Watch Glee

Lying across my bedroom floor an a Monday evening with the bliss of ‘the Genetic Code’ flooding my, now probably numb, mind via biology revision notes. They’re smugly sprawled across and happily occupying too much of my bedroom floor for my liking (I personify because they are most likely satisfied and content from having ruined my day on many an occasion).

Being in a mood where I would have welcomed ANYTHING to do instead I jumped at the suggestion from my friend to check out Fox’s new TV series, Glee… A week on and I can only describe the relationship between myself and the show as almost a clinical addiction.

The main story of the fresh musical comedy is not by any means original but promises to offer a new spin on stories we’ve seen in shows such as High School Musical to which it’s been compared and keep you smiling throughout the series. It’s definitely easy to see how creators Ryan Murphy (Popular and Nip/Tuck), Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan have tried to use the “high school” theme to reach a wide range of audiences by revolving the subplots around the personal and school life of Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) who plays loving husband to somewhat controlling wife Teri (Jessalyn Gilsig) and head of McKinley High’s Glee Club to which he intends to restore the glory of his Glee Club years. Though with the beginning line-up, it seems that he doesn’t seem to have much hope.

Rachel Berry (Lea Michele) is the ambitious star, surrounded by the diverse coalition of the typically “unpopular kids”: Kurt (Chris Colfer), wearing the world-weary humor known to gay boys everywhere; Mercedes (Amber Riley), determined to be Beyonce; Tina (Jenna Ushkowitz), a skater-punk Asian girl with a stutter; and Artie (Kevin McHale), the geeky wheelchair-bound jazz guitarist.

The stories that unravel throughout the series unfold events which we are familiar with but have spins on them that definitely leave you guessing and eagerly waiting for the next helping. The enrolment of the newest members of the Glee Club, Finn Hudson (Cory Monteith) and friends gives rise to plots ranging from needs to balance dreams and expectations, high school romances and tough decisions to teenage pregnancies. Meanwhile the adults seem to have their own relationship problems and work commitments. In fact it may even be possible to say that the adult life somewhat mirrors the “Glee Club life”.

All in all I think that with its all star all-singing all-dancing cast, upbeat and up to date numbers from artists such as Duffy, Rihanna and Kanye West, unexpected twists in plots and general ‘smile factor’ it is fair to say that Glee succeeds in “establishing a cheerful and unique place that audiences will visit week after week.”