I like traditions and, in a sense, stability. The phase in my life when I want to keep trying something new at every possible instance has passed; I now prefer tried and tested, safe. Every year I post a review on Multiply and rate each year with stars--5 stars being the best. I'm doing this here now because the future of my Multiply account is uncertain.
I started this tradition in 2007 when I wrote a short three-sentence summary of how my year went. Unfortunately in 2008 I did not make a review for a reason I cannot remember now. But looking back, I remember 2008 as a year of happiness--genuine and simple happiness. My best birthday ever was in this year. 2009 was a year when my review got more detailed and I started quantifying things to measure them. I learned that travelling brings me joy and pleasure more than any other activity. 2010 was a year of adjustments (being a working student) and growing up to be an adult, in every sense of the word. 2011 was a tough year in every aspect but mostly because I lost a brother to the war in Mindanao.
Looking back on these reviews, I noticed three common themes/things I regularly monitor: (1) being friendly or at least sociable, (2) being smart (academic-wise and in life) and (3) being happy, which to an extent, I realize, involves being selfish.
2012 was a rough year for me not because I lost a loved one or injured myself or figured in a near-death experience but because I had to fight inner battles which led me to reflect on and about myself a lot. These battles are harder because I was going against my greatest opponent, myself. I learned of my strengths, weaknesses, passions and pet peeves. I wrote and reflected on my Notes to Self (personal PDF-ed notes that Future Me could read and reflect on) which made me realized how much I've changed and, in a sense, not changed. I opened up and shared myself more with another person which 2007 me never thought would be possible. I learned that even if I figured out the key to happiness I cannot just pursue it and be selfish because we do not live in a vacuum. Regardless of how noble or naive it may sound, being happy is not just about making decisions for myself but making life decisions in consideration of people around me, people I love and cherish, people who love and cherish me.
Overall, 2012 was a year of learning, reflections and, most importantly, honesty. Despite it being a rough year, I give 2012 4 stars because this year I became honest which is an important step to being truly happy.
Finally, I hope 2013 will be a year of courage, of wanting to try new things...again.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Saturday, December 15, 2012
QNBS: Smash
I started the Quest for the Next Best Series to find a replacement for Chuck. Ten TV shows and eleven reviews later, I decided to watch Once Upon A Time (OUaT). But having the opportunity to criticize anything in a justified manner is so addicting that I have decided to continue my QNBS. I will not rename it because I don't have enough creativity to think of a new one.
I will adopt the original QNBS method for judging a show. 1. A friend recommends a TV show or I see an interesting review, or hear a sarcastic rant about it in the Internet. 2. I watch two episodes. 3. Write down what I think, Pros-Cons style.
I will add a one-liner (or maybe more) at the end of each QNBS review called The Verdict, which will serve as my verdict, my opinion, on whether you should or shouldn't watch the show.
When I get pissed, I retaliate in a not-so-in-your-face way. Even if my mother taught me otherwise, I hold grudges. Long and hard. I hold onto them as a child does her parents' hand the morning of her first day at school alone.
When Glee broke up Brittana and we see the coming of the Brampocalypse, I was acquiescent because I thought it was necessary for them to grow as individuals. But reading recaps about the episode which featured the "wedding of the year", I lost it. I had questions any decent human being who has not even read a single Brittana fanfiction have. Where is Santana? Does she know that Brampocalypse is upon us? Why is she allowing this to happen? What is her reaction? Was she devastated? Was she angry? Did she confide in Quinn or Rachel or anyone for that matter?
Of course, the optimist can say that Santana's allowing Brittany to do things she wants, to do things on her own, and to be happy. But... okay, I'm going off-topic...
Many series exist in TV world but today I will write about Smash.
Plot from Pilot: A talented writer and his equally talented best friend, who is supposedly on a break to try to adopt a baby, entertain the idea of doing a musical on Marilyn Monroe, which will be funded by a soon-to-be-divorcee and directed by a hotblooded but loyal director. Two wonderfully talented women vie for the role of Marilyn.
PROS:
1. The singing. As I listened to all of the performances by the two Marilyn wannabes I thought, My god, everyone sings like Rachel Berry! The song-choices are very well made. The most notable performances were Beautiful and Crazy Dreams.
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| Karen and Ivy, continuing the great TV tradition of The Blonde vs. Brunette War |
2. The writing. Everything was coherent, believable and honest. The Pilot and, the second episode aptly-titled, "The Callback" revolved around what it is like to create a musical: first, the idea (which is very different from "something that is said in passing," as brightly pointed out by Julia), then, putting the right people together, choosing the right lead and so on. I liked how both episodes I've watched so far have been clear on what it wants to achieve, to happen. Although choosing who will play Marilyn was an important and quite frightening decision to make, Smash writers didn't shy away from the task and chose, whether or not we agree with the choice is not the point. I'm glad they were brave enough to choose, to allow the story and the characters to move forward. Artie should get directing tips from the fearless Derek Wills.
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| Double-casting is a decision made by cowards, Mr. Abrams. |
3. The actors. From Debra Messing to Anjelica Huston to Christian Borle to Jack Davenport to Megan Hilty to Katherine McPhee. Even Ellis and Leo were good in their brief moments on screen.
4. The chemistry. How the actors interact with each other on screen is as important as their ability to act, and I say this not from a Movie/TV Buff Perspective but from the Easily Pleased Fan Perspective.
5. It is better than Glee. [See discussions above]
6. I enjoy it better than I do Once Upon a Time. Yes, I've declared OUaT to be the show to replace Chuck but I have been remiss in my duties. I am still not done with OUaT's Season 1--from what I hear Season 2 is a lot different from the first one--and whenever I try to watch an episode, I feel like a writer trying my best to continue, to finish, writing this story I fell in love with and invested so much on in the past but can't. It's heartbreaking. Maybe Barney was right, new is always better. Or is it my short-attention-spanned self talking.
7. And, as a cherry on the ice cream, Smash has two guys with British accents!
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| Karen's a lucky girl. |
CONS:
1. The length. Each episode is 40+ mins long and, I cannot say this enough, my attention span for TV shows have gotten shorter and shorter. Gone are the days when I can sit through six (6) House episodes (straight!). But on the upside, since I can stomach 40mins of hideous Glee, I can watch and listen to its well-written version Smash.
2. The limited singing. I am not nitpicking but I would love to see the other actors sing and dance, too. One thing I love about Glee is that everyone can just break into song any minute. Even Coach Beiste. Of course, Smash writers can all give the big song numbers to the two Marilyns (I know Karen was cut but forgive me, I am still in the process of accepting her loss!) but it will be fun to see Julia, Tom, Derek and Eileen just sing. Right?
3. The unrelate-able characters. While Julia, Tom, Eileen, Derek, Karen, Ivy et al are good characters they are no Rachel, Finn, Quinn, Santana.. (I could go on with this). Surprisingly, my strongest emotion towards a character was my hatred for Ellis.
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| whathisface |
4. I like songs and musicals but Broadway is not my thing. Some parts of the episodes can be really boring if I didn't focus enough but luckily I did...so far. I'm not really sure I could keep up. I hope the good writing and good song selection will help.
THE VERDICT: To borrow an analogy from my Legal History professor, Smash is like a good skirt--long enough to cover the important parts but short enough to keep things interesting.
