I’m writing in reponse to your negative blog because I’m a huge fan of the show and I want it to suceed. The music blow’s me away every week, and the rest of it (the story lines) are fun in a “don’t take this so seriously” way. I admit that I’m not comfortable with every story line, but I DVR the show every week and usually replay the musical numbers several times. There are no storylines on this show that haven’t been done before (see Juno, Knocked-up, etc.)..so smile and let yourself be entertained. And I seriously suggest watching old episodes. There are dance numbers on every show, every one worth seeing twice, and some worth putting on your Ipod.

I really hope my partner gets over this show, and soon.

I think if it were attempting to play things straight and be more naturalistic/realistic in both style and tone then I’d be more inclined to take anaylse like this seriously but it isn’t. Its very hard to take a serious view of social issues within the show in which people have a tendancy to burst into song and perform highly choreographed dance routines.

My read on Glee is that you enjoy it when you don’t think about it or anaylse it and just roll along with it because when you stop to actually look and think about what’s going on the bigger picture doesn’t look so pretty. Really outside of maybe Artie (the guy in the wheelchair) none of the characters on the show are especially likeable or even very nice but when you don’t take any of it seriously and just ride along with the fact that its supposed to be a fun bit of fluff with lots of singing and dancing it tends to be fine.

Ok, here’s how I handle Glee. I skip to the musical numbers. Really, it’s the only parts worth watching. Plus Sue Sylvester’s lines.

I will say that when Jessalyn Gilsig isn’t onscreen, the amount of free-floating woman-hate fades to tolerable levels. It doesn’t make Rachel less of a prima donna, Quinn less manipulative, Mercedes less PC set-dressing, or Will, Finn, Kurt and Kurt’s dad less heroic poster boys for masculine tolerance and patience.

That said what’s unacceptable in an adult is excusable in a kid. Presumably, Quinn will not keep lying to Finn, Rachel’s heart will grow two sizes so that she can let someone else have a solo without cutting their knees out from under them, and Will and Finn will be shown as more of the spineless enablers and self-centred egoists they are. GLEE has already come further than I was expecting – this week’s episode was heavy-handed but the message about treating people with disabilities as people first was timely, if ironic given that GLEE chose to feature a disabled character for no apparent reason and then cast an able-bodied actor.

Moreover, the “student” cast are uniformly engaging onscreen, presented in a naturalistic manner that is both winning and feels more believable than the generation of arch, glib, Whedon-ized teens preceding GLEE. Sue Lynch is the brilliant and when written as a straight villain and not a blunt object for feminist-bashing she is also the best antagonist currently on US TV.

As long as I can FF through the Gilsig and Emma/Will storylines, I’ll keep watching GLEE. But, seriously, the second coming of TV this ain’t.

More than three episodes would have showed that the guys have sucky characteristics just as much as the girls. And – Sue is not ALL evil. We just learned last night that Sue has backstory and it’s pretty touching.

That’s pretty much all I have to add to this. Other than I can decide within one or two episodes whether or not I’ll stick with a show. Nothing wrong with that, and most people don’t need any more eps than that. But if I’m going to post an editorial on a very public blog site like this one, I’d at least know who the main character was.

Just sayin’.

Could an argument be made that Glee gives the female side of the cast a disproportionate amount of negative exposure? Quite possibly so. I’m not sure one way or the other, but reflecting on this article there are a couple of uncomfortable questions raised about the subject. Yet by deliberately skewing the comparison to such an extreme degree you’re only undermining your own argument.

And as to the plot issue, I think the show has some overarching story lines, but most episodes can stand on their own.

Bottom line, this article belongs no where near this site. Go spout off somewhere else

I’ve watched every episode so far (because my partner loves it), but it just does not seem to get better. Every week is this: Sue comes up with a scheme for no apparent reason. People leave the Glee club. People rejoin the Glee club. Dance number. Roll credits. Repeat. It’s like the “Bring it on” series of movies.

This is a show that’s going to be struggling for story lines by the end of this season, just like the better Popular did at the beginning of the decade. Because really, that’s all that Glee is – a reimagined Popular, with dance numbers.

Also, there are quite a few female characters who aren’t crazy or manipulative/scheming. Mercedes Jones and Tina Cohen-Chang for example.

http://tinyurl.com/yfvz9td
“On the really happening front, aren’t you directing an episode of Glee?
I am.

