I thought Artie trying to walk was going too far. It was plenty delusional and poignant for him to think the new treatments would fix him in the near future. The whole scene with the crutches just felt off.
Totally redeemed by Safety Dance, however! It was great to see the actor dance, and I loved that they used that song, and some of the choreography from the video!
NPH was great as usual, and Morrison kept up with him. Dream On was hot! I loved the scene with Sue (and now that I’m reflecting, I’m getting a second kick out of the fact that it was a high sexual tension scene played by a gay man and a lesbian).
I liked the plot with Rachel’s mom, and why there had to be machinations ("‘Befriend’ was the word I used." :)) I thought Idina really sold it.
ZOMG - this absolutely was the best episode of the new set. Here’s my gut reactions to a few things:
This episode worked because it didn’t have as many songs as usual - they were spaced out better and therefore more meaningful. They had several songs, don’t get me wrong - but it didn’t seem like they were trying to jam a bunch of songs in.
They proved that the show still has teeth. Noticeable minimalist around Sue and Brittany - and yet we still had lots of laughs and good content. It was starting to feel like Sue and Brittany were going to start carrying the show - the fact that it wasn’t necessary was a nice change.
Small cameo by Molly Shannon in the group made her character a little more palatable - as if she might have gotten her job because NPH was on the board and helping out. Still think the jury’s out on whether she’ll be a good add.
“The Rachel looks for her mom” story line was eerily “whoa.” I never realized how much the two looked alike until this episode - and yet now it’s so glaring I feel like Brittany.
Loved some of the subtle humor like when different kids started getting excited about the box of goodies that NPH brought - each one reacted to different bits - and we Gleeks knew why.
The moment when Quinn touched Artie’s arm during the final number made me tear up. Call me an old fool (wait - please don’t) but that was a nice touch.
I totally loved Safety Dance too - and my one sad point was - how do we get Artie to be able to dance more? Realizing that making him able to suddenly walk would be bad. But still - y’know - it was nice to see. And I totally believed that the mall scene was done with actual fans.
Yeah, I was thinking while watching that some of the camera shots in the mall scene were reminiscent of the video footage from the promotional Glee flash mob dances.
Overall a very, very good episode. A little sad for Rachel that Jesse is actually being scum, but nice that the director of Vocal Adrenaline has motives that are more complex. My daughter said: You know he’s going to truly fall for her, then she’s going to find out it was a set up all along. Which is pretty much what I expect.
Joss Whedon’s touch was apparent and awesome, especially the flash mob and the comedy from different than usual sources. Not heavy handed “look at me” stuff though. Safety Dance sequence was the prime example.
NPH’s character was fun but a bit too cartoonish for my tastes. Loved watching him and Shu sing. His voice is totally wrong for Jean Valjean, though. Would have liked to here Kurt sing “On My Own” from Les Mis. Maybe they’ll do that next week?
This is the first Glee I’ve ever watched…overall feeling was “meh”…but that’s for another thread.
Why is Joss directing such a big deal? He didn’t write it (his strength) and unless I am woefully unaware as to the movie/tv field…how big a deal is directing a tv show anyway?
He didn’t choreograph it…he basically just filmed. NPH was good, but I see no special reason to watch cuz Joss is just directing.
I knew that Artie was going to be out of the chair in a dream sequence at some point but worried it was going to be really cheesy- maybe it was bringing in Whedon but it wasn’t. (It must irk the answer that he’s in a wheelchair even on the tour.)
The I Dreamed a Dream duet was powerful even with the soap opera plot, and that resemblance is amazing.
I wonder who they’re going to use for Rachel’s fathers. (My votes are for Brian Stokes Mitchell and Gary Beach.)
I loved John Michael Higgins (Jane Lynch’s husband in Mighty Wind) as part of the support group. That scene was actually a bit poignant for anybody who’s ever known high school and college theater stars who didn’t quite make it (or even try)- they are prone to becoming very bitter.
And how!
I barely heard the song because I was so entranced over how exactly friggen alike the two actresses looked.
On a related note: I heard that they are making a Wicked movie (where Idina Menzel played the lead) and they are having the actress in Glee (name I don’t know..sorry) play her role. Makes total sense.
Actually, Rachel sang “On My Own” as her audition for New Directions way back at the beginning. Can’t see them doing a repeat. The video of her singing was actually one of the free downloads on iTunes back when they were first promoting Glee. I have it on my iPhone -it’s pretty powerful.
I knew I knew him from somewhere!
I did a spittake on that. Love the way Joss gets his characters to do those throwaway deliveries. Classic.
I was thinking the same thing. Here in NC - the schools are facing a huge budget cut - and they are talking about dropping Arts and making kids pay for sports. Those arguments that NPH and Sue gave were great. Wanted to submit that to CharMeck myself.
I never saw a lot of the early episodes. I’m out of the country a lot for work and only got into the show because of my daughter - who is also into theater but has nowhere near the vocal talent of any of these actors.
The lyrics from * On My Own * are perfect for Kurt when he’s hurt and rejected after he and Finn become “roommates” and he has to face the fact of his unrequited love (or crush).
Hmmm. Eponine played by a gay man would work-there’s nothing about the role that has to be female (no pregnancy or sex or anything) and he could nail it. Plus, in the book the boy waif Gavroche and Eponine were brother and sister- just switch their names.
And every since reading your original suggestion that Kurt should sing it - I’ve been hearing his voice singing it in my head - so I call it well noted!
