#Glee on the Rocks

[fandomontherocks]

This week on Glee on the Rocks we're talking S5E3, "The Quarterback."  When a television show intersects with real-life tragedy, the aftermath can be a delicate dance between the narrative and respect. "The Quarterback" serves as Glee's heartfelt tribute to Cory Monteith and his beloved character, Finn Hudson.

As we navigate through the episode, we discuss how Glee chose to honor Cory and Finn's memory on screen, because these songs are not just performances; they're eulogies, farewells, and love letters.

We also look at the decisions made by the writers. Was it too soon to return to production? How do you craft a narrative around such a profound absence? And how do you move forward without forgetting?

Join us to remember and celebrate our Quarterback.

[zivazivc]

Meet Gleena! The last member to join the band after Floyd and Liv quit. She's a drummer who approached the guys through small auditions they held because they were struggling being down to only three members. She's good at what she does and is very friendly (although shy), and her pop vibes are something the band's music was missing since Floyd left, so she was an easy pick to make.

[driftingoffthegrid]

my sister just informed me that she doesn’t like to watch shows on her phone

funny the variety you find even within families because watching sitcoms until 5 am was an essential part of my development that legitimately saved my life

[come-onayleen]

There are just a few ships that truly have the potential for an historical au, 1980’s dead poets society setting, cheesy 2000’s disney channel movie or the tragedy of Jack and Rose and it really shows.

[kingsoverjacks]

Oh my, Lea Michele!

[unholy-fabray]

Butch-ifying every female character on Glee

Step 1: Brittana

@warblercore brought up the sad fact that there are zero (ZERO!!) butches on Glee, and I think that needs to be fixed...

...starting with Brittany and Santana!

[elviragrey]

save me

[mint-termsandconditions]

Rope MF is one of the best Kirby OCs I’ve seen in a while. I love how he simultaneously is silly but also not a joke.

I can’t tell if you actually mean it or if it’s a joke that’s flying over my head, but thank you!!!

Focusing on the topic:

He is no joke, my guy swings on rope 24 hours a few days a week. Like I said in my previous post, probably have a crazy sleeper build.

Like if Bandana Waddle Dee was able to crack the planet at the beginning of his career, just imagine what Rope MF could do

Going into Rope MF origins when being created:

It’s funny you say that their not a joke because originally that what they were!

Rope MF was a joke character in a game concept I had where Kirby, King Dedede, and Meta Knight were all captured and Bandana Dee had to save the day.

It would’ve been a turned-based rpg where you had different waddle dees to join your party and Rope MF was one of them. Because while I was looking at the different types of waddle dees I just found it funny that swinging waddle dee was a type of waddle dee. Rope MF would’ve been one of the weakest member of your party because all he had was a rope, and you can’t do much with that. But then I grew fond of the idea of if you had him in your party the whole time, and if you complete his side quests he’d be one of your most powerful asset (imagine Terry from Lisa the Painful).

This was the first ever drawing of them:

This was the second drawing when Bandana Dee completes his arc of not being ashamed of being a waddle dee. He then goes on an entire rant about how each Waddle Dee was special, and I included Rope MF because I thought it was funny:

I lowkey became attached to Rope MF and decided to make them their own character backstory and all, but they’re mainly here to explain their love of ropes

Here’s a little bonus comic of the aftermath of the Megaton Punch:

Rope MF never changes and I love him for it

[gleetournaments]

The Ultimate Duets Tournament Round 1 Match 50

//

[datshitrandom]

BLAINE ANDERSON | Dalton Academy • William McKinley High School • NYADA • (and back at) Dalton Academy

GAAW 2023 | Day 2:  outfits, costumes, or a character’s wardrobe

[spaceorphan18]

My Season 3 Diatribe

for @wowbright who gave me a platform that I really didn't need but took anyway. ;)

The thing about Glee was that it started with a woman being fake pregnant for thirteen episodes and then ended the season with a baby being born while Bohemian Rhapsody blared in the background. It was weird and crazy and insane and just edgy enough that it was being talked about but not too niche that it couldn't find an audience. It also hit in the sweet spot of the Obama years when, as a nation, we could get on board with being a little different and a little crazy.

Ryan Murphy is both a genius and insane at the same time. I'm not really fond of him, and I think his tendency for going big sometimes obscures the nuances of really good storytelling. But he knows how to make a loud statement. And Glee was that loud statement.