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You may want to read other QNBS reviews:
Pushing Daisies
Spartacus: Blood and Sand
Freaks and Geeks
Bent
Once Upon A Time
The Inbetweeners
Game of Thrones 2
Sherlock
Suits
Game of Thrones 1
The IT Crowd
Rizzoli & Isles
Community
Awkward
New Girl
Outsourced
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
On Brittana and Brampocalypse
Instead of wallowing in depression that is caused by Brampocalypse, I, as Brittana fan, remain steadfast in my commitment to this couple, to the fandom. I refuse to rant, be mad and blame the writers for what happened to the couple we love and look up to. Call me an optimist or naive but I choose to view Brittana's breakup as a necessary consequence of their long distance relationship and a necessary tool to further their characters and, later on, their story.
I make the following statements--postulates, if you want to make this sound well thought out (because it is)--not to defend the writers of Glee but to make the fandom (although I am relatively quite new to it) understand that the break-up is necessary; that Bram needs to happen; that Brittana is end-game.
1. Brittana needed to breakup for many reasons.
1.1 Because they need to discover their own identities separate and distinct from their identity as a couple. It was a good thing that they share something most of the couples on Glee don't, but their one-ness is becoming really intense that it was slowly getting harder to view one without the other. Almost all of the couples in Glee, who broke up in "The Break-Up", were suffering from this relationship flaw. We can't see Blaine without Kurt, Finn without Rachel and Brittany without Santana. Although we love how they can't get their hands off each other but, let's face it, in lasting relationships, each person has to have and maintain an identity separate and distinct from his/her partner (think Marshall and Lily). Remember when Barney got fat and Robin looked old when they became a couple and Ted, Lily and Marshall had to break them up to restore them to their former awesome selves? Brittana breaking up is an opportunity for both characters to know their own identities, grow as individuals and be their awesome selves.
1.2 Because they need to achieve things on their own. Their reliance on each other is commendable (remember all the tough times they got through because they're together) but sometimes, in life, you have to learn to do things on your own. When Santana graduated, Brittany had to learn to do and enjoy things without her from simple activities such as going to lunch, glee or cheerleading to complicated ones like talking to Coach Sue or Mr. Schue or studying. For her part, Santana has to learn, explore and enjoy college without Brittany. This may seem simple but knowing how reclusive or private Santana can be, it'll be hard for her to open up to other people the way she did with Britt, Quinn and the rest of the new directions. Opening up to others is something she has to learn and do on her own.
1.3 Because they need to settle their life's what-ifs. For Britt, it's Sam or having a relationship other than Santana. For Santana, it's energy exchanges. I may not be very supportive of their life what-ifs but Sam and energy exchanges signify what the world has to offer to these two lovely ladies. At least, they had the decency not to cheat on each other before trying out what the world has to offer. Once they've tried and realized that their life what-ifs are meaningless compared to what they share, they'll soon be running into each other's arms.
1.3.1 Bram has to happen because Sam stands for all the things Britt turned her back to when she chose Santana. She needs to experience this in order for her to not regret choosing Santana in the long run--not that she showed signs of doubt or regret. Sam is to Britt what Robin is to Ted. You know its a mistake but you make it anyway, just for the sake of it. Sam may make her smile but Santana makes her happy. That's an ocean of difference.
1.3.2.For Santana to realize that Britt will not wait for her forever. Her not-an-official-breakup excuse to not be with Britt but not end things completely will be tested when she finds out Britt is withtrouty someone else.
1.4 Because the other couples did. Not doing so will be unrealistic. Breaking up homosexual couples and heterosexual couples is a recognition of the Glee writers that same-sex couples do go through the same shit hetero-couples do. However, I do find it unnecessary for said break-ups to be done all in one episode, which resulted to the detriment of the characters and plot development.
2. Brittana is end-game.
2.1 They love each other the most. We know Santana loves Brittany because (a) in "The Break-Up" Santana tells Brittany that this was not an official break-up and she will always love her the most, (b) in "Glease" Santana tells Brittany that she misses her and that although it's okay if Brittany dated somebody else but she's glad that Brittany doesn't. We know Brittany loves Santana because (a) she tells her so even after they break-up, (b) her face lights up with a smile whenever she sees her, (c) she tells Santana she misses their date night, and (d) she tells her how it sucks that they're "not together anymore and it's okay but it still hurts a little bit".
2.2 History trumps mystery. In How I Met Your Mother, Robin trumped Victoria (re: Ted) and all other girls who came close, and Nora and Quinn (re: Barney) because she has known these guys for so long. They have history and share memories new couples don't have. It's the same thing with Brittana and Bram. As far as I know, the oldestmemory inkling I have of Bram happening was in season 3 when Britt leaned on Sam's shoulders while singing goodbye to Santana and the seniors. This, to me, is not enough to trump what Brittana has gone through.
2.3 The fandom loves them too much. The fandom loves them too much that they comment on Lord Tubbington's Facebook wall and Twitter asking Britt to get back together with Santana, and that even if Britt decides to date Sam they still understand because they're Britt's sisters. Britt said so herself, right?
2.4 RIB loves them, too. Deep down, in RIB's hearts of hearts, lies their love for the show, the characters, the fans. They owe it to themselves, as writers, to give their characters--their creations, their babies, so to speak--what they are due. Case in point: Quinn, albeit the lessened screen time in season 4, has gotten what is due to her when she had the chance to say goodbye to and made peace with all her boyfriends including Artie and Joe, Mercedes, Mr. Schue, the Unholy Trinity, Sue, and even Rachel in season 3. Many think that Glee unwisely let go of Quinn and killed the Faberry...uh, friendship (which is the basis of all those fanfictions!) but I believe that the writers have wisely chosen to let go of Quinn in season 3 because it'll be hard to maintain her character while in Yale in season 4. However, the writers choosing to bring Quinn back in season 4 is a sign that they do succumb to external pressure of fans wanting Dianna Agron to be back. I hope, they will succumb to the pressure that is brought by the Brittana fandom, and of course, lest we forget, their love for the show. And in case, RIB forgets, I hope Naya, or maybe Heather, will be there to remind them.
Therefore, I fearlessly conclude, state and hope that Santana and Brittany will end up together.
So Glee help us.
I make the following statements--postulates, if you want to make this sound well thought out (because it is)--not to defend the writers of Glee but to make the fandom (although I am relatively quite new to it) understand that the break-up is necessary; that Bram needs to happen; that Brittana is end-game.
1. Brittana needed to breakup for many reasons.
1.1 Because they need to discover their own identities separate and distinct from their identity as a couple. It was a good thing that they share something most of the couples on Glee don't, but their one-ness is becoming really intense that it was slowly getting harder to view one without the other. Almost all of the couples in Glee, who broke up in "The Break-Up", were suffering from this relationship flaw. We can't see Blaine without Kurt, Finn without Rachel and Brittany without Santana. Although we love how they can't get their hands off each other but, let's face it, in lasting relationships, each person has to have and maintain an identity separate and distinct from his/her partner (think Marshall and Lily). Remember when Barney got fat and Robin looked old when they became a couple and Ted, Lily and Marshall had to break them up to restore them to their former awesome selves? Brittana breaking up is an opportunity for both characters to know their own identities, grow as individuals and be their awesome selves.
1.3 Because they need to settle their life's what-ifs. For Britt, it's Sam or having a relationship other than Santana. For Santana, it's energy exchanges. I may not be very supportive of their life what-ifs but Sam and energy exchanges signify what the world has to offer to these two lovely ladies. At least, they had the decency not to cheat on each other before trying out what the world has to offer. Once they've tried and realized that their life what-ifs are meaningless compared to what they share, they'll soon be running into each other's arms.
1.3.1 Bram has to happen because Sam stands for all the things Britt turned her back to when she chose Santana. She needs to experience this in order for her to not regret choosing Santana in the long run--not that she showed signs of doubt or regret. Sam is to Britt what Robin is to Ted. You know its a mistake but you make it anyway, just for the sake of it. Sam may make her smile but Santana makes her happy. That's an ocean of difference.
