What I’m Watching: Glee

Glee: Season 2, Episode 17 “A Night of Neglect” (B)

After a month off the air, this show is back stronger than usual with a great performance showcase and a decently entertaining, if entirely preposterous, subplot putting Sue and a few other crazy characters to productive use. The sudden surprise return by Charice as Sunshine Corazon isn’t unwelcome, thanks mostly to her powerful rendering of “All By Myself,” even if it’s not within the realm of possibility that New Directions couldn’t have seen this coming (which they did, yet somehow, they let her sabotage their fundraiser anyway). I enjoyed Sue’s troop of theoretical evildoers, and it’s a good way to bring back such personalities as Sandy Ryerson and Terri, who I still have a hard time believing is still a cast member on this show. Cheyenne Jackson is an especially fun addition who didn’t have all that much to do last time he was on the show, and given the fact that he doesn’t have all that much to do on “30 Rock” most of the time anyway, it’s a pleasure to see him spotlighted, especially in such a humorous role. It did seem that Gwyneth Paltrow was getting to be a rather frequent visitor to McKinley, and therefore her finale song and departure in this episode (left open for future appearances, of course) was fitting. Carl’s convenient departure, coupled with Holly’s, should help Emma and Will finally get together, if Terri doesn’t pose too much of a problem. The diva behavior exhibited by Mercedes and encouraged by Lauren was amusing, and I also appreciated Brittany’s convenient knowledge of such things as cat diseases.