Hi B~ Just wanted to randomly visit your wall to tell you that whenever i see your comments, i feel like there's suddenly a breath of fresh air in the comments. You always (well from what i observed) reply with such eloquence and logical thinking that i can't help but feel enamoured by your replies and posts.
Sorry for the randomness and good day/night (err, what time is it in Australia?) to you~
It is currently 6pm here in my part of Australia, and thank you very much, you are too kind.
I don't think responding to comments with logic and reasoning is much to compliment someone for, but unfortunately, we live in the Digital Age where people are able to abuse the privilige by typing obnoxious comments on the internet that can be such a detriment to one's own well-being that logic and reasoning is so rare on the internet. It's amazing, isn't it?
I do think your comments are rather well thought out as well. As I said, it's rare :)
I see. We only have a three hour time difference. Glad to know~
And yeah, our evolution from citizens to netizens has really corrupted our senses of logic and empathy. A lot of people tend to abuse their freedom of speech since they could easily get away with things. It's funny actually since i just wrote a paper recently for a class about cyber freedom and i referred to this wikia a lot to support my observations and findings hahaha.
I want to apologize for my sudden dissapearance about three weeks ago (has it really been that long?) and my subsequent absence. I do have to say, with Glee off the air, it really all just slipped away from me. But there's no better time to get into the spirit of Glee than today. :)
What have I missed? I've been almost completely separated from this fandom, new music aside. To be honest, it was a nice little break, what with the lingering effects of The Breakup.
And finally, how have you been? I should have asked that sooner, forgive my rudeness.
No need for the apologies Matt, as I am fully aware that you have a life, in which regularly checking the Glee wiki site, and subsequently communicating with me, is not a priority. I hope that you have been well. I, as of yesterday, have concluded end of year exams, and Summer is fast approaching, and, well, life is great :)
I apologise to disappoint you, but my avatar has, once again, changed. Joe Hart's hair in this episode is just simply too awesome, no offense to Bryan Collins, of course :) Speaking of which, is "The New Normal" on hiatus as well?
I really want to say that even though I do not live in the US (do you, by any chance? I know that you and I live on opposite time zones), that Obama's victory was something that made me extremely happy, and would it be presumptuous to assume that his victory brought you a little bit of jubilance to your day? Honestly, I cannot wait for Ryan Murphy to make references to the election on his show. Kitty's fury towards Obama's victory is something that I'd really like to see, but nothing beats the anticipation for Jane Forrest's/Nana's reaction. Nothing. Good lord, I went off topic there.
Look, by the time you receive this message, you would have probably caught up with the spoilers already. I don't pay too much attention to spoilers, because I don't like to dwell on every minute spoiler that may or may not actually air, but on the top of my head:
1. Tina's "Gangnam Style" solo. You would not believe this, but Tina-stans did turn on each other on this one. One party would not cease to express their outrage that this is a waste on Jenna's talents (which is admittedly, true), the other party expressed that they needed to stop whining and be grateful.
2. The "Love Actually" inspired Glee-episode, where Blaine and Burt apparently celebrate Christmas with Kurt in NY, news that came as quite a shock to me, as I, myself, would not want to see an recent ex-boyfriend at Christmas, but we'll see :)
3. Kurt is auditioning for NYADA. "Being Alive" from the musical "Company", apparently.
4. Ryan tweeted a photo of Brittany in a bride gown, and Sam in a suit. Brittanians have been absolutely fuming, something that was simultaneously irritating and hilarious to witness.
5. Blaine hate still exists, though "Beauty School Dropout" was considered to be a winner.
6. And there are users who still have no concept of civilisation, or spelling or punctuation, as per usual.
I do suggest that you take the time to read the spoilers yourself, though :)
Well, that's a very nice thing to hear, so let me congratulate you. :) I'm sure you worked really hard for it, and I do sincerely hope you enjoy your summer.
Oh, that's understandable, Joe's hair was just plain awesome last night. As far as The New Normal is concerned, I just checked and apparently, a new episode airs next week. I believe it's been off the air for the past two weeks due to Sandy and the election, respectively. It is nice to see you're a fan, though. I'm incredibly fond of that show, even though it's only started.
I actually don't live in the US. I know I might give off the impression that I do, but I'm actually from Europe (which may or may not change in a few years, but that's irrelevant at the moment). What matters is, yes, Obama's victory was out of this world. It really made my entire day. I had been nervously checking Twitter all day Tuesday, and when it was finally clear that he had gotten re-elected, I was thrilled. And to make things even better, voters in Maryland, Maine and Washington supported the legalization of same-sex marriage, so this election really could not have turned out any better. Knowing Ryan Murphy, I think we can expect references to it on his show(s). On that note, I fully agree -- Nana's reaction is the one I'm looking forward to the most.
Ah, yes, the Gangnam Style number. I have to say, I've been torn on this one myself. I did see the teaser when it was released, and while I've never really been bothered by this worldwide pop sensation (I actually find it pretty cool in a guilty pleasure kind of way), I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it being used on the show. And for Sectionals, no less. That said, while I agree that Jenna's talent is worthy of something much, well, better, I am still glad to see she's getting a solo. To be completely honest, that little snippet in the teaser didn't sound all that bad, so I'm trying to keep an open mind here.
I actually just learned about the Christmas episode last night, and I'm going to wait before I react to anything. I mean, it's still pretty far away, so I would prefer to wait and see how it develops. Although, from what I understand, the Bram "wedding" picture is related to the Christmas episode? I did actually see that tweet, but I was aware that it had been taken completely out of context, especially considering the fact that I hadn't been up to date with everything Glee, so I didn't really think much of it. Like I said, it's still far away, so it is probably too early to judge.
This is the fist time I'm hearing about Kurt's audition and I have to say, I'm already excited. At the very least, it should be an interesting performance.
Funny thing, I actually preferred HDTY over Beauty School Dropout. It could be because I prefer the first song in general, but I was able to "get into it" on a completely different level compared to Beauty School Dropout, despite the fact that I did like both tracks. Last night's performance really solidified that, though. Then again, I actually enjoyed most of the episode. :)
Thank you very much for this briefing, you're too kind :) If I may ask, what did you think of last night's episode? I was actually right in the middle of watching it when I got your message - I couldn't see it live last night - and I ended up enjoying it for the most part.
Despite the fact that (in comparison to "TBU") this episode fell a little short in terms of acting, and writing, I thoroughly enjoyed it, perhaps more than the previous one (I prefer laughing and smiling, than crying :P). And despite the fact that Rachel and Kurt were absent, this episode felt the most..."Glee" to me since the premiere of Season Four. Some moments were just pure comedic gold. And dare I say it, the scene where the cast of "Grease" was revealed is probably one of my favourite scenes of S4 to date.
I hope this doesn't dampen your mood, but I found the Blaine portion of the episode to be quite comedic. I'm not sure whether it is because "TBU" has left me feeling emotionally exhausted to the point where I just couldn't bear to feel anymore sadness, or whether or not Darren's acting was not anywhere near his best, but I didn't pity Blaine like the writers hoped we would.
I prefer HDTY over Beauty School Dropout in the musical, but for me personally, but I prefer BSD as a Blaine solo, purely because he is singing baritone as opposed to his regular tenor. The texture in his voice for BSD, IMO, was richer than most of his solos, and I felt that he was singing very comfortably.
Now, to "Gangnam Style". I'll be honest, the song has grown on me, and I have to admit, the Asian ethnicity (not nationality) in me is proud that music released from Asia is making its debut on Western television. Do I wish that this would be performed anywhere, and anytime, BUT Sectionals? Absolutely. However, I believe that love or despise the song, there is no denying the amount of entertainment from the number. From the GS snippet, they all appear to be having a glorious time performing it! :)
It may be a little too early to judge, but I think that Season Four is shaping up to be a great one. I am one of those Gleeks who would consider Season One to be the best in terms of writing and overall production. Other than Britney 2.0, the writing, not to mention the continuity, has been very solid :)
I agree, this episode was very "Glee" in terms of atmosphere, despite the absence of two of the show's main characters. While we're on the topic of Kurt and Rachel's absemce from the episode, I would like to say that it didn't take away from the episode one bit. I obviously love them both very much and am excited to see their future storylines, but I simply feel like their absence wasn't glaring. I've come to grow fond of the NYC portion of the show, but this little break from that particular narrative wasn't a bad thing IMO. In addition, I also have to say I enjoyed the cast list scene very much, particularly Kitty's outraged reaction. That, together with some of Sue's scenes, was a welcome comedic aspect I'd needed ever since The Breakup aired.
It's true that Darren has displayed some undeniably great acting in the past, much better from what we saw in TRYWBTP, but his scenes still got to me for some reason. It could very well be my fondness for the character or the fact that I am, admittedly, a sap when it comes to emotional (and sometimes, even completely mundane) scenes, but I did feel sorry for Blaine, especially in that last part right before he leaves the auditorium. What I like, however, is that they're doing it right by pacing themselves with his storyline instead of using it all up in one episode, like they've done with his character in the past.
I agree with your assessment of Darren's voice in Beauty School Dropout, I really liked it as well. But, HDTY has the upper hand overall, probably because it strikes a very emotional chord with me. (Like I said, sap on patrol :P).
I don't actually dislike Gangnam Style, and I'm actually glad to see some diversity when it comes to music selection on Glee. I'm also not denying that it will most likely be a very entertaining number, or that Jenna will do a great job on the track. It really is the Sectionals part that doesn't sit right with me. I'm all for thinking outside the box, but Gangnam Style is just not a song I would personally enter a competition with. The first one of the season, for that matter. Dare I say it, it's not very realistic, either. At best, going with Gangnam Style for Sectionals while likely facing some very qualified competition is a risky move. Especially for someone who's just off a national title. Not to mention, it might make a New Directions victory (something which is probably bound to happen) seem a little... random, perhaps? This is a competition where two gay kids singing a ballad together was considered "too much". Admittedly, it was one judge, but who's to say there won't be a similarly harsh judge this time around? The judging seems to be tough on these competitions, and they've lost with better setlists before. Not to seem all high and mighty, I'm just saying their victory might be somewhat polarizing.
That is something I can only agree with. With each episode, my assessment of Season Four remains unchanged. And it's quite obviously a positive one. I even liked Britney 2.0, despite it probably being the weakest S4 episode so far. There really is very little I can fault about it.
On the other hand, have you seen the ratings for this episode? All-time low, I believe. Now, I'm fully aware that a post-hiatus drop in ratings is a perfectly normal occurrence, but Glee might not be doing as well as we expected after the season premiere. It's a shame, because for the past 6 months or so (meaning late Season 3 and early Season 4), Glee has been in great shape, probably at its best overall. I really do hope the ratings pick up soon.
