Glee - The Sound of My Dream Dying

I'm sure no one who knows me would be surprised to know that I took Glee for a test drive in my brain sometime between the first and second seasons. I resisted for as long as I could, but my ideal world is one where all oral communication would be through song. I feel certain that everyone would be happier if life was a musical. I... well, you get the idea.

I was skeptical as I sat down in front of the pilot episode, pretty certain that I'd be watching a bunch of teenagers singing songs that I wouldn't know and wouldn't like. (The musical part of my brain is trapped in the 1980s.)  It was a pleasant surprise when the music was mostly recognizable and inoffensive, and the story lines were not incredibly stupid.  Yes, Mr. Schuester blackmailed a student into joining the glee club, but I was willing to let that pass for the moment. As the end of the show approached, I felt pretty ambivalent.  The show was okay - there was nothing offensive, but also nothing exciting.  I was committed to watch the last ten minutes, then walk away from Glee, never looking back. Then, with about five minutes remaining, they performed Don't Stop Believin' by Journey. I was all in - watching the remainder of season one over the next few weeks, as the show slowly, bit by bit, lost me...

Here's my issue:  I understand that the glee kids, most of whom are painfully socially awkward, might find it easier to communicate their feelings via music. I applaud Will Schuester for providing them with this outlet.  However, I don't enjoy the episodes where he uses music the same way.  I can understand why he would sing during a rehearsal, if it helped to show the kids how to express themselves.  That I can accept.  What I don't like is when he serenades Miss Emma Pillsbury (hmmm...I still need to find a pie recipe for this week...) instead of just speaking to her like an adult.  Yes, it's true - Matthew Morrison and Glee have killed my dream. I no longer think that I could stomach people mooning around, singing about their feelings.

I haven't watched much of season two at all. I will admit that I was excited to see the Rocky Horror episode but I ended up turning it off before the end. I accepted the student love triangles from season one, and I even lived with all the adult relationship drama.  What killed me about the Rocky Horror episode was that Schuester was willing to twist the show around - to the detriment of both the student performances and the show itself - in an attempt to win Emma back from her new boyfriend.  Forget the fact that it was his own damned fault that he wasn't that boyfriend. The way that he disregarded what was best for everyone except himself totally disgusted me.  Dude, you're supposed to be one of the adults, and a role model. For the love of god, act your age.

I do want to point out that - outside of Schuester being an idiot - there are some good things about the show.  The guest stars have been great - Kristen Chenoweth, Idina Menzel, John Stamos, and Neil Patrick Harris (who was phenomenal, and clearly should have beaten Schuester in their audition).  I also think that Mike O'Malley is excellent - and surprisingly touching - as Kurt's father.  He so obviously loves and supports his son, even though he clearly doesn't understand what's going on with him.