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

[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.)