can someone explain what the fuss is about Glee?

[pellucid]

Some weeks ago, I caught about five minutes of the Glee premiere before turning it off when the choir director's wife (I don't know anyone's names) made me want to attack her with a sharp, pointy object. Ah well, I figured, I didn't need another show anyway. But then all manner of my acquaintances, fannish and otherwise, have exploded with love for

Comments

[beanpot]

Honestly? I'm tired of having to defend the fact that I adore the show. It makes me smile. It makes me burst out laughing at least once or twice a show. In a world wThe women characters have grown or else I am clearly an idiot because I don't see them how others see them. Rachel has gone out of her way to ensure that Quinn's secret is kept a secret and has reached out to her a lot. Quinn has become sympathetic to me for many reasons. I love how they handled Kurt coming out to his dad. I like how they are saying that the club is the one place they can all be who they really are without being mocked or ridiculed and in high school, that can make a huge difference. It's moments when the football players carry out Artie and his wheelchair so he can particpate in the storm out of practice. It's the small things. Of course there are storyline that make me cringe but they have them on other shows people adore

[pellucid]

The replies to this post have really surprised me: the impression I had was that everyone LOVED this show, and I felt like there must be something I wasn't seeing. I had no idea that my impression was widely shared or that the people who are really enjoying it are feeling defensive about that. Sorry! I didn't mean to make you, or anyone else who is enjoying it, to feel like you need to defend yourself or the show, and I certainly didn't mean to imply that people who enjoy it are idiots or misogynists or anything like that. I thought you were in the dominant majority, and I was just honestly curious about whether I was missing something

[beanpot]

I think people either love it or hate it. Yes it does have a lot of hype and sometimes it falls, and other times I just giggle hysterically. I don't think it is trying to be anything but what it is - over the top on all aspects. I mean, people burst into SONG. I also think it has improved a LOT since the first two or three episodes, especially when it pertains to the women.

But why can't a show just be over the top and about dancing and singing? Why do all shows have to be meta and enlightening and changing the world? Why do they have to be drama and depressing and dealing with issues? There are plenty of shows like that and I adore many of them because of what they are. And I like this one because I will hear some amazing singing and nothing moves me more than music.

[pellucid]

I've seen so little of it that it's hard to say, but I suspect cofax may be on to something in the comment below when she notes that it's an oddly misanthropic show, and especially for something centered around a show choir, which you'd think would inspire silly, sappy, and fun. Perhaps it's the dissonance of those two aspects that is causing such strong reactions, both for and against? But obviously I'm basing this--and all my comments--on having seen very little of the show, and I may well be off-base. I am glad to hear that you think it's improving; that's always a good sign with any show

[abyssinia4077]

Weird. You and I must be in more different LJ circles than I thought. This is the first time I've seen anyone say anything about Glee that isn't "I love it"

I kept feeling like I was being the buzzkill by not being interested. Between two obsessed housemates and LJ, felt like I was the only one not in a squeeing flail over it.

Sorry you're feeling like you need to stay away.

[pellucid]

Yes, my impression was very much what yours has been: between the flist and people I know from other parts of my life, I felt like the buzz was all enthusiastic flail. I've been really surprised by many of the comments here.