Since debuting on Fox last year, Glee has exploded into a global phenomenon. With the cast albums monopolising charts on both sides of the pond, and with their version of 'Don't Stop Believin' becoming better known that the Journey version (for some), and the launch of a live tour, Glee has become an overnight success.
But could it be that this new success has backfired on this new season?
I came into Series 2 full of anticipation, Glee had become one of my favourite guilty pleasures. It is back to school at McKinley High, and the Glee Club remain the bottom of the pile, after not being placed at sectionals, being beaten by Vocal Adrenaline. Adding to this is the arrival of the new football coach Shannon Beiste (Dot-Marie Jones) who seems be totally unafraid of cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch). Sue enlists her usual nemesis Will Schuster (Matthew Morrison) to help bring her down to size. But this backfires when Beiste doesn't fall for their tricks, and even turns on Finn (Corey Montieth), removing him from the football team.
This is just one of the problems faced by the students in the Glee Club. Over the summer, Tina (Jenna Uschowitz) has broken up with Artie (Kevin McHale), after bonding with Mike at a summer camp for Asian children! Quinn (Dianna Agron) returns to the Cheerios and her old position as Head Cheerleader, at the expense of Santana (Naya Rivera) who lost her position due to having a boob job over the summer. Two new students also seem to threaten the positions of the Glee Club. Sunshine (Charice), a Filipino exchange student, seems ready to threaten Rachel's (Lea Michele) position as top of of the New Directions pecking order, whereas Sam (Chord Overstreet) seems able to sing and also be ready to become quarterback of the football team (sound familiar...)
To be honest, the characterisations really bugged me this episode. Will, who we last saw with Emma (Jayma Mays), becomes almost as bad as Sue for most of the episode, and seems to show little guilt for his actions, and Rachel is returned to being the self-centered annoying person she was for most of series one. Perhaps the only evidence we had of character is from Quinn and Santana's fight in the corridor, which showed some great acting from Rivera and Agron.
I felt that as a first episode it was a little flat. The vocal performances were, as usual, very good. Charice and Lea Michele's performance of 'Telephone' (as sung by Lady Gaga & Beyonce) was strong, as was Charice's 'Listen', although the performance was slightly marred by her slightly over-the-top hand gestures.
In general, I was a little disappointed with this episode. I'm hoping that the rest of Series 2 is a lot better! I think the funniest moment was courtesy of Broadway performer Cheyenne Jackson, as the new coach of Vocal Adrenaline (replacing fellow Broadway veteran Idina Menzel), carrying a Hello Kitty backpack. Hopefully the humour and the characters will be back on track next week.
