In order to set up New Directions versus Vocal Adrenaline at Nationals, the show just moved them to a different regionals than they were in the 1st season (when the battle took place at regionals). They've changed history/story facts before -- especially in that the first 13 episodes were tied up with a bow (just in case the show wasn't renewed for any further episodes) ... and then they were renewed and changed whatever was necessary to restart the story.
Somebody commented in a review of another show that if you intend to watch a show made in Hollywood, you just have to accept a certain amount of leftist propaganda. The east and west coast elites call the rest of "America flyover-country" (and, ironically, or they really know what prejudice is to want to take on bullying, the show was created out of real Indiana-Ohio Glee Club experiences by the show's creators).
That said (about having to tolerate a certain amount of political prejudice), other than not having a clue what the tea party is and attributing everything hateful they can imagine to the tea party in order to make fun of it, I think it really was an attempt by the writers to be funny -- like they've done with all the judges in every show they've had them (like Olivia Newton John saying brunettes have no place in show biz or the 3rd runner up beauty queen getting creeped out by deaf kids or Kathy Griffin's tea partier).
I thought Quinn's speech to Rachel about their respective futures was actually pretty together. She didn't seem to have any illusions at all. Quinn and Finn will almost surely end up exactly as Quinn said ... and Rachel, right from the pilot episode, was always leaving. The only pro-Rachel protest one can make, and should, is that why should she have to be shut out now in her home town because someday she's leaving?
Appreciation of Rachel has grown episode by episode. That's been satisfying. Maybe it started with her being unanimously elected Glee club captain (when she says they're a glee club and should perform and the store owner asks what did you have in mind, everyone looks to Rachel). In Theatricality, they notice when she's absent and want to know where she is. In Funk, they want to march off to fight over her egging. I think really started to change in Duets and continued in Silly Love Songs and Rachel really became the central figure in Blame It On the Alcohol -- not just her party, but Brittany going to Rachel when she doesn't feel well. It's funny when she slips on the butter and Puck says, "It works!" but her MVP award was only the culmination of lots of episodes development.
I know the comments suggest the overwhelming majority of Glee fans love Paltrow on the show, but I agree with the comment about the smug smile -- and won't miss her if she's never back.
Kurt's father's message to gay men was devastatingly appropriate, I think by my friends who are/were gay -- especially the really close friend who died of AIDS and his telling me about what a slut he used to be (and the time he did a little impromptu performance along with the radio when "Like a Virgin" came on and how sad that is to recall).
Anyhow, I'm sort of developing the impression that the characterizations of the characters has become sort of like an ensemble (like Saturday Night Live, for instance) where they play the personality types each does best, but in whatever roles the weekly bits require. That would explain the inconsistencies, or why relationships are so on-off back and forth (as lead ins for songs, for instance).
That said, though, I think there were some nice things from that in Sexy going forward.
No, I didn't believe about Brittany and the stork, although I could suspend belief about Brittany and Santa Claus ... but Brittany is being portrayed some consistently in what must be her first relationships longer than one night in both Artie and Santana. And, although, I think it's an inconsistency in Santana, and probably a development from the orientation of the creators and the themes they're interested in, developing Santana into a kind of bull dyke might be fun to watch. Also, Puckerman's current relationship makes sense to me because he hasn't been portrayed as someone who would appeal to the _Quinn's_ of school society, but as someone who only has sex on his mind so much that he'll score where others won't, but not because he's anyone's Prince Charming (and Lauren might make him feel like he could be her Prince).
And, everyone ending up in the celibacy club at the end was just the message about how naive, how out to sea, we all are -- enough that people would join a club about it, sit around a table ... and still not have a clue, so to speak (and typical that Rachel would take over).
Tony's my favorite character on the show ... and I thought this episode was Ok, nothing special. I like the show best when Tony does surprisingly good detective work while clowning around non-stop. He had a lot of lines in this episode, but wasn't very central to the story (probably because he was directing).
I don't, as reviewer said, think House's end of episode whining has any truth to it; however, I seem to recall (and maybe from way early episodes) that House and put forth his "greatness" as a doctor is due to his total focus and being a cynic, curmudgeon, and absolutely having no personal life. That is, his end of episode sentiment didn't seem un-House-like to me.
The museum artifact was planted. There was no reason for a killer to keep it, in spite of what it might be worth, because it would point to them. That, and then the fingerprints, point to a frame up. Unless, of course, Hightower (and Red John) wanted to give the impression to Jane she was being framed (but I don't think so).
Jane, at least, thought he and Hightower were acting when she led him out.