Gangnam Style for Sectionals is something that does not exactly sit right with anyone, but it is for that reason alone that I, along with many Gleeks, am so eager for the performance. After all, there is such things that "it is so bad that it's good", and I didn't end up enjoying the song due to its musical qualities :P
In regards to Rachel and Kurt's absence, I too, did not mind one bit, and I would encourage the writers to reduce their screen time even more. Don't get me wrong, I love Rachel and Lea, and Kurt and Chris, but I can't help but feel that their presence no longer serves much contribution to the concept of the show as they once did. I have argued about this so many times, with so many users, but I stand by the fact that Glee is a show about a high school show choir, and the fact that the writers are compromising that concept for the sake of keeping stubborn fans who throw a tantrum at the thought of change happy is something that does not exactly sit right with me. Rachel and Kurt, and the graudates, are no longer Glee club members. IMO, the musical numbers that are done at McKinley (and anything Rachel sings within the walls of NYADA) feel much more genuine.
Having said that, I still enjoy watching the show as much as I did before, it is just that I have felt like that I have been watching a different show for the past month or so. And personal opinions aside, I do understand that the producers had to keep the original cast members on the show in order for fans to stay interested, but that is the problem. The producers need the original cast members for the show to survive, but they don't need the characters that they portray, and I feel like that the writers have to look for excuses for the graduates to appear. And forgive me for being presumptuous, but I highly doubt that the producers planned to keep the graduates there. It was only when fans worldwide went chaotic at the mere thought of Lea, Chris and Cory not being on the show after S3 that the writers assured their fans that they would remain on the show.
Can you imagine how broke Glee would become if ratings don't pick up soon? Honestly, the establishment has so many cast members to pay, not to mention their guest stars, the external shots, combined with the ratings, oh dear lord.
I suppose we have to wait and see what comes out of it. That said, I'll probably end up enjoying the performance. It's obviously no "Man in the Mirror", but like you said, its qualities lie elsewhere; at the very least it has the entertainment factor.
I'm torn when it comes to that issue, honestly. I equally enjoy both portions of the show, I really do, but it's obvious that this was not the original concept of Glee. Now, concepts can grow and change with time, that's a no-brainer, so if this is what Glee is developing into, I'm perfectly fine with it assuming the show stays as good as it currently is. What I have a problem with is that they are seemingly trying to do both the new kind of Glee and the old concept. Whether or not that's mainly due to the fanbase is not the issue here; the writers and creators will just have to decide which path to choose. Yes, the way Season 4 is working out has been great, but it's a solution that won't make it past the current season. Glee simply cannot stick to this strange hybrid between the original premise/concept and a developing show with an established cast.
Now, I realize that the tendency for a show to develop beyond its basic premise and original concept is a very natural one and most of the time, it just happens. This kind of development is obviously based on a permanent, established cast. Which is all fine, but as soon as that starts to happen, there is no room for the original concept. I'm sure this is a major dilemma for the show right now, but the solution just cannot be a permanent one.
As far as personal opinions go, like I said, I'm torn. On one hand, I still enjoy McKinley High, but on the other, I would actually be okay with a full-on shift in the long run. Don't get me wrong, I love Glee and its original concept, while slightly "out there", is something I could handle just fine. However, if I'm being completely honest here, there only is so much that can happen in a high school setting before it gets (for lack of a better word) old. At this point, there are probably just as many musical numbers that occur outside the walls of McKinley as those related to Glee's setting and show choir premise, and dare I say it, they feel just as relevant, too (most of the time, of course). In that sense, I do feel that the essence of Glee, which is obviously the music, could survive without McKinley High serving as its vehicle and still feel natural, still feel like Glee. Furthermore, I find Glee's non-McKinley/show choir-related storylines and musical numbers to be very genuine and natural as far as the core main cast is concerned. As such, I don't find the idea of the "new" kind of Glee all that unappealing, to be honest, and compromising the original premise would feel justified in this case.
Bottom line, though, like I said, is sticking to one of these options, personal preferences aside.
Regarding the ratings, Glee's biggest problem could be Fox. They've been known to mercilessly cancel shows with no problem whatsoever, which has included some of their biggest hits. Not to sound paranoid or anything, but if for whatever reason the network execs feel that the current ratings aren't cutting it, Glee might not be given the time to become completely broke, as they very well could axe it come the end of the season.
Ah, “Man in the Mirror”, that was a lovely performance, but I thought “ABC” and “Control” were slightly superior. Speaking of which, the Anders have to be careful with how many backing vocalists they use, because in the MITM track, you hear an abundance of female singers, when there is only supposed to be two female ND members on stage, and good lord Anders, Dianna’s introduction to “Control” is supposed to sound like she is performing it live. That is just me being extremely picky though, I thought Sectionals 2011 was absolutely beautiful, though I do wonder how on Earth they managed to perform so well, with so many layers of clothing on.
As I said before, keeping the graduates there for the sake of viewers is something that I do understand though in saying that, my overall opinion on the concept of the show would probably not exist if it weren’t for the fact that there are still so many stories from characters who we barely know, characters who have been on the show since Pilot. And I perhaps would not have such an opinion on my interpretation of the concept of the show, if it weren’t for the fact that the show still has an established Glee club to write for.
Look, as much as I dislike the idea of the writers compromising the concept of the show, I guess I cannot argue against the fact that the current hybrid of Lima and NYC is not going to work beyond season four. As hard as it is to admit, however, I’d choose WMHS and Glee club over the graduates. If Degrassi can have new batches of high school students and story lines for over twelve seasons, than surely Glee can too, if we can disregard the fact that Degrassi is nowhere near as popular as Glee (though to be fair, Degrassi did air in my country :P). Also, teenage issues do change from generation to generation, and now that I think about it, the current sophomores and the original characters do actually belong in two generations. The sophomores are Generation Z, whilst the graduates are Gen Y.
I did state that the reason why I am sceptical with compromising and changing the concept of the show is because of the musical numbers, and how genuine they would appear. One of the things that I found appealing was that the Glee musical numbers were performances from the characters, not merely a string of video clips, regardless of how relevant a song was to the story line. Let’s assume that the writers would throw away WMHS and Glee club entirely, to follow the original characters. Not many of the graduates, apart from the purposes of merely leisure, have a reason to sing. So far this season, the only graduates that can perform something and make it look like a genuine performance were primarily Rachel, Kurt, (given the fact that she works as a back-up singer) Mercedes and (maybe) Santana, and now, Finn. Many fans of Quinn and Dianna are itching for a song from her, but personally, the thought of Quinn at Yale, randomly bursting into song is a little random. The thought of Puck bursting into song while cleaning a pool is not unwelcome, but random. There have been plenty of musical numbers in the past three seasons where they did randomly burst into song, but they were within the walls of WMHS, and they still belonged in the Glee club.
Let me discuss a few musical examples from this season that involved the graduates:
“Don’t Speak”- I adore the song and the cover to the point where both versions of the song is the most played on my phone. The song itself was relevant to the story line, but the way that it was done on the show did evoke some laughter out of me upon initial viewing (followed by a wave of sadness), and it was just a video clip. Randomly bursting into the song in the middle of Battery Park is one thing, singing the song, while choosing the wrong the time to share a bed with your significant other, is another.
“The Scientist”- Again, brilliant song choice, brilliant song, brilliant cover, had relevance to the story line, though the authenticity of the performance is something that I also question, due to Kurt’s presence. I don’t know whether or not he had a reason for returning, because I’m sure he wouldn’t travel back to Lima just to perform and stand next to his now ex-boyfriend who recently committed infidelity.
Finn’s part in “Barely Breathing”- Appropriate song choice, sung by the appropriate characters, though Blaine’s visual performance felt more authentic than Finn’s. Blaine was in the auditorium and choir room after all, Finn was supposedly singing in the middle of Rachel’s class. The authenticity (or lack thereof) of it, IMO, speaks for itself.
I guess that my concern is that by compromising the original concept of the show (which, at this point, would probably make most Gleeks extremely happy); the authenticity of the musical numbers may be compromised as well, which would be a shame considering the fact that what I initially found appealing about Glee, was the music. I don’t doubt the possibility of the writers producing lovely story lines for graduates, if they decide to take that route, but there are only so many episodes a la Grey’s Anatomy’s Musical one, where characters are randomly bursting into song, without it appearing to be, forgive me for the phrase, slightly lame.
Look, the truth of the matter is that Glee, at the moment, is not willing to compromise anything, and as you have said, the producers have to make a choice, and they a. don’t have a lot of time to make that choice, or b. will not have that choice if the ratings don’t pick up anytime soon. At the moment, it is unclear where the writers want to go post Season Four. The writers have slowly been allowing the viewers to get used to the fact that the graduates are graduates, while simultaneously recruiting new actors and characters for the show choir itself to have a story line.
Let’s hope that whatever the final season of Glee may be, that it would allow itself to run for an entire season rather than an incomplete one, and if this is the last one, then so be it.
After reading your most recent comments on the post re: Karofsky's potential return to Glee, I just wanted to add a couple of comments of my own. I thought it would be more appropriate to do this away from the main page as I don't believe in airing specific issues in a public forum.
In no "shape or form" did I feel that you were reprimanding me for the comment I posted on a possible "Kurtofsky" union. The reason I responded in the way that I did was that while your comment in this instance may have been flippant, the implication was that what you "failed to see" indicated a sense of superiority over those who believed otherwise. I actually quite frequently find myself agreeing with many of the things you say but in your comment here and in comments elsewhere, whereas you may feel you are expressing a qualified and educative opinion, you can sometimes come across as being rather patronising. Ordinarily, I wouldn't have bothered to respond to your second comment (which you yourself termed as "a rant") at all but there was something in it which I found quite upsetting, not so much on my behalf but on the behalf of others, specifically one other and I just couldn't let it slide. It is because of this that I also wrote what I did above.
There surely are some people who watch Glee just or primarily for Klaine. I myself fall into the latter category. There are also clearly those who are hyper sensitive to the point of being over sensitive regarding comments which have even the vaguest reference to Klaine and here I'm sure you know who I'm talking about. My point is that there was absolutely no need whatsoever to call Adam out on his perceptions of Klaine. The very fact that we're commenting on a Wiki page about a fictional couple shows that we're all a little too invested in what happens between them. However to say in such a public forum that you found it "incredibly irritating" he should react in such a way to stories that bear little or no relation to Klaine was an opinion that could and (in my opinion) should have been kept to yourself. It isn't healthy to be oversensitive but that particular part of your self termed "rant" served no purpose other than to allow yourself to vent. It actually appeared unnecessarily mean and rather insensitive.
