The Substitute
Glee Episode Review
In which we need to make them laugh. Gwyneth Paltrow shines on Glee, but some of the underlying issues pull at an otherwise strong episode.
What Happened
Sue deploys a student like a biological weapon, infecting Figgins and Will with the "monkey pox." Not willing to put up with Rachel in charge, Kurt recruits substitute teacher Holly Holiday to take over Glee club while Will suffers at home. Holly is a happy-go-lucky sort who proposes field trips to Taco Bell and lets the kids sing anything they want. Rachel warns Will that he'd better get well soon or Holly will have his job.
Needing to exert her authority, Sue tries cutting the football program - only to have Coach Bieste ask who the cheerleaders will cheer for if that happens. Regrouping, Sue launches a war on obesity by removing all tater tots from the school cafeteria. Mercedes responds by instigating a tater war to get her snacks back. When Mercedes sticks tater tots up the tailpipe of Sue's car, Sue blames Holly for not controlling her students. This prompts Holly to realize that Will's more disciplined approach may well make him the better teacher.
Nursed back to health by (still kind of crazy) Teri, Will returns to his post and offers to let the kids sing songs that were popular in the past ten years... just as soon as everyone high kicks their way through Singing in the Rain.
The Good
- Gwyneth Paltrow sings and dances. I liked her voice and - like John Stamos - she looked as if she was having a lot of fun.
- "Make 'Em Laugh" routine - and more Mike Chang. Though I kind of wish they'd done "Moses Supposes" instead. More of a suitable number for a duo.
The Better
- Mercedes' tater war and her Norma Rae moment in the cafeteria.
- Loved the choreography in Singing in the Rain / Umbrella.
- Blaine!
The Best
- Kurt's startled reaction to Mercedes' Norma Rae moment in the cafeteria. The way he just jumped in confusion cracked me up.
Minor Complaint
- With three big dance numbers, how did Britney not get a chance to shine?
Best Lines
Will: "I thought we were friends?"
Sue: "That got boring."
What Did I Think?
Slightly less minor complaint: where does Kurt get off telling Mercedes to stop eating and get a boyfriend? What a little snot! Where did this idea that she's compensating for loneliness come from? I could have seen him pointing out that the tater war had already gotten her in trouble and that she probably won't succeed. Or - in a different conversation - wish that she'd be happier for him and Blaine. Or - in an entirely different conversation - gently suggest that she not dismiss the hot football guy out of hand for no good reason. But smushing those three things together in a badly structured Dr. Phil lecture was just mean.
I've decided not to engage too closely with the Karofsky thing until I get a clearer idea of where they are going with it. I don't want to pre-judge, but I do wish they'd be a little more consistent. On one hand, there's "ha ha, look at us we're so gay talking about fashion and stuff" at dinner with Mercedes. And on the other, we have Karofsky uttering what sounds like a pretty sincere death threat.
Glee is obviously trying to find a balance between the over-the-top musical theatre storytelling and the more heartfelt Afterschool Special style. Toss in the distraction of constant pop culture references and it's a hard mix. I can see them working really hard at it, but there are times when I just don't know if it's gonna work. There's a tonal whiplash when they go from one to the other too quickly that takes me out of the moment almost every time.
I would suggest that the music is what holds it all together and helps smooth those transitions. That makes the reliance on tribute episodes a problem because it doesn't always allow them to align the song with the emotion. And while it's great to occasionally see the kids go at things for no reason beyond it being fun to sing, we can see that disconnect in this episode as well. It would have been very effective to hear Mercedes sing out her frustrations and we didn't get that when we needed it.