===
On who the 5 were ... If Van Pelt's FBI boyfriend was there, I'll bet it's him (although wouldn't that be the 3rd murderer she's gone out with?)
I can't believe the link to Red John (or Red John) is Bertram or LaRoche. Must be red herrings. Have they told us who the five people are who were close enough and unaccounted for? I don't recall hearing and Lisbon did vouch for Jane to LaRoche??
And doesn't Red John, in a couple of episodes, have a way with seducing semi-psycho women to his whatever-wonderful-name-they-give-his-killing is?
For a few months once I lived in a cheap hotel in Florida off season where there were a lot of different groups of us offbeat types personalities, including a group of gays who all worked at the dinner theater in town. Nice guys all.
One-guy-I-got-to-know-pretty-well's roommate was all of a sudden not only NOT exclusive, but went out with girls or anyone. His whole thing was sex, and taking advantage of opportunities as they presented themselves -- but it wasn't the state of things when the two moved in together and the one guy who was pouring out his unhappiness to me, because he was so much more invested in the relationship, had very much the same kind of attitude as Kurt, saying about the same things. He was really hurt, but believed his slut boyfriend would come around to the same final conclusions as Kurt thought Blaine would arrive at.
That is, the Rachel-Blaine-Kurt thing seemed real enough to me. Keep in mind, Rachel and Blaine already had a lot in common (Kurt and music, for instance) and probably would have a lot of fun going out. The drunken kiss just opened up some other possibilities / opportunities.
I'm sure in these reviews it was pointed out that the series was concluded ... until NBC asked for more episodes. With that being the case, then the other actors in the show, with bills to pay, would have found what work they could. That is, I wonder if the actors who play Jeff, Lester, and Mike don't have to wrap up other committments before they can return to the show?? I can't imagine they would have had the kind of contract that tied them up just in case NBC bought more episodes (as I would think the stars would have had).
I liked the bossy little girl and boy caught pre-kissing. I get that the writers, in a "Kids Say the Darnedest Things" kind of way, figured it would be fun forward kids saying things to House no one else could. I suppose I even get that in a real relationship, one partner could accept the idiosyncrasies of the other beforehand and still expect them to make some effort along the way.
That said, though, the Huddy fight seemed, like the others of late, as bad and as manufactured as the review. In other words, I can't disagree with the reviewer, but still enjoyed the kids (both in the classroom and in the principal's office).
Isn't it also the problem with a personality like House's that as self-centered and frustrating as he is--on purpose!--the kids, for instance, were far more interested in what he had to say than any of the others waiting patiently?
Thinking I could add to comment with an example: What I mean about the Hightower-Jane working relationship. When Jane hides behind her and tells her they have to follow the guy he's hiding from, there was no further explanation necessary. Lisbon would have said, "Why?" Hightower just seemed to know Jane is some kind of genius detective (a valuable asset, anyway) and was doing her best, despite being a little wary of him because he's an eccentric, to support him the way she imagines Lisbon does.
I liked this episode a lot. Hightower was a nice change of pace -- and the way she dealt with Jane seemed to fit how they've developed the relationship between the two. She tended to let him go do his detective work, occasionally reminding him to be civil, and then followed up with her gun and badge. It struck me like she was trying really hard to work with Jane, but had her doubts. I liked it!
I didn't think anything of Jane not being concerned over his partner's health because I can't see him getting excited and upset over a sprained ankle anyway. The way they've portrayed his brand of lateral thinking is that he intuitively leaps to good conclusions without all the linear step by step. That, to me, would also apply to a sprained ankle.
And I think the show is just as good as the first season -- of, course, some episodes are more fun than others ... and this was a fun one!
Thanks. I hadn't watched it yet, wanting to see from review and comments if the show was a Garafalo soapbox as I was afraid it would be. Back in her early days she always played a character one could like and root for, but then she caught Bush Derangement Symptom and seems to have to make politics the center of whatever character she's playing. That's too bad ....
Regarding your saying: I had someone in defense of Glee's mixed messages say to me "There's a night and day difference between getting a slushie in the face, or being thrown in a dumpster and actually having your life threatened." To that I say "Tell that to the kid on the receiving end of any of it."
I guess you've never had your life threatened by anyone you might think meant it. I'm ugly (and if I ever wanted to consider it might not be so bad to be so ugly, my school mates certainly made sure such thoughts were fleeting at the very best). I don't want to go on there, but figure you get the point.