I am well aware that the opinions I have expressed here are my own and may or may well not be shared by others. I am also well aware that Adam would be quite able to defend himself should he choose to do so. However I spoke up on this occasion because a) I do think the way you referenced Adam's comments was unfair, b) because whether or not it is my place to do so, if I see a comment in a public forum that denigrates another person - whether intentionally or unintentionally, it makes me feel uneasy to the point where I feel if I don't speak up, I am somehow complicit in the act of belittling and c) because sometimes the little things matter.
Bella, please note that before you read what I have to say, that you are someone that I do genuinely respect, and enjoy conversing with you on the Klaine page, and that I do hope that you consider me to be someone who is worth conversing with.
The point that I (admittedly, harshly) attempted to make was that it is incredibly silly to react the way he did, because, realistically, the chances of a Kurtofsky reunion is incredibly slim. I think it's safe to assume that neither of them are remotely aware of where each other are currently located.
I am not calling him, or anybody else, for caring about Klaine, or the show, much more than necessary, as I would be a huge hypocrite (which I have been guilty of numerous times). I, unfairly, called him out for reading, and interpreting, every single Glee-related article, and react to piece of small information that has the very slightest threat (in this case, none at all) to Klaine. This is something that I find that Finchelettes are notorious for. I, myself, am a somewhat closeted Finchel shipper (and at times, extremely ashamed to be one due to their fans), but how Gleeks only look at the show through Finchel goggles is quite beyond me, and to be very honest, I heavily dislike the idea that Klainers are perhaps not that different. It is one thing to have a reaction, and an opinion about a couple that you ship with all your heart. It’s another thing to have an outburst on something that have very little chance of being a threat to a couple that you ship, or watch the show through [insert ship here] goggles.
And regarding to my disapproval of being committed to a television show solely due to a romantic relationship between two people of your choice, I’m sorry, but regardless of how many people I may offend by having this mindset, it firmly stands. I’m aware that Glee attracts viewers for Buddha-knows-how-many reasons, and Klaine is undeniably one of them, but there is just so much more to the show than a relationship between two young and incredibly handsome men. I won’t attempt to convince you otherwise, but I just personally find that there is so much more to this show than just Klaine, or romantic relationships in general. Call, or refer to me, as the Gary Barlow of the Klaine fandom, if you will (though I can assure you that my manners are superior to his on the X-factor, though then again, I’m not the one who is currently mourning the loss of my daughter). The show is a musical dramedy about a high school show choir, not an American musical version of Love Actually (which, may I add, is a film that I thoroughly enjoy), and contrary to popular belief, is definitely not the Finchel show.
Regarding the fact that I "fail to see" how DK's possible return to the show would affect Klaine, as patronising as it may sound, I genuinely do fail to see how one goes from 'There is a possibility that Max Adler may be returning to reprise his role as David Karofsky' to''Why is this writer insinuating that DK is going to come in between Klaine. What an impossibly dim-witted writer!!!', where the writer does not even mention Klaine in that particular snippet.
Look Bella, being patronising and condescending, whenever I choose to post a comment directly at Adam (I’m quite certain that he is older than I am anyway, though that is obviously not the point) is not my intention, and I don’t consider it to be an achievement, when I do, which is obviously something that you agree with. This isn’t the first time that I have reacted that way towards him either, you may want to check my message on his wall (I’m not sure whether he has deleted it or not) from quite some time ago, and it was not pleasant for me to type, or for him to read. He and I don’t see eye to eye on very much, despite the fact that we belong in the same fandom, and this is why:
I am in no way, a pessimist, but I prefer to see situations in a more realistic point of view, and I normally would not allow my feelings to get in the way of my judgment, and Klaine is not an exception to that rule whatsoever. As much as I love Klaine, this couple does not mean to me anywhere near as much as it means to Adam. Klaine is his source of comfort, it’s a way for him to escape, something that he has explicitly informed me himself. It is probably a rather simple case of him thinking with his heart, and me thinking with my brain, which is not intended to be an insult.
I may attempt to be mindful of the way I respond to Adam (and perhaps put more effort into that in the future), but other than that, am I aware that I may sometimes come across as patronising? Yes. I have, in the past, reprimanded a user who has a position of authority on this wiki, for her spelling and punctuation (which, in hindsight, is probably just lack of proof reading). I have reprimanded another user who has a position of authority on this wiki for his attitude. I probably have told off an admin for not taking one of my complaints seriously.
Once upon a time, the Glee wiki was a place of cyber civilisation, where it was unacceptable to express intense hatred of any character, and ironically, this was during the time where this wikia was under dictatorship (that, Bella, is not an exaggeration). Now that that period is gone, the comments on episode pages have been appalling (to the point where, as I have stated previously, I would have a higher chance of having a pleasant conversation with the members of the Westboro Baptist Church, than a significant portion of Glee wiki users), so unfortunately, my method of communication on this wikia has changed. I hope it is not considered arrogant of me to state that I am extremely capable of civilised conversation, and that my comments are, in comparison to the comments on episode pages, rather tame.
Bella, you are well within your rights to defend someone and speak up, should you feel that they are in dire need of it. I apologise for appearing to be petulant when I say this, but you are not in the position to do is to tell me what to keep to myself. Reprimand me all you want for the delivery of the opinion, but not for my choice to share the opinion itself. Expressing an unpopular opinion is not violation of the right to express it. It is unfair how I said what I said to him. It is not, however, unfair of me to say it. If a person is well within their rights to express their opinion, in what I feel is frivolous manner, than I am well within my right to question it.
Also, I’m sorry that what I said on the Klaine page is something that was irrelevant to the topic at hand, but as harsh as I was, I just wanted to be reasonable, and that was my overall purpose. I can assure you that what I do take the time to type has purpose.
Well that was quite some message. As to whether I am in a position to tell you what you should and should not keep to yourself, of course I'm not. However there are ways and means of expressing an opinion without belittling someone else and if you have neither the time or the inclination to put your opinions across in a less insensitive way, then you run the risk of giving people the wrong idea about you. That's why I said it could or would be better to keep your opinions to yourself, both for your own sake and that of the person/s you risk offending. It doesn't matter what you have to say to someone, however benevolent the message and/or the intention, if you don't couch the message in the right way, you are never going to get through to them.
That aside, I completely agree with everything you've said.
It honestly bothers me too about the way some shippers relate to Glee. Glee for me is about escapism and if it stops being fun altogether, I'll stop watching. Not in a hissy fit "they broke up my OTP so I'm going to hate tweet RIB etc" kind of way but in a "life's too short to do something that isn't fun any more" kind of way. I do sometimes (metaphorically) shake my head in wonderment at the attitude and antics of some of the more hardcore shippers because more than anything, it must really kill their enjoyment of the show to be constantly worrying and interpreting (or misinterpreting) every tidbit of information that comes their way.
That said, I am more interested in the side of the show that's more about romantic relationships (an American version of "Love Actually" if you will...) than the mechanics of an American High School Show Choir. I don't know if I ever told you but my mother's an opera singer. When I was growing up I travelled quite a lot with her when she was performing and at that age, I was never interested in how the show was put together, how costumes were chosen or how the acts were structured. I was all about the stories and the music and the passion. To me, "shipping" (and I have to admit I do cringe rather at that expression) a couple, like I do Klaine is not too dissimilar to having a favourite aria within an opera. You love the opera as a whole but you can't help but have a favourite part that you look forward to most of all.
As for Adam, I don't disagree with you at all in your perception of him, just in the way you addressed your concerns. Glee is a form of escapism for me but neither it nor Klaine is a source of comfort and that's where I think I would have more in common with you than perhaps Adam. It's fun to speculate on what might happen to Klaine within the context of Glee but while I would probably always err on the side of optimism (because that's just the way I am), I would also always base my opinions on evidence rather than instinct.
I actually avoid the episode page wikis for Glee now for much the same reasons as you do. Furthermore, if I didn't find you entirely capable of civilised conversation, I would never have attempted to address the situation with you as I did.
I do genuinely thank you for expressing concern over the way I communicate for both myself and the person that I communicate with. The risk of offending someone is indeed a concern, but (as cliche as this sound) people's perception of me is something that I have not particularly cared too much about for a rather long period of time, especially on a public internet forum like this one, for which I have been a user close to one and a half years now.
I'm fully aware that there are oversensitive users out there, which means that I should probably not be so blunt, but in all honesty, anything I say can be interpreted as a personal attack on someone. I am not going to reword every single thing that I say every single time due to the fact that I may risk offending someone, nor am I going to hesistate from informing a user that I feel that they are being quite unreasonable. I do enough of that in my personal life, because I am a part-time private instrumental teacher to children under the age of ten. Yes, I have the responsibility of communicating with someone in a manner that does appear to be insensitive and condescending, but the fact that there are some users out here who possess very little backbone is not something that I am responsible for.
On a different note, I am aware that your mother is an opera singer, and I am incredibly envious of your exposure to professional performing arts from a young, and this is due to the fact that I, myself, am a Performing Arts student myself.
I'm going to leave it here, I am an exam needs to be completed. Have a pleasant day.
I've been lurking in this wiki for a long time now, and can I just say that every time I see a post of yours, I imagine Stewie saying it. It's always so hilarious!
Can I just say I didn't recognize you at first without your Jim Parsons avatar? There I was, reading a well-written comment, and then when I saw it was you, I realized that you'd changed it. :)
Well then, Matt, please forgive me for not initially recognising your comments, since you practically change your avatar every week :P And just so you're wondering, my love for Jim Parsons has not changed, it's merely a case of my weakness for Kurt's/Chris Colfer's facial expressions, he's simply too gorgeous for words :)
Guilty, I do change it every week. :) I have this habit of constantly tweaking things and I just can't go a long time without changing it. And, as you can see, they all follow the theme of random Blaine moments from the most recent episode. So, I don't have a permanent visual identity, but at least people might recognize me as the Blaine guy who talks a lot. :P
And yes, Chris is one gorgeous man. He can convey so much with just a single expression; you just can't not love him. I'm glad they're giving him new things to do on Glee, I thought he was great in Makeover.
Also, seeing as you're a Jim Parsons fan, I have to ask: did you happen to catch the premiere of The Big Bang Theory? It was thoroughly enjoyable :D
I am a Jim Parsons fan, but I haven't had the opportunity of watching the premiere of BBT, though judging by your assessment of the premiere, I do look forward to it. Unfortunately, being a university student who lives in the Southern Hemisphere, where end-of-year exams are ever so close, the opportunity of watching the new season of American television shows other than Glee has been severely limited, although I do plan to catch up once exams conclude :) I also hope that IMDB is correct when they say that Jim Parsons is going to be in 'The Normal Heart', as I am looking forward to it.
Anyway, on a different note, please allow me to ask for your opinion about the Blaine-hate that has significantly increased since the filming for the fourth season began.
