What's Wrong with "Glee?"

In terms of message, this season of “Glee” is staying true to itself and urging its viewers to do the same. Musically, however, the show has fallen flat.

When the show began last May and continued in September, it couldn’t decide what it was, but by episode 5, it had hit its stride and the familiar phenomenon had begun. This Tuesday brought episode 5 of season 2 and I’m still unsure where I am as far as feelings on this season. For the most part, I feel its missed the mark. And the problem lies in one word: Themes.

The first 13 episodes of “Glee” had no real musical theme and when they did, it was simple and unnoticeable, like in “Ballads.” When the series returned in April, however, themes seemed to be a more prominent, well, theme. It started off with “Hello” where every song had that in the title and the week after that, “Glee” had its famous, although only slightly better than mediocre, Madonna episode, and it seemed that themes were here to stay. This season, we’ve seen no end of theme episodes since “Britney/Brittany,” which was the worst theme episode yet (an hour of Britney Spears music video remakes and no discernable storyline).

Some themes are better than others. For instance, I thoroughly enjoyed last season’s “Ballads,” “Bad Reputation,” “Dream On,” “Theatricality” and “Journey” as well as this season’s “Duets,” which reminded me of the first real “theme” episode the series ever had, “Ballads.” But when the theme gets too specific, I think “Glee” loses what drew us (or at least me) in to start: how Ryan Murphy and his team were able to transcend the written word and layer on emotion through song. The music of “Glee” used to compliment the story. Now it seems the story is written to compliment the music.

So, what’s wrong with “Glee?” In a word: Themes. Hopefully they’ll get back to the show we love and drop the heavy, themey episodes and get back to the story with music. Otherwise, the show may be jumping the shark sooner than we hoped.

Why I am a Gleek

Last May, when I first saw the series premiere of “Glee,” I instantly fell in love. I fell in love with the music. I fell in love with the dancing. I fell in love with the characters. But above all, I fell in love with its message.

I often describe “Glee” as “’High School Musical’ for grown-ups,” and in a lot of ways, that is true. While the directors and producers of HSM (Disney) would never have a storyline where the head cheerleader and president of the celibacy club finds herself pregnant (and at 16 too!), the message of being yourself, no matter what may be popular, considered “in” or what your friends are doing. In the age of peer pressure running rampant, this is important message to have. The only way to true happiness is by being you.

I also love “Glee” for the way it handles social issues. When Kurt “came out” early in Season one, his single, mechanic father did not respond by yelling, by trying to change his son, or by disowning him. He simply looked him in the eye and said “I know…and I love you just as much.” That is just one of the examples of the grace with which “Glee” handles things that are tough to address in our society.

Now don’t get me wrong – I don’t love “Glee” just because of the heavy issues it tackles. The talent on this show is unbelievable and just when I think they can’t do better, they kick it up a notch and blow me away! It’s hard to believe they are going to find ways to top themselves this season.

And the comedic moments, make me laugh out loud, even after I’ve seen them before. Jane Lynch’s Sue Sylvester has lines that not only make you laugh, but also make you stop and wonder “Did she really just say that?!”

There’s a little bit of Gleek in all of us. Yes, the characters are over exaggerations and caricatures, but there’s also something so familiar about them. So, on Tuesday nights this year, don’t be afraid to unleash your inner Gleek. Be proud. Sing out. More importantly: Gleek out!