I've also mostly been a manager/supervisor anywhere I've worked. Meaning ... I've also had my life threatened 4 times I can recall off the top of my head -- once by somebody I fired who I didn't take seriously, once by a friend who only said he'd kill me if I ever became famous (and he was crazy enough to give me pause), once by someone who pulled a knife when I wouldn't let him borrow my car (and who was disarmed by a couple of coworkers standing right there by the pop machine when he approached me), and lastly by a guy who showed me the gun he had in his pocket and only obliquely suggested I might find myself shot in the back of the head sometime.
So, Jeffrey, and I do want to be sure to admit I did have a few very good friends by the time I graduated (and that really made a difference for me) ... but, I hated high school and have never gone to a class reunion and have had classmates who would never say a kind word to me be friendly when I've run into them and been asked to show up for a reunion and how it would be different now. Ok? But it is much much worse to have someone threaten to kill you when you have reason to think they just might be insane enough to really do it. That's a much higher level of bullying.
I'm glad that this appears here and the bullying issue and how Glee is handling it isn't going away. Thanks for keeping the conversation going!
But then, I do think they've been a bit realistic in the way Kurt doesn't fight every battle there is (like sit in the stands knowing he's not going to say anything even if he imagines what he might say) -- and they've stressed how he doesn't stand up for himself at every opportunity in conversations with his father. It could be a lot of it is the actor's take (and one more reason he deserves the awards he gets), but I also think the writers/producers also are aware that most of the time when people are bullied, they try very hard not to do anything that will goad the bully into even worse.
Taub should have called the police on his brother-in-law. And, yes, he's more interesting than the other 2. His life seems more real than Foreman's or Chase's.
House had a point with Masters -- keep her mouth shut because the patient is what counts. A lot of times I like the conflict between her inexperienced idealism and his pragmatic patient care, but in this episode she was really willing to murder a patient, no matter what she had to do to do it. That is, now the whole conflict seems artificial. So, sometimes it's Ok, but glad she'll be leaving.
I think that once the producers/writers were told they were getting the after-the-Super-Bowl spot, they intentionally put together a football-centric episode. Now I see what everyone means about it being out-of-season, but watching it it was (for me) just Super Bowl then story about football.
I could be wrong about this, and only guessing by who everyone is sitting with and hugging at awards show, but isn't just about everyone involved in writing, producing, and starring in this show gay? I love the show and love theater and have run across all kinds of stories/articles/suggestions that a lot of theater people are gay, so I mean nothing by asking ... except, wouldn't that explain why the gay issues (with Kurt, with bullying) are so central, so important?
Kurt's character wasn't even in the show when it was pitched, so I don't think any of the gay issues were planned, but I do think bringing Kurt's character in gave them a soapbox for some things that are very important to the people making the show.
I liked the Brennan-Booth conversation at the end -- and Jennifer's comments/take on it!
Sweets has been interrogating suspects/witnesses for a long time, as a natural progression from his profiling, which, I think it was 2 or 3 seasons ago, they said something about his becoming qualified to do that.
By the way this season started out, I expected more Daisy than there has been???
Yes, this was a great episode. And, for one, am glad the Volkoff story line is wrapped up because I thought it was stretched way way way way out many more episodes than it needed to be.
I guess the reviewer has his own reasons for liking and thus reviewing this show -- and glad the reviews are here ... but think there are more/different reasons to like the show as comments suggest!
I liked this episode because it's still something to think about. The evil was just plain evil -- killing as easily as raising one's voice (a kind of impotence when they weren't with each other). I'm not sure I believe the Morgan twisting Ray with psychology so easily at the end. I do agree this was more like Kalifornia or such than an episode of a TV show -- but also think it's a plus show reminds us that the team's understanding of bad guys to catch them might seem to make them human in our eyes, but the serial killers in both the show and in reality are far beyond any normal ken (like let's not imagine the character some season's back who was kidnapping women to find a mother for his daughter and killing the rejects had anything like a father's love for his daughter by normal standards,etc.)!
I thought Castle's mother's comments to him about loving him were nice because she's been portrayed as a somewhat self-involved Hollywood type who one can imagine loves her relatives, but more in a jet setter charity event I-think-missed-you-in-Canne kind of feelings. I liked her pointing out she loved him as much as he loved his daughter!
Not ignoring how good rest of show was, but liked that little play ....
Grimm
Awkward
Comments by Keith Vlasak (Page 16)
Glee Spoilers Galore: Who is Going to the Prom? Who is Returning for Season 3?
