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).

喜宴

今天晚上, 我再一次看喜宴這部電影. 再中文課 (好像兩個星期前) 我們也看了整部電影, 但是我剛發現, 原來我們QRC也有這部電影, 就突然想再看一次. 所以就從十二點開始看到現在.
這部電影我覺得真有意思. 李安拍這部電影是1992年, 可是已經過了十幾年還滿有意思. 我認為現代同性戀的中國人還要面對主角偉同面對的一切, 還須隱瞞事實, 不能父母知道自己是同性戀的. 可能他們就覺得有一點...對父母的責任, 一定要先為他們著想, 或許自己的快樂也沒那麼重要. 不佩服父母的話, 就不孝吧. 要坦白跟爸媽說自己是同性戀的, 真不容易, 無論是中國人與否. 我自己...都不知道怎麼才能夠得到這種勇氣說出真相.

剛過去的星期四, 這裡的 CONTACT 開了一個小會子, 請了幾個同性戀的學生談一談他們 "從櫃子出來" 的過程, 的故事. 我本來還以為他們每個都告訴了親戚朋友, 但事實上, 不是每一都 "出來" 了. 好幾個都說, 他們想不到有什麼原因要先再告訴家人, 還覺得時刻還沒到, 還不適合. 這個小會兒真讓我大開眼睛, 讓我思想良多. 想著我自己的情況也沒有必要這麼早就告訴他們. 等到良好的時間才說, 可能才是最好的辦法. 還沒準備好就說出來, 兩方也受傷. 可能, 有時候, 隱瞞事實是為了最好的結果.

我寫中文, 為什麼只寫了這麼短. 真沒用吧. 五百個字也沒到. 我的中文程度, 真的這麼差. 哎.