1.3.2.For Santana to realize that Britt will not wait for her forever. Her not-an-official-breakup excuse to not be with Britt but not end things completely will be tested when she finds out Britt is with
1.4 Because the other couples did. Not doing so will be unrealistic. Breaking up homosexual couples and heterosexual couples is a recognition of the Glee writers that same-sex couples do go through the same shit hetero-couples do. However, I do find it unnecessary for said break-ups to be done all in one episode, which resulted to the detriment of the characters and plot development.
2. Brittana is end-game.
2.1 They love each other the most. We know Santana loves Brittany because (a) in "The Break-Up" Santana tells Brittany that this was not an official break-up and she will always love her the most, (b) in "Glease" Santana tells Brittany that she misses her and that although it's okay if Brittany dated somebody else but she's glad that Brittany doesn't. We know Brittany loves Santana because (a) she tells her so even after they break-up, (b) her face lights up with a smile whenever she sees her, (c) she tells Santana she misses their date night, and (d) she tells her how it sucks that they're "not together anymore and it's okay but it still hurts a little bit".
2.2 History trumps mystery. In How I Met Your Mother, Robin trumped Victoria (re: Ted) and all other girls who came close, and Nora and Quinn (re: Barney) because she has known these guys for so long. They have history and share memories new couples don't have. It's the same thing with Brittana and Bram. As far as I know, the oldest
2.3 The fandom loves them too much. The fandom loves them too much that they comment on Lord Tubbington's Facebook wall and Twitter asking Britt to get back together with Santana, and that even if Britt decides to date Sam they still understand because they're Britt's sisters. Britt said so herself, right?
2.4 RIB loves them, too. Deep down, in RIB's hearts of hearts, lies their love for the show, the characters, the fans. They owe it to themselves, as writers, to give their characters--their creations, their babies, so to speak--what they are due. Case in point: Quinn, albeit the lessened screen time in season 4, has gotten what is due to her when she had the chance to say goodbye to and made peace with all her boyfriends including Artie and Joe, Mercedes, Mr. Schue, the Unholy Trinity, Sue, and even Rachel in season 3. Many think that Glee unwisely let go of Quinn and killed the Faberry...uh, friendship (which is the basis of all those fanfictions!) but I believe that the writers have wisely chosen to let go of Quinn in season 3 because it'll be hard to maintain her character while in Yale in season 4. However, the writers choosing to bring Quinn back in season 4 is a sign that they do succumb to external pressure of fans wanting Dianna Agron to be back. I hope, they will succumb to the pressure that is brought by the Brittana fandom, and of course, lest we forget, their love for the show. And in case, RIB forgets, I hope Naya, or maybe Heather, will be there to remind them.
Therefore, I fearlessly conclude, state and hope that Santana and Brittany will end up together.
So Glee help us.
-----------------------------------------
You may want to read other random, less thought-out stuff I wrote about Glee:
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Quintet 6: Top 10 Performances from Glee's Season 4
Quintet is a bi-monthly music review of any five songs I happen to come across/stumble upon, or were recommended, any how, any time. Suggestions from readers are most welcome because music deserves to be shared. Let me be your convert or critic.
For all its faults (Letting go of Dianna Agron from its regular cast being on the top of that list; the lack of Brittana and the inevitable Brampocalypse is a close second), Season 4 managed to keep my interest in the show by: (1) hiring a bunch of new actors who dance better than they sing, and (2) covering well good songs. So, before episode 10 ("Swan Song") airs, here is the list of the Top 10 songs/performances I liked from Glee's Season 4:
10. Call Me Maybe, because the interactions between Brittany, Tina, Blaine and Wade during the song was really funny. And of course, because it gave me INAM feels.
9. Heroes, because Blam/Slaine is more adorable than Bram!
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| No to Bram-pocalypse! Yes to Blam/Slaine! |
8. Gangnam Style, because the song is so catchy and its Tina's first solo in a competition. And, the confetti guns! Seeing the guys pull out the confetti guns gave me the same feels I had when they used the smoke machine in Season 3's Regionals performance. You just know they're going to win--fainting Marley or otherwise.
7. Come See About Me. The Unholy Trinity. Need I say more?
6. Whistle, because this song really suits the Warblers like a Dalton blazer. Their version is better than Flo-Rida's, only because theirs don't have silly lines like There's only one flo(w?) and one rida (or was that rider?).
5. Beauty School Dropout, because Blaine's really a good singer and this is a good song (even if it refers to flunking a class on shampoo). Andddd, the headdresses!
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| With props like these, nothing can go wrong. |
4. Teenage Dream (acoustic), because Blaine's voice is amazing and his face is so expressive. I can never not think about this performance whenever I hear Katy Perry's song.
3. Mine, because how could one watch Santana sing this song to Brittany and not cry, or at least feel something close to crying? She is the best thing that's ever been mine. Oh yes she is, Santana, she is.
2. The Scientist, because (1) its a good song on its own, (2) the lyrics sung by each character fit them perfectly (example, Brittany's line went, questions of science, science and progress, do not speak as loud as my heart) and (3) it marked the point in the story (or what's left of it) when all the couples we knew and loved went separate ways to be their own persons outside the relationship.
1. Some Nights, because listening to this song has led me to fun.'s Some Nights album which is so good it's the only thing that I listen to now. Also, I like this song better than old New Directions' Don't Stop Believing.
Other notable songs/performances that failed to make it to the list are: Born to Hand Jive (because of Ryder and Kitty's two-person cartwheel), Everybody Talks (because of Jake and Kitty's good dancing), Chasing Pavements (because of the heartwarming Hummelberry reunion at the end), and Barely Breathing (because this song is good, regardless who sings it.).
What's your favorite so far?
----------------------------------
You may want to read...
other blogs in the Quintet series:
Quintet 1: Music to my ears
Quintet 2: Holy Week Playlist
Quintet 3: GLEE-king Out
Quintet 4: Radio
Quintet 5: Original vs Covers
other random stuff I wrote about Glee:
Quick Change-Ups 2
Common Themes and Things in Glee's Season 1 and Season 3
How Sue Sees It
Glee Mysteries: Mike, Quinn and Mercedes
Kurt's 27 (Head) Dresses
Who Wore It Better: Kurt vs. Santana
15 Glee Club Truths
Final(e) Thoughts: GLEE-duation
Things I Missed From Glee's Season 1 (Part 3)
Things I Missed From Glee's Season 1 (Part 2)
Things I Missed From Glee's Season 1 (Part 1)
McKinley High School in a Decade
Friday, November 16, 2012
Stop the fire
Anger consumes your soul--
your eyes, your mind, your heart--
like wildfire does to the forest in the summer.
It starts slow:
licking, creeping, affecting
each and every leaf in the forest;
burning, heating, taking.
I will not be the wind.
I will not stoke the embers of the fire
that is the anger in your heart.
I will not make it more destructive
or more dangerous because it already is.
I will not be the water.
I refuse to douse your anger
with any of my emotions.
I will let your anger be defeated
not by the wind, not by water
not by my words or emotions
but by your own volition. Your conscience.
I will not stoop down,
and engage you in your petty ways.
Rather, I look up to the sky.
Lord, please stop the fire.
your eyes, your mind, your heart--
like wildfire does to the forest in the summer.
It starts slow:
licking, creeping, affecting
each and every leaf in the forest;
burning, heating, taking.
I will not be the wind.
I will not stoke the embers of the fire
that is the anger in your heart.
I will not make it more destructive
or more dangerous because it already is.
I will not be the water.
I refuse to douse your anger
with any of my emotions.
