And character development for all.
Glee accomplished the impossible: it became likeable again.
And as you all have seen me state many times, it is all about the story structure. This week continues the West Side Story tryouts arc with Mike (Harry Shum Jr.) debating whether or not he should audition. After receiving an “Asian F” in chemistry (which is really just an A minus), Chang’s stereotypical Asian father forbids him from dance. This tears Mike apart. No one is there to console him, though, because Rachel (Lea Michele) and Mercedes (Amber Riley) are having a diva off to find out who should play the role of Maria.
With these two stories, Glee continues to set up its various stories for the season. For more fun, we are introduced to Emma’s (Jayma Mayes) ginger supremacist parents. We also find out that Mike’s parents disapprove of his dream of dancing. So how many arcs does that mean we have so far? Okay boys and girls, let’s stick out our fingers and toes:
- Emma’s parents are introduced; they set back Emma’s recovery from her OCD
- Emma and Will’s (Matthew Morrison) relationship
- We have Mike Chang’s father expressing disapproval
- We have the overarching West Side story musical arc
- Quinn (Dianna Agron,) Puck (Mark Salling,) Shelby’s (Idina Menzel,) feud over the baby
- Shelby starting a new Glee Club at McKinley
- Kurt (Chris Colfer) and Rachel trying to enter the arts’ school in New York.
- Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) running for office and trying to destroy the arts
- Kurt, Brittany (Heather Morris,) and Rachel running for senior class president
- Whatever the hell Sugar Motta (Vanessa Lengies) is doing
- Has anyone forgotten Dave Karofsky (Max Adler?)
Am I forgetting anything? Oh wait, the actual show choir tournaments. This giant web of story arcs may strangle the show if the writers aren’t careful here but given the general story balance of the show thus far, there is some hope. This could very well be Glee’s best season if the cards are played well. The writers are pulling the Glee club apart by its seams… and it works. Viewers are seeing Mercedes’ and Rachel’s ambition crystallize with their diva off and Mercedes delivers a strong performance of “It’s All Over” from “Dream Girls.” Critics are praising this episode so much that I can’t say much more about it myself. But seriously, 11 arcs? In three episodes?
Some stats and info about Glee, “Asian F”
TV SHOW – Glee
SEASON/EPISODE – Season 3, Episode 3
AIRED ON – October 4th, 2011
NETWORK/STREAMING SERVICE – FOX/Hulu
GENRE – Drama, Musicals, Comedy
CREATED BY – Ian Brennan, Brad Falchuk, Ryan Murphy
CAST – Chris Colfer, Jane Lynch, Lea Michele, Matthew Morrison, Kevin McHale, Naya Rivera, Jenna Ushkowitz, Amber Riley, Mark Salling, Heather Elizabeth Morris, Chord Overstreet, Darren Criss, Harry Shum Jr., Cory Monteith, Jayma Mays, Dianna Agron
This review originally appeared on TV Geek Army.