GLEE: ‘Grilled Cheesus’
October 6, 2010 by Kath Skerry
From the very first scene to the last, this week’s GLEE stayed focused on the storyline and incorporated music that complimented not only the theme but the various character motivations. How very odd.
Whether you loved last week’s Britney Spears-inspired ep, as I did, or you loathed every minute of it, I think we can all agree that the episode lacked in proper story execution. As enjoyable as I found it, I’m the first to admit that the episode was hobbled together with forced songs and plot contrivances.
The post-episode comments here on GMMR led to an interesting discussion among GLEE viewers, some of whom are willing to overlook its flaws and enjoy its best parts even when the whole falls short. Others have lost patience with the free passes the show sometimes gets, despite its obvious missteps. Regardless of which side of the McKinley High stadium you’re sitting on, I think we can all agree that “Grilled Cheesus” was one of those rare GLEE episodes which seemed to work on all angles. The music was fantastic, the comedy was sharp, and despite being a tad overdramatic at times, I think it resonated emotionally with the vast majority of the audience. I’m not saying this was a perfect episode, but it might have pulled a few people, who were teetering on the edge after last week, back into the show.
Now, let’s discuss what went down…
Finn’s miraculous discovery of a Jesus-type image in his grilled cheese was the catalyst for a discussion of religion during Glee Club. Some members were all for praising God through song while others, like Kurt, opposed the idea based on his lack of belief in a higher power. The subject was elevated further when Kurt’s father suffered from a heart ailment that landed him in a coma.
Various members of the glee club wanted to pray for Burt Hummel (usually via singing), but Kurt rejected the idea of their imposing beliefs.
I know others will disagree, but I thought the episode offered a somewhat balanced discussion of a highly volatile subject matter. The only idea that the writers tried to hammer home was the importance of believing in something or someone bigger than yourself. For Kurt, he believed in his father and that was enough for him….and for me.
Thankfully, Burt came out of his coma and all will be well…at least until the next time Rachel starts crying during her solo. Seriously, she needs to stop that.
A few more thoughts on the episode while I attempt to make my own grilled cheesus…
- Rachel Berry is rivaling Jim Halpert when it comes to her reaction shots. Lea Michele has been doing some seriously fantastic face acting this season. We saw it in the season premiere during her scenes with Charice, and again last night when Finn was revealing that he had found Jesus.
- Kurt may be my kindred spirit. He loves him some GREY’S ANATOMY and SOUND OF MUSIC sing alongs.
- Can we all agree that Puck doesn’t sing enough? More, please. Is it just me or does anyone else think Mark Salling is somewhat of a vocal chameleon? He sounds so different on every song.
- Sweet cheesus, it was nice to see Mr. Schue act like a responsible adult for once! He was used appropriately in this episode and didn’t do anything to creep me out or want to hate on him.
- When did Rachel become such a prude? She was the one last season telling Finn that girls are just as sexual as guys. As far as Finn knows, she gave her V card to Jesse St. James… hello, hole in the storyline!
- Finn spent a lot of time praying to cheesus, but he failed to pray for Burt. Seemed a little disingenuous that he was so pissed off to hear about his ailing “father figure” yet it didn’t even cross his mind to pray for him.
- Where did Kurt’s animosity towards Finn come from? Is it a hangover from their big fight last season?
- I love when Emma is the voice of reason and authority. Despite her quiet nature, she has no problem standing up for herself and for what’s right. And she’s extra hot when she’s being a bad ass, no?
- I was stunned…STUNNED to learn that the actor playing young Kurt was not related to Chris Colfer. They looked so much alike.
- Anyone else yelling at the screen, begging Finn not to eat the week old grilled cheesus? Gross.
- Rachel can sing Babs any time she wants. Her take on the YENTL favorite was simply stunning. My favorite musical moment of the night.
- Second runner up: Kurt’s version of The Beatles ‘I Wanna Hold Your Hand’. So beautiful.
- Mercedes’ ‘Bridge Over Troubled Waters’ was amazing too, but am I the only one that thought she was channeling Fantasia Barrino?
No GLEE discussion would be complete without sharing my favorite quotes of the episode. In no particular order…
- Puck: “Oh my God, he’s coming out.”
- Finn: “I saw the face of God, literally – I made a grilled cheesus.”
- Kurt: “Sorry, but if I wanted to sing about Jesus, I would go to church. And the reason I don’t go to church is because most churches don’t think very much of gay people. Or women. Or science.”
