I was rather on pins and needles this week, in anticipation of the much talked about and awaited episode of Glee. Not only because Rachel, Kurt and Blaine (not Finn though — remember he had sex with Santana ) were going to “get down and get funky” for The First Time. But also because of the opening of the McKinley High version of West Side Story. Finally! Just in time for the fiftieth anniversary of the release of the film, I expected more excellent “Glee” versions from the best musical ever! And I wasn’t disappointed.
But I know you don’t want to hear about the music right now. You want to talk about all the sex. Fine by me! I was pretty surprised, considering the way Ryan Murphy has pushed and sometimes crossed the line, at how romantically and tactfully he dealt with the whole thing. I thought things may go a different way early on, when Blaine was telling Kurt that it didn’t bother him that they were taking things slowly because “That’s what masturbation is for!” I cringed a bit, picturing any parent watching it with their teens or younger, scootching themselves into a small ball on the couch while wishing they were dead. But that’s neither here nor there, I suppose. As some of you so rightly pointed out last week, if you’re letting your kids or teens watch Glee at this point? You’d better be ready for anything.
Turns out, after all the discussion from Finchel and Klaine leading up to the nasty … it wasn’t nasty at all! I couldn’t blame Finn for turning down Rachel the first time “It” almost happened. I mean, really! Rachel wanting to lose her virginity so she could play the role of Maria more convincingly was the stupidest thing I’ve heard in awhile. Granted, Artie did plant that seed in Rachel and Blaine’s minds, but as anyone knows who’s a devotee of WSS? Tony and Maria are not about sex at all. Yes, they sleep together. But it’s after the most amazingly improbable and impossible fall into love I’ve ever seen on film. (Yeah, yeah. It was a originally a Broadway show, I know.) Tony and Maria are pure romance. So really, Artie wasn’t the greatest director everyone made him out to be. However, he was the catalyst that generated the whole episode.
Also! The scene in which Artie makes the speech about being coddled and treated like a baby most of his life because of the wheelchair really got to me. I was so glad that by being in charge of the production he “felt like a man” for The First Time. (Yep. The theme just kept on drummin’ along, didn’t it?) And Coach Beiste dated her perfect guy for The First Time as well. (How funny and perfect in this role is Dot Marie Jones, I ask you? The producers were spot on in deciding to write it especially for her.)
I wasn’t surprised at Kurt turning down what Blaine wanted to be The First Time, either. Early in the show, when he’s talking about his bucket list, Kurt reminds us of just what a fool for love he is. He imagines laying in flowers and fields and such. Not the backseat of a car, with Blaine a bit worse for the wear. (And weren’t some of us in that exact position with someone in high school? Huh? But I’m not talking about myself of course.)
Anyway! When we finally got right down to “getting it down?” The scenes weren’t graphic or gratuitous. Everybody had protection and were there because they loved each other and had talked about it ad nauseum. Gay or straight. Who cares about orientation anyway. There were fireplaces and cuddling and nuzzling and all that good stuff. No FCC harm; no FCC foul.
Yet, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that Murphy and the producers of Glee are (and will be) taking hits for this. So I’m asking you …
Were you offended? Do you think this episode just told teens it’s fine to go ahead and have sex if you “think” you’re in love? Are teens ready for the whole package (excuse the pun) that comes with taking a relationship to that next level?
Am I opening a can of worms? Gee. I hope so!
And P.S. — Yes! You will find me at my closest theater tomorrow night, catching the nationwide showing of WSS in celebration of its fifty year release. Sixth row center. With hankies.
You can support CliqueClack and hear the fantastic songs from tonight’s episode by venturing to these links …
Clacked by Tara Shrodes
on Nov 09, 2011 @ 01:25 EST5EDT
I thought it was the best-written episode of “Glee” in at least a year, maybe longer. Artie had a few moments, even Tina had a moment (balanced out by the other girls’ mostly bad experiences). No Sue anywhere. The teachers (minus Bieste) had practically no lines. The musical numbers were better integrated with the storylines than I can ever remember on “Glee”. Well, maybe not the Warblers, but they were fun as usual, and the new guy who’s supposedly going to be a threat to Kurt & Blaine wasn’t over-the-top soapy evil yet. Even Karofsky had a surprisingly well-written, well-acted appearance (with Kurt still reminding us that this somewhat harmless-looking, calm guy used to beat up people). Characters even referenced events that happened over a year ago! CONTINUITY! There were dozens of things that were right about this episode, and that’s before even getting to the “sex” scenes (which were anything but–they were pretty much just “cuddle” scenes). The only thing missing from this show was Kurt’s father Burt. And it was probably the most even show they’ve made since sometime in Season 1, in terms of having no egregiously BAD scenes and having a surprising number of good ones.
So who wrote it? None of the three show creators. Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, a playwright who is now a staff writer and producer on the show. He treated the characters and situations of “Glee” with more respect than any of the creators have in years.