glee actually

[infiniteandsmall]

So how was Glee Actually? DARN YOU TECH WEEK. *shakes fist*
Was Artie's storyline horribly offensive because when reading about it, it felt a little...ehhh. HOW MANY KLAINE TEARS WERE SHED? And also Burt and cancer whaat?

Comments

[out_there]

I'm really pulling a sadface over the Burt-has-cancer thing. I'm kind of undecided on it as a plot device, though. I mean, I adore Burt so I don't want him to be sick. And we've already had Kurt heartbroken over the heart attack and worrying for his dad, so it feels a little like retreading familiar ground. But on the other hand... it does kind of accurately grasp that "fuck, cancer" feeling that's surprisingly common -- there's so many people who've had it impact them, and it is just as weirdly normal and everyday as that.

So, yeah, undecided.

I kind of love that Burt is clearly the biggest matchmaker ever. He knows his boy well enough to help him start accepting Blaine again, without pushing it or really stopping it from being Kurt's choice.

I have to say I cringed a bit on Blaine's line about the holiday duet being tradition (no, really? The first year Blaine was practicing for a show; the second year they performed on TV. Unless that little icescapade came with a paycheck, it's not part of Blaine-and-Kurt's holiday tradition. It's part of teh best-part-of-the-Glee-XMas-CDs tradition, but the characters shouldn't be aware of that.).

Still, all the domesticity and adorableness around the table? The lean-together at the lull in the song, before Blaine skates away? The suggestion of Blaine applying for NYADA and the clear hearts-in-his-eyes every time he looks at Kurt? It's enough to hope.

(I only saw the Klaine edits so I can't comment on the rest of the episode.)

[infiniteandsmall]

Yeah, I'm trying to hold off on having any opinion about the cancer thing besides :( until I've actually seen the episode.
But "christmas tradition" RMurphs breaking the forth wall again like the troll he is.
DOMESTIC KLAINE THOUGH IT'S ALL I EVER WANTED. If Blaine does apply to NYADA and gets in, they might keep Klaine apart longer, since they'll be at the same school for next season. Still, the fact that Burt brought Blaine up for Christmas and is trying to matchmake in the most non-faily way possible makes me !!!

[out_there]

But "christmas tradition" RMurphs breaking the forth wall again like the troll he is.

I was just saying that wintercreek has a point -- the fourth wall can be broken in a clever, knowing, in-joke way rather than a "look at us, we're so clever and meta, aren't our writers awesome?" way. Unfortunately, I don't think Mr Murphy knows how to do the first and not the second.

If Blaine does apply to NYADA and gets in, they might keep Klaine apart longer, since they'll be at the same school for next season.

I'm thinking we're going to see a mirror of s2 plotting -- a lot of time with Kurt and Blaine growing closer, and an actual get-together maybe four episodes before the season ends. Personally, I'd actually be happy with Blaine getting into a NYC school (I would love it to NYADA and then to have most of Glee shot around that school, so effectively a Kurt/Blaine/Rachel spinoff; but I'd also love to see at least one of the ND kids getting into a non-performing school and pursuing a non-performing career other than teaching, and enjoying it. But, well, it's not like I watch Glee for the close realism.) and Kurt and Blaine getting back together after that acceptance comes through.

Blaine's kind of proved that he doesn't do long-distance well, and I think it would be quite reasonable for Kurt to wait until he knows they'll be in the same city before officially getting back together.

...that's what I love about the Christmas episode. It restored my faith that they'll get back together. To be perfectly honest, I'd started to doubt.

[wintercreek]

I kind of like self-aware fourth-wall breaking, as long as it's not obnoxious and scold-y like the "internet lesbians will get us" from the last ep. The holiday duet reference felt to me like that line from Buffy: "Dawn's in trouble? Must be Tuesday." Funny because Dawn getting in trouble was often a plot device and because that season Buffy was airing on Tuesdays, you know?

[out_there]

It's not the fourth-wall-breaking I object to, it's the way you do it. For example: Sorkin's whole little "some of the people on the internet haven't taken their medication" snide dig at the twop forums was not cool and will be remembered.

The BtVS line is possibly the best example because while it's a subtle nod to the existance of a tv show, it's also completely in-character for the situation and the characters. And even the whole emotional tone that Buffy hit in s6 works with that "ho-hum, off to save the world again" vibe.

The tradition line just... hit off-centre for me and didn't quite work. But maybe that's because when Glee does themes it doesn't do subtle. All the talk of Kurt's past christmases and Hummel christmas traditions... Glee loves laying it on thick.

On the other hand, there was adorable ice-skating so I won't complain too much. *g*

[wintercreek]

Oooo, that comparison to Sorkin is right on for a lot of Murphy's wall-breaking, I agree. (Show-runners, we know you know about us. There's no need to turn your show into a vehicle for mean digs at fandom.)

Yeah, I see what you mean about laying it on thick. I have to wonder if it's a case of the writers not giving the viewing audience enough credit. While not everyone tracks small details with the fervor of fandom, the average viewer is still quite capable of connecting the dots without being led, hand-by-hand, from dot to dot!

(infiniteandsmall, hope you don't mind hosting a discussion thread! :D)

[infiniteandsmall]

I love hosting a discussion thread! I'm actually feeling bad that I haven't really said anything, but I haven't even been home this weekend. :)

[out_there]

Oh, just as well you don't mind. Because I sometimes have a habit of waffling. *g*

[out_there]

(Show-runners, we know you know about us. There's no need to turn your show into a vehicle for mean digs at fandom.)

Yeah. There's a huge difference between laughing-with-us and laughing-at-us, and we have long memories. I mean, maybe it's to do with the show-runners background (it shows if you were a fanboy and we respect that) but it's still a hard line to tread well. I'm undecided about SPN and their nod to fandom -- somewhat accurate, still somewhat mean, definitely something that made me cringe more than laugh -- but I know some fans thought it was hilarious. So... *shrugs* Mileage may vary, I guess.

While not everyone tracks small details with the fervor of fandom, the average viewer is still quite capable of connecting the dots without being led, hand-by-hand, from dot to dot!

For that, Glee would have to give it's audience a little credit (instead of assuming most of them are 14 y.o. and need the details spelled out) and would need understand subtlety and consistency. Glee generally doesn't do subtle. It does surreal and over-the-top and random-characterisation (Oh, Blaine's now a huge D&D and comics fan because it would strengthen a friendship with Sam... but we've had no mention of it before, no hint in the set dressing of his bedroom, in fact, no canonical clue until a fast montage establishes it as canon? Okay, sure.). to follow the dots, they usually need to be planted in a line... or at least an obvious curve.

And yet I love the show. For all it's flaws. (Hey, I loved Prison Break. At least Glee kind of resembles the real world and acknowledges that it's surreal. PB was disconnected from reality but played as Very Srs Drama.)