- Finn: “Dear grilled cheesus, first of all you’re super delicious. Please, grilled cheesus, please let us win our first football game. It would mean so much to Artie, and I think you kind of owe it to him. You did kind of screw him in the leg department. In return, cheesy Lord, I’ll make sure we honor you this week in glee club.”
- Finn: “What up grilled cheesus, I need to ask you for something. I didn’t go to Sunday school, so I don’t know if God works the same as a genie and I only get three wishes, but here’s the thing…dating Rachel is great but she’s kind of a prude and I’m sort of going crazy. Anyway, her boobs aren’t that great, but they’re still girl boobs and I’d really like to touch them, so cheesus, considering I’ve dedicated a week of my musical life to you, I hope you can see it in your heart to answer my prayers. Amen.
- Sue: “Well William, if your kids want to praise Jesus in class, I suggest that they enroll at Sweet Mary Holy Mother of God Academy on I love Jesus Street, but not here. This country is not a monarchy, William. Trust me, I’ve tried.”
From the Fascinating Mind of Brittany S. Pierce…
- “I did a book report on heart attacks in case you want to give it to the doctor. I got knocked down an entire letter grade because it was written in crayon.”
- “Is God an evil dwarf?”
- “Whenever I pray, I fall asleep.”
- Tina: “Last week, we were too sexy. This week, we’re too religious. We can’t win.”
Brittany: “Now we know what Miley feels like.”
- Sue: “I need to know what’s going on with that glee club. Brittany. Jugs the Clown. Go.”
Jugs the Clown: “Mostly everyone is just sad for Kurt and no one really knows how to help.”
Brittany: “I made him a card that said ‘Heart attacks are just from loving too much.'”
Your turn to talk GLEE. Thoughts on last night’s episode? For those of you who were down on the show last week, are you feeling any better after this hour?
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I loved Finn Hudson in this episode. I thought it had a few too many musical numbers (especially the first Mercedes solo) but it was a pretty solid episode. I have to agree about the Rachel-being-a-prude line – I was like “whaaaaaaaaaat?” because I watched last season and I’m pretty sure she’s NOT. Weird. Finn and Rachel’s kiss was awkward-hot, I liked it. Finn’s bed makes me laugh.
The final group number was “meh.” I really feel like those are missing something so far this season.
Chris Colfer killed me with I Wanna Hold Your Hand. Absolutely gorgeous.
This episode was sooo much better than I was expecting. I’m so glad Kurt didnt cave and start believing in God.
I severely dislike Finn Hudson. I used to like him, but they’ve just made him so stupid, and so rude and arrogant when it comes to Rachel! Finn was by far the most selfish jerk in this episode, firstly when he heard about Burt, instead of being concerned for Kurt or Burt it was all me, me, me! Also I’m pretty sure you tried to sell that father line to Will. Secondly, he was so concerned about his almost father, yet praying to touch Rachels boobs and to be quarterback again is somehow more important for his prayers? JERK. The plot was better this week, but Finn singing Losing My Religion seemed a bit shoved in to me, and the ending could have been stronger.
Sue is so awesome. As is Brittany and her heart attack report for the doctor. Puck is such a great character, I’d happily switch his importance with Finns, I hope he gets more storylines soon. Quinn got way screwed over. She should have had a lot more input, and why on earth would she not have gone to church with Kurt? She lives with Mercedes!!
Rachel is INCREDIBLE. She can cry and sing all the time for all I care, her voice is by far the best, and she wasn’t too intense in this episode. Also, what is going on with her, Quinn and Mercedes. This isn’t the first time they’ve hung out, plus that weird self-humiliation thing Quinn did last week, what was that? Are they friends now? When did this happen and can we just consistently keep it up please?
Sweet Santana and Brittany were great, they seem very genuine, and although I do love bitchy Santana (provided she’s not chewing out Rachel! I really hate the Rachel abuse!!) I’d like to see more of that.
I totally agreed with you on last weeks episode and I don’t want to sound negative, but I really hated it. For me, nothing worked. The whole religion thing (like every themed episode) was shoved down our throat and its all anyone could talk about. Plus I was really bothered by how badly the whole Burt story was written. In the first few minutes we learn Burt doesn’t eat healthy then in the same conversation he tells Kurt he’s disappointed in him for a really stupid reason, then he passes out. Glee can be so clever in the dialogue, but this plot seemed like it was written by a 3rd grader. Rant over.
It was good to get that off my chest. I think I’m just a little judgmental because I just finished watching Breaking Bad’s third season (BTW it was flippin amazing), so when Glee tries to pull off drama it seems so transparent.