Is Glee your new favorite show?
That would be an exactly correct assessment. With Sarah Connor and Battlestar gone, my wife and I need a new obsession and it landed in my lap. And sang to us!”

You may be woman-centric now, were you totally that way in high school?

I don’t like Lost because it’s a modern, dramatic remake of Gilligan’s Island. If I were to post this, I’m sure that I’d get ranted and raved at too. I don’t like “reality” tv. Period. I think that American Idol is just the Gong Show remade with an obnoxios human gong. Or three. I don’t like Chuck. Yes, I did say that. After reading all the posts last spring during the save Chuck/screw Medium campaign, I downloaded and watched every episode. Most with my husband and for the life of either of us, we cannot figure out which part of it was supposed to be good or funny. And yes, we both fall into the most the key demo, and will for decades to come.

All I’m saying is if you don’t like a show, and want to share that and you’re reasons for that, great. But don’t try to tell me that your OPINIONS are FACTS. Don’t use terms like IT IS ONE OF THE MOST, use I THINK or I FEEL or IN MY OPINION. Because when you try to tell me The sky is green, you’re gonna piss me off. The sky may look green to you, where you are, with your contacts in or reflecting off the grass, but it is not, in fact, green.

Thank you, and sorry for any typos, I’m not going to proofread.

These, while they are my opinions, they are not based in facts.

@Whomever: Kudos to you for also recognizing that Mark Salling is CLEARLY the more gifted vocalist than the flat and bland Cory Monteith.

It is perfectly acceptable to express an opinion on a program after any number of episodes as long as you clearly state the number along with the opinion. Julia clearly did this.

Next time, post your opinion when it’s timely. I think most of the problem is a lot has happened on Glee since the third episode, so people want to tear their hair out because the basis for your opinion omits more than half of the show. Especially when you don’t know who Finn is. It would be like me posting “Why I’m not watching Lost” and citing nothing past the insufferable Bai Ling episode about Jack’s tattoo from several years ago.

Re the edit remark: Sorry, but it has been a long time since my last English grammar class. I did not realize that there were points taken off for spelling and punctuation. If so there are far worse offenders commenting here than me.(I)

Julia is not married to or dating either of us. She’s just been a long-time participant on the site who we like and appreciate.

edit: and she likes fixing apostrophe abuse sometimes!

I have not read all the comments preceeding mine, but I have read enough to get the idea that most of the objections to the article are from fans that think Julia’s opinion is wrong or unfair. Folks, it’s an opinion. If you don’t agree with her then fine, but there seems to be far more angst over this article (yes, I read the article) than it merits.

My real question is how did Julia get to post an article on this site? Is she Bill or Robert’s girlfriend or spouse? I think someone else asked the same questions. I don’t think I saw an answer.

I agree we should have more articles like this, to help the slow and sad weekends

I agree with Julia — when it comes right down to it, the male characters are portrayed in a sympathetic way (even when they are doing unsympathetic things, i.e. Shue framing Finn for having marijuana), and the female characters are not. I’d love to see that change. I do still watch the show because there are things about it that I enjoy a lot (mostly the music,) and I have hope that the characterization will even out over the course of the season.

This Woman is FULL OF HERSELF!

I understand where you’re coming from with this post and this exact issue has been why my interest in the show has declined substantially. Despite all the people crowing here about how “you must not have watched a lot of episodes”, there is definitely a bias towards women being manipulative and evil – or suffering from some sort of mental illness. I completely and wholeheartedly agree with you on this point.

“But the males on the show are all innocent, good people.”

Um, no.

I honestly think you’re just looking at one side of things. While you may be right about the women, let us all realize that all the male characters are all either dim-witted, gullible, vindictive d-bags, perverted, or just plain pathetic. The exceptions to this are A.) the gay kid who, unfortunately, is a stereotype, and B.) the kid in the wheelchair who is the least used character on the show next to the Asian girl.

So, we can all breathe a sigh of relief knowing that almost ALL of the characters on the show are awful and the ones who aren’t get no screen time anyway.

See, Julia, Glee is just giving us the reality that women are all (OK, mostly) manipulative bitches. :rolleyes: