Glee (TV Series) Ballad (2009) User Reviews

Not so open-minded

[rickprovost · 7/10 · 7 May 2011]

This show has worn its open-mindedness on its proverbial sleeve, with a checklist of ethnic, gay and disabled actors each getting a rotation to feature the special gifts they offer. Which is great -- the show is a lot of fun.

But apparently Ryan Murphy and Brian Falchuk (creators/writers) ran out of tolerance when it came time to cast a few Christian conservatives. The head cheerleader and president of the "chastity club" got herself knocked up a few episodes back. I mean, is that just the kind of hypocrisy you'd expect from a self-righteous Bible-thumper or what? (Not to mention being one of the b*tchy "mean girls.") In this episode we meet her rich, blonde, liquored-up parents, who watch Glenn Beck and praise a son-in-law that owns several UPS Store franchises. A stereotype this broad has rarely been seen since the days of Stepin Fetchit.

And what do these cartoon characters do to their beloved child when they discover that she's pregnant? They kick her out of the house. Yep, that's just the kind of thing those Christian conservatives do every time. It must be the hateful, judgmental nature of Christian conservatism.

Or... maybe it's about the hateful, judgmental nature of the creative class in Hollywood. For all the moral exhibitionism these writers engage in, they've dishonestly caricatured an entire group of people simply because of a belief system that may be incompatible with their own rigid orthodoxy. Someday I hope Ryan and Brian look back and realize what moral failures they are, but I won't hold my breath.

"Ballad" is another way excellent episode of "Glee"

[tavm · 10/10 · 7 October 2010]

Another episode from "Glee"s last season I'm now reviewing here. In this one, Will assigns his class to duets on ballads with the teaming done from names picked from a hat. Since one of his students is sick, he adds his own. Rachel ends up the one who picks it and suddenly she expresses herself more than Will wants. Meanwhile, Finn accepts an invitation to Quinn's parents' home for dinner though when he sings a song called "Having My Baby" to her, those same parents-who didn't know about their daughter's condition beforehand-throw them out. And Puck reveals to Mercedes his actual role in Quinn's situation...This was one of the most touching of "Glee" eps when the storyline went to Quinn and Finn and one of the most funniest when it went to Rachel and Will. And the songs and performances of them were sooo spot on! So on that note, this was another excellent episode of "Glee". And while Sue Sylvester is one of the most compellingly funny of the characters, it's a relief to not see her in this particular ep. I think I'm going to watch the next one right now...

The Beginning of Something.

[blarp333 · 6/10 · 14 September 2020]

That something being the show's start of the Santana/Brittany pairing. When the pairing names are being drawn from the hat, Brittany reacts much more happily than you would expect from someone you just see as a friend.

The reaction of Quinn's parents is sad, but not too unrealistic.

The thing that my willing suspension of disbelief has trouble with is Will not realizing his wife isn't pregnant. I mean, please?

Same Old Song

[ttapola · 5/10 · 18 December 2010]

This series started very promisingly, but has since lost some of it's magic. First, the songs were firmly rooted in the real world, then became the standard Musical genre practice of including sequences that are either fantasies or insights into the character's mind. This change also changed the format of the whole series - it's as if the makers either said, "Wait, we chose the wrong format in the beginning" or "Nobody will notice the abrupt change" - and neither is good.

Also, the character of Rachel demands way too much suspension of disbelief in any work that is not a parody where "the ugly duckling" becomes "the swan" by just letting her hair down and removing her eyeglasses - and that joke has been played to death. No one who has even a passing familiarity with parodies is ever again going to take characters such as Rachel seriously. "Mildly attractive?" In what alternative reality? Especially since in *our* reality the actress has posed in Maxim. The girl is *hot*! She just has a *slightly* larger nose than an average girl. I can't believe the makers of this show are trying to pull this $#it for real in 2009!

When it comes to the episode itself, this one is hardly original and is not nearly as funny as some of the previous ones. Also, it's not like the ending is going to surprise anyone. Mediocre.