Glee: Season 4, Episode 1 “The New Rachel” (C-)
There’s a certain point at which shows have run their course, and it’s really best if those behind the show are aware of that fact. Similarly, characters can often take on the personalities of their show, as is the case with this series, which was all about underdogs to begin with and now is enjoying great popularity. Some of its more genuine characters, like Tina and Blaine, have begun to become aware of that, acting like they’re way too cool for school and thinking that they can replace Rachel while she’s at college. In one sense, it would be better for Rachel to be forgotten about altogether and not replaced, but it’s also hard to root for any of the supposed candidates for her slot since none of them were ever featured enough to be a true contender. There’s a heavy focus on both Rachel, getting taken down a peg on an hourly basis by a cruel Kate Hudson, and Kurt, who gets to go to New York City without a job just to see if he can make it there, while Finn, Santana, Puck, and Quinn are entirely omitted from the premiere. This show was supposed to be about following your dreams in Lima, Ohio, and setting half the show in New York City to follow just two characters is frustrating. Dean Geyer, best remembered as wannabe lunar accountant Mark Reynolds from “Terra Nova,” is being too obviously positioned as a force to come between Rachel and Finn, and his standing ovation complete with thunderous applause for Rachel’s solo was cringe-worthy. Back at McKinley, the new characters are overly unspecific tropes – the good girl and the bad boy – while personalities like Unique overwhelm all of the attention. It’s hard to imagine where this show is heading since it’s splitting off into so many irritating directions, and while I don’t see myself abandoning it just yet, I’m not just how much more I’ll be able to tolerate.
