Glee 12/13/11

Gah.. So much love for this episode.

I'd seen the music for the episode online already, through Spotify and stuff. Wasn't sure that they were actually doing a Christmas episode or if the Christmas album thing had just become an annual money-making device. So glad that they actually shot the episode. :)
I have to admit, I was a little worried when it started off with Mariah Carey. But it wasn't bad. Sure, a lot of unrealistic things, like Artie almost rejecting to shoot the thing and the TV guy being glad about having a high schooler shoot the Christmas Special. I mean, really? But there were a lot of pros that balanced it out.
Top on my list, I guess, is Sue being human. It happens so rarely, and often it's so weird and abrupt. But, good Sue always makes an appearance when her sister is involved, and by mentioning her, it was a lot more realistic.
Then, the Christmas Special itself was really good. I was loving the black-and-white; made it feel much more oldies, which helped make the affectations that Kurt and Rachel took on funny, rather than indications of bad acting. That first scene, with just Kurt and Blaine, was also super great. Kurt/Blaine Holiday duets are so great. :) And their suits! Gosh, so much love for those suits, not to mention Kurt's skinny tie (nothing against Blaine/Darren's bowties, but I really love the skinny ties).
But yeah. I'm glad that it showed them (the kids) not being super douchebags. At least they helped at the homeless shelter after shooting the Special [although I would have imagined them shooting the special with the homeless shelter as the setting so that they could actually watch, but whatevs]. And though I found the reading of scripture a little uncomfortable (so many Jewish characters present!) it was great and I understood the message being shared. And so, apparently, did the characters.



So yeah. I'm happy. Done with finals, taking a short break around here first before I head back to the Valley. Most of my friends here have gone home, save Jon. Mostly, just glad to be able to relax. Can't wait to spend time home with friends and family.
Ah, the holiday season. :)

ThUd!

aka, the Harvard Undergraduate Drummers, put on a concert tonight! Well, it was more along the lines of a show than a concert. Less formal, more funsies. :)

I went expecting a lot of drums. Instead, I got a lot of marimbas, along with many other things! They were crazy inventive--everything was game, including balls, doors, the railing along the balcony, buckets, stools, even the tops of pianos! I've also never heard the Simpson's theme so well played, nor will I ever hear ringtones the same way.

The meta-show was also really cool. They based it on a TV theme (hence ThUd TV) meaning that the music of the show was meant to be imagined as if it were coming from the TV. They even had Homer change the channels at first. :) So cool.

The part that got me most excited, though, was when they played the Will and Grace theme. I haven't watched that show for quite a while (probably about a month, now) and I need to watch more episodes ASAP! :)

Quite a fulfilling night, to say the least. Great way to spend an hour.

Glee 12/6/11

As Kaylie requested, here's another recap!

Positives
-I'm glad Sam's back. :)
-The reality of the Asian problem with Mike (and Tina) (although the way Tina's talking to Mr. Chang would be a unacceptable, luls).
-Lindsay from The Glee Project! (although it's weird that she's the only vocal in the song her group sings. Lol at unreality). I really like her line: "Next year's gonna be a blood bath!" and her enthusiasm, haha.
-"I Will Survive"! :D Vocals and choreography were so good!
-"ABC"--I don't quite like the song choice (not a fan of the King of Pop) but I did love the choice of vocalists for the song. And the Kurt jumping scene was great. And the fact that Mr. Chang was there was also great. *spasm of happiness*
-"Rebel"--also iffy about the song choice. But Darren Criss. :)
-"Man in the Mirror"--at least they're consistent. This one I'm actually okay with.
-The heart-breaking moment after the announcement.
-Reuniting!
-"We Are Young"! Indie music <3

Negatives
-Damian's lack of airtime. He "won," but other than the first episode, he hasn't had any real role!
-"Red Solo Cup"? Really?
-They resolve problems so quickly. Like the tension with Blaine and Finn/Sam, and between Mike/Mr. Chang (although this was a little more realistic--slightly. His sudden 180 degree change in behavior is a little extreme, but regardless.)
-Gah, Sebastian.
-Gaaaaaaah, Shelby-Quinn tension. So trite, so stupid! Quinn's just starting to annoy me now. Although her maturity at the end was executed fairly well--although it's sooooooo quick (see above).
-The judges? Always so dumb (except for the first time at Regionals--Josh Groban and Olivia Newton-John ftw!)

Glee 11/29/11

Things that were good about this episode:

• Kurt's sweaters
• Song choices
• Dot singing 'Jolene'
• Santana maturing

Negatives, though...:

1. Santana's coming out scene felt so rushed and so unreal. It was just so...plastic. The smile, the happiness about telling her--I mean, no matter how confident she was that her abuela would accept her, I feel that realistically speaking, she would have still been hella-nervous. And the length of that scene--a few short minutes--is so...ugh. There wasn't the necessary mood build-up; it was artificial, and despite how good of an actress Naya Rivera is, it just didn't work. And it could have been so good, like Kurt's coming out in Season 1, only different because of the reaction. The way this was set up though, with all those other sideplots running around at the same time, it was just too abrupt, and that made the little segment so much less effective in adequately representing the abuela's sentiments, and the sentiments of having to come out, especially for someone from a traditionally conservative culture.
2. All the extra sideplots, especially the Puck-Shelly/Puck-Quinn plot. The election things also seemed rushed, and it didn't seem particularly relevant to the plot/theme of the episode (if there were a theme in the first place).