Review Glee 0218: 'Born This Way'
Rating: 9 out of 10
Six Word Summary: You're on the right track, baby
Ok, for some of my more squee-worthy thoughts about this episode, check out my bullet-pointed reaction post here.
But for some of my more rambly comments, please: carry on reading :D.
First off, I kind of adore this episode. I know it has flaws sticking out all over the place but, it just makes me happy, and in my book, that's what Glee is made to do.
Rachel's struggle with getting her nose fixed was nicely done. I mean, I'm all for loving yourself from the inside out, but I hate my nose, and if I happened to break mine and some 'vanity surgery' was suggested, I'm not convinced I wouldn't be all over that. But I do sorta hope I would have some awesome and vaguely ridiculous friends who would stage a Barbravension and help me see sense again.
Rachel and Quinn's 'Pretty/Unpretty' duet was surprisingly affecting. I mean, I usually get annoyed at the show when it uses musical numbers outside the auditorium, but it was such a great mash-up to express both girls' issues I'm gonna turn a blind eye. However, the very idea of Quinn and Rachel doing a duet in front of the Glee club? Kind of out there.
The one thing that did annoy me was Quinn's half of the storyline. Her hidden 'ugly' past? Not required. I'm sure Quinn's character has quite enough image-issues without throwing in some secret red-haired fat-girl background. For instance, the whole point of this season's 'character development' (yeah, the air-quotes are definately required) is Quinn trying to claw her reputation back after Babygate-- that's a shedload of issus in itself. Maybe her looks are one of the few things she feels she has going for her. Maybe she's jealous that Lauren can run for Prom Queen just being herself and Quinn has to put all this work in. Maybe she's still trying to escape the stigma of her teen-mom status. She's clearly insecure, and visiting any of these issues would've been a lot more touching for me than making up some horrendously-overblown 'hidden past'.
Speaking of hidden pasts, I'm gonna have to bring up the whole Karoftana denial extravaganza: I LOVE IT. Kind of.
I say kind of 'cos the pair of them are comedy gold. Santana's scheming puts Quinn's hot-tub lies to shame. Dave is just the right side of desperate that I can believe him going along with her ridiculousness to protect his rep, though I wish there was a bit more angsting on his side over the idea of Kurt coming back. I can't imagine he'd be feeling too laid back about that. The bully-whips are insane. Why do they have to wear satin berets? There is no logic there at all. But, y'know: it's Glee.
As always, I'll give extra points to any episode with BURT HUMMEL in it, and I loved his scary face this ep, bringing up all the points the audience thought had been forgotten (why would Kurt transfer back? He was terrified/ the family outlaid all this money for him to go to Dalton/who says it's all going to magically be better?). I also enjoyed the Kurt/Karofsky heart-to-heart in this scene. It's nice how much more confident Kurt has gotten after his stint at Dalton, and I didn't feel that development was too forced, considering Kurt is never really been backwards at coming forwards. But I did kinda feel Dave explaining about Santana's plan so willingly was a bit out of character. I guess I expect everything Dave does to be a bit reticent and caveman-ish. I would've liked it better if he hadn't exlained things straight off, just to allow that bit of tension to simmer for the next couple of episodes. Though I guess then Burt would never have let Kurt come back.
KURT HUMMEL AND HIS RIDICULOUS WARDROBE!!!
I was so happy to see my OTP back where they belonged :D. And in a top-hat! Is it bad I want his straight-jacket?
I thought Kurt's return was handled pretty well, although, yes, it is kind of sudden-- would it really have hurt the writers so much to have put a couple of hints about Kurt's pining for McKinley throughout the last few eps? Apparently so. But anyway. Kurt's back and the world is right again.
The Warblers' goodbye serenade was lovely-- I will miss those boys :(-- even though Keane usually make me want to stab my own ears. I loved it just for Finn and Mercedes' hugs (and Blaine's of course) and Chris Colfer's happy/sad face. That boy.
The happy/sad theme continued with 'As If We never Said Goodbye', which had my jaw on the floor for like five minutes. Absolutely loved it, perfect come-back song, and all the emoting was adorable and wonderful and deserved many rounds of applause :). I liked that Kurt seemed so much more comfortable in New Directions this time around, from that big solo, to taking lead in the Barbravension (scheming with Puck of all people), to wearing that infamous 'Likes Boys' t-shirt. It really feels like his confidence has come on leaps and bounds, and he's a better person for his time at Dalton. Makes it feel less like a convenient plot-twist and more like a considered move in character development.
Who am I missing? Oh yes, Emma. Wasn't Jayma's performance lovely? Although, yes, I'm kind of sorry that Glee has taken all the things that used to be comedy elements and made them into BIG SERIOUS DRAMA ISSUES, Will forcing Emma to admit her problems was kind of unavaoidable, after they caused the breakdown of her marriage and all. And it was nice to see Emma get some face-time, 'cos this cast is huge now and really, characters go missing for months before they're ever spotted in the halls again.
Santana, as mentioned, continues to be awesome. She really is saving this show, comedy-wise. Yes, she has issues, but she finds time to be totally LOL entertaining as well. RM, take note: you have two COMEDY Golden Globes. Work it out.
Topping everything off was a fairly-average performance of 'Born This Way', but 'm not gonna complain 'cos the t-shirts were awesome and I was too buzzed with all the positivity and acceptance rushing around to be musically critical :). Actually, that's pretty much my feelings for the entire episode. I loved a lot of it, but honestly, with a little trimming it would've fitted perfectly well into 45 minutes and there was no need for it to be an extended episode. There was a bunch of stuff I could've done without and it did veer towards preachy at times, but the overall vibe was so awesome I'm going to forgive it. 9 out of 10.
