Glee

[Matt]

Anyhow, this is Glee on form. Someone asked me last week why I'm still watching, and this is why. Because when they get it right, they get it really right. They handled the religion in a fairly neutral way instead of trying to cram some heavy handed message down our throats. It had good, dramatic character moments without going too far. It also maintained its light and airy tone. This is Glee at its best.

 

[Prison Mike]

So it wasn't preachy in one way or another?

 

[Jennifer Walters]

OMG MATT ACTUALLY LIKED AN EMOTIONAL EPISODE OF GLEE?

 

[Matt]

So it wasn't preachy in one way or another?

Nope. Aside from the final shot which is a pretty obvious metaphor for Murphy's views on the matter, its a pretty fair handed take that represents both sides.

OMG MATT ACTUALLY LIKED AN EMOTIONAL EPISODE OF GLEE?

I don't dislike emotional episodes. I dislike it when they over play their hand and come off as preachy. This episode did not. It balanced emotion and humor with a good message that they did not feel the need to shove down the viewers' throats.

 

[JP]

Aw, Matt. Ya big softy.

 

[Prison Mike]

Nope. Aside from the final shot which is a pretty obvious metaphor for Murphy's views on the matter, its a pretty fair handed take that represents both sides.

Good. I look forward to watching it on hulu then.

 

[SuperT]

I still thought it was a little preachy and after school special at times, but it was better than last week.

Of course Kurt being an atheist was obvious. Wish they would have been a little bit more out of the box and actually made the gay character religious instead of the obvious and made one of the other characters an atheist.

Not all of us gay men are anti religion. lol

 

[JP]

I definitely wasn't a fan of making Kurt atheist. :/

 

[DACrowe]

Anyhow, this is Glee on form. Someone asked me last week why I'm still watching, and this is why. Because when they get it right, they get it really right. They handled the religion in a fairly neutral way instead of trying to cram some heavy handed message down our throats. It had good, dramatic character moments without going too far. It also maintained its light and airy tone. This is Glee at its best.

Ha. Usually I like the episodes you find too preachy. And I thought this one was either too preachy or too "after school special" in that, "We will seriously present different views on religion."

And then you ended up loving it. Go figu

 

[DACrowe]

I loved Finn's story in this episode Kurt's was
Best songs were Papa Can You Hear Me? and I Look to You, but I was really annoyed that Kurt butchered a Beatles song they deserve better.

Really? I thought "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" was the best performance of this season and a personal best for Kurt. It was sweet, endearing and wrought with genuine emotion.

I mean if we're going to talk about butchering, I would say look no further than "Bridge Over Troubled Water." That would be an amazing song for Mercedes, Rachel or Kurt to sing and that was the one they turned into gospel (thereby removing its original power)?

Such a wasted opportunity, in my opinion.

 

[Matt]

Yeah, but it fit the plot.

I loved Brittany this episode by the way. Some of her best lines of the series. "It got knocked down a letter grade because I wrote it entirely in crayon."

"I made him a card that said heart attacks are from loving too much."

 

[Matt]

Ha. Usually I like the episodes you find too preachy. And I thought this one was either too preachy or too "after school special" in that, "We will seriously present different views on religion."

And then you ended up loving it. Go figu

We just can't agree lately, Crowe. I think what I liked about this episode was the fact that while preachy, it covered both sides. Take for example when Finn called Kurt a ******, Finn got torn a new *******, but no one took into account that Kurt basically stalked and manipulated Finn's life.

My one gripe with this episode is how Finn and Burt are close again. I wish they showed some kind of reconcilliation between the two.

 

[DACrowe]

This Kurt/Quinn obsession has gotta stop, man. You keep seeing stuff no one else does...

That was my least preferred option. I would have preferred a scene between Kurt and Finn working through possibly losing the "father" first and foremost. Actually, considering the scene before was Finn talking about losing his religion and it looked like Will had something to say--along with Finn and Kurt making pained glances towards each other--instead of the church number it would have been great if we saw what Will's actual point on the matter was and then a scene between Finn and Kurt.

