'Glee' recap: A perfect Valentine's Day confection
On Tuesday night, “Glee” wasn’t only back at its usual time, it was back to doing what it does best: giving us entertaining (and sometimes surprising) storylines involving characters we care about who sing songs that emerge organically and advance the story. It was like a perfect heart-shaped bubble of an episode reminding the show’s fans about all the things we’ve missed about the show these last couple of months. Thanks, “Glee,” we love you, too.
Or maybe it was more like a shiny, gift-wrapped Valentine’s Day box of candy, with great lines and moments and songs and plot twists crammed in there like a mouth-watering variety of delicious confections. Hard to choose the best ones, and unlike Puck’s new crush, glee-clubber-come-lately Lauren Zizes, we just can’t work through them all in one fell swoop.
But here are some bite-size bits (nougaty nuggets?) -- thoughts, questions -- worth chewing over:
1) Why don’t we miss Will Schuester? Mr. Schue’s personal life, which occupied so much of last season and the early part of this season, has been remarkably absent from the show of late. This episode, in which the adult characters are barely present, to no ill effect, cements our belief that “Glee” is strongest when it focuses on the kids and their teenage concerns -– love and music and, apparently, kissing, chief among them.
2) Is Lauren Zizes really going to tap into a whole new side of Puck? “Maybe it’s because she’s constantly insulting me, like my mom,” he says of his burgeoning crush on the glee club’s newest member. It is kind of hard not to love Lauren (and the actress who plays her, Ashley Fink) as she delivers lines like, "I spell woman Z-I-Z-E-S and I need to be wooed" and “That's the first time anyone ever sang me a love song -- and it made me feel like crap."
4) Yes! The Warblers get a real storyline! Plus, they get to sing with a purpose and a new locale, released from the pretty, pretty practice room in which they’ve been confined like, as we are not-so-subtly reminded, birdies in a gilded cage. And where do they go? The Gap, that cauldron of teen-image-creation angst, where they do flips off the sweater tables as Blaine serenades/stalks his well-coiffed and deeply embarrassed assistant manager crush with Robin Thicke’s “When I Get You Alone.” Alas, the guy rejects Blaine, telling him he’s too young, but the crush’s crushing blow paves the way for Kurt to confess his true feelings for Blaine, and for Blaine to confess that, despite the image he projects, he, too, is just a kid trying to figure things out as he goes along.
5) Yes! The Cheerios get to show their style in street clothes! Released from the flippy short skirts and prim white sneaks, they have never looked better.
6) Santana gets her comeuppance –- as well as her revenge. She also, along with Lauren, gets some of the best lines:
“Finn only wears that gassy infant look when he feels guilty about something.”
“I'll just marry an NFL player. They're super reliable.”
"Please, I've had mono so many times it's turned into stereo."
And then there’s Brittany’s choice line of the episode (narrowly beating out "That's my man and his legs don't work"), delivered to a sobbing Santana: “You can try rocking back and forth; people do that in movies.”
7) While some songs worked better than others (along with the Warblers’ number, “Fat Bottom Girls” and "P.Y.T." were standouts) the only real overly sweet and gooey confection in the box was Tina’s “My Funny Valentine.” What was that meltdown about, anyway?
-- Amy Reiter
Photo: Kurt (Chris Colfer) performs on Valentine's Day in the "Silly Love Songs" episode of GLEE airing Tuesday, Feb. 8 on FOX. Credit: Adam Rose/FOX
Can't wait until the DVD is out
Posted by: Lily | February 09, 2011 at 09:58 AM
If one didn't know better, Amy Reiter is now moonlighting in the publicity department of Glee's production company.
In reality, Glee has become almost unwatchable. What started off as a cute concept, showcasing some genuinly high level talent, has become a mockery of almost every possible PC stereotype imaginable. The Puck/Lauren story line is laughable, as is Kurt?Blaine. And, with everyone from Ellen DeG to Oprah weighing in on the bullying issue, what was with that lame hall fight? Add to that the fact that nearly everyone in the cast is far to old to even be in college, let alone high school (the actors who play Finn and Puck are nearly 30 years old and look every bit of it), has just pushed the concept of a high school glee club out the window.
Signed, an ex-Glee watcher.
P.S. Regarding the talent, I’ll still be happy to listen on my iPod, these actors are indeed very talented.
Posted by: Aldo | February 09, 2011 at 11:12 AM
Loved the show last night. It's pure escapist fun with some real world issues thrown in for posterity. And Aldo, if you don't like the show, don't watch it. And don't comment. I don't think anyone cares.
Posted by: Horatio Jones | February 09, 2011 at 01:35 PM
Great backhanded compliment there, Aldo. Surprisingly, you miss the point that there's comedy to GLEE and for you to think it's laughable that a tough guy would go for a full-figured girl, then you're clearly not the demographic GLEE is aimed at. Don't let the door hit you on your way out. GLEE rocked last night. LOVE Lauren and Santana. Only problem I had was the whole Finn and Quinn reunion...again. I'd still watch it though!
Posted by: O-town | February 09, 2011 at 01:46 PM
Glee is the best show on TV. Finn Hudson is hot but i really want Finn and Rachel to get back together. I hate all the other couples, except maybe Artie/Brittany and i miss Puck and Quinn's relationship.
Posted by: Claire | February 09, 2011 at 04:21 PM
'tha hell was wrong w/ Tina?
Is she pregnant?! dying?! Bipolar?!?!?!?
Posted by: Gleek82 | February 09, 2011 at 04:51 PM
I loved "Silly Love Songs" so much. I loved Kurt and Blaine and Puck and Lauren especially. The Warbler who yelled "you mock us, sir" made me laugh out loud. I live the friendship between The Warblers and New Directions. They can team up against Vocal Adrenalin, I guess.
Posted by: Virginia | February 11, 2011 at 05:32 PM
I really liked this episode! It had some fantastic moments and was really character driven. When Lauren first joined the club...I was not a fan, at all. But she's wearing on me and this episode totally made me like her. She had some of the best lines. The songs choices were great and I have to say...the song "firework" is super over-played and I like it. BUT I LOVE LEA MICHELE'S VERSION! She is an amazing talent and it's great to hear her sing her heart out.
The one thing I love about this season is the cast are getting out into real settings. Like, Kurt and Blaine in the coffee shop and the gap. I felt like the first season kinda stayed in the same locations, so it's nice to see the variety.
Posted by: tarylelizabeth | February 15, 2011 at 12:02 PM
Tina's breakdown was because she was "so overwhelmed with love"
she said it right after her boyfriend came down and comfort her...
AND IT WAS HILARIOUS...i can't believed you missed it!
Great episode...really missing the old glee
and btw the fighting is suppose to be crazy and cheesy...but all in the end its great comedy..."that's how we do it in Lima Heights!"
Posted by: Maya | February 28, 2011 at 08:53 AM