Well, I wish you the best of luck with your exams, and I can assure you that you'll enjoy the new episode of TBBT. It was very entertaining. And yes, I've heard about The Normal Heart as well, but I'm not sure where I stumbled upon that piece of information. Either way, I'm looking forward to it. :)
Now, as far as the Blaine hate goes. Well, I can't say I'm entirely unbiased, because Blaine is, after all, my favorite character and as such very dear to me, but it does feel rather unpleasant. I respect other people's opinions, knowing full well that not everyone can like the same things, but I will say that the level of hate Blaine's been getting bothers me. People should be able to state their opinions, positive or negative, but it should be done in a respectable manner that doesn't have the potential to make me feel like something's wrong with me for liking the character.
I'm also going to say that I honestly believe most of said hate is largely uncalled for. I can see how people would have an aversion for the amount of solos Blaine is given on the show, and trust me, as much as I appreciate the majority of his songs, I would trade a couple of them for some legitimate character development because I love the character and think the lack of proper storylines is, in a way, disrespectful to both the character and his portrayer. However, I have to say that said aversion is taken way too far, to the point where it may seem like no matter what Blaine does on the show, certain people will respond with hate. Or, in some cases, display ridiculously high levels of it even when the topic at hand has nothing to do with Blaine or Darren.
I apologize for this little rant, but yes, it's an issue I admit bothers me.
Wow, a Gleek who admits to not being entirely unbiased, that's certainly a first, no sarcasm intended :)
I wouldn't say that the hate towards Blaine itself is largely uncalled for, but I will say that the extent of the hate (why the hell did I use the word "extent"? Hate is already an emotion that is at the extreme end of the emotional spectrum, is it not?) and how often the hate is displayed on this wiki, is quite ridiculous. I know the Blaine hate probably does not bother me as much as it bothers you, because I don't love Blaine as much as you do, although I do have a soft spot for the guy.
The most difficult part about it all, is that most of the anti-Blainers here are actually quite accurate when it comes to the amount of solos that the guy performs, and as a Music student, I have to agree with the fact that some of the solos that Blaine has sung as been, vocally, way out of his depth. And I'd like to think that my ability to refute statements would not fail me, but in this case... :(
However, that is not an excuse to be so damn nasty about it, and I, like you, also don't appreciate the fact that enjoying Blaine, or Darren's presence or voice is a sin.
The reason why I said it was uncalled for is because I just don't feel like hate is something that should be produced in this case, and this is knowing full well that the anti-Blainers have a point. Call me an idealist, but hate, like you said, is such an extreme emotion, and I simply believe that it's too much. Criticism is fine, even disliking someone is understandable to an extent, but I personally wouldn't literally hate anyone even if I had the same problem with them that someone people have with Blaine. Not to mention that, yes, hating Blaine is pretty much a sport around here.
I'm not going to be one of those people who refuse to see facts; I do see some people's points. In fact, it's because I'm such a huge fan of both Darren and Blaine that I won't deny the truth. Blaine has had solos that weren't in his wheelhouse, that's obvious. I enjoy the majority of his vocal work on Glee, but there have definitely been such songs. And I actually don't feel bad at all for saying that, because, like I've said, my love for Darren as a musician/vocalist and in general is why I'm more than willing to admit that. I think Darren is an amazing singer, but only when he's given the right songs to work with. He has a limited vocal range, but there's more than enough to work with within his abilities despite the fact that he doesn't have a powerhouse voice. Of course, that calls for sensible song selection above anything else (I feel like a broken record, what with constantly saying that), and Ryan Murphy doesn't always respect that, which has resulted in some of Blaine's/Darren's weaker performances.
But obviously you would know, so I'm not going to preach about that. I will, however, say that I've had experience with that. I'm not a professionally trained vocalist, but I've had enough experience to know first hand how important song selection is if you happen to have a very specific vocal ability rathen than having a fully versatile voice.
Now, as far as the amount of solos itself goes, I'm sort of biased. There are, once again, those that don't work for him; basically, if I don't fully appreciate a particular solo for objective reasons mentioned above, I'll be more inclined to agree with the fact that he sings, well, a lot. In all the other cases, I do admittedly have the habit of letting it slide solely on the account of the solo being good. Probably not the fairest thing to do on my part, but like I said, as hard as I may try and be objective, I'm never going to stop enjoying his presence, in song or otherwise (again, provided that it's, for lack of a better word, good). To be perfectly honest, I tend to overlook the statistics if a cover is one that I can enjoy, which is a major flaw in its own right.
But yes, the whole thing bothers me greatly, just like you saif, which is why I try to avoid discussions that reek of Blaine hate; I just really don't want to let things like that bring me down. Sadly, those are nearly ubiquitous on this site.
I'm so sorry for this monster of a message, by the way. I really need to learn how to shut up on time. :(
Oh no Matt, please, you're more than welcome to rant. You've seen my comments, they're not short at all. My lengthy comments are actually a reflection of my inability to shut up in my personal life.
Also, thank you for sharing the fact that you're a somewhat experienced vocalist, because even though I study Music, I'm not a vocalist, I'm a pianist, though I must say that spending time with Voice students, and the good ol' music theory lessons has developed my knowledge in Voice.
I can understand that from an anti-Blainer/anti-Darren's point of view, the amount of...enthusiasm from his fans is untolerable to them. I personally do not pay too much attention to unreasonable, hateful, and frankly, obnoxious comments towards the character, because at the end of the day, the character is fictional. However, what is obviously not fictional, is the person who portrays the character, and the fans of both the character, and the actor, and blatant disrespect and ridicule towards them is barely acceptable. If the time comes, I would be more than willing to put my foot down and defend the fact that I enjoy Darren's (not necessarily Blaine's) performances, though you and I both know that we shouldn't have to.
There is a reason why RIB&co. hired him, and why he does have fans, he's an all-round entertainer, a fact that some people just simply refuse to understand. He is a trained actor (still not the best we've seen, though), trained performer, a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and composer. Basically, for a lack of a better phrase, he can do a lot of stuff, so the fact that he was hired is a no-brainer. The fact that Darren can do a lot of stuff, however, has been somewhat of a curse to both Gleeks, and Darren himself, because it’s fairly obvious that RIB&co. have taken advantage of that, and obviously not in a good way, because fatigue in Darren’s voice is instantly recognisable, and I honestly think that he lacks the strength and the skill to hide it.
I am more than willing to admit that Darren is obviously not the best entertainer out there, and that there are those who are superior actors, singers, and dancers, and probably instrumentalists, to him. Darren is obviously not vocally trained, he has said so himself, but his musicality and his ability to perform is pretty much compensation to that. And as a musician, Darren obviously knows what works for him and what doesn’t, but the issue that I guess Gleeks have with Darren, or Blaine, is that neither Ryan, nor the Anders seem to know the strengths and weaknesses of Darren’s voice. Another issue that Gleeks probably have with Darren/Blaine, and RIB&co. is that none of them know when it’s time to stop and rest. I don’t think Darren knows how to say no, I don’t think he has turned down a gig in his life, and obviously this is something that RIB&co. have taken noticed, and taken advantage of.
I guess the main thing that bothers me greatly about the Blaine/Darren hate is that Gleeks can’t distinguish the character and the actor, because they are completely different types of performers. Blaine is constantly theatrical when he is performing a number, which can sometimes be rather annoying, and where I understand the hate is coming from. Darren, on the other hand, is only theatrical when required, and does acoustic gigs most of the time. Therefore, I can listen to Darren sing all day, but I can’t listen to Blaine sing all day.
I do know what you mean; I can assure you that I'm just as unable to remain quiet in "real life" as it probably appears from my comments on here. I will say that you are very pleasant to converse with, though, as you're actually able to be constructive, which is an ability I find most people lack. :)
I would say I have about... 10-11 years of experience as a vocalist. I was in a choir for 8 years, and now, I try to do vocal work individually whenever possible. Sadly, I've never taken proper singing lessons, which is something I definitely could use, as there are certain weaknesses to my vocal ability that I'm fully aware of, but that's beside the point here.
I definitely see your point. Most of the time, I disregard any such comments because, like you said, it's a fictional character we're talking about, and because as much as I care about said character, which is obviously quite a lot, it's hardly my business what other people think, and I certainly don't have the right to tell them what they can or cannot do. Of course, it often gets to a point where it becomes annoyingly blatant and obtrusive, but I'm certainly not going to pay too much attention to those comments, because a) they're hardly worth my time, and b) If I'm going to enjoy a character or what he does, then that's what I will do. However, it is true, like you pointed out, that the portrayer and people who like him and his character alike are far from fictional, so yes, the whole thing seems less acceptable then. And yet, we shouldn't have to justify our appreciation.
See, this really is the problem here. Darren is obviously a man of many talents, and RIB&co. obviously know that. The problem is, they don't seem to respect that (or Darren himself, for that matter) as much as they should. What I'm trying to say is, and this might sound a bit rude, they seem to be ignoring the fact that Darren is not a machine they can restlessly use to their own advantage. As a result, they hardly give him the chance to take a break and not only is the subsequent strain on his voice something that takes away from the quality of certain songs due to the fact that he can't hide it well, it's hardly good for Darren himself. The fact that, while doing so, they also seemingly disregard what does and does not work for his voice just makes it worse.
That's not to say that, like you pointed out, Darren himself always knows when it's time to rest. Like you, I also get the feeling that he just doesn't know how to say no. He's obviously a very energetic individual who loves to perform, but even if he wanted to (I did hear that he requested less solos this season), the problem seems to be that he's just not the type of person to turn something down. Which, yes, is an admirable quality in itself and everything, but it's just not doing him any good, even though I'm sure he has the best intentions. My problem with this particular matter lies mainly with RIB&co. because, like you said, it's obviously something they know about Darren, and while they should be the ones thinking of the performer, they seemingly choose to use it to their advantage.
I agree that Blaine and Darren are two completely different types of performers, and I also agree that numerous Gleeks can't seem to fathom that, which is a big issue for me. Not because someone might or might not like either style of performing, but because there is a difference that people refuse to acknowledge, which seems unfair. As far as personal tastes go, I'm going to be completely honest and say that Blaine's style of performing doesn't bother me at all, but I'm fully aware that not everyone likes that level of theatricality in a performer. In fact, I probably wouldn't appreciate it as much in another character, but that's just due to my personal affinity for Blaine, and that is why I understand why some people simply have an aversion for that kind of performing, which is perfectly fine. It does irk me when people can't distinguish between the two, though.
I hope this wall of text doesn't make you change your mind about my right to rant :P I tried replying paragraph by paragraph, but sometimes, my mind takes a different turn and I get carried away.