If they did want more Mercedes, then how about a scene of them talking out their differences as she already sang a Christian song to him? I just threw Quinn as a bottom of the barrel option.

(and it still would have been better than to hear them kill Simon and Garfunkel...and not in a good way).

 

[JP]

Really? I thought "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" was the best performance of this season and a personal best for Kurt. It was sweet, endearing and wrought with genuine emotion.

I mean if we're going to talk about butchering, I would say look no further than "Bridge Over Troubled Water." That would be an amazing song for Mercedes, Rachel or Kurt to sing and that was the one they turned into gospel (thereby removing its original power)?

Such a wasted opportunity, in my opinion.

It's Aretha Franklin's version. Though, I don't like that version very much anyway.

 

[flash13]

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=11814016

My second favorite singing group has passed my first

 

[Matt]

That was my least preferred option. I would have preferred a scene between Kurt and Finn working through possibly losing the "father" first and foremost. Actually, considering the scene before was Finn talking about losing his religion and it looked like Will had something to say--along with Finn and Kurt making pained glances towards each other--instead of the church number it would have been great if we saw what Will's actual point on the matter was and then a scene between Finn and Kurt.

That's my other gripe with this episode. The father/son relationship with Will and Finn is one of the show's most endearing traits. Will was brushed to the side this episode when he should've been there for Finn. It would've been really nice to see Will talk to Finn about how Burt was affecting him (since everyone else was so hung up on Kurt). Hell, I would've just liked to hear Will's stance on the whole religion debate. He was the only major character whose opinion we did not see (which implies he is either apathetic or agnostic, but either way, getting that kind of view out there would've been interesting too).

Too much Mercedes this episode. The character is good in small doses (mostly because, while a hell of a singer, Amber Riley is not a very good actress). Some of the time devoted to her should've gone to Finn and Will.

 

[Matt]

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=11814016

My second favorite singing group has passed my first

Honestly, the Billboard chart should distinguish the Glee kids from a real band. Singing covers of other people's songs for the context of a TV show isn't really the same as making a chart topping song.

 

[DACrowe]

We just can't agree lately, Crowe. I think what I liked about this episode was the fact that while preachy, it covered both sides. Take for example when Finn called Kurt a ******, Finn got torn a new *******, but no one took into account that Kurt basically stalked and manipulated Finn's life.

My one gripe with this episode is how Finn and Burt are close again. I wish they showed some kind of reconcilliation between the two.

Fair enough. But in that given situation, of course Kurt's dad was going to come down hard on Finn. Finn crossed a line he should not have ,but he was provoked. But life ain't fair. It's just this episode I could feel them walking a tight rope trying not to piss anybody off. It literally went "Here is the Christian viewpoint," "Here is the Atheist viewpoint," "Here is the Jewish viewpoint," "Here is the agnostic viewpoint," "Here is an atheist learning to appreciate the sentiment of religion," "Here is a Christian losing his faith."

I don't know it felt like they were straining to cover all their bases.

But it was a good episode. Kurt had a great story line and Finn was hilarious. Jane Lynch also was gold again at developing Sue without weakening her amazing potency. It just...was very hyped up and I can think of at least 10 episodes that were better.

But I see your point.

 

[Jennifer Walters]

I definitely wasn't a fan of making Kurt atheist. :/

I didn't mind it so much that Sue and Kurt (and if you look at Artie's reactions when it comes up, you can assume he is too.) being atheists. They've seen/been through rough things that's enough to shake anyone's faith to the point you just give up on that part of society in general.

I could relate to it as it's the very reason I'm atheist, is the same reasoning they have. Less so Kurt's ''Would he make me gay thing?" and more ''Losing a mother, seeing a disabled sibling picked on." etc thing.

