. He certainly is of a different body type than Chris Colfer who fulfills the more traditional expectations of the young gay male, but I still think he's good looking, and I can't stomach thinking about how the Karofskys of the world might feel hearing people say stuff like this.
Max Adler played that scene so beautifully. He doesn't really blow up until Kurt says, "Well guess what, hamhock. You're not my type. I don't dig on chubby boys who sweat too much and will be bald by the time they're thirty." Aaand suddenly Karofsky goes from pissed to hurt. It was either intentional in the writing or a deliberate choice on the part of Adler to play it that way, and it made a very clear statement to me about weight issues on top of the queer issue. The show, this scene, handled it poignantly, but it's fandom that makes me sick. Hate or pity Karofsky, but base your decision on his actions and not how he looks!
There are a bajillion people who could be cast or have been cast as Kurt's boyfriend. Sam. Blaine. People ship Kurt/Puck though it will never happen in a million years. They're all poster-boy cute. If I had to make a case for Karofsky, I would say he should be the boyfriend because he isn't cookie cut-out attractive, and it'd mean a hell of a lot more for someone like Kurt Hummel, the fashionista, to turn around and want someone like him. A statement like that would extend beyond the realm of sexuality and gender. I mean, do I need to point out that Mercedes is the only one on this show right now without love prospects and that she is the only one in the main cast who is overweight? All the couples on this show are too aesthetically pleasing to look at.
I had some other issues with this episode. Schue's pity kiss for Beiste. The show playing up Beiste in ridiculous outfits for laughs and then scolding us for laughing. Santana and Brittany wanting Puck and Artie because they were mistreating them. But other things were awesome. The mailman gag is back! I actually bought Quinn/Sam, and they hinted at Quinn's ulterior motives in dating him! Rachel's "SPIES!!!11one1!" She's grown so much on me this season. They've finally found a balance between her craziness and her endearing side.
I'm confused about Blaine though. I'm super peeved that he told Kurt to fight back against bullying. Yes, Kurt. Go chase after Karofsky and corner him in the locker room and yell. Alone. Where no one else can hear or see you and therefore defend you. You're lucky all he did was kiss you instead of beat the living shit out of you. Blaine's sweet and means well, but he's dumb. Also, Dalton Academy is a little too perfect. Blaine is a little too polished. I want Kurt to be happy, but if they make his relationship with another boy the most perfect, most wonderful, no-fault relationship on the show, they will be saying exactly the opposite of what they want to: that gay relationships are the same as straight relationships. I want conflict. I want grit. I want them to argue over restaurants (lol Mike and Tina forever). So far we've gotten a love song, lots of touching, and an awkward slow motion run down the hallway are you fucking joking. Let's lay it on thick. I don't think I've figured it out yet. Blaine's supposed to be the bad guy, right? That's why a slow piano plays every time he's on screen?
Lastly, there's a rumor that Darren Criss will be promoted to a series regular, and dnw. Let's face it. Mercedes has had zero plot this season so far. Where the fuck did Charice go? Let's focus on the people you've already cast, Glee. Blaine will be too one-dimensional if he's cast solely to be Kurt's boyfriend. It'll be like he isn't even his own person, just an extension of Kurt. I get that it's Kurt's story this season, but use the people around him to flesh it out. They love and care about him. Bringing in new people is completely unnecessary. Aren't Kurt and Finn supposed to be family? Mercedes his BFF? Doesn't Rachel have TWO. GAY. DADS THAT COULD TOTALLY HELP HIM OUT WHEN TIMES GET TOUGH? After all, Rachel and Kurt are frenemies now.
On a happier note regarding Ep 2.07: I wasn't excited about Gwenyth Paltrow next week, but then I saw the preview for Cee Lo Green's "Fuck You" and now I have STARS IN MY EYES.
I don't even want to comment on whether or not Karofsky is the jock boyfriend. I doubt it. It could work, but do I trust the show to handle it in an appropriate way? No. That is a storyline that would need to cover an extremely extended period of time (like several seasons, imo) with great patience (lol, does Glee know what patience is?) and sensitivity to heal raw wounds. However, I will respond to a lot of people commenting on how cliché it was for him to be gay. Yes, it's been done before, but I still think it's important. There are a lot of people who have never seen that Buffy episode. There are a lot of young viewers who haven't been exposed to this kind of storyline/television before, period. Therefore, I think it's still very valid. Nothing else on television at this moment is quite like what Glee is doing with Kurt and those around him. I've been reading a lot of reactions to Karofsky and the kiss, and so many people have come out and said, "I was him/I knew him in high school."
