Glee

So,

My new year's resolution (or one of them at least) is to write reviews of all the cultural things I do this year- films I see, TV shows I watch (as in a whole series, not planning to review every episode of QI), exhibitions, new albums, concerts etc. etc. They're not going to be long- few paragraphs unless I've really got a bee in my bonnet but just forcing me to reflect and see what I gained from it.

And because I'm so classy I'm starting with a show I've seen the first half of just now (second half coming out in states in April)- Glee.

Glee is every cliche you could want from the teen drama book. There's a camp kid who's bullied, a big fat black girl, a scheming blond head cheerleader who dates the quarterback who's a bit dumb but has a big heart, an unpopular girl who's desperately keen and annoying but underneath it all has a big heart, big bullies who always go round in their Football uniforms and a wholesome young teacher who just wants the best for these kids.

So why did I devour all 13 episodes in five days? Because it's such damned good fun. It's plots are willfully ridiculous including faked pregnancies and a pantomine villain in the ruthless cheerleading coach who will stop at nothing to make sure Glee fails. And more importantly approximately a quarter of each 40 minutes is taken up by songs- sometimes these are performances (including some pretty unlikely mash-ups), sometimes these are Chicago style imaginary musical numbers which express what's going on in their troubled teenage lives.

It doesn't take itself seriously but not in an overly ironic, knowing way. It's very unashamed to be right on, whether it's singing with deaf kids or getitng everyone to do a wheelchair number. But it's based on a simple proposition- singing and dancing is fun. It's fun for the kids, though they don't always admit it and it's fun for the audience, who are more than happy to admit it. It's not claiming deep truth, that's why it has archetypal characters. But it does let them be reasonably complicated human beings- it has no problem with the same character being selfish and sweet. The love stories are quickly set up and flit back and forth but not in some desperate Ross and Rachael situation- they're teenagers. They change their feelings regularly so there's no pretending we're talking love for the ages. So basically it's freshness is in it's lack of originality- funny scripts about kids breaking free and expressing themselves equals smiles, no dressing it up.

Its pantomine villain isn't quite as good as she could be. I can't quite figure out if it's the script or her. Certainly the chemistry with the head and the right on teacher isn't quite right. And the teacher better keep on dancing otherwise he's going to become a right drip. But basically it adds nothing to the history of TV except a recognition of why Pop Idol etc. is so popular. It might even make me watch it.