I will let your anger be defeated
not by the wind, not by water
not by my words or emotions
but by your own volition. Your conscience.
I will not stoop down,
and engage you in your petty ways.
Rather, I look up to the sky.
Lord, please stop the fire.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
on dancing and its dangers
we keep dancing to a music I have danced to before. to paraphrase Jack Kerouac, we dance, dance, dance like roman candles across the night. but this familiarity is not comforting. on the contrary, I am wary of this because I am not a good dancer and, more importantly, the last time I danced to this music, I ended up dancing alone. I wish my previous experience has made me knowledgeable, or at least to some extent ready, but I continue to be, and I still am, confused. I am never, nor do I claim to be, a good dancer.
dancing has never been my strong suit.
the music, this music we're dancing to consumes me, draws me in, like a moth to a flame... keeps me in, like a drug to its junkie. I am aware of the dangers of dancing to this music that I've danced to before but the thrill matched with a certain kind of comfort I only feel when dancing with you makes me not want to stop. but when the music fades, I am faced with the reality that what I considered to be the most intense experience I have ever done in my life is just a spur-of-the-moment, adrenaline-fueled activity for you.
you are my life's greatest heartbreak because youbroke break my heart by not doing anything. by stopping when all I ever wanted to do was keep on dancing... albeit blindly.
dancing has never been my strong suit.
the music, this music we're dancing to consumes me, draws me in, like a moth to a flame... keeps me in, like a drug to its junkie. I am aware of the dangers of dancing to this music that I've danced to before but the thrill matched with a certain kind of comfort I only feel when dancing with you makes me not want to stop. but when the music fades, I am faced with the reality that what I considered to be the most intense experience I have ever done in my life is just a spur-of-the-moment, adrenaline-fueled activity for you.
you are my life's greatest heartbreak because you
Monday, November 12, 2012
Everyone was on Firefly
Firefly was shown in 2002, long before geeks became this millennium's jocks.
Remember Freaks and Geeks--the show where James Franco, Jason Segel, Seth Rogen and John Francis Daley all started? Well, Firefly is the Freaks and Geeks of...a little older generation of actors. Well, except for Zac Efron.
Here is a list of actors/actresses who used to be in Firefly and are now somewhat well-known.
1. Gina Torres
Before she became the fierce managing partner of Pearson Hardman, she was Serenity's second in command. Their expressions are the same; the main difference is in the clothes they wear.
2. Adam Baldwin
Even before Alex Coburn became John Casey, he was first Jayne Cobb, the temperamental hired gun of Serenity. If you've watched the calm, collected and cold Casey from Chuck before Firefly you'll be surprised at how...rough Adam can get. You'll be somewhat pleased.
3. Gregg Henry
Maybe the reason why Quinn's dad, Russell Fabray, was a big... bummer during her pregnancy was because, as a former sheriff with a degenerative bone disease in a borderline planet, he expected more from his daughter.
4. Doug Savant
Before he became the house husband to a desperate housewife, he was the commanding officer of an Alliance Tohoku-class cruiser.
5. Zac Efron
Zac Efron's cool factor went up a couple of notches higher in my book when I found out he played the young Simon Tam.
6. Christina Hendricks
She was first the feisty, conniving Mrs. Reynolds--who managed to seduce everyone in space--before she became Mrs. Harris.
Did I miss any other notable guest stars, fellow Browncoats?
Remember Freaks and Geeks--the show where James Franco, Jason Segel, Seth Rogen and John Francis Daley all started? Well, Firefly is the Freaks and Geeks of...a little older generation of actors. Well, except for Zac Efron.
Here is a list of actors/actresses who used to be in Firefly and are now somewhat well-known.
1. Gina Torres
Before she became the fierce managing partner of Pearson Hardman, she was Serenity's second in command. Their expressions are the same; the main difference is in the clothes they wear.
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| Zoe Washburn [S01E01.Pilot] |
2. Adam Baldwin
Even before Alex Coburn became John Casey, he was first Jayne Cobb, the temperamental hired gun of Serenity. If you've watched the calm, collected and cold Casey from Chuck before Firefly you'll be surprised at how...rough Adam can get. You'll be somewhat pleased.
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| Jayne Cobb: He has a statue, and was even given a song in the 7th episode, Jaynestown. |
3. Gregg Henry
Maybe the reason why Quinn's dad, Russell Fabray, was a big... bummer during her pregnancy was because, as a former sheriff with a degenerative bone disease in a borderline planet, he expected more from his daughter.
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| Somehow, the gun-toting sheriff was kinder than Quinn's dad. [S01E02.Train Job] |
4. Doug Savant
Before he became the house husband to a desperate housewife, he was the commanding officer of an Alliance Tohoku-class cruiser.
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| When you encounter a Reaver (survivor?) and its blood gets splattered on your face, you run away, marry Lynette Scavo and have [S01E03.Bushwhacked] |
Zac Efron's cool factor went up a couple of notches higher in my book when I found out he played the young Simon Tam.
 |
| That smirk is recognizable anywhere. [S01E05.Safe] |
6. Christina Hendricks
She was first the feisty, conniving Mrs. Reynolds--who managed to seduce everyone in space--before she became Mrs. Harris.
 |
| The seductive Mrs. Reynolds [S01E06.Our Reynolds and S01E11.Trash] |
Did I miss any other notable guest stars, fellow Browncoats?
Monday, November 5, 2012
Quick Change-Ups 2
My first Quick Change-Ups has generated 906 pageviews (and counting)--a manifestation that people are interested in these change-ups regardless of how trivial they may seem. This "motivated" me to be more mindful of change-ups in the shows I watch. And because I have been watching Glee for a considerable (and inexplicable) amount of time, I bring you change-ups a la Glee.
(1) Rachel's Gay Dads:
From an inter-racial couple, Rachel's dads were changed to an older, more conventional-looking couple, Hiram and Leroy Berry (played by Jeff Goldblum and Brian Stoke Mitchell).
(2) Random Guy No. 1:
In season 2, this boy is a Titan (WMHS' mascot?), sitting at Miss Holiday's class with Finn and Puck, but in season 3, he's now one of Sebastian's minions a Warbler (Dalton).
(3) Random Guy No. 2:
In season 1, Random Guy No. 2 was part ofJesse's gang of soulless automatons Vocal Adrenaline while in Season 3, he joined Santana and Puck as Sharks in WMHS's West Side Story.
In the first change-up, I believe it was a good decision because Rachel's dads need to look established and... fatherly. I felt the fatherly vibe more with Hiram and Leroy compared to Season 1's fun, quirky inter-racial dads.
In the second and third change-ups, I couldn't care less about these random guys. They may have transferred schools. Or Glee has ran out of extras and dancers so they use the same guys hoping that viewers won't be bored enough to notice these little things.
----------------
Fun Fact: Random Guy No. 2 is Nick Drago from the reality show Step It Up & Dance.
(1) Rachel's Gay Dads:
From an inter-racial couple, Rachel's dads were changed to an older, more conventional-looking couple, Hiram and Leroy Berry (played by Jeff Goldblum and Brian Stoke Mitchell).
(2) Random Guy No. 1:
 |
| From Titan to Warbler |
(3) Random Guy No. 2:
 |
| From a soulless automaton to a Shark |
In season 1, Random Guy No. 2 was part of
In the first change-up, I believe it was a good decision because Rachel's dads need to look established and... fatherly. I felt the fatherly vibe more with Hiram and Leroy compared to Season 1's fun, quirky inter-racial dads.
In the second and third change-ups, I couldn't care less about these random guys. They may have transferred schools. Or Glee has ran out of extras and dancers so they use the same guys hoping that viewers won't be bored enough to notice these little things.