What I really want to talk about though is this weight issue and Karofsky. There's a very damaging stereotype for young gay men to be thin twinks. I've heard my TA in TCSA comment about how other men have actually scoffed at him because he's overweight. There's a big divide in fandom over Karofsky right now. Either we should hate him for stealing that kiss or we should understand his plight. But I've heard one too many comments from Team Karofsky saying, "Well, I'd like him as Kurt's boyfriend if he lost weight" and it terrifies me. The actor, Max Adler, isn't fit in the Hollywood way. He certainly is of a different body type than Chris Colfer who fulfills the more traditional expectations of the young gay male, but I still think he's good looking, and I can't stomach thinking about how the Karofskys of the world might feel hearing people say stuff like this.
Max Adler played that scene so beautifully. He doesn't really blow up until Kurt says, "Well guess what, hamhock. You're not my type. I don't dig on chubby boys who sweat too much and will be bald by the time they're thirty." Aaand suddenly Karofsky goes from pissed to hurt. It was either intentional in the writing or a deliberate choice on the part of Adler to play it that way, and it made a very clear statement to me about weight issues on top of the queer issue. The show, this scene, handled it poignantly, but it's fandom that makes me sick. Hate or pity Karofsky, but base your decision on his actions and not how he looks!
There are a bajillion people who could be cast or have been cast as Kurt's boyfriend. Sam. Blaine. People ship Kurt/Puck though it will never happen in a million years. They're all poster-boy cute. If I had to make a case for Karofsky, I would say he should be the boyfriend because he isn't cookie cut-out attractive, and it'd mean a hell of a lot more for someone like Kurt Hummel, the fashionista, to turn around and want someone like him. A statement like that would extend beyond the realm of sexuality and gender. I mean, do I need to point out that Mercedes is the only one on this show right now without love prospects and that she is the only one in the main cast who is overweight? All the couples on this show are too aesthetically pleasing to look at.
I had some other issues with this episode. Schue's pity kiss for Beiste. The show playing up Beiste in ridiculous outfits for laughs and then scolding us for laughing. Santana and Brittany wanting Puck and Artie because they were mistreating them. But other things were awesome. The mailman gag is back! I actually bought Quinn/Sam, and they hinted at Quinn's ulterior motives in dating him! Rachel's "SPIES!!!11one1!" She's grown so much on me this season. They've finally found a balance between her craziness and her endearing side.
I'm confused about Blaine though. I'm super peeved that he told Kurt to fight back against bullying. Yes, Kurt. Go chase after Karofsky and corner him in the locker room and yell. Alone. Where no one else can hear or see you and therefore defend you. You're lucky all he did was kiss you instead of beat the living shit out of you. Blaine's sweet and means well, but he's dumb. Also, Dalton Academy is a little too perfect. Blaine is a little too polished. I want Kurt to be happy, but if they make his relationship with another boy the most perfect, most wonderful, no-fault relationship on the show, they will be saying exactly the opposite of what they want to: that gay relationships are the same as straight relationships. I want conflict. I want grit. I want them to argue over restaurants (lol Mike and Tina forever). So far we've gotten a love song, lots of touching, and an awkward slow motion run down the hallway are you fucking joking. Let's lay it on thick. I don't think I've figured it out yet. Blaine's supposed to be the bad guy, right? That's why a slow piano plays every time he's on screen?
Lastly, there's a rumor that Darren Criss will be promoted to a series regular, and dnw. Let's face it. Mercedes has had zero plot this season so far. Where the fuck did Charice go? Let's focus on the people you've already cast, Glee. Blaine will be too one-dimensional if he's cast solely to be Kurt's boyfriend. It'll be like he isn't even his own person, just an extension of Kurt. I get that it's Kurt's story this season, but use the people around him to flesh it out. They love and care about him. Bringing in new people is completely unnecessary. Aren't Kurt and Finn supposed to be family? Mercedes his BFF? Doesn't Rachel have TWO. GAY. DADS THAT COULD TOTALLY HELP HIM OUT WHEN TIMES GET TOUGH? After all, Rachel and Kurt are frenemies now.
On a happier note regarding Ep 2.07: I wasn't excited about Gwenyth Paltrow next week, but then I saw the preview for Cee Lo Green's "Fuck You" and now I have STARS IN MY EYES.