The highly anticipated first episode of the second season of Glee aired a Monday ago (11 January), and the blogosphere is having a rant. I have read masses of comments saying that the first episode was merely a disappointing rehash of season 1 – bloggers (and those commenting) seem to be voicing a fear that the show runs the risk of falling into the ‘same old-same old’ category (or rut).
Well, the first episode did follow pretty much the same formula as the first season. BUT isn’t that the point? The premise of Glee’s satire is that High School doesn’t change. Social groups dictate behaviour and leave no room for individuality – jocks will be jocks, geeks will be geeks, cheerleaders will be cheerleaders and so on. The flippant attitude of the show is based on those High School attitudes, which remain the same year in and year out. The first episode of Glee’s season 2 establishes that High School IS the ‘same old’. No matter how hard outsiders try to fit in, the rules dictate otherwise. Glee Club is an attempt to defy stereotype. It is a collection of misfits who band together because of their unique-to-the-individual weirdness and their coincidental talent: ‘Outsiders merge to form singing group’ – it’s almost desperately shameful and for that reason the Glee Club really stands no chance. And that is the very point that the show makes: preconception is a brick wall that takes more than a little hammering to infiltrate.
Although the Glee Club comprises a group of individuals (a poignant irony in itself), the club rejects exclusivity in a hopeless attempt to get people to join in. In comparison, every other social group is autocratically run by the rules that prescribe the group; ‘coolness’, ‘jockness’, ‘geekness’… or whatever . Glee Club is more open-mindedly democratic (as long as Rachael is not running the show) and yet it fights to survive amidst the preconceived attitudes of high school kids. 
Perhaps this is a greater metaphor for society at large. The sharp witticism inherent in Glee is based on stereotype, political correctness and bureaucracy – which are all familiar concepts, in every institution and place of work, worldwide. If that High School ‘sameness’ had been rejected by the show’s producers, the whole framework for the black humour and social commentary that envelops the show would be gone. And Glee would be redundant.
Who knows how long a bunch of singing-songing high-schoolers will entertain audiences before characters get old, karaoke supersedes talent, Sue runs out of one-liners and the show no longer has anything to say. But in the meantime, Glee is riding a rollercoaster of awesomeness – attested by three Golden Globe wins: Best television series – comedy or musical; Best performance by an actress in a supporting role in a mini-series or motion picture made for television – Jane Lynch (Sue Sylvester) and Best performance by an actor in a supporting role in a mini-series or motion picture made for television – Chris Colfer (Kurt). So keep the episodes a-rolin’ and the songs a-comin’ and we’ll keep on laughing.
I agree wholeheartedly.
I’m not quite sure what viewers were expecting, perhaps some kind of Glee-reform in which the club members suddenly find themselves at the top of the high school food chain? What makes the show so addictive (and so devilishly funny at most times) is the fact that it’s not your average “rags to riches” type of story. It’s an ongoing struggle for each and every one of the characters.
There is hope for a slight change in the music though. Holding thumbs that Mr Schu broadens his horizons a bit to add in a little more modern music and a little less broadway… just for some flavour.
I’m itching to get my paws on a few more episodes. Without Sue Sylvester, it’s a dreary weekday.
PS: Episode 5 is YUMMY. “The Rocky Horror Glee Show” – definitely one for you :)
Oh my GOODNESS! I can’t wait… and I am going to have to write something about that I think :)
Look forward to that post :)
(Am singing along as I type)
*jealous*
very nice post keep it up