----------------
Fun Fact: Random Guy No. 2 is Nick Drago from the reality show Step It Up & Dance.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Ned the Piemaker is My New Hero
Reasons Why Ned is My Hero
1. Ned can make delicious pies. I can't bake...anything.
2. He can wake dead people with a touch (but make them dead again the 2nd touch). Obviously, I can't.
3. He inadvertently killed his childhood crush's father when he touched (and subsequently made alive again) his dead mother.
4. He is awkward. I am, too.
5. He overthinks; sometimes more than I do.
6. Ned, generally, wants what's best for other people but his ways sometimes come out with different results.
But more importantly Ned is my new hero because...
Ned is my new hero because, like me, he sees hugging as an unnecessary--thus, avoidable--social tool for expressing emotions. The only time he appears okay with hugging is when he's doing it with Chuck and even then a plastic (or a similar material) is wrapped around him.
Maybe Ned has rules for hugging, too.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You may want to read my other post about Pushing Daisies:
QNBS: Pushing Daisies
1. Ned can make delicious pies. I can't bake...anything.
2. He can wake dead people with a touch (but make them dead again the 2nd touch). Obviously, I can't.
3. He inadvertently killed his childhood crush's father when he touched (and subsequently made alive again) his dead mother.
4. He is awkward. I am, too.
5. He overthinks; sometimes more than I do.
6. Ned, generally, wants what's best for other people but his ways sometimes come out with different results.
But more importantly Ned is my new hero because...
Ned is awkward with hugs.
 |
| Exhibit A: Ned's reaction to Hermann the Magician's sudden hug--priceless. |
 |
| Exhibit B: Ned's reaction to Olive's hug--same as mine. |
...but is okay with holding hands.
 |
| Exhibit A: Ned willingly holds hands with Olive to celebrate their win in the Comfort Food Cook Off |
 |
| Exhibit B: Since Ned and Chuck can't hold hands, they proxy-handhold Emerson instead. |
Ned is my new hero because, like me, he sees hugging as an unnecessary--thus, avoidable--social tool for expressing emotions. The only time he appears okay with hugging is when he's doing it with Chuck and even then a plastic (or a similar material) is wrapped around him.
Maybe Ned has rules for hugging, too.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You may want to read my other post about Pushing Daisies:
QNBS: Pushing Daisies
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Post-Mortem Thoughts # 1
Most people think that when you finish an exam early it's because you either had an easy time answering the exam or you know too much that you'll probably ace it--or worse, you come off as arrogant. Can't it be that you leave the room as soon as you finish because you don't have anything left to write on your blue book? Or that you're out of answers and want to end your misery as soon as you can? Or that you suddenly thought how comforting your bed is and just want to sleep like a baby after two nights of cramming?
Monday, September 24, 2012
Some Basic Rules on Hugging
Due to the amount of reading law school demands of its prisoners, I, being one of the prisoners of Malcolm Hall, have insanely allotted most of my reading time reading cases, codals, annotations and whatnots. Because of this and my insanely-getting-shorter-as-I-become-older attention span, I have considered browsing websites and links to articles appearing on my Facebook News Feed and "reading" Thought Catalog articles as "reading for pleasure".
It is my fervent wish--a dream, even--to have one of my essays, or ramblings, posted on the Thought Catalog site. That and meeting Rich Alvarez in person would be the top 2 things on my "After These Things Happen I Can Die Peacefully" list, if I have one. Passing the bar exams and being a lawyer, obviously, is not part of the list because why would I be peaceful after I've endured five years (god forbid, not more) of law school only to die without being able to enjoy being a lawyer!
Anyway, one of the articles that gave me that "Eureka!" feeling as if someone had read my mind and wrote about it, was this article on hugs. I was so amazed by it that I felt I had to write something about hugs, too. This, for me, is a long overdue pieceof crap.
These are Mr. Weatherhead's questions about hugs and my answers...well sort of.
What are they? Are they important?
A hug is an action whereby one person completely invades another person's personal space--whether necessary or not, voluntary or otherwise--to show affection of whatever level.
People say they are important but, frankly, I can do without them. I don't remember being enveloped by parental hugs when I was young. Kisses, praises, jokes and capital punishment, yes; hugs not so much. Growing up I never really thought about its positive effects. Or if it had any.
Are there different kinds of hugs?
I think so. But I'm not sure. If kisses have different kinds then, by analogy, hugs have them as well right?
Should I hug different people differently?
If it's up to me I won't hug anyone at all. But, to answer the question, yes I do think that a hug, being a socially accepted gesture of affection, should be dished out in varying degrees of intensity corresponding to the degree of closeness (physically or figuratively) of two people.
Should I put my arms over or under their arms? Or should one arm go over and one arm go under in a criss-cross pattern?
I've often wondered about this whenever I feel I cannot wiggle myself out of a hugging circumstance. Too bad for me, though, I wonder about these things while I'm about to hug someone and it's too late to go over the pros and cons in my mind. My mind completely shuts down and my body just waits for the other person to finish hugging me.
Does it depend on height?
I think it does. I can't just hug people who're way smaller/taller than I am without thinking of where my face (or any part of my body, for that matter) will end up during the hug. Ex. If I hug someone who's too tall then my face may end up in their chest or, god forbid, near their crotch area. Because if that happens, my mind would be too preoccupied about hygiene issues that I will not be able to focus on the hug and will myself to hug that person properly. Same thing goes for hugging someone who's way smaller than I am.
How should I hug a girl/boy that is taller than me?
See discussion above.
What’s the best way to avoid accidentally punching/hitting someone when going to hug them?
I've never actually punched someone while hugging or attempting to hug them but I've regularly bumped heads with the other person.
Can I hug from a seated position?
Yes I believe so. I've seen it done (quite effortlessly) on TV and in movies. But I've never really tried it since I'm too f*cked up just perfecting the basic etiquette of hugging someone while standing up I can't bring myself to think of doing it while sitting down.
Should I pat the other person’s back while hugging? Is that a weird thing to do?
As a general rule, I don't pat the other person's back while hugging. Exceptions: (1) When I feel that they need to be comforted or (2) When I feel that the hug is slowly getting awkwardly long and has to stop ASAP.
Should I rub/slide my hand on the person at all?
No. Definitely not. Unless, of course, you have something else in mind.
Should I close my eyes? (No, right?)
No. To close your eyes is equivalent to showing third parties (or those who're not part of the hug) that youlike are savoring the hug. It's creepy.
Can I hug with just one arm?
I believe so, yes. But I always, if I can afford it, try not to extend any part of my body and just... let myself be engulfed in another person's hug. It's less complicated.
If a girl/boy knocks my hat off while hugging, should I get mad?
Most likely, he/she didn't do that on purpose so I think it's best to just laugh it off. Who knows, maybe some other time it would be you who would be knocking somebody else's hat and you would wish that they just laugh it off, too.
Is it weird to shake a girl’s/boy's hand?
No. I have done this (or give a tiny wave) to wiggle myself out of hugging someone. It's slightly awkward because it gives the other person the idea that you're not into hugs. But it's a useful tactic nonetheless.
Should I talk during the hug? Or is that a telltale sign of social anxiety/insecurity?
Talking during a hug is for me a no-no because it's weird and doing so means that the hug is taking longer than expected. If I hug someone, I just do it as quick as I can. I don't linger or prolong it because it will give my mind the time and opportunity to overthink. And more often than not, overthinking is never good for me...or my social skills.
After the hug, what’s up with an arm or shoulder squeeze? Why do I feel like an asshole when I do either of those things?