Well, I'm glad that you find me pleasant to converse with, due to the fact that I obviously feel the same about you. Apparently, civilisation is so hard to achieve, even on the internet. And quite frankly Matt, I like the fact that your mind takes on a different turn, because it demonstrates the fact that you actually use the vital organ that is situated inside your skull.
Ooh choir work! I was in a choir (a school one :P) as well, for three years of adolescence. My singing voice isn't exactly as pleasant as I hope it would have turned out, but at least singing helps individuals develop a sense of pitch :) By the way, which part did you sing? I sung the alto part :)
I don't think it's rude to state that neither RIB&co. nor Darren are aware of the fact that he is not a machine that can be relentlessly used for one's advantage, simply because of the fact that it's true. Despite what RIB&co. think, Darren is not Lea Michele. They could give Lea the task of singing the American songbook (she probably has sung three quarters of her way through it already) and it she would come out the other end perfectly fine.
Forgive me for being pedantic, but I really am quite picky when I'm listening to Blaine/Darren's solos, and determining whether that is Blaine I'm listening to, or Darren, and the fact that Darren can both portray and perform as a completely different person is nothing short of admirable. Most Glee cast members can't do that, but then again, only a few of the Glee cast members are actually musicians. For example, the acoustic version of Teenage Dream (which I didn't really enjoy due to the overexposure of the song throughout the couple of years) is a Darren performance, right there. 'Fighter', on the other hand (what the hell possessed RIB&co. to give that song to Darren, out of everybody, I'll never know), is a Blaine performance, because I don't think Darren would sing that monster of a song live, if it was up to him, and if I were him, I certainly wouldn't.
Now that I think about it, Mark Salling is also quite different to Puck, performance-wise. Have you listened to his album? It's very indie, a little bit too indie for my own personal taste, but obviously, to each their own. However, Mark and Puck share much more similarities than Blaine and Darren.
Thank you for the compliment, you're too kind. Honestly, I'm glad there is someone who is able to put up with my ramblings :P Also, sorry for this late reply, I had class today.
Formally, I was a bass and most of the time, that was the part I sang, but our choir director would sometimes have me sing the baritone part, at least until my voice started to change, which happened relatively late.
You're absolutely right. I just hope RIB&co. realize that before it takes a more permanent toll on Darren's voice. I mean, he himself obviously knows what it is that works for him, but until Glee acknowledges that as well, we're probably not going to get anywhere in that aspect, which is obviously a shame.
Oh no, don't feel the need to apologize, I know exactly what you mean. I personally enjoy both (most of the time, that is), but I do like it when Glee lets Darren perform as he would on his own terms. Like I've said, I do enjoy Blaine's type of performing as well, but when there's a song that I feel is right up Darren's alley, it's always nice if Darren ends up being the one performing it (I really hope any of that made sense at all). That's why I appreciate Darren's musicality and ability to really connect to a song; he might not have a large vocal range, but he's very versatile in terms of performing as two completely different people. It's why I always distinguish between the "Blaine" type of solos and "Darren" type of solos, and, much like you said, I admire Darren for the fact that he's able to do both, especially since they're so different. I also agree with the two examples you mentioned (although I have a huge soft spot for Teenage Dream, so, unlike you, I enjoyed it), and like you, I also don't think Darren would choose to perform that song if he was given a choice.
I haven't actually listened to Mark's album, but I did hear some of it. From what I heard, it was fairly enjoyable, but I would also have to say it was a bit too indie for my taste. And yeah, the difference here is obviously much less radical than it is with Darren and Blaine.
Matt, since you and I have made it clear that ranting is perfectly acceptable between the two of us, then get ready.
Is it really that hard to achieve civilisation, especially on the internet? Have human standards dropped so low to the point where people are now thriving on conflict? I mean, there are people who complain about this and that on a television show because it's too "perfect" or too "boring", which obviously means that human beings can only entertain themselves via the misfortune of a fictional character on television?
Apparently, it's perfectly acceptable to blatantly, and obnoxiously express hatred in a community while disregarding the fact that there are those who takes a positive stance on the topic of what is causing such an intense hatred. The hatred on this wiki is incredibly insane, and I'm not just talking about the Blaine hate either.
The hatred on these pages are so intense that it drove away the Finchelettes. Now, I ship Finchel, and I will admit some Finchelettes are quite irritating (read their conspiracy theories on Brody, they're simulataneously irritating and hilarious), but the fact that they don't even participate in discussions without an anti-Finchelette throwing abuse at them is just incredibly sad. Now that I think about it, being a Finchelette is supposedly as big of a sin, as being a Blainer, because it's really not that different. Finchel and Blaine receive a lot of screen time, and both Finchel and Blaine have somewhat legitimate reasons on why they receive such intense dislike from a small fraction of Gleeks. Blaine's screen time doesn't have much substance, and Finn and Rachel's constant presence annoys a lot of people, because Gleeks don't tune in for just Finn and Rachel anymore. The hate is just...argh! I'm sorry, I'm not making sense today.
In all seriousness, there is very fine line between expressing your opinion, and displaying acts of disrespect. Let me take the issue of... Marriage Equality for example. As much as it makes me weep to know that there are those who are so against anything that it outside the traditional (mind you, I'm a heterosexual female), and as painful as it is to listen to the arguments against it (I've heard arguments against it from both hetero and homosexuals), if they present their argument well, and respectfully as they possibly could, then citizens have to accept the fact that their argument is valid. Obviously what is not acceptable are random homophobic slurs, and call me dramatic if you will, but I feel like the flippant comments towards Blaine is the equivalent of that.
Oh, do I miss the days where there was a dictatorship on this wiki. Yes, a dictatorship. The former bureaucrat of this wiki (I am risking a one week ban for saying this, but frankly, a one week ban would probably benefit me, as I'm swamped in university work enough as it is) was practically a Nazi. We were prohibited to talk about suicide on the "On My Way" page as it was such a taboo/dark issue, whatever the reason was. We were (and still are, I think) prohibited to type a comment that had twelve words in full capital letters. Writing "I hate __________" was a breach against the rules. Yes, we were under scrutiny, but the only uncivilised behaviour that occured was the backlash. Users were attacking authority due their protest against the dictatorship. Now, as the dictatorship period has long gone, users are attacking other users for their preferences.
Thank you for this utterly delicious rant. Let me return the sentiment.
Honestly, it saddens me. Call me overly impressionable, but fictional character or not, I find it nothing short of disgusting that people thrive on someone's misfortune. It's gotten to the point where it seems that one can't even openly express appreciation for a character without receiving backlash from people who seemingly can't be happy in life if they don't, pardon my language, s**t all over it.
Obviously every group has a portion of fans who are a bit on the crazy side, but that's not an excuse to attack or ostracize the entire group. To provide an example: these days, I'm starting to feel like I can't even post anything positive about Klaine without the risk of finding myself in the middle of an obnoxious "debate" about how crappy my opinion is, because, you know, I'm obviously a freak for thinking that Klaine is a legitimately great couple. And like you said, it's not just that. Not to mention that, even when the show (which is currently in great shape, if I may add) tries to develop the characters you mentioned and give them more substance, people complain about them. You just can't win either way.
I'm quite obviously a homosexual male, and even I can admit when an argument is valid. It doesn't mean I'll agree with it, because I honestly won't and I'll always stand by that, but I will appreciate the fact that whoever made that point presented their argument in a civilized manner. Provided that they did do so. Sadly, I have to say that I haven't had such an experience as of yet. And you're not being dramatic at all; I feel exactly the same.
I'm not going to judge the way things were before, because I wasn't that much of an active poster here until this summer (I joined in February, though, and this site did seem much... friendlier back then). I will say, however, that this is quickly becoming a place where everyone can attack whoever they want, for basically any reason they come up with. I don't have anything against the staff but, as you know, I'm very active in various comment sections, and I honestly can't say that this is a tolerant environment.
Delicious (although less emotional) rant from yours truly, take two, on the topic of the most recent episode, and obviously on the character that is discussed most on this thread.
How to you feel and what particular stance are you taking? I understand that yesterday’s episode was extremely difficult to watch, especially for you. Here’s my two cents, though:
After viewing the episode and after getting a good night’s sleep, I now have a sense of where I stand. I don’t think I need to provide a detailed description of the deplorability of Blaine’s actions, and no amount of loneliness that he goes through would justify it. I am well aware of the fact that ‘hook up’ is an ambiguous term, and therefore we are yet to know how far Blaine went with Eli. After all, ‘hooking up’ can be one kiss, penetration, or something in between, but it’s an unspoken rule that once a individual places their lips on another that is not their significant other, than that is infidelity. And as much as it is painful to both of us, Blaine is undeniably guilty of infidelity, the writers have made that clear, and Blaine obviously made it very clear.
Unlike many Klainers though, I do not fully agree with the fact that Blaine was completely out of character, though I will not deny that it was a huge slap in the face. First of all, as viewers, none of us as the right to accuse Ryan Murphy for Blaine being completely out of character, as the character belongs to him, not us. Second of all, it’s not OOC to behave in way that is completely different to one’s personality. Thirdly, what lead Blaine to cheat is not uncommon. It is (unfortunately) not uncommon for a person to be in a situation where they are physically intimate with another person, because of the physical and emotional absence of their significant other. I, however, do not have any feelings of dislike towards Ryan for doing so. On the contrary, I admire the fact that Ryan had the balls to write a story line about Blaine and put an enormous dent on his shining armour, because that is an indication of Ryan is committed to writing a legitimate story line for him, and that Darren is not there for being a cash cow.
I have been attacked from users for stating that I have hope that Klaine would eventually rekindle their relationship. I value myself enough to know that I did not deserve such horrible behaviour from those who do not agree with me, though I completely understand why they do not believe Blaine is worthy of Kurt’s affection. I do possess enough sense of reality and morality to know that there is no way in hell that Klaine are going to stay as a couple, and their cliff hanger is, in my opinion, completely unnecessary. At the moment, what my attackers state are completely correct, Kurt’s affection is something that he does not deserve.
However, I do not agree with the quote “once a cheater, always a cheater” (unless an individual is a serial cheater), because I believe that every human being in existence (although there are extreme cases) is capable of redemption, and because I’m a somewhat closeted hopeless/hopeful romantic. If, over time, Kurt and Blaine are much happier living their separate lives and fall out of love, then I will support that and eventually stop shipping Klaine. However, if both of them are still in love with each other over (a long period of) time, then would it really be so wrong for me to want Blaine to work hard at earning Kurt’s trust and hopefully re-establish their relationship?
Good lord, that was long.
ON A COMPLETELY IRRELEVANT NOTE: You joined in February? Ahh, that was when this wiki experienced its Revolution, I believe. I don't pay too much attention to what goes on behind the scenes. This wiki immediately after the Revolution was absolutely lovely, and then this happens.
