Before this week's episode of Glee, I always had the same experience with religion on TV. One character would experience a small miracle, another (Christian) character—7th Heaven's Reverend Camden, The West Wing's President Bartlett, even 30 Rock's Kenneth—would give God/Jesus/faith complete credit for the occurrence, and I'd wind up with an unsolicited guilty conscience. I'm all for healthy discussions about spirituality, but I think it's unfair for a show to push a faith-based agenda on an audience that might not want to hear it.
Glee's "Grilled Cheezus," one of the show's most beautiful episodes to date, underscores that sentiment. The episode addressed the standstill between believers and non-believers without proselytizing or picketing. One the one hand, Mercedes singing to Kurt (Chris Colfer) demonstrated the raw power of spirituality and acceptance. On the other, that final image of Finn (Cory Monteith) eating the grilled cheese seemed like long-overdue pop-culture validation for non-believers who, as it turns out, often know more about religion than most church-goers. Glee's timing really couldn't have been more perfect.
Besides contributing a unique teenage voice to the discussion of religion, the episode played extremely well to Colfer and Monteith's strengths. Kurt brought the house down with his haunting rendition of "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and brought basically anyone with a heart to tears as he dealt with his father's heart attack. Meanwhile, Finn rocked "Losing My Religion" and spoke volumes about transient teenage angst with his facial expressions alone. I lost track of how many times I teared up. The emotional intensity of "Grilled Cheezus" was a welcome departure from last week's light n' fluffy Britney worship—even if Finn was praying to a grilled cheese.
My only wish is that we'd heard more from Quinn (Dianna Agron) in this episode. After all, she was once the president of the Celibacy Club and has since had a baby out of wedlock—so it would have been interesting to hear her stance on religion. But we did find out that she might be interested in Puck (Mark Salling) again—and after seeing his Billy Joel impression, who can blame her?
What did you think of the episode?
Follow TV.com writer Stefanie Lee on Twitter: @StefAtTVDotCom
Jane Lynch is comedic gold!
this episode was alot of fun and a departure from the usual glee and the religious side was really different can't wait for the rocky horror episode....
I really liked it, one of my favorite episodes of Glee yet, thought they handled both sides of the issue pretty well, though I would of liked to have heard more Quinn, like you said. The whole episode was about not pushing your spiritual beliefs (whether they be theistic or atheistic) on someone else who doesn't want them, and I think they ended it in a very balanced way with Finn losing his beliefs which is something you don't see on Television that often-someone losing there beliefs (albeit in a comical way, though they did what they could with a freakin' grilled cheese). Of course what do I know-I believe opinions about such things are idiotic (they just end in anger, violence, sadness, death, so on), why can't we all share one belief? Wouldn't that be better? Isn't that what John Lennon would want (well sort-of)?moreless
I felt it was out of place episode. It just happened out of thin air
avapouhi: Kurt does NOT change his mind at the end of the episode--he clearly states, at the hospital, that he doesn't believe in God. And Sue never admits to believing in God, but she DOES come to realize that (and I think this is the episode's point) trying to deny someone the right to express religious belief is just as unjust as demanding that someone believe in a higher being of some kind. While this was hardly television at its finest, the underpinning is about spirituality--not religion, which are two very different things--and finding something, not necessarily religious or deific, to believe in. The point is that people find direction in many ways, whether it is through God, through connection to a parent, or to the relationship with siblings.
" I'm far more annoyed by shows that push atheist agendas and make everybody who believes in God look stupid."
Whether it's seeing Jesus in a taco or flying planes into buildings or denying evolution, they do that to themselves. The only atheist agenda would be holding up a mirror. "I wish people would read the Bible more - that way there'd be more atheists." - Christopher Hitchens
I liked this episode a lot even though it was a little more serious because it was about two very real interconnected conflicts, and it was absolutely great the way they played it.
It was beautiful and emotional, but also a little weird to me... Something didn't feel right, but I can't put my finger on what.
I thought the episode was okay. Not near as much as the author of this article. Although there was one non-believer, he still stuck to his beliefs even at the end and after attending church. He said at his dad's bed that he doesn't believe in God but believes in himself and his dad and their relationship. That said, both views were addressed. I enjoyed most of the musical numbers but Finn's Losing My Religion was AWFUL!