I've made hugging less complicated by doing nothing before, during or after the hug. I just let the other person do all the hugging. I just let myself be hugged not because I like it but because I will just f*ck things up or make things more awkward by doing something. So, no arm or shoulder squeeze for me.
If I have a gay male/female friend and I am a straight male/female, do I hug?
Yes. Gender equality.
Is it weird if I only feel like hugging people I’ve known for 10+ years?
No it's not. I've known my parents forever and my siblings a little less than that and I'm not really into hugging them all the time. Yes, my brothers hug me like crazy (sometimes I think they do it to spite me or make me feel awkward--they love doing that) but I still feel awkward. More so for people (huggers as I call them) who wants to hug me 10mins after meeting me. God.
Whenever I feel someone is expecting a hug from me, I do some other thing like pat them on the back, give them a high five, or make a joke to make them laugh.
At what point in a friendship/platonic relationship should hugging begin?
This is a tricky question that deserves another essay/article of its own.
If I fail to hug at the appropriate time in the relationship, will I never be able to hug that person?
Yes. This is very consistent with my "Moments" theory which goes something like this, there comes only one moment in two people's lives when they have to decide whether they want to be friends or something else. Once that moment passes and neither of them do nothing, there will be friends forever. Rarely does it happen that two people are given more than one moment. Applying this to hugs, once that moment passes and they don't hug or attempt to, they'll be no hugging between them forever. The line has been drawn, so to speak.
But I can always be wrong. Hugs, after all, are not my strong suit.
What does it mean when you have an attractive female/male friend who hugs everyone except for you?
Ha. I kind of do this. I try to, at least, not close my doors to the possibility of hugging everyone in the future (maybe when a loved one dies or when something insanely good happens and "congrats" would not suffice) but I absolutely do not hug (I have a memo to myself) the person I like. Why? Because I'm bad at hugging and I don't want the person I like to think of me as The Worst Hugger in the History of Hugs.
What does it mean when a girl/boy tells you you are a bad hugger in 6th grade?
That you need more practice?
What does it mean when a girl/boy tells you you are a bad hugger in college?
That you need to get laid?
What does it mean when a girl/boy says chidingly “you can give me a hug, I won’t bite” when you’re in graduate school?
In general, when people say something and follows it with a "I won't bite" and you're mature enough to know the phrase's other connotations, it's safe to assume that some flirting is going on. But, again, I can be wrong.
Is my hugging ability in any way an indication of my ability in other forms of intimacy?
Maybe.
Why didn’t I hug my mom that one time she was crying in the elevator as we were leaving her dementia’d mom in a nursing home in Georgia?
If there's anything in this world that I can stand and gladly welcome, it is my mother's hugs. They're the warmest, least awkward hugs in this world. The best kind there is.
What does it mean when an attractive girl/boy who has a boyfriend/girlfriend hugs you in really cool and unexpected ways… almost goes out of her way to hug you? How should that be interpreted?
If you are someone who really suck at hugs, like me, then maybe she/he is just lonely. She/he needs a hug so bad she/he is willing to hug a hugger like you. If you're really good at it, then maybe, she/he can't get enough of your hugs. But, again, I shouldn't be trusted with reading into things because I am an overthinker and most often than not I got it wrong. Ha.
What if you’ve read several eHow/wikiHow articles re: “How to Hug” and you really, really can’t see yourself doing what they say?
Develop your own rules. Find out what works for you (and what doesn't), and make rules. Keep it simple and easy to remember so as to not confuse yourself whenever you panic when the possibility of hugging someone is imminent or inevitable.
Of course all of these rules are only necessary to remember if you are an over-thinker and a socially awkward individual who thinks words, not actions, are safer (read: less complicated) tools for conveying a wide array of feelings/moods. Like me.
It is my fervent wish--a dream, even--to have one of my essays, or ramblings, posted on the Thought Catalog site. That and meeting Rich Alvarez in person would be the top 2 things on my "After These Things Happen I Can Die Peacefully" list, if I have one. Passing the bar exams and being a lawyer, obviously, is not part of the list because why would I be peaceful after I've endured five years (god forbid, not more) of law school only to die without being able to enjoy being a lawyer!
Anyway, one of the articles that gave me that "Eureka!" feeling as if someone had read my mind and wrote about it, was this article on hugs. I was so amazed by it that I felt I had to write something about hugs, too. This, for me, is a long overdue piece
These are Mr. Weatherhead's questions about hugs and my answers...well sort of.
What are they? Are they important?
A hug is an action whereby one person completely invades another person's personal space--whether necessary or not, voluntary or otherwise--to show affection of whatever level.
People say they are important but, frankly, I can do without them. I don't remember being enveloped by parental hugs when I was young. Kisses, praises, jokes and capital punishment, yes; hugs not so much. Growing up I never really thought about its positive effects. Or if it had any.
Are there different kinds of hugs?
I think so. But I'm not sure. If kisses have different kinds then, by analogy, hugs have them as well right?
Should I hug different people differently?
If it's up to me I won't hug anyone at all. But, to answer the question, yes I do think that a hug, being a socially accepted gesture of affection, should be dished out in varying degrees of intensity corresponding to the degree of closeness (physically or figuratively) of two people.
Should I put my arms over or under their arms? Or should one arm go over and one arm go under in a criss-cross pattern?
I've often wondered about this whenever I feel I cannot wiggle myself out of a hugging circumstance. Too bad for me, though, I wonder about these things while I'm about to hug someone and it's too late to go over the pros and cons in my mind. My mind completely shuts down and my body just waits for the other person to finish hugging me.
Does it depend on height?
I think it does. I can't just hug people who're way smaller/taller than I am without thinking of where my face (or any part of my body, for that matter) will end up during the hug. Ex. If I hug someone who's too tall then my face may end up in their chest or, god forbid, near their crotch area. Because if that happens, my mind would be too preoccupied about hygiene issues that I will not be able to focus on the hug and will myself to hug that person properly. Same thing goes for hugging someone who's way smaller than I am.
How should I hug a girl/boy that is taller than me?
See discussion above.
What’s the best way to avoid accidentally punching/hitting someone when going to hug them?
I've never actually punched someone while hugging or attempting to hug them but I've regularly bumped heads with the other person.
Can I hug from a seated position?
Yes I believe so. I've seen it done (quite effortlessly) on TV and in movies. But I've never really tried it since I'm too f*cked up just perfecting the basic etiquette of hugging someone while standing up I can't bring myself to think of doing it while sitting down.
Should I pat the other person’s back while hugging? Is that a weird thing to do?
As a general rule, I don't pat the other person's back while hugging. Exceptions: (1) When I feel that they need to be comforted or (2) When I feel that the hug is slowly getting awkwardly long and has to stop ASAP.
Should I rub/slide my hand on the person at all?
No. Definitely not. Unless, of course, you have something else in mind.
Should I close my eyes? (No, right?)
No. To close your eyes is equivalent to showing third parties (or those who're not part of the hug) that you
Can I hug with just one arm?
I believe so, yes. But I always, if I can afford it, try not to extend any part of my body and just... let myself be engulfed in another person's hug. It's less complicated.
If a girl/boy knocks my hat off while hugging, should I get mad?
Most likely, he/she didn't do that on purpose so I think it's best to just laugh it off. Who knows, maybe some other time it would be you who would be knocking somebody else's hat and you would wish that they just laugh it off, too.
Is it weird to shake a girl’s/boy's hand?
No. I have done this (or give a tiny wave) to wiggle myself out of hugging someone. It's slightly awkward because it gives the other person the idea that you're not into hugs. But it's a useful tactic nonetheless.
Should I talk during the hug? Or is that a telltale sign of social anxiety/insecurity?
