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Love It/Shove It: Glee
Thursday, April 21st, 2011 10:27 amWe've finished all but one episode of "Glee" on Netflix instant view, and for the most part, it's exactly what our baby-addled, sleep-deprived brains crave after a long day: mindless fun, manic energy from others that is not required from us, and lots of cheerful music. I really, really want to enjoy this show all around, without reservations. But there are some crazy recurring plot points and character problems that I just can't get around. And it makes for an uneven viewing experience.
To start with, the "love it": What a pleasure, in the midst of sweeping and distressing budget cuts to arts programs, to have a show about the value of these programs and why they matter to *all* students, not just the art and drama crowd. And it's a wonderful plot point that, not every episode, but at least every five or so, one of the students articulates what music has done for her/him or uses music to express feelings they can't otherwise express, for reasons plot-driven or personal. I also like the mix of old Broadway standards and pop music, which has been fairly well-balanced, except for the "event" episodes (Madonna/Lady GaGa). The choreography, although a tad exaggerated for the abilities of a high school group in the time frame they're presented with each week*, is fresh and fun. There have also been some fun guest stars, most notably Neil Patrick Harris, who allow the characters to show different sides of themselves.
The other major "love it" point for me is the depiction of Kurt's relationship with his father, Burt. (What's with the rhyming names? Oh well.) I love the way Burt consistently supports his son, even though this is obviously a growing up process for both of them. But what really clinched it for me was his passionate defence of his son when another character uses the word "faggy." The prevalence of this term drives me mad because it perpetuates the idea that the worst for a man to be is "not a man," that true manhood is a constant insistence that there's no other way to be, other than male. (This is to say nothing about the idea that the other worst thing you can call a man is a pussy--even worse than being gay is a woman and her (read: vile) sexual organs.) So, to have a highly popular, prime time TV show call this word out and have a character who's arguably one of the most standardly "manly" men in the entire character lineup decry its use was just wonderful. Go, Glee!
Regrettably, this brings me to the "shove it" part, though: For a show that's so hyper-aware of the uses of language and gay rights, I'm disappointed at the depiction of women. All of the women in this show are at turns manipulative, cruel, mentally ill, or selfish, in varying degrees and to different ends.** I'm not saying that women are saints compared to men, but it would be nice to have at least one female character depicted the same way Will Schuester is depicted, a character who can do no wrong even when he does. The reverence reserved for his character weirds me out; on one hand, yes, this is a great teacher who truly cares about his students and their well-being. But the other part of this, which the show never really explores or critiques, is the huge ego that goes along with that. In fact, it's used as a point of ridicule by his arch enemy, the evil Sue Sylvester***, and discounted by everyone else. This show would be a lot stronger if the Church of St. Will did a little internal audit and dared to show him as a real human being, too. This show would also be a lot stronger if the female characters were more well-rounded and the minority characters weren't just window dressing. (I mean, 'other Asian'? The time, it's a funny joke, but after that, it's not funny anymore. It bears mentioning that 'other Asian' is played by Harry Shum, Jr., who is the best dancer in the entire cast and needs a lot more time to shine. I need to blog about "The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers" immediately!)
In sum: more shove it than love it at this point. I want to love it! It's fun and there's dancing and singing! Let's put on a show! It's just... it's 2011. Can't we have a show that's better than this for women and minority characters?
* One of the plot inconsistencies I try to ignore is that there is almost no way a high school group could produce something that polished every week; there's not enough time with all the intervening plot to practice, let alone perfect!
** The only women who've not been any of these things, so far, have been Mercedes and Tina. Of those two, Mercedes has grappled with crash dieting after being manipulated by Sue and Tina appears to have come out without being anything other than inadvertently cruel when she lied about having a disability.
*** Whose insults towards Will showcase some of the show's snappiest and best writing.
To start with, the "love it": What a pleasure, in the midst of sweeping and distressing budget cuts to arts programs, to have a show about the value of these programs and why they matter to *all* students, not just the art and drama crowd. And it's a wonderful plot point that, not every episode, but at least every five or so, one of the students articulates what music has done for her/him or uses music to express feelings they can't otherwise express, for reasons plot-driven or personal. I also like the mix of old Broadway standards and pop music, which has been fairly well-balanced, except for the "event" episodes (Madonna/Lady GaGa). The choreography, although a tad exaggerated for the abilities of a high school group in the time frame they're presented with each week*, is fresh and fun. There have also been some fun guest stars, most notably Neil Patrick Harris, who allow the characters to show different sides of themselves.
The other major "love it" point for me is the depiction of Kurt's relationship with his father, Burt. (What's with the rhyming names? Oh well.) I love the way Burt consistently supports his son, even though this is obviously a growing up process for both of them. But what really clinched it for me was his passionate defence of his son when another character uses the word "faggy." The prevalence of this term drives me mad because it perpetuates the idea that the worst for a man to be is "not a man," that true manhood is a constant insistence that there's no other way to be, other than male. (This is to say nothing about the idea that the other worst thing you can call a man is a pussy--even worse than being gay is a woman and her (read: vile) sexual organs.) So, to have a highly popular, prime time TV show call this word out and have a character who's arguably one of the most standardly "manly" men in the entire character lineup decry its use was just wonderful. Go, Glee!
Regrettably, this brings me to the "shove it" part, though: For a show that's so hyper-aware of the uses of language and gay rights, I'm disappointed at the depiction of women. All of the women in this show are at turns manipulative, cruel, mentally ill, or selfish, in varying degrees and to different ends.** I'm not saying that women are saints compared to men, but it would be nice to have at least one female character depicted the same way Will Schuester is depicted, a character who can do no wrong even when he does. The reverence reserved for his character weirds me out; on one hand, yes, this is a great teacher who truly cares about his students and their well-being. But the other part of this, which the show never really explores or critiques, is the huge ego that goes along with that. In fact, it's used as a point of ridicule by his arch enemy, the evil Sue Sylvester***, and discounted by everyone else. This show would be a lot stronger if the Church of St. Will did a little internal audit and dared to show him as a real human being, too. This show would also be a lot stronger if the female characters were more well-rounded and the minority characters weren't just window dressing. (I mean, 'other Asian'? The time, it's a funny joke, but after that, it's not funny anymore. It bears mentioning that 'other Asian' is played by Harry Shum, Jr., who is the best dancer in the entire cast and needs a lot more time to shine. I need to blog about "The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers" immediately!)
In sum: more shove it than love it at this point. I want to love it! It's fun and there's dancing and singing! Let's put on a show! It's just... it's 2011. Can't we have a show that's better than this for women and minority characters?
* One of the plot inconsistencies I try to ignore is that there is almost no way a high school group could produce something that polished every week; there's not enough time with all the intervening plot to practice, let alone perfect!
** The only women who've not been any of these things, so far, have been Mercedes and Tina. Of those two, Mercedes has grappled with crash dieting after being manipulated by Sue and Tina appears to have come out without being anything other than inadvertently cruel when she lied about having a disability.
*** Whose insults towards Will showcase some of the show's snappiest and best writing.
