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“Glee” tribute tries its hardest and succeeds (for the most part)

This+was+the+promo+picture+for+the+episode.+The+image+is+from+ET+online.+
This was the promo picture for the episode. The image is from ET online.

The production of “The Quarterback,” the episode dedicated to Cory Monteith’s death, was most likely the hardest thing “Glee” has ever had to do. This episode was a tribute to Monteith; the episode was meant to convey not only how great a person he was, but how hard it is to live without him. The only way the cast and crew could properly do this was through sharing the all-too-real pain and suffering that was occurring in their lives.

Before seeing this episode, knowing it was “Glee,” I was skeptical they would actually tap into those emotions. I was worried they’d just sing to us what we’ve already heard and try to make the cast member’s death about something else.

In recent years, the show has sacrificed its brutal honesty on controversial topics in favor of making itself an edgy afterschool special with singing. For example, it’s constant stressing of homosexual tolerance has gone from an important message to an in-your-face in-school assembly. I’m sure their intentions are still well-meaning, but we get it, and the more it’s shoved down our throats the less it seems like their message comes from a true passion of love rather it’s trying to tell the world, “Look at us, we’re helping people!” It’s examples like this that I, a once-devout fan of the program, have steered clear of.

But, returning to watch this episode, I see the cast and crew, for the most part, convey that honesty out of respect for their friend.

The moments in this episode that work the best are the ones that don’t try to direct itself into the cliches of losing a loved one. The main moral of this episode is that Finn Hudson’s (and especially Cory Monteith’s) death was a tragedy. They convey this in the show’s final image: Mr. Schuester holding Finn’s jacket, finally shedding tears for his former student and friend.

It may say on the script that Mr. Schuester does this. But when the cameras were rolling, that was Matthew Morrison grasping on to all he had left of his fallen familiar.

However, this show was not without its emotional hiccups. In one of the more awkward scenes, Puck (yes, he’s back) lets out his frustrations on to the football coach, saying the following:

“What chance do I have of not being an idiot and hurting people, without him to remind me who I really am?”

I do give sympathy to Mark Salling for having to act like he’s not dealing with it on camera, when inside, the feelings still ache. However, when it came to his breakdown, he still didn’t tap into his real emotions, which would’ve given the scene a small redemption.

It was the moments where “Glee” gave its characters cliche denial arguments that the show lost its touch.

This was an episode meant to serve as a surrogate-memorial for Monteith. He shared so many qualities with his character Finn Hudson, that all the actors really had to do was let out their real feelings and say “Finn” instead of “Corey.” Glee tries to write above this, but does so out of good intentions. While “Glee” doesn’t exactly hit the mark, it’s a near-perfect testament to the show’s unending love for Corey Monteith. If Lea Michele’s heart-wrenching performance of “Make You Feel My Love” doesn’t properly convey how much the cast cares about giving their deceased comrade the tribute he deserves, then I don’t know what will.

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About the Contributor
Michael Mathis, Web Opinions Editor
On any given day, Michael Mathis, Staples senior and Inklings’ Web Opinions Editor, is campaigning for governors, in the Inklings room editing stories, or on-stage, performing a stand-up comedy act. Mathis started journalism as a sophomore and, ever since then, seamlessly meshed his three passions: political activism, stand-up comedy, and Inklings. As Web Opinions Editor, Mathis is a column-generating machine.  He also edits students’ articles, and helps students brainstorm. Michael says that he enjoys combining his skills and interests, especially for humorous columns. He described one story that stood out about the importance of this generation not growing up too fast, saying, “I always felt that I was in two different worlds with my stand-up and my journalism, but I was able to incorporate my humor and I felt like I had crafted a stand-up routine in a column.” His background in politics also helps with journalism, as the two hobbies share similar values. Mathis says that the traits that create an effective political leader -- like his favorite politician, Teddy Roosevelt -- are similar to those of a journalist’s. Mathis said that whether it be a leader or a journalist they, “Are not afraid to say the unsayable and roll up their sleeves,” adding that the common thread throughout his stand-up comedy, political experiences, and journalism is “not following the limits of authority or society.”

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