Glee: The
Complete Third Season (2011 – 2012/Fox Blu-ray)
Picture: B Sound: B Extras: C Episodes: B-
I absolutely loved Glee when
it first hit the air. It was smart,
funny and incorporated music into a series like no one had ever seen before. Glee was
an evolving musical for a new generation.
Somehow, however, (writer/creator/director) Ryan Murphy quickly lost his
way and after Season One the series
(though continuing to have huge ratings) has been in a creative downward
spiral.
After viewing Season Two I
was a bit perplexed as to what had happened.
I thought Glee had an aura of
Freaks and Geeks about it, with a
dash of My So Called Life, and all
held together with music that could span generations. All of this coupled with a young, unknown,
talented cast. Needless to say Glee was one of the most promising
series on television. But with the
success of the series and a major bump in budget, the series became over
produced and lost the charm it initially had.
Glee was only somewhat unbelievable
at first, managing to stay grounded in reality.
By the time Season Three arrived
the cast trotted around the school like movie stars in ‘high fashion,’ pushing
the ‘problem of the week’ storylines.
Musical numbers are no longer the kids on stage in red t-shirts and
jeans, but instead there are full bands/orchestras, quick costume changes,
lights, smoke, GLITTER! OH THE GLITTER!
Ryan Murphy has become so obsessed with finding ‘something different’
and pushing issues that ‘kids can relate to,’ that he has lost what made the
series great in the first place. Glee was tight and had the elements
Murphy was looking for, but has sacrificed that for Hollywood
size productions in what the audience is suppose to believe is an Ohio high school. Come on Ryan Murphy, really? He even wants to be strict with the stars
ages/grade level as one season counts for one year of these characters’ lives;
let’s ignore the fact many of these actors are 30 years old to start with. I am all for keeping it fresh and bringing in
new talent, especially in a music based series, but when you have the
characters performing ridiculously impossible stunts in a high school parking
lot or gymnasium already, does adhering to grade level really matter?
I get what Ryan Murphy is trying to do and in turn forcing his writers
to do, he is trying to put a message out there of love, acceptance, and
showcase the hardships that we all go through; proving we are not alone. That is all fine and good, but shoving it
down the audiences throat is idiotic and almost an insult to the viewers’
intelligence. I guess Ryan Murphy never
heard of isn’t quite as bad; but the series does continue placing the
characters in their most stereotypical roles to date. The episodes focus on topics that were touched
on before like sex, weight issues, bullying, abuse, violence, lies, and so on;
but the manages to focus more on story than just those messages this
season. What I still can’t stand is how
Ryan Murphy insists on pairing the ‘topic of the day’ with songs that fit too perfectly;
I could almost predict what song was coming.
This season we see the New Directions picking up the pieces after
failing horribly at Nationals last season.
A change is needed (perhaps Ryan Murphy should take his own advice) and
everyone is agreement as they buckle down and pull it together; sadly drama
ensues and they break up/get back together for the 1,000,000th
time. There is a surprise/not so
surprising ending and some characters move on after graduation; sending some
key players in varying directions. I am
growing wary of Glee, but will
continue to watch for now as I hope for the best.
Extras include:
·
Glee Music Juke Box
·
Glee Under the Stars
·
Sue Flashback
·
Santa Baby
·
Ginger Supremacists: Extended Scene (Apparently we get a
longer look at Emma’s parents in this extended scene…they just happen to be
hair racists)
·
Glee Give a Note
·
Glee Swap: Behind the Scenes of Props
·
Saying Goodbye
·
Ask Sue: World Domination Blog
·
Sue’s Quips
The picture on Glee is
bright, colorful, and has come a long way since the problem riddled Season One release. The 1080p is crisp, clean though being on
film still the series does have a small element of grain sacrificing some
clarity, but heightening detail. The
darker scenes can be problematic here and there though nothing too
horrible. The sound is a 5.1 DTS-HD
Master Audio lossless mix that is nice but I wish was better, especially for a
music-centric series. The series mostly
comes from the front center, though I must say when the music kicks in the viewer
is catapulted into a different world.
The music numbers boast sound that is concert Blu-ray quality as every
speaker is engaged, clean, clear as it surrounds the viewer in sound. A bit unbalanced in terms of the transition
from dialogue to music number, but those who tune in just for the music will be
pleased.
- Michael P. Dougherty II