Luke, comparing Breaking Bad to Glee is not worth your time. HA! I most definitely agree with you about the set up for Burt’s ailment. I have to believe a scene was shot where Kurt mutters something about regrets over his last interactions with his dad being a fight. It might have been left on the cutting room floor, but it was such a cliched plot point I would be shocked if they didn’t go there. HA!
I often wonder if there are so many moving parts on GLEE that something has to give…and too often that give seems to be the storytelling.
Talkin ’bout Chessus on Glee–Charice shoulda, woulda, coulda sang ‘Note to God’ on EP3. Don’t y’all agree? Oh well, rating was down 24% 🙁 Luv Glee and i hope they sustain their top ratings, keep Charice singin ‘n rockin’ Ryan…
I think I’ll write a Note to Cheesus …
As I was definitely one of the haters last week, I can successfully say that this week’s Glee changed my tune. It had absolutely everything I’ve ever wanted in a Glee episode. Was the plot mind blowingly amazing? No, and as you said Kath sometimes the story telling has to be what gives. But I was just excited that this week there actually WAS a plot. It was a whole story. I laughed as Puck referred to Jesus as his “number one Heeb” and I cried as Kurt recalled an undercooked chicken dinner. I was not at all surprised to learn that Rachel worships at the house of Barbara either.
Also I think Chris Colfer can say hello to that Emmy right now. His performance of I Wanna Hold Your Hand had me weeping into my burrito, which I found fitting considering that Finn was worshipping a grilled cheese.
Sure there were things that made me scratch my head in this episode, like the fact that of Finn’s three wishes to his cheesy lord not one of them was for Burt to get better. But the all around episode itself was so well done that I could overlook that. I will definitely say that this episode is one of the best of the series (def the best of the 3 that have aired this season) and if they keep producing Emmy quality episodes like this, I will accept and forgive the nitrous enduced excuses for tributes to Britney Spears or anyone else who comes along.
So yes, after my rants last week I can happily say that Praise Cheesus, I’m a gleek again.
What about Sue and her reasons for not being into the whole God thing. That is what got me. I loved how they treated Sue in this episode, and at least with her, things are staying consistent.
And please, we need more Puck. Any episode that features that gorgeous Mark Salling singing is a winner in my book.
I loved this episode. Was glad to see almost everyone got to sing this week too. For me the only downside was Rachel. I love Lea Michelle’s voice, but I’m so sick of hearing her sing ballads. I also hated the song she sang and am so over the crying!
But the rest of it I totally loved. While how the heart attack came about was a little contrived, at least the storyline stayed strong throughout the episode. I laughed so hard everytime Finn said grilled cheesus, and plenty of the others also got some really funny lines which was humour that was sorely needed to contrast with the more serious goings on.
I felt sad for Kurt but was holding it together until he sang “I Wanna Hold Your Hand”, at which point I dissolved into a messy snotty mass of tears. Loved “Losing My Religion”, although I might have preferred if it hadn’t been sung by Finn and Mercedes version of “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” was fantastic.
Finally, How human was Sue Sylvester tonight? Loved seeing a crack in her facade and how she understood Kurt’s feelings.
Great episode 🙂 A few things though – was anyone else a little creeped out that when Rachel was signing to Burt and holding his hand and calling him Papa? It just seemed waaaaay to intimate, especially since they haven’t really interacted before…
Also, I understand everyone’s frustration with Finn, but I think that is the writer’s fault. His lines and character change from week to week – sometimes he is the sensitive insightful boyfriend, sometimes he is the arrogant football star, bratty son, thoughtful son, and big idiot. I think the show would really benefit from a more consistent Finn… I think he is too often used as a tool to advance various plot lines.
And I am definitely hoping for more Quinn stories AND Puck stories!
I hate the way Glee has taken a turn for the utterly ridiculous. Did not like the Cheesus episode at all with few exceptions – the explanations/scenes with Sue. Several of the musical numbers were excellent, but by then I was so turned off I couldn’t enjoy them. I think this episode probably offended a lot of people and they lost some viewership.
LOved the episode. My new favorite ever. Chris Colfer was brilliant
Only liked a few things about this episode, most especially the Sue parts. She’s great. But the rest of the episode just felt so….meh. Really disappointed in this seaason so far.
just wanna say,i think the whole point of the brit episode was to show everyone how AWESOME brittany really is =]
brittany>rachel
puck>phin
artie>other asian
=]=]=]
amped to watch this episode though =]=]
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