Talking during a hug is for me a no-no because it's weird and doing so means that the hug is taking longer than expected. If I hug someone, I just do it as quick as I can. I don't linger or prolong it because it will give my mind the time and opportunity to overthink. And more often than not, overthinking is never good for me...or my social skills.
After the hug, what’s up with an arm or shoulder squeeze? Why do I feel like an asshole when I do either of those things?
I've made hugging less complicated by doing nothing before, during or after the hug. I just let the other person do all the hugging. I just let myself be hugged not because I like it but because I will just f*ck things up or make things more awkward by doing something. So, no arm or shoulder squeeze for me.
If I have a gay male/female friend and I am a straight male/female, do I hug?
Yes. Gender equality.
Is it weird if I only feel like hugging people I’ve known for 10+ years?
No it's not. I've known my parents forever and my siblings a little less than that and I'm not really into hugging them all the time. Yes, my brothers hug me like crazy (sometimes I think they do it to spite me or make me feel awkward--they love doing that) but I still feel awkward. More so for people (huggers as I call them) who wants to hug me 10mins after meeting me. God.
Whenever I feel someone is expecting a hug from me, I do some other thing like pat them on the back, give them a high five, or make a joke to make them laugh.
At what point in a friendship/platonic relationship should hugging begin?
This is a tricky question that deserves another essay/article of its own.
If I fail to hug at the appropriate time in the relationship, will I never be able to hug that person?
Yes. This is very consistent with my "Moments" theory which goes something like this, there comes only one moment in two people's lives when they have to decide whether they want to be friends or something else. Once that moment passes and neither of them do nothing, there will be friends forever. Rarely does it happen that two people are given more than one moment. Applying this to hugs, once that moment passes and they don't hug or attempt to, they'll be no hugging between them forever. The line has been drawn, so to speak.
But I can always be wrong. Hugs, after all, are not my strong suit.
What does it mean when you have an attractive female/male friend who hugs everyone except for you?
Ha. I kind of do this. I try to, at least, not close my doors to the possibility of hugging everyone in the future (maybe when a loved one dies or when something insanely good happens and "congrats" would not suffice) but I absolutely do not hug (I have a memo to myself) the person I like. Why? Because I'm bad at hugging and I don't want the person I like to think of me as The Worst Hugger in the History of Hugs.
What does it mean when a girl/boy tells you you are a bad hugger in 6th grade?
That you need more practice?
What does it mean when a girl/boy tells you you are a bad hugger in college?
That you need to get laid?
What does it mean when a girl/boy says chidingly “you can give me a hug, I won’t bite” when you’re in graduate school?
In general, when people say something and follows it with a "I won't bite" and you're mature enough to know the phrase's other connotations, it's safe to assume that some flirting is going on. But, again, I can be wrong.
Is my hugging ability in any way an indication of my ability in other forms of intimacy?
Maybe.
Why didn’t I hug my mom that one time she was crying in the elevator as we were leaving her dementia’d mom in a nursing home in Georgia?
If there's anything in this world that I can stand and gladly welcome, it is my mother's hugs. They're the warmest, least awkward hugs in this world. The best kind there is.
What does it mean when an attractive girl/boy who has a boyfriend/girlfriend hugs you in really cool and unexpected ways… almost goes out of her way to hug you? How should that be interpreted?
If you are someone who really suck at hugs, like me, then maybe she/he is just lonely. She/he needs a hug so bad she/he is willing to hug a hugger like you. If you're really good at it, then maybe, she/he can't get enough of your hugs. But, again, I shouldn't be trusted with reading into things because I am an overthinker and most often than not I got it wrong. Ha.
What if you’ve read several eHow/wikiHow articles re: “How to Hug” and you really, really can’t see yourself doing what they say?
Develop your own rules. Find out what works for you (and what doesn't), and make rules. Keep it simple and easy to remember so as to not confuse yourself whenever you panic when the possibility of hugging someone is imminent or inevitable.
Of course all of these rules are only necessary to remember if you are an over-thinker and a socially awkward individual who thinks words, not actions, are safer (read: less complicated) tools for conveying a wide array of feelings/moods. Like me.
Monday, September 3, 2012
Common Themes and Things in Glee's Season 1 and Season 3
Glee's writing was at its best and most cohesive in season 1. Somewhere between the screams of gazillion gleeks worldwide, numerous chart-topping singles and the Glee concert tour, the story was lost and forgotten. Season 2 became an avenue where songs defined the story lines when it should've been the other way around. The writers made an effort to make things click in Season 3 by going back to the basics. Unfortunately they did so by rehashing the story lines, details and, for some, even the wardrobe, from season 1. It was so obvious I couldn't help but notice.
Beth. She was born in season 1, was completely forgotten in season 2 but took centerstage in season 3. Her cuteness even fueled Quinn's Crazy Mommy phase.
and on a related note...
Quinn loses everything... again. In season 1, she lost Cheerios captain-ship and the coolness that went with it when she got pregnant. In season 3, she loses it twice. For the first part of the season, she went into an I-will-get-back-Beth-from-Shelby frenzy and for the second part, she tried to get over the probability that she may forever be a cripple.
The Unholy Trinity. In season 1, Brittany and Santana helped Quinn with her audition by singing "Say A Little Prayer". In season 3, Santana and Brittany tried to talk Quinn out of her Skank-ness in the first episode, and before they perform at Nationals they gather to share a moment.
which reminds me...
Santana and Brittany also danced back-up for Mercedes as she sang Disco Inferno in "Saturday Night Glee-ver".
Kurtanny. Brittany became Kurt's beard to help him get close to his dad in season 1. Brittany helped him conceptualize his "Unicorn" campaign posters when he ran for senior class president in season 3--although she ended up running (and eventually winning) against him.
Porcelain (Kurt) and Wheezy (Mercedes) talk to Coach Sue a lot. In season 1 it was all about joining the Cheerios. In season 3, their meetings gave birth to Unique.
on a related note,
Remember the time when Mercedes had a crush on Kurt in season 1? In season 3 their union has (finally!) given birth to an actual person, Unique!
Mercedes vs. Rachel. Mercedes asserts entitlement to the solos which results in: (a) she joins the Cheerios (season 1) but quits eventually, and (b) she joins the Troubletones (season 3), bringing Brittana with her, but also re-joins the glee club when they lose Sectionals.
on a related note,
Mercedes' Cheerios uniform makes a comeback in season 3--although it was only in Tina's body-swapping dream.
The guys sing about Mercedes. In season 1, it was Puck going gaga over Mercedes. In season 3 it was Sam. How lucky she is.
The Changs. They were "born" in season 1 and matured in season 3--with Artie staying the same althroughout.
Vampire Tina. In season 1, Tina uses her vampire-ish abilities to scare and stop Principal Figgins from interfering with the way she dresses. In season 3, Principal Figgins alludes to Tina's vampire-ish ways while talking to Mr. Mike Chang Sr. This time Tina used it to excuse herself from gym class.
Mr. Schue's Manipulative Ways. In season 1, hemanipulates blackmails Finn to join New Directions. In season 3, he manipulates (and Mercedes calls him on it) the disco dance-off to force Finn, Santana and Mercedes to think about life decisions after high school.
Virgin monologues? Rachel asks the girls about losing her virginity first to Jesse (in season 1) and to Finn (in season 3).
Adopt-A-Glee-Kid. In season 1 Mercedes welcomes Quinn into her home after she gets kicked out by her mom and gets tired of Puck's family. In season 3, Sam bunked at the Hummel-Hudson household while he finishes his junior year at McKinley.