Well, in response to your question, I would like to refer you to a blog post I wrote on the subject, not just because it encompasses a lot of what I have to say regarding the topic, but also because I don't particularly feel like repeating myself right now. Forgive my laziness, I have a killer headache right now.
To reply to your sentiment about whether or not Blaine's actions were OOC, though:
I admit that it seemed OOC to me, very much so, when I frist heard about it. I've had time to think about it since then and I have a different view now, but when I first came across that particular spoiler, it felt, much like you said, like a huge slap in the face. I don't think Blaine is some golden boy who can do no wrong and I've always been fully aware that he's not perfect; he is, after all (in-universe, of course), a human being just like everyone else, and as such he is flawed. My love for the character doesn't come from ignoring those flaws, it comes from accepting him, together with all his flaws and imperfections. What didn't feel right at first, it wasn't the fact that Blaine had made a mistake, it was the kind of mistake he had made. Nobody is perfect, and I actually believe that deep down, everyone is capable of anything, but I feel like there are several other ways to produce conflict in a relationship, just as realistic as Blaine having cheated on Kurt is.
Don't get me wrong, I like the fact that they're giving them some level of conflict, because LDRs are incredibly hard to be in, no matter how much one loves the other person, and I've always wanted Klaine to be a realistically troubled couple. I also like that we're finally delving deeper into Blaine's characterization. There's just a part of me that wishes Glee didn't have to kill all the couples in order to produce conflict. I know drama is gold on TV, and relationship drama is the most popular kind, but in my personal opinion, it would be refreshing to actually see a happy couple for once. A realistically troubled one, sure, but still one that works in its essence.
I'm very much a hopeless romantic and obviously one of the biggest Klainers there is, so my opinion may come across as biased and me being blinded due to how much I love the pairing (which it's not), but I can't shake the feeling that most people with said aversion for Klaine's reconciliation never liked the couple in the first place. Obviously they can't work right now, but to say that their relationship was terrible all along is, in my opinion, nonsense. Then there's also the fact that Blaine is getting a substantially larger amount of hate for his infidelity than any other character ever did for theirs (and the examples are plentiful), but I'm going to stop here.
All in all, my opinion on all this? I liked the episode, even if it felt somewhat gimmicky and forced due to all couples breaking up at the same time. As far as the Blaine/Klaine storyline goes, I'm not exactly fond of it and think it wasn't absolutely necessary. However, I can make peace with it, and if nothing else, I very much appreciate the fact that Ryan finally seems to respect the character enough to give him a proper storyline. Of course, that last part will bother some people substantially, but then again, so does Blaine's act of breathing.
Yes, I believe it was either February or March, I'm not completely sure. I was fairly active for a while, but I stopped posting a few weeks before Glee's season finale, partly because I was swamped with work, and partly for other reasons.
I've just finished reading your very insightful thesis, otherwise known as blog post :). And I mostly agree with almost all of it, although there are two things that I'd like to point out (or discuss, I just finished my shift at work, so no deliciously long rants from me today :P)
1. Mercedes cheated on Shane, not Blaine. She is obviously a human being, but she wouldn't have an affair with one of her friends' boyfriends. Proof reading is not essential, but I highly recommend it :)
2. I will not deny that what Kurt did with Chandler was disrespectful, but I wouldn't exactly consider it as cheating either, but that is mainly because I either cannot remember if it was implied that Kurt was flirting back, and therefore, it's unclear (to me, that is) whether or not Blaine was upset with Kurt for receiving them, or upset with him for engaging in a flirt-fest. Although, what I will say is that Kurt is perfectly entitled to present his number to anyone he pleases, and accepting charm and compliments from a person that is not your significant other is not a crime. It was definitely implied that Kurt did not make any attempts to stop him, but whether ot not Kurt prompted him to continue to send him those texts is still something that is either unclear to me, or a question that will probably not be answered.
One thing that I also have to say is that while Blaine's act of infidelity is obviously implied as much more severe than Kurt's, both did what they did because they unfortunately did not receive what they wanted from each other, and that, unfortunately, all boils down to lack of communication.
However, I don't think the issue (from Klaine and Klainers' perspective) was the cyber flirtation itself. I personally think it was Kurt's attitude towards it that caused quite a bit of uproar. Kurt was sorry that the texts made Blaine feel that way, but he never actually apologised for it, and this boils down to Kurt's inability to acknowledge his faults. In my opinion, the only thing that Kurt had to apologise for (besides upsetting Blaine), was for the fact that he didn't attempt to cease the flirtation.
And good lord I did not make much sense. I'm going to stop here and go to sleep. :)
Shane. Of course. How could I let that one slip? That's what I get for trying to do multiple things at once. Thank you so much for catching that one :)
In my opinion, the main issue about Kurt and Chandler's texting lies in the fact that, while it started out innocently enough, the content became much more explicitly affectionate later on. One such text that comes to mind was Chandler asking Kurt if he could sing into his voicemail, because he wants to make his voice his ringtone. That's not only somewhat concerning, it's also the kind of content that crosses the line in my opinion. Obviously Kurt is allowed to exchange phone numbers with a casual aqcuaintance, I'm not going to dispute that at all, and I also believe that receiving a compliment that makes you feel good is perfectly fine. The fact that Chandler's later compliments were something specific that Kurt wasn't getting from his boyfriend is what's bothersome about the whole ordeal.
I could be mistaken, but the way I understood the whole thing (I just rewatched the scene from DWS to make sure), Kurt wasn't just enjoying Chandler's charm, it was implied that the complimenting was mutual. Since Blaine said that there were "dozens of texts between the two of you" (when talking to Kurt), adding that Kurt had recently only texted him four times, I would say that has Kurt either reciprocating the affectionate display or, at the very least, encouraging Chandler to continue texting him by reacting positively to it. I could be wrong, but that's the way I see it.
And thank you for pointing out their communication issues, I've mentioned those many times in the past few days. If they had just attempted to communicate efficiently, their issues that, quite frankly, have been there for a while now, never would have led to either one of those events. Not Kurt's exchange with Chandler nor Blaine's infidelity.
You certainly made more sense than I did :P Good night! :)
I apologise for the late reply, but life (no matter how simultaneously beautiful and stressful it is) gets in the way. I'm also probably not going to visit this forum very often from now to the conclusion of end-of-year examinations, so don't miss me, and I will make sure to make my presence known whenever I can :P
Oh, you're right, I missed the "dozens of texts between the two of you" line, so it is a high possibility that the flirting was mutual, though we may never actually know whether or not it was. I don't rewatch older episodes as much as I used to, because frankly, there's just too many to rewatch! :) I would personally consider the disrespect that occurs in a Kurt-Chandler texting situation to be equal to a person that does not stand up for their significant other when they are being verbally attacked by someone, I'd say. It's not infidelity, but it is highly disrespectful.
I'm now avoiding episode pages like the plague at the very moment due to its incredibly toxic enviornment that is somehow considered to be acceptable in the standards of a human being. Of course, I haven't been in the episode pages for 4x05,06 and 07 so I haven't seen the comment section there myself, but I know I'm not that far away from the truth. I know it's silly to dedicate time and emotion to the show, and the characters, but quite frankly, after watching TBU, and being aware of the inevitability of the official termination Klaine, I'm not in the mood for being slammed for having faith in a couple that I remain shipping, nor being slammed for seeing potential in a character, or their portrayer. Well done for dealing it with it quite well, Matt.
On a positive note, I am happy about a few things. Chris and Darren are singing another duet this Christmas, although not in the happiest circumstances for their respective characters this year, I'd assume. I'm a little skeptical about it being a Britney Spears original, because commercial pop songs aren't a strong suit for a Klaine duet, IMPO. Although, I'm quite certain that if there is a Klaine duet in the album, it would be performed on the show. RIB&co. wouldn't have a male/male romantic duet on the album just for the sake of it, although I do wish that there would be more same-sex romantic duets performed for leisure. After all, female/male romantic duets can still be magic between two people who are in a platonic relationship, why not for same-sex romantic duets?
And there is apparently a rumour that I am finding quite difficult to believe, Blaine auditioning for 'Grease' with 'Hopelessly Devoted to You'. While the thought of it is, in my mind, simulatenously beautiful and heartbreaking.
That's perfectly fine, I understand. I do wish you the best of luck with all your exams, sincerely. :)
I don't watch old episodes on a regular basis either, but I did rewatch season 3 this summer and I happened to remember the events of that particular scene. I do agree with your personal view on the matter, though. Of course, it all depends on the individual and their own definition of infidelity, so I suppose it's not the same for everyone.
Thank you; I haven't really posted anything on any of the episode pages in about two days (I actually find that the Blaine Anderson page is a very safe, friendly place to be right now, so I mostly check back there), and I'll probably go even longer without doing so, simply because, while I love this show and subsequently enjoy discussing it, I most certainly do not enjoy risking flame wars by taking a positive stance on Blaine as a character or his relationship with Kurt. Life's just easier that way, and I'm really tired of always having to be prepared for an argument about how Blaine is supposedly the most terrible person/character on Earth.
Oh, they're singing "My Only Wish (This Year)"? I didn't know that. I saw the song list from the Christmas album and I got very excited for some of the songs, but I wasn't aware that we already have the information on who's performing which number. I was almost certain they would have Darren and Chris sing "White Christmas / Skinny Love." I would've loved that choice. Oh well. I do cherish every same-sex romantic duet that comes our way; they're not nearly as common as they should be (i.e., as common as "standard", male/female romantic duets).
While we're on that topic, I sincerely hope this year's Christmas episode exceeds last year's standards. I want to be cautiously optimistic about it because the song selection is great, but then again, so was last year's, and let's just say EMC will not be making the Top 10 of my favorite Glee episodes any time soon. I'm not really going to hold my breath for this one, but maybe I'll be proven wrong in a few months' time.
I can see the hate comments already if that turns out to be true. I mean, I can see them either way, but I imagine many people would have a meltdown if it happened. As far as the rumor itself goes, I can't really provide you with an opinion, simply because, and you're probably not going to believe this, I'm not very familiar with Grease, which would be due to the fact that I don't share the appreciation for it that most people display. There really is no particular reason for it, and I'm also fully aware of the fact that I'm in the minority when I say that, but somehow, it just never got to me.