And then it got big. Too big. It got more money, an awards, and the national stage, and then all eyes were on it. And Ryan Murphy got tired because that's also Ryan Murphy - being distracted by American Horror Story where he could be abstract in the way his brain really wanted to go. And so, new writers were brought in, but having all eyes on it meant you had to dial it back, and the new writers didn't jive the same way, nor could they really juggle all of the new network notes, ballooning cast, mandates of the Glee project and responsibility for now having to be a 'role model' for all the new outsiders who were hanging on.

The show was once about being an awkward kid in the 80s. And then it was forced into becoming a mouthpiece for the changing times of the 2010s.

And that... doesn't work.

The funniest thing is way back when... after I had stopped watching the show for a while, Season 3 is what brought me back. I did think, for a moment in time, that I liked it better than Seasons 1 or 2. I can't exactly tell you why. But The First Time is when I fell in love, and maybe you feel connected to something when you fall in love with it that you can't really discribe.

And I hated Season 4. and I was listening to a podcast of the day (Those of you who remember Lima Heights Adjacent?) and the group of people were talking about how, with all of its faults, Season 4 was at least NOT Season 3. And I was confused because at the time - I much preferred Season 3. Because my favorite couple was at least a couple back then -- because the cast was people I liked. Because the episodes were easy to digest and the structure of it, while being bland and predictable, fit into a nice, uniform way of storytelling.

And then time moved on, and I left my twenties, and digested the entire story (the second half, with all of its faults, does not get the recognition it deserves -- despite it falling apart at all times) and got a lot better at critical analysis and media analysis and being open to the ideas of others and just... shake my head.

When you look at the whole, Season 3 isn't AS bad as I make it seem sometimes. There's a good chunk of it, right in the middle, that is... more watchable than what's at the beginning and end.

There is, however, a laundry list of reasons why it's not good -- from questionable story telling choices to dulling the edge of a more biting comedy to just not being able to service all the characters it has in a satisfactory way. They botched Santana's story, which had been set up nicely in season 2. They threw in guest stars and special episodes to throw off that they didn't really know what to do with the story other than praise Rachel Berry and get those kids winning nationals and graduated. They took Kurt and completely neutered him in a way that went against everything they had built him up to be in the first two seasons. And so on and so on and so on.

But I suppose most egregiously -- they played it safe and it was no longer interesting.

I don't fully understand why people love it so much. But I will say - part of the reason might be why I liked it at the time. There's a huge influx of newer fans always coming to the show. And like Klaine, Brittana (which has a following unlike it ever did when it aired) remains together and having the most screen time in Season 3. All the original characters are around, and the story structure, if nothing else, is secure and sound and plays out exactly as its supposed to. Rachel Berry gets the crown, Will gets the teacher of the year, and they all win nationals - hell, even Sue gets a baby. Cue the music and roll credits.

To each their own.

Season 4 comes next with its awkward new characters and its break ups and its wild ups and downs. And then season 5 with its grief and queer in a way that's not accessible but fuck it who cares and season 6 that just wants to go back to the beginning and end it all like the weird creation it was when it started. And as complicated as all of that is -- it's not as digestible as Season 3. I like the afterwards better. But I understand that some people won't. It has, after all, taken me years to get to this level of appreciation.

Who knows how people are going to look at it in ten, fifteen, fifty years. I'm sure, as streaming shows continue to go on and on and on and nothing dies any more, it'll take on different tones and different meanings.

Maybe this time around - those people just need that comfort.

I can't tell you.

But it won't ever be my favorite. And that's fine. As always, ymmv.

[fandomontherocks]

This is 4x16, "Feud."  Close your eyes. Take it back to the early 2000s. The time of the great music feuds.  *Nsync vs. BSB.  Britney vs. Christina.  Madonna vs. Elton John??  We guess this was a feud.  And now, Finn Hudson vs. Will Schuester.

Tensions are still raging between Finn and Mr. Schue, so The New Directions force them into a lesson about famous music feuds in order to sing out their feelings. Sue tries to bring Blaine back to the Cheerios, while Jake and Marley's relationship hit the rocks.  Over in New York, Santana uncovers Brody's side job.

Our wonderful sound engineer is Adriana.

Find us on the Internet: https://linktr.ee/gleeontherocks Support the pod on Patreon

[cobbbvanth]

reblog and tell me which song has appeared the most times across your spotify wrapped years <3

[judasisgayriot]

(4x17 'Guilty Pleasures')

[moonmoonthecrabking]

not beating the virgin allegations

[kingsoverjacks]

Sultry sexy Lea Michele!