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

[emmiere]

Glee honestly baffles me too, I was pushed watch a little, and yeah, nothing. I put it down as not my thing, but I imagine for for the people it does work for, they'll probably add their own depth to the characters and stories just by being more invested than I could. I know I do this for other shows.

And I don't think I would be so terribly excited about The Plan if it didn't work as such a checklist of Things I Like and a desire to see what all the fuss is about. It'll be pretty easy to make me happy with this one, but I can understand the lack of interest given your break with the show.

[pellucid]

I imagine for for the people it does work for, they'll probably add their own depth to the characters and stories just by being more invested than I could. I know I do this for other showsOh, absolutely. After all, I've got CSI: NY on my to-watch list for later this evening, and if ever there were a show thin on characterization, it's that one

[cofax7]

You know, I am mostly just in it for the musical numbers. The focus on the white kids and white teachers has made me cranky (although the last episode I saw actually used that element in the plot, I'm not sure whether that means anything will change long-term), and nearly everyone is hideously unlikeable. It's a very misanthropic look at people--even the well-meaning folks are stupid, and the smart ones are mostly just cunning and malicious.

So I've taken to fast-forwarding through just about everything that isn't a musical number.

[asta77]

and nearly everyone is hideously unlikeable

This has to be Ryan Murphy's doing. I had my fears when I heard the guy who gave us Nip/Tuck was working on a supposedly fun show about glee club and my fears play out nearly every week.

[pellucid]

I wonder if the unlikely juxtaposition of the musical numbers with the unlikable characters is part of the appeal for some people. It doesn't do anything for me, but I could see that kind of dark irony being really appealing to people whose tastes run that way. I suspect if one of my roommates ever got around to watching, he'd love it for exactly that quality.

But yes, I think I'll stick with the musical numbers only, if I stick with any of it at all.

[danceswithwords]

I've read some feminist critiques of Glee, but haven't even watched a minute of it, so I can't say whether or not they're valid. I was out at the words "musical numbers."

It's not even bitterness anymore (well, not about this, anyway; other aspects of this show still make me want to pull out my sharp, pointy objects) and more just numb disinterest.

I am just so overwhelmingly done with everything BSG. I realized it at Dragon*Con, when I passed on all of the BSG panels, not because I was afraid they'd make me angry but because I prized having a break in my panel schedule far more than hearing another word about the show.

[pellucid]

Hee! I actually find the musical numbers the most (only?) appealing part, but I was raised on a steady diet of films in which people randomly burst into song and went through a (fortunately brief!) musical theater stage in my teenage years, so I have a certain nostalgic fondness for that sort of thing! I have been known, even now, to put on my Les Mis soundtrack from time to time...

And I'm very much in agreement about BSG. When people were talking about the BSG panels at Dragon*Con I was so glad I hadn't been to them, and I realized then that I wouldn't have gone even if I'd been at the con. It makes me sad, because it's always sad to lose something you've once loved, and I do hope that I'll be able to rewatch at least the first two seasons at some point without rage or apathy--but it's going to take me a few years' space, I think.

[zinke]

I will admit, I am watching Glee, but I am not enamored with it. The songs are wonderful - I fully expect to buy the soundtrack when it comes out next month - but I find almost none of the characters particularly likable and as you've said, in many cases i find them very uncomfortable-making. The exception would be Sue, the cheerleading coach - though I suspect that my reasons are more out of love for the actress who plays her than for the character herself.

That said, there has been some character development over the past 1-2 episodes, but it's been very uneven and inconsistent. So... yeah. I'm watching, but mostly so I can sing along.

[pellucid]

I did sort of enjoy Sue, in the sense that she was entertaining in her evilness, but I think I'd have enjoyed her more if she were the only bitchy and manipulative female character on the show. One is funny; three or four is a problem.

The songs do seem to be FTW, but overall, it's probably not enough for me to tune in, especially since I don't have any free time right now.

[beccatoria]

Huh - thanks for your thoughts on Glee - like you, I'm a little surprised that apparently there is a lot of anti-Glee stuff around since I'd mostly been seeing positive reviews, but a few things asta77 said gave me pause and just...I dunno. I had some reservations, so now I don't have to worry anymore than I'm just being grumpy on the sidelines or something.

As to The Plan, I understand your apathy. I...am still to entangled with the show and have continued to fight my apathy in the hopes of regaining my love of the parts of the show I like but...yeah. I understand how you could be completely disinterested. Frankly, you're not missing that much. I liked it, but I liked it because it was like two hours of deleted scenes, and because it didn't wreck anything, but...to be honest it was a total mess of a "movie" and while it has some nice extras (backstory on Simon for instance), you aren't actually missing anything. Plus there is absolutely no Laura at all, like, not even in recycled footage. :(

[pellucid]

According to people who seem to be reading more widely than I, apparently opinions are pretty evenly divided between emphatic adoration and emphatic hatred. I had no idea--I'd only seen positive stuff, so I was surprised when it really didn't do much for me.

As for The Plan, I'm sure if I ever get around to watching it I'll enjoy it, but right now...meh. And I can't decide if no Laura at all is an utter travesty, or if it's a relief that at least they had no opportunity to screw her over even further. :(

[beccatoria]

Yeah, I was kind of pissed and then I realised, wait, this was directed by EJO; do we seriously trust that man NOT to make S1 and 2 Laura retroactively all about him? SHE ONLY AIRLOCKED LEOBEN CUS SHE FEARED FOR BILL'S SAFETY OMG! Kind of how I was relieved that there was very little Tory - I had serious fears they'd retroactively make her evil. But still, this is a sad situation to be in.

To be honest, even the positive reviews of The Plan basically amount to, "Dude, that was crackfun with robots, but, um, that wasn't a real movie, right?"