This is more like it. I still feel like Glee has a long way to go before it reaches the great heights it reached last season, but this was a fun and harmless episode of television that had some good (and somewhat quirky song choices) and proved the show can still be fun and not jump all over the place.
I feel like the problem with the show as of late has been how inconsistent it is with not just plot but with character. We focus on certain characters, are quickly introduced to certain plots and then sucked right out of them to focus on something else. The show feels like it's found its comfort zone, but at times, it feels stale and somewhat lame, something that I surprisingly never thought of the show as before.
Enough of that though: this episode was enjoyable. If you put aside the idea that Sue was principal (completely insane and unbelievable), the episode actually was very fun. Gwyneth Paltrow was superb in a guest role here, and the three songs she did were great. She did Cee Lo's "Forget You," a song that is much more effective in its un-edited format, but was fun enough here with everybody but Rachel getting involved, a number from Chicago, the play, and a show-stopping performance of "Umbrella" with everybody, including Mr. Shue.
I also have continued to enjoy Kurt's role this season. He has continued to improve from episode to episode, and the introduction of Blaine has given him a chance to be with somebody who understands what it's like to be gay and teased. The plot with the football player continues here, but it's barely referenced.
If it weren't for Gywneth Paltrow, I would say this episode wasn't really all that great. She is the bright light in the middle of an episode filled with weird and random things. I've already mentioned the fact that Sue became Principal of the school, but that's just one of a few strange things. For instance, Will gets monkey flu from a student, stays home sick and is coddled and brought back to health by Terri, who he immediately has sex with and regrets it the next day. Not only is it unbelievable that they would do that, but it seems as if he forgot all the crazy stuff she did. Also, Merecdes' plot with the tots was stupid. It was random and I didn't understand the point of it until the end, where it felt as if they tacked it on just so they have an excuse to say "You use food as a substitute for love!" They've never referenced it before, and it seems like a stretch to claim this. But whatever.
The point is, the episode was fun and we have a superb guest-star to thank for that. It'll be cool to see if Holly Holiday shows up again this season, although I doubt it, as Gwyneth Paltrow is a busy woman.
Episode Fan Reviews (5)