Quote of the week: "I gotta gay!"
xxx
Six Word Summary: You're on the right track, baby
Ok, for some of my more squee-worthy thoughts about this episode, check out my bullet-pointed reaction post here.
But for some of my more rambly comments, please: carry on reading :D.
First off, I kind of adore this episode. I know it has flaws sticking out all over the place but, it just makes me happy, and in my book, that's what Glee is made to do.
Rachel's struggle with getting her nose fixed was nicely done. I mean, I'm all for loving yourself from the inside out, but I hate my nose, and if I happened to break mine and some 'vanity surgery' was suggested, I'm not convinced I wouldn't be all over that. But I do sorta hope I would have some awesome and vaguely ridiculous friends who would stage a Barbravension and help me see sense again.
Rachel and Quinn's 'Pretty/Unpretty' duet was surprisingly affecting. I mean, I usually get annoyed at the show when it uses musical numbers outside the auditorium, but it was such a great mash-up to express both girls' issues I'm gonna turn a blind eye. However, the very idea of Quinn and Rachel doing a duet in front of the Glee club? Kind of out there.
The one thing that did annoy me was Quinn's half of the storyline. Her hidden 'ugly' past? Not required. I'm sure Quinn's character has quite enough image-issues without throwing in some secret red-haired fat-girl background. For instance, the whole point of this season's 'character development' (yeah, the air-quotes are definately required) is Quinn trying to claw her reputation back after Babygate-- that's a shedload of issus in itself. Maybe her looks are one of the few things she feels she has going for her. Maybe she's jealous that Lauren can run for Prom Queen just being herself and Quinn has to put all this work in. Maybe she's still trying to escape the stigma of her teen-mom status. She's clearly insecure, and visiting any of these issues would've been a lot more touching for me than making up some horrendously-overblown 'hidden past'.
Speaking of hidden pasts, I'm gonna have to bring up the whole Karoftana denial extravaganza: I LOVE IT. Kind of.
I say kind of 'cos the pair of them are comedy gold. Santana's scheming puts Quinn's hot-tub lies to shame. Dave is just the right side of desperate that I can believe him going along with her ridiculousness to protect his rep, though I wish there was a bit more angsting on his side over the idea of Kurt coming back. I can't imagine he'd be feeling too laid back about that. The bully-whips are insane. Why do they have to wear satin berets? There is no logic there at all. But, y'know: it's Glee.
As always, I'll give extra points to any episode with BURT HUMMEL in it, and I loved his scary face this ep, bringing up all the points the audience thought had been forgotten (why would Kurt transfer back? He was terrified/ the family outlaid all this money for him to go to Dalton/who says it's all going to magically be better?). I also enjoyed the Kurt/Karofsky heart-to-heart in this scene. It's nice how much more confident Kurt has gotten after his stint at Dalton, and I didn't feel that development was too forced, considering Kurt is never really been backwards at coming forwards. But I did kinda feel Dave explaining about Santana's plan so willingly was a bit out of character. I guess I expect everything Dave does to be a bit reticent and caveman-ish. I would've liked it better if he hadn't exlained things straight off, just to allow that bit of tension to simmer for the next couple of episodes. Though I guess then Burt would never have let Kurt come back.
KURT HUMMEL AND HIS RIDICULOUS WARDROBE!!!
I was so happy to see my OTP back where they belonged :D. And in a top-hat! Is it bad I want his straight-jacket?
I thought Kurt's return was handled pretty well, although, yes, it is kind of sudden-- would it really have hurt the writers so much to have put a couple of hints about Kurt's pining for McKinley throughout the last few eps? Apparently so. But anyway. Kurt's back and the world is right again.
The Warblers' goodbye serenade was lovely-- I will miss those boys :(-- even though Keane usually make me want to stab my own ears. I loved it just for Finn and Mercedes' hugs (and Blaine's of course) and Chris Colfer's happy/sad face. That boy.
The happy/sad theme continued with 'As If We never Said Goodbye', which had my jaw on the floor for like five minutes. Absolutely loved it, perfect come-back song, and all the emoting was adorable and wonderful and deserved many rounds of applause :). I liked that Kurt seemed so much more comfortable in New Directions this time around, from that big solo, to taking lead in the Barbravension (scheming with Puck of all people), to wearing that infamous 'Likes Boys' t-shirt. It really feels like his confidence has come on leaps and bounds, and he's a better person for his time at Dalton. Makes it feel less like a convenient plot-twist and more like a considered move in character development.
Who am I missing? Oh yes, Emma. Wasn't Jayma's performance lovely? Although, yes, I'm kind of sorry that Glee has taken all the things that used to be comedy elements and made them into BIG SERIOUS DRAMA ISSUES, Will forcing Emma to admit her problems was kind of unavaoidable, after they caused the breakdown of her marriage and all. And it was nice to see Emma get some face-time, 'cos this cast is huge now and really, characters go missing for months before they're ever spotted in the halls again.
Santana, as mentioned, continues to be awesome. She really is saving this show, comedy-wise. Yes, she has issues, but she finds time to be totally LOL entertaining as well. RM, take note: you have two COMEDY Golden Globes. Work it out.
Topping everything off was a fairly-average performance of 'Born This Way', but 'm not gonna complain 'cos the t-shirts were awesome and I was too buzzed with all the positivity and acceptance rushing around to be musically critical :). Actually, that's pretty much my feelings for the entire episode. I loved a lot of it, but honestly, with a little trimming it would've fitted perfectly well into 45 minutes and there was no need for it to be an extended episode. There was a bunch of stuff I could've done without and it did veer towards preachy at times, but the overall vibe was so awesome I'm going to forgive it. 9 out of 10.
Quote of the week: "I gotta gay!"
xxx