Glee Review: Winners Like Them
Somebody commented in a review of another show that if you intend to watch a show made in Hollywood, you just have to accept a certain amount of leftist propaganda. The east and west coast elites call the rest of "America flyover-country" (and, ironically, or they really know what prejudice is to want to take on bullying, the show was created out of real Indiana-Ohio Glee Club experiences by the show's creators).
That said (about having to tolerate a certain amount of political prejudice), other than not having a clue what the tea party is and attributing everything hateful they can imagine to the tea party in order to make fun of it, I think it really was an attempt by the writers to be funny -- like they've done with all the judges in every show they've had them (like Olivia Newton John saying brunettes have no place in show biz or the 3rd runner up beauty queen getting creeped out by deaf kids or Kathy Griffin's tea partier).
Glee Review: Winners Like Them
Glee Review: Winners Like Them
Glee Review: Taking a Holiday...
Kurt's father's message to gay men was devastatingly appropriate, I think by my friends who are/were gay -- especially the really close friend who died of AIDS and his telling me about what a slut he used to be (and the time he did a little impromptu performance along with the radio when "Like a Virgin" came on and how sad that is to recall).
Anyhow, I'm sort of developing the impression that the characterizations of the characters has become sort of like an ensemble (like Saturday Night Live, for instance) where they play the personality types each does best, but in whatever roles the weekly bits require. That would explain the inconsistencies, or why relationships are so on-off back and forth (as lead ins for songs, for instance).
That said, though, I think there were some nice things from that in Sexy going forward.
No, I didn't believe about Brittany and the stork, although I could suspend belief about Brittany and Santa Claus ... but Brittany is being portrayed some consistently in what must be her first relationships longer than one night in both Artie and Santana. And, although, I think it's an inconsistency in Santana, and probably a development from the orientation of the creators and the themes they're interested in, developing Santana into a kind of bull dyke might be fun to watch. Also, Puckerman's current relationship makes sense to me because he hasn't been portrayed as someone who would appeal to the _Quinn's_ of school society, but as someone who only has sex on his mind so much that he'll score where others won't, but not because he's anyone's Prince Charming (and Lauren might make him feel like he could be her Prince).
And, everyone ending up in the celibacy club at the end was just the message about how naive, how out to sea, we all are -- enough that people would join a club about it, sit around a table ... and still not have a clue, so to speak (and typical that Rachel would take over).
NCIS Review: "One Last Score"
House Review: "Recession Proof"
The Mentalist Review: "Red Queen"
The museum artifact was planted. There was no reason for a killer to keep it, in spite of what it might be worth, because it would point to them. That, and then the fingerprints, point to a frame up. Unless, of course, Hightower (and Red John) wanted to give the impression to Jane she was being framed (but I don't think so).
Jane, at least, thought he and Hightower were acting when she led him out.
===
On who the 5 were ... If Van Pelt's FBI boyfriend was there, I'll bet it's him (although wouldn't that be the 3rd murderer she's gone out with?)
The Mentalist Review: "Red Queen"
And doesn't Red John, in a couple of episodes, have a way with seducing semi-psycho women to his whatever-wonderful-name-they-give-his-killing is?
Yes, lots of questions!!
Modern Family Review: A Not So Happy Valenbirthuhhhversary...
I also enjoyed how Haley managed to save herself when she looked so far in over her head.
And I can still laugh recalling Manny saying that if Jay keeps it up, this won't be the last plug he pulls!
So, sorry -- but I don't hate the show and look forward to next week's episode!
Glee Review: Drinking, Vomiting, Tik Toking...
One-guy-I-got-to-know-pretty-well's roommate was all of a sudden not only NOT exclusive, but went out with girls or anyone. His whole thing was sex, and taking advantage of opportunities as they presented themselves -- but it wasn't the state of things when the two moved in together and the one guy who was pouring out his unhappiness to me, because he was so much more invested in the relationship, had very much the same kind of attitude as Kurt, saying about the same things. He was really hurt, but believed his slut boyfriend would come around to the same final conclusions as Kurt thought Blaine would arrive at.
That is, the Rachel-Blaine-Kurt thing seemed real enough to me. Keep in mind, Rachel and Blaine already had a lot in common (Kurt and music, for instance) and probably would have a lot of fun going out. The drunken kiss just opened up some other possibilities / opportunities.
Someone is Gonna Die on Glee!
Chuck Review: On Charah, Vivian and More...
House Review: Two (Terrible) Stories
That said, though, the Huddy fight seemed, like the others of late, as bad and as manufactured as the review. In other words, I can't disagree with the reviewer, but still enjoyed the kids (both in the classroom and in the principal's office).