In case this is the last message we exchange for a while, I would once again like to say good luck and I'll see you around later. :)
I don't blame you for not sharing an appreciation with 'Grease', nor do I find it surprising in any shape or form. I am still in disbelief at Finn's generalisation of guys enjoying that particular musical or film. Of course, every man is different, but I'd have more success convincing my straight male friends to watch 'Magic Mike' with me (a male friend of mine was coerced into watching it by his girlfriend, and he was the only heterosexual male in the room at the time. I'm still laughing at his anecdote. Good lord that was off-topic), than 'Grease'. I, personally, adore the soundtrack. What I deem questionable, is the plot. Now, I'm fully aware that story lines in musicals, would always be somewhat of a secondary element to a stage production, but story line-wise, I draw the line at 'Grease'. Everything about 'Grease' is perfectly fine, until Sandy's decides to give herself a makeover by slipping on a catsuit and smoking, for the sake of being in the crowd. That's...pretty much the plot.
If you have heard, or read the lyrics to "Hopelessly Devoted to You", you'd definitely see why there is an uproar about the fact that it is now confirmed that Blaine would be performing it. Even though the musical itself is, well, not one of my personal favourites, HDTY really is a beautiful song, I highly suggest you to check it out :)
Regarding the Christmas Album III, so far, the singers are unconfrimed, so Klaine singing Britney, at the moment, is just a rumour (thank the lord). Eh, neither White Christmas nor Skinny Love are songs that I find myself emotionally invested in, but given Klaine's situation, it may work. I'm also not too keen on any songs in that album besides Happy Xmas (War is Over), to be completely honest, though I will reserve harsh judgment until the album is released. I enjoy the first Christmas Album the most because the majority of the album was sung in a large ensemble (and because IMO, Jenna + Amber + Christmas songs = Pure joy) before the fandom began obsessing over who should get what solo.
Regarding Xmas-related episodes, I found the first one beautifully written produced. The mood was quite melancholy, but it had a rather innocent sense of hope. This was back in the day where Finchel breaking up wasn't a story line that was redundant, so I felt for them in this episode, particular "Last Christmas", a song that I hold very close to my heart. Baby It's Cold Outside was the epitome of sexual tension, it’s so bittersweet thinking about the duet now.
I can’t say the same for EMC, and I’d go as far to say that it is probably the worst episode written in the history of Glee. Matthew Morrison’s ability to direct an episode was questioned on this wiki after that episode aired, which was extremely unfair, because he was given the responsibility to direct, well, a pile of crap. Normally, I would not want an episode of Glee to conclude, but for EMC, I actually checked the media player bar to see how long of the episode there was left. Unlike many users, I was not disappointed at the fact that the “Box Scene” and the “Santa Baby” scene were cut. It was a less than desirable episode to begin with; neither of those scenes would have made that much difference, IMO. Not to mention that there would have been a massive continuity issue if the “Box Scene” made it into the episode. I think I’ll stop here, before I write an entire essay on the flaws of EMC.
There is no doubt in my mind that there would be a third Christmas episode, given the fact that there is a third album this year, and I have a feeling that this would have…elements of sadness in it, as it would be appropriate this year. I wonder if we’d have a third Valentine’s day episode as well. :)
The generalization did feel a bit off, to be honest. I myself know a few straight guys who enjoy Grease, but I would still say it's a bit far-fetched. As stereotypical as it may sound, musicals are indeed, more often than not, aimed at the female and gay male populations. Although, to be fair, Finn's statement might have some truth to it based on the fact that Grease is as iconic as a musical can probably get, so that didn't bother me very much.
Personally, I only know the basic premise of Grease, and I'm familiar with some bits and pieces, if only due to its presence in everyday pop culture. Same goes for the soundtrack, really. I do appreciate the impact it's had on modern culture, but you could say it's not exactly my cup of tea. And this from a guy who would cry happy tears if they ever made Breakfast at Tiffany's into a proper musical. In all seriousness, though, I might actually watch it sometime before Glee returns. I would like to know a bit more about the context of certain songs and how they relate to their respective storylines, so that I can follow and fully appreciate the next couple of episodes without feeling completely left out. And it would probably make my mother, a Glee and Grease fan, relatively happy :P
I listened to Hopelessly Devoted to You as I was typing this up, and I have to admit, it's downright lovely. :) Honestly, the thought of Blaine singing this is simultaneously endearing and heartbreaking.
I don't necessarily have anything against that particular song, I just feel like it would be a bad choice for Klaine to sing considering their storyline. Regarding the mashup, I find myself particularly fond of White Christmas due to the fact that it was our choir's little Christmas tradition for about 6 years in a row, and Skinny Love just seems like an interesting choice to mash up a Christmas song with. Most of all, I'm simply curious as to how the result will sound.
As far as Christmas albums go, I would also say the first one remains my favorite. I enjoyed most of the songs on last year's album, but Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album was defined by an innocence of sorts. The fandom wasn't going crazy over solos, and, like you said, the majority of the album was sung in an ensemble, which seems more appropriate for Christmas, so to say.
A Very Glee Christmas was absolutely lovely in every possible way. Last Christmas is one of my personal favorites among all Christmas songs, and that particular scene captured me completely. And don't even get me started on Baby, It's Cold Outside :)
You probably know that I generally try to stay positive, but even I can't find anything that would make EMC worth watching. I'm very sorry I have to say that about an episode of Glee, but as hard as I tried (and I actually rewatched the episode just to be able to point out something that worked), I couldn't find a single aspect of it that was actually alright. As much as I loved Season 3 in retrospect, there were obviously a few low points along the way, there is no denying when it comes to that. And yet, every episode had something that made it at least moderately redeemable, even The Spanish Teacher. EMC was the one exception in my opinion. And while this was the only Glee episode thus far during which I actually hoped I would soon be released from it, I do not blame Matt Morrison one bit. I would actually like to see him direct another episode just to compensate for the fact that he was given an absolutely terrible one the first time around.
Regarding the two cut scenes, I was originally upset that they hasn't made the final cut because I actually liked them, but when I think about it, they wouldn't have changed anything. Both would have felt incredibly out of place, and it's not like anything could have saved that episode. Not even the final two (? not sure of the order) scenes, which were sort of okay.
I'm going to wait before I get excited for this year's Christmas episode, but seeing as season 4 has been great so far, I'm hoping for a pleasant surprise. Regarding the Valentine's Day episode, I think we might be getting one; if Ryan Murphy's twitter feed is anything to go by, Wemma will get married on Valentine's Day :) I would also personally appreciate one simply because Heart was actually quite good, in my opinion.
I sincerely hope any of this made sense at all; it took me over an hour to type it up due to the many things I'm taking care of at the same time.
I wouldn’t entirely rule out the possibility of Breakfast at Tiffany being a musical. I have not been catching up with musicals lately, but last time I checked, ‘Shrek’ was one, so, one can only hope:P. I am, however, crossing my fingers for a Mulan musical, if it is not one already. I can just imagine Harry Shum Jr and Jenna Ushkowitz playing Li Shang and Mulan respectively :P. Speaking of musicals, the public needs a film one for “Wicked”, and if/when that happens, I can just imagine Lea Michele doing everything in her power for the role of Elphaba. Anyway, does the highly anticipated “Les Miserables” excite you in any shape or form? :P
Regarding “Hopelessly Devoted to You”, I’d have to agree with you there. Don’t get me wrong, Darren Criss putting his heart and soul into a song is something that is very lovely to hear (as well as watch :P) but I honestly think RIB&co. is pushing Darren’s popularity way too far at this point. Darren/Blaine singing “Something’s Coming” is completely justified (not to mention that he sounded absolutely beautiful, on the track, and live). Obviously I can’t judge objectively before I hear the song, and if it sounds beautiful, then the track will definitely be something that I’d treasure; but I can’t really see any reason for Blaine to sing it except for Darren’s popularity, at the moment. I hope this does not turn out to be another “Fighter” situation, where RIB&co. gave a popular song to a popular cast member simply for the sake of it.
As you have stated, HDTY is not the best song for Klaine, given their present situation, and especially not from Blaine’s POV. The only line that applies to Blaine, is “Hopelessly Devoted to You”. All the other lyrics imply that the person who sings this is the one that gets hurt, not the one that does the hurting. Now, I am all for different interpretations of lyrics, but it would make more sense, for myself personally, for Kurt to sing this at his second NYADA audition (if he does decide to reaudition). And even then, the idea of Kurt constantly moping, and singing this song is not a very pleasant mental image, even if Chris Colfer is a beautiful crier (oh who am I kidding? He is just simply beautiful).
Ah, Season Three. To me, story line wise, Season One will always be a winner, but I enjoyed all three seasons for three very different reasons. Season One was written and produced extremely well, regardless of personal preference. Season Two is a season that I enjoyed immensely, due to the humour. The continuity was shocking, but the humour, or more importantly, the execution of the humour by the cast was just brilliant. What I loved about Season Three is that the Seniors were able to live in a (generally) blissful bubble for just one more year. I loved the fact that Klaine, Finchel and Brittana were all so happy and free to love.
Although I have to say that Season Three was severely inconsistent, and I’m sorry, but to have five new writers, writing story lines for characters they barely know is not exactly the best idea. Season Three was not the worst season for me personally, but it does feature the worst/offensive episodes in Glee history, which is rather sad, because the producers did put tremendous amounts of effort into it. There are some episodes which are generally deemed good that I did not particularly enjoy, and there are some episodes that are deemed awful, in which I did enjoy.
I loved “The Spanish Teacher”. I loved the fact that Glee decided to give Will a story line about his lack of enthusiasm (not to mention, fundamental knowledge) for his day job (I wouldn’t consider Glee as a day job for him, as it is an extra-curricular organisation). I loved the fact that Glee actually acknowledge the fact that contrary to what older generations think, teenagers do care about their education.
What was highly anticipated, and loved by many, but not so much myself, was “On My Way”. Suicide is of course, a subject that should not be taboo, and I support Glee addressing it, but I wasn’t as impressed with it as I hoped to be. What I definitely was not impressed with was the fact that Kurt was heavily involved. Kurt should not have felt responsible, as, in my very own (strong) opinion, he did not owe Dave anything, and he wasn’t obligated to pick up one of his calls. From Kurt’s POV, I understand why he would feel responsible (I would too). You ignore many of your friend’s calls, and the next day, you hear that he attempted to end his life, of course there would be feelings of guilt. I don’t mean to offend anyone when I say that, but that is how I feel. Not to mention that that particular episode had way too much content in it to begin with.
And before, I’d like to say that I am definitely not worth an hour of your time :P I know that this message may severely contradict that but still :P
Since Breakfast at Tiffany's is quite possibly one of my favorite movies of all time, I would, as I've already said, flip if it got a musical (in a good way, of course). So, fingers crossed. As for the rest, I vote yes on pretty much everything you said (please forgive me, I'm trying to save time by keeping my paragraphs down to a minimum this time around :P), and yes, I must say the upcoming "Les Mis" has captured my heart already by its mere existence. :)
Yes, this is obviously another case of RIB&co. pushing Darren's popularity, but we've said quite a lot about that in some of our recent conversations, so I'm not going to lose my breath by repeating myself (again, sorry for being in such a rush). However, I do agree that "hopelessly Devoted to You" could end up being a beautiful track; one that I will enjoy very much if that happens, actually. So, I suppose we'll have to wait and see for ourselves. I'm allowing myself to be optimistic about it, though.