Brittana Bombshell. In season 1, Brittany nonchalantly mentions that if sex was dating, she and Santana would be dating. Hence, Brittana was born. In season 3, Brittany, in an effort to make Santana famous (or make her realize that fame is a double-edged sword) puts their sex tape on YouTube, interlacing it with Lord Tubbington doing household chores. Hence, the hashtag #brittanasextape trended worldwide on Twitter just minutes after it was mentioned on the show.
West Side Story Wars. In season 1, it was Tina versus Rachel for the lead song role of Maria while in season 3, it was Rachel (of course) and Mercedes. Tina folds while Mercedes quits the glee club. I wonder why the season 1 Rachel vs. Tina wasn't mentioned in season 3 when they decided to do West Side Story again.
Sectionals Disqualification. In season 1, Mr. Schuester was disqualified from Sectionals because he slept in one of the mattresses that the club received for doing a TV commercial ad. In season 3, it was Rachel's turn to get DQ-ed for cheating on the class presidential elections to make Kurt win.
Gleeks Protecting Their Own. In season 1, the glee kids went up against Jesse for egging Rachel while in season 3, they all went up against Sebastian for slushing Blaine and hurting his eye.
Even the perfomances were repeated...
I Kissed A Girl makes a comeback. In season 1, Tina's edgy rendition of the song got her into New Directions. Ok fine, everyone who tried out got in... except Becky Jackson. In season 3, the song was used (ironically, I think) to celebrate Santana's acceptance of the fact that Finn outed her.
Single Ladies also makes a comeback. Tina and Brittany joins Burt Hummel in the season 3 performance as a graduation present to Kurt. I wonder why the ladies had to wear some sort of flimsy skirt/cover-up in 2012. Did they get more conservative or did they put on weight? Hehe
Sit Down You're Rocking the Boat makes a comeback, too. All 5 original members perform the song to show how far they've gotten. In Artie's words... "from the ghetto to the penthouse. National champs, baby."
Little details were also re-used, whether conscious or not.
Brittana holding hands while waiting for the winners of Regionals to be announced. See, the parallelism is evident, even in the tiniest of details.
Regionals, black and gold. In both season 1's and 3's regionals competitions, the New Directions wore an ensemble of black and gold. I think that if Blaine did not transfer to McKinley in season 3, the boys wouldn't be wearing bowties instead of neckties.
Bullet-proof case in the choir room. It was built by Sue's shop class in Season 1 to house the Cheerios' 2010 Nationals trophy. In Season 3, it was used to house the New Directions' 2012 Nationals trophy. Reversal of fortunes: New Directions were National champs in 2012 while the Cheerios lost theirs.
Lights. In season 1, the lights spelled Kurt's name. In season 3, it spelled Mercedes'.
Kurt's spider pin. Kurt wore it in his Defying Gravity performance in the episode "Wheels" in season 1, and in his graduation in the the season 3 episode, "Goodbye".
-----------------------------------------
You may want to see my other posts about Glee (yes there are a lot!!!):
Quintet 3: GLEE-king Out
Things I Missed From Glee's Season 1 (Part 1)
Things I Missed From Glee's Season 1 (Part 2)
Things I Missed From Glee's Season 1 (Part 3)
McKinley High School in a Decade
15 Glee Club Truths
Final(e) Thoughts: GLEE-duation
Who Wore It Better: Kurt vs Santana
Kurt's 27 (Head) Dresses [Updated]
Glee "Mysteries": Mike, Quinn and Mercedes
How Sue Sees It
Beth. She was born in season 1, was completely forgotten in season 2 but took centerstage in season 3. Her cuteness even fueled Quinn's Crazy Mommy phase.
 |
| Beth |
and on a related note...
Quinn loses everything... again. In season 1, she lost Cheerios captain-ship and the coolness that went with it when she got pregnant. In season 3, she loses it twice. For the first part of the season, she went into an I-will-get-back-Beth-from-Shelby frenzy and for the second part, she tried to get over the probability that she may forever be a cripple.
 |
| I liked Punk!Quinn better. |
The Unholy Trinity. In season 1, Brittany and Santana helped Quinn with her audition by singing "Say A Little Prayer". In season 3, Santana and Brittany tried to talk Quinn out of her Skank-ness in the first episode, and before they perform at Nationals they gather to share a moment.
 |
| The Unholy Trinity. Starting together. Ending together. Just the way it should be. |
which reminds me...
Santana and Brittany also danced back-up for Mercedes as she sang Disco Inferno in "Saturday Night Glee-ver".
 |
| Mercedes Inferno! |
Sue's Minions. In season 1, Coach Sue instructs Quinn to join/ruin-from-within New Directions while in season 3, she gives the same instructions to Santana.
 |
| Sue and Santana |
Kurtanny. Brittany became Kurt's beard to help him get close to his dad in season 1. Brittany helped him conceptualize his "Unicorn" campaign posters when he ran for senior class president in season 3--although she ended up running (and eventually winning) against him.
 |
| Unicorns unite! |
Porcelain (Kurt) and Wheezy (Mercedes) talk to Coach Sue a lot. In season 1 it was all about joining the Cheerios. In season 3, their meetings gave birth to Unique.
 |
| Porcelain and Wheezy |
on a related note,
Remember the time when Mercedes had a crush on Kurt in season 1? In season 3 their union has (finally!) given birth to an actual person, Unique!
 |
| Kurt coming out to Mercedes was one of the most heartwarming scenes in Glee's three-year run |
Mercedes vs. Rachel. Mercedes asserts entitlement to the solos which results in: (a) she joins the Cheerios (season 1) but quits eventually, and (b) she joins the Troubletones (season 3), bringing Brittana with her, but also re-joins the glee club when they lose Sectionals.
on a related note,
Mercedes' Cheerios uniform makes a comeback in season 3--although it was only in Tina's body-swapping dream.
The guys sing about Mercedes. In season 1, it was Puck going gaga over Mercedes. In season 3 it was Sam. How lucky she is.
The Changs. They were "born" in season 1 and matured in season 3--with Artie staying the same althroughout.
 |
| from tap dancing to duets, Tike got it covered |
Vampire Tina. In season 1, Tina uses her vampire-ish abilities to scare and stop Principal Figgins from interfering with the way she dresses. In season 3, Principal Figgins alludes to Tina's vampire-ish ways while talking to Mr. Mike Chang Sr. This time Tina used it to excuse herself from gym class.
 |
| Vampire Tina is something I expected from Community not Glee. But I am amused nonetheless. |
Mr. Schue's Manipulative Ways. In season 1, he
 |
| Scheming Schuester |
Virgin monologues? Rachel asks the girls about losing her virginity first to Jesse (in season 1) and to Finn (in season 3).
 |
| Rachel and her girls. Notably absent in the season 3 "meeting" is Mercedes. |
Adopt-A-Glee-Kid. In season 1 Mercedes welcomes Quinn into her home after she gets kicked out by her mom and gets tired of Puck's family. In season 3, Sam bunked at the Hummel-Hudson household while he finishes his junior year at McKinley.
Brittana Bombshell. In season 1, Brittany nonchalantly mentions that if sex was dating, she and Santana would be dating. Hence, Brittana was born. In season 3, Brittany, in an effort to make Santana famous (or make her realize that fame is a double-edged sword) puts their sex tape on YouTube, interlacing it with Lord Tubbington doing household chores. Hence, the hashtag #brittanasextape trended worldwide on Twitter just minutes after it was mentioned on the show.
 |
| from dating to a sex tape, Brittana got it covered |
West Side Story Wars. In season 1, it was Tina versus Rachel for the lead song role of Maria while in season 3, it was Rachel (of course) and Mercedes. Tina folds while Mercedes quits the glee club. I wonder why the season 1 Rachel vs. