What I’m Watching: Glee

Glee: Season 2, Episode 20 “Prom Queen” (B-)

I’ll grant this show that, in light of everything else it casts upon its glee club members and high schoolers, prom is going to be a big deal. I will commend this episode on the way that it managed to draw out mirrored fury and sympathies for three ultimate losers – Quinn, Santana, and Kurt – and weave together their stories in an effective split-screen towards the end of the episode. The coronation of Karofsky and Kurt is an enormous irony, especially following Karofsky’s breakdown and hugely unexpected apology to his victim. Kurt being crowned prom queen makes sense given the show’s depiction of life at McKinley High, and it’s fortunate that Blaine was there to support him and that, after a brief meltdown, he was able to take it in stride. The idea of Sam going with both Mercedes and Rachel on a budget, complete with a three-way $8.99 special at Breadsticks, was charming, and I’m saddened that the presence of Jesse had to ruin that. This show does suffer from several cases of all-too-frequent recurring guest stars, true last week also with Kristin Chenoweth and far truer this week with the infinitely less appealing Jonathan Groff (talking in terms of talent). There’s no reason for Jesse to pop back into town, and Sam could be used just as effectively for the purposes of making Finn jealous. It’s sweet that Artie tried to win Brittany back with a song, and while Sue’s interrogation was more than a bit over-the-top, it’s funny that he didn’t actually spike the punch with anything alcoholic.