I can see your point about how Kurt would be a better choice for this particular song, but personally, I'm able to see (and feel it) it from Blaine's perspective as well. Maybe it's just me, but I do like what a certain cover/performance can make of a song, interpretation-wise. That said, perhaps a Klaine duet of HDTY would not have been a bad choice, and while my mind is already producing dozens of mental images of a very poignant performance split between Ohio and New York, that ship has already sailed (not the Klaine one in general, of course :P).
I enjoyed all three seasons (mainly for the reasons you stated), really, which is partly why I love Glee so much. If I focus on Season 3 here, though, I think one of its main problems, besides the inconsistency and yes, too many (new) writers, was the fact that you couldn't just get into it without having been priorly invested in the show. Season Two was, in many ways, very easy to watch. It promoted Glee's new, more mainstream image, and as such was much more accessible than its arguably complex successor. I myself didn't enjoy certain parts of Glee's thrid season as much as I do in the present day until I rewatched the entire thing. I will, however, say that it was a truly great season, for which I have many a valid reason.
"The Spanish Teacher". I have a lot to say about that episode, but I'll try to keep it short. See, the thing is, I liked what they were going for, but I didn't like the execution. And it's really what bothers me about the way they handle Will as a character; I like him as a person, along with his general characterization, but a large part of the development he receives on the show feels either out of place or somewhat stiff and forced. I appreciated the concept of Will's storyline in "The Spanish Teacher", but the way it came out of nowhere, produced a few scenes while Ricky Martin danced around like a sex god (good Lord, my mind is terrible today), and then slowly vanished away (at least until it resurfaced recently, in a way) was what bothered me greatly. It's a storyline with great potential, but it somehow didn't seem very natural and sensible. Don't get me wrong, I am not criticizing Matt Morrison or any other cast members, because they were great. And yes, like you said, Glee successfully acknowledged the fact that young people are most certainly not indifferent when it comes to their education, which is, admittedly, a terrific thing.
I liked On My Way, very much so, but I agree with your point completely. The main problem I had here was, like you said, the sheer amount of content. A number of Glee episodes have that problem, but it was particularly glaring in On My Way, what with Sebastian's attempt at blackmailing, Dave's suicide attempt and subsequent reactions, Regionals, the wedding, etc.
Well, for once, I have to disagree with you :P Any conversation like this (and all our previous conversations, of course) is worth an hour of my time; very much so, in fact. I just feel the need to take care of as many things as possible all at once, so I'm forced to perform some heavy multitasking, which in turn makes every task take even more time. And, speaking of contradiction, I remember saying I would be brief this time around. Don't really know what happened to that along the way :P Although I would like to apologize for this mess of a reply, I'm in a rush.
Pardon me for my melancholia on artists, or anything else for that matter, adjusting the way they perform to suit mainstream media, especially after knowing that Kevin Reilly has a small amount of control in what kind of music that is performed on the show. I know I should not judge KR based on what is a personal opinion of is, but his dislike of the West Side Story arc is just something that bothers me, as he clearly underestimates the amount of Broadway enthusiasts that watch the show, and that some of the best musical numbers on 'Glee' have been show tunes, and I am quite certain that "Rose's Turn" alone received an Emmy nomination.
I know that Season Two captured a lot of attention because of their use of pop culture, but it clearly isn't one of their best seasons. To me personally, mainstream is not a good thing :(
I don't personally mind said adjustments as long as they don't get in the way of what made the material appealing in the first place. As long as it's not too compromising just for the sake of fitting a more mainstream image, I can live with it. And, while I'm not one to judge based on personal opinions either, I do have to say Kevin Reilly's assessment of the WSS arc didn't sit right with me. I'm not saying it was perfect, but I do think it was a solid arc overall and what bothered me was how outright his dislike was. Putting the fact that Fox often hinders Glee in its natural path as it is aside, I just believe that, regardless of one's personal preference, there have clearly been certain arcs in the past three years that deserve that kind of criticism to a larger extent than the WSS arc, not to mention the fact that personal taste should not make a difference as long as something fits with the nature of the show (and, like you indicated, works well when invoked).
I'm not anti-mainstream, but that's mostly because I don't care about it in the first place. To me, if something works well and I like it for what it is, it doesn't matter if it's mainstream or not. That's why I prefer when a TV show (or any form of entertainment, for that matter) stays true to its natural style, regardless of whether or not that makes it mainstream. I just don't think the "level" of mainstream is a quality that matters in its own right.
My judgment of the WSS arc may be blinded due to my love for the musical (it is not one of my favourites though) and its incredibly rich orchestral score, but I adored every single moment of the arc and I cannot fault any musical number, vocally, or the overall performance. The entire WSS arc was something that, IMO, practically screamed 'Glee!'. Pardon me for stating something so extreme, but I truly believe that the entire 'Glee' cast could put on a successful, and professional production of said musical and perform the entire thing, and the amount of money I'd actually pay to see it is just...I have no words. One thing I would say about the WSS is that I actually wished 'Glee' would have used that to address the issue of race, as much as they used WSS as an extention of love stories of Klaine and Finchel, but that's an extremely minor complaint.
I still find it difficult to believe that Kevin Reilly and FOX would think that his "less showtunes, more commerical pop" mentality would actually make a significance to the ratings. It is no secret that Ryan Murphy's musical encyclopedia is enormous, so that fact that FOX is hinders RM's chances to fully use it is quite upsetting, as a huge music enthusiast.
I apologise for these incredibly short messages. Sleep awaits!
You know, if you would've just let me vent. I would've gone over it, believe it or not. So instead of acting like a douche and telling you to fuck off once again, I'll just apologize for telling you off. Alright?
I don't know whether that apology was out of obligation, or whether or not it was genuine (please don't take offense to that, it is just extremely difficult to tell from you), or both, but I appreciate, and accept your apology.
I say this as respectfully as I possibly can, because believe it or not, I do have the right to free speech as well :
I will willingly admit that I was out of line, and I do apologise for that, but I hope you understand that it is excrutiangly frustrating to read your comments on this wiki, as equally frustrating as it is for you, along with 90% of Glee wiki users, seeing Tina/Jenna constantly on the sidelines.
I'm sorry, but I do not appreciate the fact that the fact that I do like Blaine as a character (though most of his solos are excessive, pointless, and not that well-produced), and the fact that I like Klaine because they're one of the few couples that are functional, is somehow a sin to human nature. I do not appreciate the fact that I'm being labelled as a batsh*t crazy lunatic because I like Klaine. You have legitimate reasons for your hatred of Blaine and Klaine, but you do have to respect those that like them, just like how I have to respect that you want Blaine to consume poison and die. I've been very respectful to your posts in the past, by ignoring almost every comment that expresses your hatred of Blaine. And I believe that I was VERY respectful to you when I first wrote on your message wall. I, along with everyone on this wiki (regardless of who their favourite character/ship/etc is) expect the same from you.
Look, you are perfectly entitled to give your opinion, and vent, in a respectable, and appropriate manner. I'm sorry if people telling you what to do on the Internet pisses you off so much, but this is a monitored wikia and there are admins and bureaucrats that will tell you off for being out of line, and there is nothing you can do to change that.
I do sincerely apologise for my extremely harsh comment that was out of line today, I really do, it wasn't fair on you. However, your...hissyfit wasn't fair on anyone either.
It's not a sin against nature. You can like Klaine and Blaine and whoever you want. I'm not though. I'll never like them. Blaine because I find him annoying and the bias certain the writers have for him makes me hate him more. And Klaine, I just don't really ship canon couples. But I do find them annoying and some people's unhealthy obsession with them.
And yes, that apology was genuine. I had no reason to apologize and I could've just not posted at all. But I did, because I felt bad. See? I have morals too.
Look, thank you for your genuine apology, but swearing at somebody is a pretty good reason to apologise to someone. It was not right for me to do what I did, but it's not right to stick up the finger or use the f-bomb at anybody, even though I've been guilty of that many times in my personal life.
Nothing much happening in my life besides studying and working. And heavily anticipating the premiere of Season Four. And looking through the Glee wiki page to see why people are still here. That's pretty much it, really.
Hey, I saw your comment on "The Break-Up" page saying you stopped shipping Brittanna a long time ago. I also stopped shipping them and I was just curious as to why you stopped? :)
I don't dislike Brittana as a couple. I just don't ship them anymore, for the following reasons:
a. Writers and Fans
The fact of the matter is that Brittana only exists because fans wanted them to be, and that's not a good thing whatsoever, and something that annoys me to no end. I mean, FFS, people were beginning to ship them after ONE accidental sex comment from Brittany. Not to mention that the writers said that they were "thinking of letting Brittany and Santana kiss" during the Comic Con 2010, and for what legitimate reason? None whatsoever!
The establishment and story lines of Wemma, Finchel, and Klaine were story lines that were carefully planned before fans began to ship them and it shows. Brittana, on the otherhand, weren't, but the writers created the story line of Brittana because a. Fans. and b. The opportunity seemed to present itself after a while.
I don't believe that the writers a. Really had a romantic Brittana in mind to begin with, and b. Really invest into their story line that much. I rooted for them, but if the writers don't appear to give a c**p about them, then why the hell should I?
b. The ones who portray Brittana.
Naya's acting is absolutely spot on, and I believe everything she does or says. However, I can't really say the same for Heather. I understand that Heather has not done any acting prior to 'Glee', and I understand that semi-monotonic (don't think that is a word) delivery is both Brittany's, and Heather's style, but Heather's delivery of anything meaningful can be really dry. Don't get me wrong, Heather is a talented woman, but I don't care what Ian Brennan says, acting classes would really benefit her if she does act once she finishes 'Glee'.
c. Would I date any of them, regardless of age, gender, sexuality, and the fact that they're both fictional?
This may sound absolutely ridiculous, but all the couples that I ship, 'Glee', or otherwise, would feature at least one person that I would date. Here are a few couples that I do ship:
Monica and Chandler: I'd date Chandler.
Ross and Rachel: I'd date both of them
Finchel: I'd date Rachel :P, not Finn.
Klaine: I'd date Blaine.
For Brittana, as sweet and lovely as I really do find them together, I wouldn't date Brittany or Santana, because I'd actually prefer to date someone who as a better sense of reality, and I'd actually prefer to date someone who does not have the tendency to bite off other people's heads :P
Thanks for replying so soon! I myself don't ship them because of Heather's acting and that they were just put together because of fans, as you said. :)