Isn't it also the problem with a personality like House's that as self-centered and frustrating as he is--on purpose!--the kids, for instance, were far more interested in what he had to say than any of the others waiting patiently?
The Mentalist Review: "Red Gold"
The Mentalist Review: "Red Gold"
I didn't think anything of Jane not being concerned over his partner's health because I can't see him getting excited and upset over a sprained ankle anyway. The way they've portrayed his brand of lateral thinking is that he intuitively leaps to good conclusions without all the linear step by step. That, to me, would also apply to a sprained ankle.
And I think the show is just as good as the first season -- of, course, some episodes are more fun than others ... and this was a fun one!
Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior Premiere Review: Red Flags For the Red Cell
Thanks. I hadn't watched it yet, wanting to see from review and comments if the show was a Garafalo soapbox as I was afraid it would be. Back in her early days she always played a character one could like and root for, but then she caught Bush Derangement Symptom and seems to have to make politics the center of whatever character she's playing. That's too bad ....
That's Rich: A Kurt Assessment of Glee
Regarding your saying: I had someone in defense of Glee's mixed messages say to me "There's a night and day difference between getting a slushie in the face, or being thrown in a dumpster and actually having your life threatened." To that I say "Tell that to the kid on the receiving end of any of it."
I guess you've never had your life threatened by anyone you might think meant it. I'm ugly (and if I ever wanted to consider it might not be so bad to be so ugly, my school mates certainly made sure such thoughts were fleeting at the very best). I don't want to go on there, but figure you get the point.
I've also mostly been a manager/supervisor anywhere I've worked. Meaning ... I've also had my life threatened 4 times I can recall off the top of my head -- once by somebody I fired who I didn't take seriously, once by a friend who only said he'd kill me if I ever became famous (and he was crazy enough to give me pause), once by someone who pulled a knife when I wouldn't let him borrow my car (and who was disarmed by a couple of coworkers standing right there by the pop machine when he approached me), and lastly by a guy who showed me the gun he had in his pocket and only obliquely suggested I might find myself shot in the back of the head sometime.
So, Jeffrey, and I do want to be sure to admit I did have a few very good friends by the time I graduated (and that really made a difference for me) ... but, I hated high school and have never gone to a class reunion and have had classmates who would never say a kind word to me be friendly when I've run into them and been asked to show up for a reunion and how it would be different now. Ok? But it is much much worse to have someone threaten to kill you when you have reason to think they just might be insane enough to really do it. That's a much higher level of bullying.
Believe me!
That's Rich: A Kurt Assessment of Glee
But then, I do think they've been a bit realistic in the way Kurt doesn't fight every battle there is (like sit in the stands knowing he's not going to say anything even if he imagines what he might say) -- and they've stressed how he doesn't stand up for himself at every opportunity in conversations with his father. It could be a lot of it is the actor's take (and one more reason he deserves the awards he gets), but I also think the writers/producers also are aware that most of the time when people are bullied, they try very hard not to do anything that will goad the bully into even worse.
House Review: "Family Practice"
House had a point with Masters -- keep her mouth shut because the patient is what counts. A lot of times I like the conflict between her inexperienced idealism and his pragmatic patient care, but in this episode she was really willing to murder a patient, no matter what she had to do to do it. That is, now the whole conflict seems artificial. So, sometimes it's Ok, but glad she'll be leaving.
Glee Review: Take This, Dina Lohan!
I could be wrong about this, and only guessing by who everyone is sitting with and hugging at awards show, but isn't just about everyone involved in writing, producing, and starring in this show gay? I love the show and love theater and have run across all kinds of stories/articles/suggestions that a lot of theater people are gay, so I mean nothing by asking ... except, wouldn't that explain why the gay issues (with Kurt, with bullying) are so central, so important?
Kurt's character wasn't even in the show when it was pitched, so I don't think any of the gay issues were planned, but I do think bringing Kurt's character in gave them a soapbox for some things that are very important to the people making the show.
Bones Review: "The Sin in the Sisterhood"
Sweets has been interrogating suspects/witnesses for a long time, as a natural progression from his profiling, which, I think it was 2 or 3 seasons ago, they said something about his becoming qualified to do that.
By the way this season started out, I expected more Daisy than there has been???
Chuck Review: Worthy of the Hype?
I guess the reviewer has his own reasons for liking and thus reviewing this show -- and glad the reviews are here ... but think there are more/different reasons to like the show as comments suggest!
Criminal Minds Review: "The Thirteenth Step"
Castle Review: "Knockdown"
Not ignoring how good rest of show was, but liked that little play ....