I really don’t think I have a whole lot to say about the holiday episode of Glee this year. Except that last year’s was better, in my opinion. There was more going on. Sue was dressed in full regalia as The Grinch. Becky was wearing reindeer ears. There was more of a “story.” This show? It was more of a commercial to me, telling us all to run out and buy the new Glee Christmas album as soon as possible.
Not that the songs were bad by any means! If you’re a person who loves the holidays you will find this music a “must have.” (I myself usually find this time of year a royal pain and hold my breath until January 2nd. But I’m attempting to change. Really!)
Basically, this episode was so jammed packed with tunes, that we saw none of the forward movement with characterization that I’ve been loving recently. The dialogue was an afterthought to tie in Artie’s weird Star Wars themed rendition of the PBS special that New Directions was asked to take part in. (And why did Artie make such a big deal of his Chewbacca dream and using SW when in the actual show almost no reference was made to it except for Finn and Puck wearing costumes? Hmm.)
I also was not grooving on Rachel going back to being an utter ass after the writers had yanked us along in making her “see the light” and change a bit of her selfish ways. Some of the things she demanded of Finn this week, in terms of her expensive list of things she must have for Christmas? Spray tanning and teeth whitening and the endless references to “sparkly earrings?” I’m sure you were narrowing your eyes right along with me. Especially when she told Finn she made the list for him so he “wouldn’t be embarrassed” at the presents he might have thought to give her. That “All I want is my fair share. All I want is what’s coming to me.” ACK! (Yes! I did not miss that Peanuts reference. More on that later.)
Of course, she had her epiphany by the end, but the writers set her up as so absolutely hateful for the first forty five minutes, that her turn around didn’t seem believable at all. And! Why lead us to believe through the past several episodes that Rachel has sincerely changed if at the core she hasn’t? Just because you need a “Scrooge” character for this week? Blech. That does nothing to forge ahead the coming story lines.
It’s too bad that we’re led to hate Rachel sometimes. Because Lea Michele continues to blow me away. Her rendition of one of the only holiday songs I never get tired of, Joni Mitchell’s “River,” was simply amazing. I got goosebumps. That girl is so freaking talented, I could die of jealousy. But that is neither here nor there.
In terms of the PBS special “hosted” by Blaine and Kurt? Just ridiculous. And that’s all I have to say about that. Except? That sixties style apartment set should be mine!
I guess I’ll just leave you with the words that Rory recited near the end of the show. The words Linus originally made me love many years ago in A Charlie Brown Christmas. Words I believe in.
Hopeful words …
Merry Christmas.
And if you enjoyed the music on Glee tonight and would like to support CliqueClack at the same time? Thanks in advance, and here’s the links!
Clacked by Tara Shrodes
on Dec 14, 2011 @ 02:38 EST5EDT
I’m going to have to agree … and disagree with you on this one. Yes, I was dismayed by the setback the writers felt they had to saddle Rachel with so that she could be the Scrooge in this tale. Yes, last year’s Christmas episode had more story and emotion (although Sue slithering across the floor as the Grinch was pushing it a little). Yeah, the insistence of including some Star Wars reference to the legendary holiday special was odd since there really was no reference to it in the actual special (and how Artie pulled all of that off for less than $800 is a Christmas miracle in itself), but … I got what they were doing. Like many shows this time of year, they put together a one-off holiday themed show that has only the slightest connection to the season so far. There were references here and there to what we’ve seen up to now, but for all intents and purposes, this was simply a holiday special that was only meant to be a holiday special. It was the Scrooge story, and Artie was as much of a Scrooge as Rachel for dissing Sue’s earlier request to perform for the homeless, but by the end everyone had seen the light and found the true meaning of Christmas. I really do think it was meant to be a stand-alone episode. And I loved the actual special. I’ve seen the Judy Garland holiday special, so I appreciated what they were going for with that and they pulled it off perfectly. So, I think once I realized that this was just a “very special episode” of Glee, I got over all the issues I had at the beginning and embraced the glee-ful holiday spirit.
If you watch Glee for character growth you are clearly watching the wrong show.
Watch for the music and nothing else, that’s all Glee is.
. . . . .
That’s my problem, Oreo.
There’s just no possible way for me to watch it for the music. It kills a little bit of me each time I get any sort of inkling to give it a go … and I’m far, far removed from being foolish enough to think there’s anything resembling character growth.
This entire season has been great as far as getting the characters back to their first season personae. I’m sticking with my belief that this was “a very special episode” that takes place outside of the normal Glee timeline. Yes, season two was mostly awful (and one of the main reasons I gave up writing about it), but I’ve been very pleased with every episode of the season thus far because the characters have grown and changed. I had given up on the show after last season, but it’s drawn me right back in (and they’ve avoided the dreaded “theme” shows as well) with some great writing and not over-relying on Sue and using music just because they had the rights to a song or catalog of songs, trying to cram a plot around them. They actually have a story editor this year who seems to be keeping all the writers in check. For me, this season has been a great comeback. The Christmas episode was fun and I got what they were going for. I think people were just expecting another emotional episode like last season, but even that went a bit too far with Sue doing the entire Grinch number shot-by-shot from the cartoon.
Speaking of Scrooges …. :P
I’m with Chuck. While never really overtly stated, I really felt like this episode was supposed to live outside the normal timeline. Not necessarily in an Isaac and Ishmael way (That’s a West Wing reference to the uninitiated), but more in a campy Glee way. When Tina made her comment about Artie’s legs, it was enough of an in-joke to me that that is how I viewed the rest of the episodes.
Rachel’s “River” cover brought me back to a very specific moment in a movie or a TV show where it was used … But I couldn’t for the life of me remember what it was that I was reminded of. I hate it when that happens.
Could this be what you’re thinking of? Ally McBeal
No, more likely ER, but I don’t think it’s that either.
I looked at the Wiki page for the song, and none of the movies/shows listed where what I was thinking.
:-/
Pretty sure it’s a movie….. (And not Almost Famous as mentioned on the Wiki page either).
I’ll be sitting watching (whatever it is) randomly soon and have that “Ah Ha!” moment I’m sure.
Not my favorite episode. I hate “Favorite Things” ever being thrown in to anything as a Christmas song just because it lists ‘stuff.’ That’s not GLEE’s fault, but something was really missing and YES I wanted to punch Rachel square in the face. Her character was the one squealng that they needed UPLIFTING songs when Rory sang his song … then, did the same woeful sort of tune. Yes, it’s a great tune, but not fully of holly jolly cheer.
Could it be that I’m just over Glee? Do I expect too much? Am I sick of the main characters? Is Matthew Morrison doing other projects? He sure as hell isn’t included in the episodes.
*sigh*
Matthew Morrison DIRECTED this episode!
Is it just me or does anyone else find it odd that all the couples sit together in the chairs 95% of the time except Santana and Britney. Became highly noticeable to me when Rory was signing his depressing song
I’m surprised you didn’t mention that Rachel’s epiphany was tied in with hearing a Jesus story. Rachel, being Jewish, wouldn’t have had that sort of reaction. But I think Rachel forgot she was Jewish herself until the last 30 minutes, when she told holiday shoppers “Happy Chanukah.”