September 2, 2012

Episode Review: GLEE, "Preggers"

Aside from the ridiculous baby drama, both introduced and continued, "Preggers" was probably one of the better episode of Glee's early run because it had everything that I looked for from the show.

Kurt was practicing Beyonce's "Single Ladies" with Brittany and Tina when his father came downstairs to see what was going on. Since he was not ready to come out to his father, Kurt made up a story about how the leotard that he was wearing all the rage with athletes since it wicks sweat from the body. As he tried to convince his dad that even football players wore them, Brittany blurted out that Kurt was McKinley's newest kicker. A confused but impressed Mr. Hummel asked Kurt to let him know when his first game was so he could watch. In need of an in, Kurt asked Finn if he could help him get a tryout for the football team, and he agreed since he thought that the crossover between the two groups would make his life easier. Of course, Kurt "audition" for role of kicker with his own style, which didn't go over to well with the rest of the team.

Dealing with the high school hierarchy was not the only thing on Finn's plate because Quinn broke the news that she was pregnant and that he was the father even though they never had intercourse. A shocked Finn did not know what to do, so he went to Mr. Schue for support. He admitted that he wanted more for his life and didn't want to be stuck in Lima with a family he didn't plan, and he figured the only way out was by getting a scholarship. Since the Titans were awful, and Will was a good teacher, Finn asked him to help loosen up the team with the hopes that they could win a game. Schue reluctantly agreed, and with the help of Beyonce and Kurt's leg, McKinley won its first football game.

After the game, Kurt's dad told him how proud of him he was and how he wished his mother was around to see him. At this moment, Kurt decided that he no longer wanted to lie about who he was, so he told his father that he was gay. Surprisingly, Mr. Hummel always knew and supported him no matter what.

Meanwhile, Rachel was trying to deal with the fact that Schue gave Tina a solo that she felt belonged to her, Sue started up a segment on the nightly news but it was at risk if she didn't win Nationals, so she planned on stealing New Directions' star with the help of Sandy Ryerson. Oh, and it was revealed that Puck was the father of Quinn's baby (which Terri called dibs on).

At its best, Glee was able to combine the real with the outlandish, and I felt that "Preggers" was a great example of this talent. While all of the fake baby/teen pregnancy arc was a gigantic albatross around the first season's neck, it was easy to overlook these horrible storylines in lieu of the more heartfelt moments involving Kurt and his father. Even the scenes between Finn and Will felt genuine even if they were a bit inappropriate, but that was obviously the tip of the the improper relationship between the two of them.

Along with the babies, Rachel's plotline about her need to be a diva was the episode's other lowpoint because it started to be hard to root for her as she threw temper tantrums the entire time. While it was easy to see where she was coming from, the way she handled herself made her unsympathetic, and the key to this show's success is being able to cheer on very flawed people. That was almost impossible to do after "Preggers." Plus, it all felt kinda underdeveloped and rushed.

On the Music Front: It was a pretty light night. Obviously, "Single Ladies" killed, but I much preferred the football team's version over Kurt's because it was so outrageous and downright hilarious.

Other Odds and Ends
  • Was the black baby line a Nip/Tuck callback?
  • For the record, I really like Finn and Will's relationship, but even I have to admit that the two have shared some very odd moments throughout the show's run.
  • Hands down, Mike O'Malley as Kurt's dad was the best decision Ryan, Ian and Brad made as creators. Such a great character, and we're just getting started.
  • Unintentional Foreshadowing/Funny Line of the Night: "I'm a stud, dude. I could wear a dress to school, and people'd think it's cool."
  • "Boy, the only thing missing from this place is a couple dozen bodies lymed and rotting in shallow graves under the floorboards."
Ultimately, I would've been OK with Quinn's pregnancy if it wan't swallowed up by Terri's shenanigans because it tainted the first thirteen episodes. Had "Preggers" not gone full crazy and more time been spent on Rachel's sub-plot, it probably would've been Glee's best, but there's nothing that can be done now.

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