'Glee': You're having my baby

One thing I’ve loved about “Glee” is that its followers – or Gleeks – are immensely passionate about the storyline and the characters. On Show Tracker we get numerous comments on the show, and it’s clear you all are watching and venting! Last week’s episode sparked a number of conversations, about the pregnancy subplot. Below is an excerpt of one of my personal favs: 

As far as the pregnancy storyline goes....one very frustrating thing is the triangle...you watch this episode and here you had the babies real father taking responsibility...albeit slightly illegally (see pot cupcakes). Anyway, at a time when we have deadbeat dads and people unwilling to accept responsibility for their actions, we have a character really trying and I mean I feel Puck is genuine in his desire to support Quinn. I understand she wants to protect Finn and also his friendship with Puck to a small degree and admitting that she cheated is worse than being pregnant. – Craig

During Wednesday night’s episode, I had mixed feelings. While I think the subplot of the pregnancy triangle (wait; Mrs. Shue makes it a quadrilateral, right?) was a complete misstep it finally reaped some results that were at least worth mentioning. 

Keeping the tradition of awkward turtle moments alive, Finn serenades the sonogram of the lil’ bundle of joy, and his mom walks in. 

Just when I thought it couldn’t get any more awkward, Finn decides to break the news to Quinn’s ridiculously clueless parents to the tune of “(You're) Having My Baby.” Thank God for commercial breaks because I needed to Google and download this little ditty I had never heard of. Sorry, born in 1987 and had never heard of Paul Anka until “This Is It.”

In predictable fashion, Quinn’s parents tossed her out on her preggers behind just in time to catch Glenn Beck. I appreciated the show flipping the norm upside down. The scene where Finn’s mother embraces him as they sob together and assuring him everything would be OK was poignant but I expected  that moment to happen in a more affluent household that could handle the financial load of a new child.

It was these two moments that renewed my hatred for Quinn. I only hate her so much because Dianna Agron is so friggin convincing as an ice queen with a tummy full of Puck. But like Craig pointed out last week, at a time when we have deadbeat dads and people unwilling to accept responsibility for their actions, we have a character really trying. Sitting back and watching Puck be tossed aside is an even sadder sight than watching Rachael throw herself at another man who doesn’t want her.

And Mercedes certainly didn’t make Puck feel any better after his confession.

"You need to get something through your mohawk real quick. You're the baby's daddy, it takes a helluva lot more to be a father and that role's already been cast, because Quinn chose Finn. And you need to accept that and move on, because you have no business messing up that girl's life more than you already have. You need to back off. You owe her at least that much."

While I scratched my head at the fairness of Quinn being allowed to mess up Finn’s life just because he fits better in the role as suitable father – I can only feel so bad for the kid. He really thinks his mishap in the hot tub did the job?  To be honest Puck would make the better teen dad (can’t believe I actually had to write that). While he wears his maturity on his sleeve, he’s accepted his responsibilities, unlike Quinn, who likes pointing fingers when she should have just kept her cheerio closed. Puck is the only one ready and willing to provide for this baby (even if it’s earning income making pot brownies; he did after all give up the last of his savings as a lucrative pool boy). It’s more than Finn has done; whining "woe is me" isn’t going to raise a baby.

Granted, Finn has a better image, and maybe a brighter future … although he is a certified idiot. Puck isn’t so bad. Sure he admits to going commando, has a majorly annoying hairstyle and looks like the type who’d sleep with your best friend, your sister and your mom all in the same day. He is the father of the child.

Am I the only one hoping for a guest appearance from Maury Povich and a "Glee'd"-up version of of “My Baby Daddy?”

Cue the results.

-- Gerrick D. Kennedy (Follow me on Twitter @GerrickKennedy)

Related:

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Complete Showtracker coverage of 'Glee'

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Comments

[k]

This is the first Glee episode that truly disappointed. Everything about it -- ballad selection, conflicts & resolutions -- felt forced the entire way through. The only moment that felt like the old Glee was when Finn's mom embraced him...you could see in her face that she was grieving the loss of what was his future 'life of promise' while at the same time providing support for him. It was one of only three well-played moments in last night's show -- the other two being Mercedes' exchange with Puck, and Rachel and Emma enraptured over Will's song. I am hoping next week's episode will be better...

[Jomo]

At first I disagreed with what Mercedes was saying, that Puck needed to back off. If he is willing to take some responsibility, then let him.
But I think what M meant was "Quit your whining!" Puck complaining about not being a part of the baby's life is the problem, not his wanting to take responsibility. He could quietly support them, with his friendship.

So many things could happen once Quinn gives birth. He could play it cool, and see what happens. I don't think he has the law on his side, if Quinn doesn't want to name him, right?

