Glee Review: World War Glee
It may or may not be the modern day version of stoning, but the dodgeball scene in this week's Glee episode, "Mash Off," smacked the taste right out of my mouth!
From the beginning of the scene - where Kurt brushed aside Rachel's olive branch and reminded her of her "borderline sociopathic climb to the top" - the stage was set for an epic battle.
This was madness you say? THIS WAS DODGEBALL!
Any time you have actors performing athletic acts, chances are you can expect to see some awkwardness (see Tom Cruise throwing a baseball in 2005's War Of The Worlds).
The cast of Glee, however, impressed the heck out of me. For those on both teams who lacked the arm strength, the two-handed soccer throw-in style looked very effective, but nothing was more impressive than Brittany's spinning cyclone sling of death. Is there anything that girl can't do?
Okay, math comes to mind, but you know what I mean.
Artie looked like an old contestant on Double Dare with those goggles on and Rachel guarding her nose was just classic.
While the Hit Me With Your Best Shot/One Way Or Another mash-up was as hot as the gym class uniforms the Trouble Tones sported, and despite a lifelong love of Hall & Oates, the best song of the night, hands down, had to be the take on Adele.
Mercedes was stellar as usual, but after initially missing her first cue, Santana gave me chills when she finally took center stage and let all her pent up pain and emotion burst forth in what had to be her best performance to date.
As much as I always love the sharp-tongued taunts that spew forth from our Lima Heights Lolita, I could not have gushed harder when it looked like Heather Morris actually made Naya Rivera laugh for real when she quietly sang "stop the violence" to her in the choir room.
Watch the scene again. I think it was a totally natural laugh that was spared from the trash bin because of how real it was, despite Rivera's voice momentarily falling out of character. A small but amazing scene I thought.
It might be the last time we see Santana smile for awhile as her life looks to get flip turned upside down in coming weeks.
Lastly, Puck was hot for teacher and who could blame him? While his attempts to charm Shelby - such as when he brought her the gourd because they were out of apples in the cafeteria - were steak-headed yet suave, where he really proved irresistible were his interactions with his little monkey faced Beth.
If not for the whole teacher/student legal issue, I found myself almost rooting for it to happen, if for no one else but little Beth... but then it looks like in the scenes for next episode, Puck tells Quinn about his extra curricular activities with their rival coach.
Is it possible Puck has been playing both sides of the mohawk the whole time, seducing Shelby only to expose her and get Beth back for Quinn?
Can't wait to hear what you all think. Matt will be back to review the next episode in two weeks, but I hope "You and I" saw eye to eye this week or at least had a few favorite Glee quotes in common.
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Brittany: Let me break it down. No one in this musty choir room compares to my megawatt star power. Blaine, you're shorter than a lawn gnome. Joe, you look l...
June 22nd, 2012 3:06 PM
I think Finn was wrong for outing Santana. I mean i love Finn and Santana both, but he shouldn't have gone that far. Yes Satana was pushing him, but he shouldnt have stuped to her level and say that.
November 30th, 2011 12:49 PM
It angers me when people say what about all the damage Santana has caused. Well what about all the damage Finn has caused? Huh? He's done many terrible things as well, and some people seem to forget or ignore it. I understand that Santana is a bully. But outing someone is never and never will be okay. And I mean no offense in this, but only someone who is gay or lesbian will understand this. They may not side with Santana, but they will understand. This is someone's BIGGEST secret. While some say Santana pushed him to that point, I disagree. He wasn't impulsive. He was clearly thinking about what to say. You see it in his face, and second he deserves all the insults. He's a hypocrite, a douche, and a jerk. Remember season one? He basically told or implied that Quinn is pregnant to her own parents! Really? That is a terrible thing to do. Sure what Quinn dad was terrible too, but really? He is such a hypocrite. Then with the Kurt thing. Really? Really? And Santana NEVER outed Kurt. She m
November 29th, 2011 12:30 PM
We have to remember that the characters are TEENAGERS (even though they're being played by actors in their 20's). They do thoughtless, cruel, stupid stuff, and have a learning curve of 0. Then, they do it all over again. It takes almost 10 times for a teen to be hit over the head with the wrongness of their actions before they actually "get" it. Santana is a bully with a vicious mouth and a thin skin, and talent does not get her a pass. As last season showed, some bully's never learn until they're slapped down. Finn isn't a bully. He was playing defense to match the offense launched on him. It was fair, and if she couldn't take it, she needs to shut up. Also, Finn didn't "out" Santana. She's been out since Brittney announced it last year on her web series. What he outed was her vulnerability - that she was in love w/her best friend.
November 28th, 2011 12:32 AM
Rewatch that "stop the violence" scene. You can even hear Idina Menzel laugh, and her head moves a bit too. Love it.
November 22nd, 2011 10:16 PM
So annoyed with Finn. Sure, Santanna is a bully, but what he did is worse and can destroy her family life (especially if her family is conservative).
I personally hate the Rachel and Kurt friendship (Rachel annoys me to no end). It wasn't mature of Rachel to step down. She did it selfishly...she wants to go to New York with Kurt and thinks him winning will make his resume more appealing.
I want better stories for Mercedes, Quinn, Puck, Tina and Mike. Also, keep the focus on Santanna as well. Excited Sam is coming soon!
Rank: Recurring Character
November 21st, 2011 4:47 PM
I love Santana. Finn is kind of annoying now.
November 21st, 2011 12:21 PM
Event that Santana deserved what Fin said about her in the hallways, i think Fin was really a coward, because as the gentleman he suppose to be, he shouldn't say anything but turn around and leave!! I enjoyed when Santana slapped him :-)
November 21st, 2011 9:00 AM
Santana or Finn. Of course Finn. Santana deserves to be in position like that. All that bullying thing is too much for everyone. Santana is an evil Bitch.
Rank: Recurring Character
November 19th, 2011 7:19 PM
Even though Santana was being mean to Finn,I don't think she totally deserved it. Look at Kurt for example, he was bullied a million times worse than Finn would ever be and Kurt never outed Karofsky (Idk how to spell his name but you get the point). Finn should have said something different like comment on her being a slut and said something about how her vagina resembles a wizards sleeve. But wait, Finn of course, is an idiot who always manages to say the most sh!t-head comments. Ex. calling Kurt a faggot, Brittany an Idiot, and now outing Santana is added to the list.
November 19th, 2011 6:49 PM
@SEZ yeah, Glee saccharine coats most storylines to fit their purpose of the episode. Like Santana is overly aggressive and disgustingly mean. Just a ploy to have Finn be the fall guy to out her and start her storyline. So Finn hate will go rampant. And poor poor Santana will have her sympathetic fans rallying around her. Thusly, starting her egg shell walk through her story arc. But TT's needing people will be filled by Sectionals with awesome dancers. Gee, New Directions get food or slushies thrown at them. No one wants to support the ND not even the teachers. A Glee saccharine double standard for show effect only. It's so outlandish to see the difference in the auditions of Mercedes and Rachel. Rachel's vocals bellow out with My Man but a whisper on the song she and Merdeces sung and Mercedes shined brightly on. Just sayin Glee manipulation for show cause and effect.