It’s very difficult to write a preview piece for an episode of television that is certain to have big spoilers. It’s difficult to say one thing without accidentally ruining another, especially when you want to approach an episode and analyze it honestly.
The Glee episode “Shooting Star,” which airs tonight at 9PM on FOX, is one of those stories. It’s hard to go too much into detail without revealing exactly what happens, and if you do that, the drama is gone from what truly contains one of Glee’s most emotional moments in its four seasons.
The right thing to do as far as analysis and review goes might be to wait until after the episode has aired…. but, since you all are here seeking some hints and thoughts, here are seven of them:
1. Everything takes place at McKinley High. Although the show has taken detours to New York City to see what’s up with Kurt, Rachel, and company, that’s not what’s happening here. Everything happens inside McKinley, which is a place where…. you might not want to be this week. Especially if Brittany’s theory that, yet again, a meteor/comet/shooting star might be on the way plays out.
I’m glad for this, though, because I really like the new kids on the show, and if the show truly intends to transition to these people, they need to stop relying on the old guard, no matter how I might, say, love hearing Naya Rivera’s voice.
2. Sam vs. Lord Tubbington. Sam is jealous of Brittany’s cat. We kind of already knew that. Either way, Lord Tubbington is causing friction.
3. There are a few red herrings. I will give the writers of Glee this: Things that I expected to see happening, didn’t. An outcome I might not have expected, does. I’m not going to say yet which solution had more emotional impact, but I do give them credit for not taking the predictable route.
4. We see someone that we haven’t seen on the show since Season 1. No, it’s not Matt Rutherford.
5. Ryder meets his chat buddy… or so he thinks. How will he react when he realizes he’s been duped? Well, there’s a reason to watch, right there.
6. As usual, an episode is better without Sue Sylvester. I love Jane Lynch, but I find the more “real” episodes — the ones that seem to have some sense of reality — are the ones without Sue. In this episode, Sue doesn’t show up until a certain point… and that’s when it all starts going downhill. I understand that she’s a beloved character, but I cannot take emotional moments seriously when this is the same woman who wanted to fire cheerleaders out of a cannon. With Sue, I think it’s one thing or another: Comic relief, which she is so good at; or drama, which… I just can’t buy it, no matter how many times they try to “humanize” Sue. They do it once, and the next week she’s calling people names and being obnoxious all over again. I think it’s too late to try to redeem her.
7. I will give them credit for some powerful performances. Obviously, the notion of a school shooting is inspired by recent tragic events in places like Newtown, Connecticut and Aurora, Colorado. I can’t imagine what people went through at a time like that, but if the faces and the actions are anything like what I saw from the Glee characters tonight, it’s got to be terrifying. Strong work from the younger cast all around. It’s a great chance to show that the Glee cast isn’t just made up of “pretty people who can sing.”
All in all, is it worth it? For the developments with Ryder and his crush, some nice story time for the beloved Coach Bieste, and the well-performed, highly dramatic stuff, yes. The feelings you might have afterward, though…. well, see for yourself. I’ll try to post my full thoughts tonight once the episode has aired.
GLEE: Sam (Chord Overstreet, R) sings to Brittany (Heather Morris, L) in the "Shooting Star" episode of GLEE airing Thursday, April 11 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2013 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Adam Rose/FOX