[Russell]

I was totally thrown off by what Mercedes said to Puck. I don't care that Quin choose Finn. Puck is the father and if he wants to accept responsibilty he should be fully supported to do so. This is one of my favorite show's but this love hexagon is getting ridiculous. This show is very serious and sometimes playful at points, but teenage prengnancy is no joke. Like what normal person would tell Puck what Mercedes said? What gave her the authority to address the subject with such severity?

[bob]

wait...born in 87?

Jeez.
No wonder your writing is so atrocious.
Go back to school, you need more studying.

[cheryl]

Really? Having the conservative-news-watching-Christians abandon their daughter was breaking type?? really? I found it incredibly cliche and over-done. They've played to the stereo-type of TV Christian-bashing and Christians being hypocritical and I find the whole thing tiresome along with the reference to Glen Beck....whose hating who?

I too am tired of the pregnancy subplot -- move on. Can't believe nothing was said of Suzy Peppers --- she was awesome. More Sarah Drew, please.

[JH]

The Mercedes line was ridiculous. He owes it to his best friend to tell him the truth and NOT wreck his life. I wanted to reach through the TV and slap her after she said that.

[James]

Wow born in 1987? So I'm guessing that WKRP (not the DVD version) has never been seen by you, either?
As far as Glee goes, it was okay. I prefer the episodes where Jane Lynch is central to the story. I hate hate hate hated the final ballad, ugh that was a rough way to finish. Although I don't really get why people are accusing the show of Conservative bashing, I really don't believe an affluent family like that would throw out their youngest daughter. Instead they would either send her away to "hide her shame" or have an abortion. But that wouldn't serve the (tired) plot. I like the show but it walks a very fine line between camp and soap opera drama.

[bloo]

Wow, good to see critics on the unfortunate reaction of Mercedes to Puck's admission of being the baby-daddy. I'm certainly in the crowd that finds Quinn's behavior pretty reprehensible and for me the character isn't on any sort of redemption track so far. (I agree completely that D. A. plays the b**** to perfection which makes her a great villain). It's not okay to ruin someone else's life because you think he'd be a better father. It's cruel. Really truly cruel.

That said, I'm a bit more forgiving of the baby-drama plotlines and the roughness of the first 13. The eps are already made and there is no going back to change them now. Yeah, some of the stuff hasn't played as true in the crowd as it did when they were making them, but it's still a great show. I can't wait to see what they'll do with the back 9.

[Russell]

I don't know why I just can't let go of what Mercede's said to Puck. I think it further paint's the stereotype that men have no rights to their children.

I'm confused by the fact that high school girl was told juicy gossip and her first thing she thought of doing was to go on tirade about baby daddy's?

Please fix this Glee! I really wished Mercede's would blow up after that contrite exchange.

[themothchase]

Not only was Mercedes advice bizarre and not compelling, it was another chance to give her a bit of sassy advice and pretend that counts as real character development. Not only does it seem she'll never get that solo, she rarely gets more than a couple sad lines per episode.

While the ballad lesson was a bit contrived, I thought it worked - in the way the show is a kind of ballad itself: a little over the top, wears its heart on its sleeve, and yet is strangely satisfying and provoking of real emotion.

And Finn's ballad to Quinn almost made me wish he wouldn't find out just how duped he's been.

http://themothchase.wordpress.com

[Christopher L. Crump]

To the writer's of Glee - Rachel doesn't need to be turned into a pathetic joke - it's feels like way too much character experimentation at the expense of your audience. The faculty has been missing recently - and it feels like the balance of
the show followed suit.

[Alexandra]

I thought this week's episode was the weakest so far. The ballads were so contrived, and the awkward moments were so over the top that it left you cringing - but not in the way they intended.
Plus, I thought the characterization of Quinn's parents was rather stupid as well. The whole idea of that type of character -- the conservative Christian = insensitive hypocrite -- has been done and redone so many times on TV that it is now not only offensive to the demographic it is supposedly describing, but the whole world because of its utter lack of imagination. Seriously, if I wanted character cliches, I'd go watch a soap opera. Which, by the way, this show is getting dangerously close to becoming at times.

[Maddie]

Lay off Mercedes. She barely knows Puck so it's not her responsibility to be his conscious. Puck should man up and tell Finn the truth. He got his best friend's girlfriend drunk to have sex with her, he's letting Finn pay the bills, and he'd hop in the sack with Quinn again in a heartbeat. That's some friendship Puck and Finn have there.

I think he only told her so she could blab it all over the school and he won't have to have that difficult conversation with Finn.

What til Finn's mother hears the hot-tub story. She's gonna unleash her inner mama bear.

[meme]

I agree with everyone, Mercedes was out of line and while Puck may be a wanna be ladies man, he totally stepped up and wants to help and as baby daddy, he should have the right to do so. I say - Puck...take Quinn's cheerio to family court and establish your paternity!