 

[Matt]

Fair enough. But in that given situation, of course Kurt's dad was going to come down hard on Finn. Finn crossed a line he should not have ,but he was provoked. But life ain't fair. It's just this episode I could feel them walking a tight rope trying not to piss anybody off. It literally went "Here is the Christian viewpoint," "Here is the Atheist viewpoint," "Here is the Jewish viewpoint," "Here is the agnostic viewpoint," "Here is an atheist learning to appreciate the sentiment of religion," "Here is a Christian losing his faith."

I don't know it felt like they were straining to cover all their bases.

But it was a good episode. Kurt had a great story line and Finn was hilarious. Jane Lynch also was gold again at developing Sue without weakening her amazing potency. It just...was very hyped up and I can think of at least 10 episodes that were better.

But I see your point.

Burt's response was completely understandable. Finn crossed a line. But like you said, he was provoked. What rang untrue to me was Finn turning around and dressing in drag and protecting Kurt afterwards. Kurt was just as wrong and he made no pennance towards Finn, yet we were expected to believe Finn felt completely in the wrong? Finn had a good reason to be mad, and instead of exploring that, he just said "Oh noes! I said the f-word! All is forgiven towards Kurt despite him stalking me!"

 

[Matt]

I didn't mind it so much that Sue and Kurt (and if you look at Artie's reactions when it comes up, you can assume he is too.) being atheists. They've seen/been through rough things that's enough to shake anyone's faith to the point you just give up on that part of society in general.

I could relate to it as it's the very reason I'm atheist, is the same reasoning they have. Less so Kurt's ''Would he make me gay thing?" and more ''Losing a mother, seeing a disabled sibling picked on." etc thing.

But isn't it a bit insulting to athiests that the show presents the only real reason for being one is if God has somehow slapped you in the face? It makes athiesm seem like it is strictly out of spite. It would've been far more interesting to see Mercedes, who had a good upbringing, life, etc be an athiest.

 

[DACrowe]

Honestly, the Billboard chart should distinguish the Glee kids from a real band. Singing covers of other people's songs for the context of a TV show isn't really the same as making a chart topping song.

Oh come on. By season 4 of Glee (if it's still popular) not only will Glee be the highest selling act in Billboard history, it will make up 1/5 of what is left of the music industry's income.

Yeah, I don't know if Glee should be like that, but the music industry must be thanking their lucky stars for this show. After the Britney episode, every act is going to have their agent begging them on Twitter to do a "tribute act." Up next, A very special Backstreet Boys-Spice Girls double tribute to their legacy on music and pop culture.

That would never happen....I don't think so.

 

[Jennifer Walters]

But isn't it a bit insulting to athiests that the show presents the only real reason for being one is if God has somehow slapped you in the face? It makes athiesm seem like it is strictly out of spite. It would've been far more interesting to see Mercedes, who had a good upbringing, life, etc be an athiest.

I didn't find it insulting to me. I had a good up bringing, a good life, and a very religious family, then suddenly things just started spiraling badly with health issues, deaths, and more. And it's just how I got to the point I am today.

So yeah. I'm not a atheist out of spite, but for other reasons. And I don't think Kurt and Sue were being spiteful with their beliefs.

 

[Majik1387]

But isn't it a bit insulting to athiests that the show presents the only real reason for being one is if God has somehow slapped you in the face? It makes athiesm seem like it is strictly out of spite. It would've been far more interesting to see Mercedes, who had a good upbringing, life, etc be an athiest.

Wasn't Kurt an atheist without being slapped in the face?

 

[Prison Mike]

Just watched the episode. Finn and Kurt were definitely the highlights of the episode. As dumb as Finn is, he's pretty loveable. Thinking his grilled cheese granted his wish to touch Rachel's boobs. LOL And Kurt's one song was great. Showing the flashbacks gave the scene more of an emotional impact. Overall, pretty good episode. It's amazing how they can go from a Britney Spears tribute episode one week to an episode dealing with religion the next.