The worst episode so far for me... never been so bored watching glee but when I see the raving reviews this got then I guess I'm just not the audience this was intended for... And I have to disagree on the "without proselytizing" comment... there is ONE non believer in the whole group, and he is pressured by everyone around to change his views, which he does in the end after going to church.The only other non believer, Sue, also comes back to Jesus in the end, so excuse me for saying this, but in the end we are not at a standstill at all. It is clear which side "won" in this spirituality debate.To use the own words of the writer of this article, even if it is not very elegant to do so, I felt that this episode HAD a faith-based agenda, and I sure as hell didn't want to hear it.And as the Finn losing his religion situation, well come on, he was the comic relief in this episode, and no will really take his religious views seriously after this, not that Finn's character has a steady opinion on anything... so he doesn't really count as a non-believer to me, we're still fully booked on the side of Jesus. Sue's speech on the separation of state and church was a small sliver of hope for the future of that show that got squashed by easy sentimentality. And this was my favourite show until now.moreless
Kurt was amazing and brought me to tears, which is a pretty hard thing to do. I want to hear him sing more often!
really one of the best eps EVER!!!
I agree with Kollatera, not every episode needs a solo from Rachel. I enjoy her character alot, but every episode this season has had her singing with tears in her eyes.. Maybe someone a bit closer to Kurt could have preformed the song instead. Not really my favourite episode, Glee is great when its all light and cheesy, that's what I like about it!
Not bad, but imo definately not one of the best, also heavy for a Glee episode. Now I don't mind some drama now and then, the show needs that but I prefer my Glee to be funny, entertaining with some drama here and there, this ep was all about the drama and somehow that doesn't work for me in this show.
It was a very emotional episode, espcially with Kirk singing " I want to hold your hand". However, I wouldn't consider this the best episode. I'm still a big fan of the Madonna episode. But I gotta give Glee credit for the "Grilled Cheezus" that made me laugh. But I agree with others, in I wish Quinn played a bigger role!!
I loved this episode! One of the best of the series!!!
Totally boring... Worst episode so far.
Indeed, best so far! Rachel's Papa, Can You Hear Me was amazing as well!!
this episode was so amazing. first off kurt's version of i wanna hold your hand was so beautiful to mercedes taking him to church to puck, whose version of only the good die young was unbelievably good, but also his admittance that he was praying for kurt''s dad because he wished he had a father to finn worrying his prayers were coming true. this episode was so beautiful
This episode made me tear up so many times... I love kurt, lost an aunt suddenly two years ago, and lost my faith. I still loved this episode and how it delt with religion, without shoveing it on us. best glee episode to date!!!
Kurt made me cry, and cry and cry some more!
It wasn't the funniest Glee ever, but it was one of the best religion-based episodes of anything I've ever seen. As far as "pushing faith-based agendas," I'm far more annoyed by shows that push atheist agendas and make everybody who believes in God look stupid.
Chris and Jane were stunning in this episode. Was it just me or did Mercedes sound like a chipmunk when she sang?
I actually liked this episode.I am a semi-religious person, but I don't really like spirituality songs, and they made it so good(:
Just finished watching it.... best episode of Glee I have seen so far. :) Can't wait for next week Wednesday's new episode!
I cried. I cried like it was flipping Toy Story 3.
Not a bad episode (:
Aside from the fact that the episode completely bungled the "prayer/religion in school" issue (which is never dealt with in the way it was portrayed here), this was solid work. Though when Kurt's dad's hand twitched late in the episode, I rolled my eyes. Would have been much more daring to have that situation completely unresolved.
I loved the episode, it reminded me of me and my dad when he fell ill and then passed away, but certainly I dont want to watch it again, it too emotional for me :(
I really didn't like it... :( Felt like they pressed it out of them, a great idea but awful execution :'(
best ever
Honestly, the best episode of Glee to date. How can you not cry and be amazed by this? Glee has had dramatic episodes in the past, but nothing like this. It was heartbreaking and "I want to hold your had" is one of the most emotional performances ever done on this show. Review: http://alwaysasuspect.tumblr.com/post/1256852703/glee-2x03-grilled-cheesus
i actually didn't care much for the episode, when i don't really like the songs in the episode, i lose interest and i only liked two songs out of 7. it was ok and all but there's been way better. kurt's storyline was very dramatic though. and i missed artie, he's one of my favorite characters
I loved this episode - I never thought I would cry over Glee, but I did. Especially when Kurt sang I Wanna Hold Your Hand. Great job!
Great ep! However, not every episode needs a Rachel-solo, even though she does have a good voice.
Now I know again why I love this show. I loved it how their were dealing with that issue and they didn't made the mistake to let become Kurt as a believer.
Hallelujah for Glee made me think of the Leonard Cohen song. That would have been a good number. But I also love the Joan Osborne song "One of Us" that they ended on. Kurt may not have embraced God but he was totally into the hats that the black ladies wore to church, and I think one of them was even wearing the exact same one as him and she winked at him.
Quinn? What about Artie? I don't think he said one line this entire episode! He's been dealt a bad hand in life, I'd like to know what he thinks about God. Besides that one quibble, I absolutely LOVED this episode!
definitely better than last week's episode :)