Hiatus Re-Watch, Season 1 - 1x01 - Pilot

[liz_in_progress]

And so it begins… We are one week into the Epic Hiatus of our Discontent, and Day One of my re-watch of Seasons 1 and 2. Because I simply cannot handle not having a complete catalog of episode recaps

Comments

[chamilet]

So glad you're doing these. It's nice to look back.

[liz_in_progress]

Thank you for saying so!

[out_there]

It was a smart move, not dating themselves too specifically with current top-40 songs

*nods* Something that got forgotten as they went for the iTunes sales later, I think.

The darkness of the early episodes is easy to forget.

[liz_in_progress]

I mean, Glee always has a dark side, but I forgot just HOW dark, especially at the beginning.

And I figure, they must have filmed the pilot in early 2009, right? Aired for the first time in May, but really started in September. So if they'd gone too current, it would have been noticeably dated by the time Season 1 "officially" started.

Once they were fully picked up and realized what a monster they'd created in iTunes sales, then the current top-40 stuff went through the damn roof.

[out_there]

For all of the upbeat colourful tone of the early episodes, the dark stuff was unapologetic. Later episodes, most of the dark stuff is PSA-lite or used for Serious Character Drama, whereas early in S1, the dark stuff was presented more as a "how life is" without cushioning it.

Early s1 had more of the dark, razor-sharp humour of Nip/Tuck. I kind of miss that, but at the same time, it's not a winning formula for ratings.

[liz_in_progress]

Yep, yep, and more yep.

[spaceorphan18]

Yay, the Pilot! Such a good episode.

Anyone else ever wonder the backstory about that other kid in Glee club with Rachel before Sandy felt him up? Just me? Where's the fanfic??

One thing to point out, that I don't see much discussion on, is the use of the music in these early episodes. The music is used so much for comedic purposes over straight up performances and story points. It's interesting to see how that changes over time.

Great episode, but man, I really don't miss the adult stories that were set up here.

[liz_in_progress]

Ha! I can only assume he was so traumatized by the creep-fest that was Sandy Ryerson that he swore off Glee Club for good.

Yes, the use of music in the beginning is SO SO SO much about the story and less about cramming in whatever's popular. Is it the 2nd half of Season 1 that it starts to change? I'm not sure, I'll have to keep an eye on it.

I still think Glee chooses many of its songs carefully and with purpose, but now it also tries to pick up on what's currently hot.

[spaceorphan18]

I think the music choices were more gradual, and I find that a lot of the early first season choices were kind of experiments to see what worked and what didn't. I mean, there's a ton of Will rapping in the early part of the season--not sure if that was a comedy choice, attempt to make Will seem hip to a younger crowd or what. Lol.

I think things changed a bit, honestly, when Teenage Dream happened, because that was a HUGE hit. But of course, that whole conversation can be saved for a later date. ;)

[liz_in_progress]

Ah, Teenage Dream. We'll get there... :-)