Unfortunately its a busy day, but I want to get a few thoughts out, number one, so I can hopefully stop obsessing :) and number two, so I can express my own reactions before they're influenced by reading recaps, other blogs, comments, etc. I did read about five pages of the EW.com comments section, so you can say my words are not completely without influence. But anyway, here goes, hopefully stream of consciousness without taking the time to edit.
I watched the first thirty minutes of "Never Been Kissed" simply waiting for the big moment to happen, and on pins and needles waiting to see what that moment would entail. Which does a dis-service to everything that was going on in the episode, both with Kurt and in the other storylines. It was a jam-packed hour and its going to take me awhile to process and discuss.
When IT finally happened, I was floored. I couldn't believe what I had seen. I literally yelled. Gasped. Really shocked. Hindsight is always 20/20 for me. I have watched a lot of soap operas during my life and I can often predict a storyline, but not this time. The first thing I said out loud after curse words uttered in surprise, was, "Ryan Murphy sure does have some big cajones to put that in." VERY interesting to me that he said in that interview yesterday that he hasn't had any problems getting storylines approved, and that everyone involved has been very supportive. Pleased to hear it, but surprised as well.
So, a good decision? A bad decision? Will people look beyond the shock value and see the bigger picture? Will they think that what Glee is trying to say is that every bully is a closet case? Because I don't think the show is trying to say that. They are presenting a situation, a storyline, that is not designed to be universal, but is designed to be thought-provoking, is designed to present a scenario.
So much more to say, so many more thoughts swirling around in my brain, but I can't get them all out now. I will say that it literally breaks my heart (and makes me so damn mad) to read some of the negative reactions on EW.com. People watched that espisode, and what they came away with was more about Kurt being a whiner? Are you serious? Let's break it down, shall we. Last night we saw Kurt shoved into lockers three times, knocked to the ground once, pushed another time (on the stairs outside with Blaine), threatened with a fist, yelled at, and grabbed and kissed against his will, and people are calling him a whiner? Would they call a girl in those situations a whiner?
One other point for now. The scene with Kurt in Mr. Schue's office was very important. Kurt was absolutely right for calling Schue out. Its all nice and wonderful for Schue to give Kurt a thimblefull of water and ask him if there's anything he can do to help, but why is Schue asking him that question?! Why as an educator and adult are you asking a sixteen year old "victim" if there is anything you can do? YOU do something about it; YOU take action. YOU go to the principal and start making change happen. And the first item on the agenda would be to suspend Karofsky. Or maybe I'm wrong, maybe repeated threats of bodily harm (last night and in "Theatricality" are two examples) are not suspendable offenses? What about an unwanted sexual advance? Would that be a suspendable offense if it was done to a girl?
Hopefully this is where the storyline arc will head to eventually...that Kurt gets fed up with the bullying and the lack of support/protection by school officials, so he leaves, but eventually changes are made and he returns. But unfortunately I see an inherent problem with this. What are they going to do about Sue? Could McKinley realistically institute a zero tolerance for bullying mandate when a member of their faculty bullies everyone at the school, including the principal? Let's be honest here, we are all guilty of loving conniving Sue and the devilish schemes she devises. Would she have to end her evil ways in order to have the positive outcome we want for Kurt?
More analysis to come.
gleekette
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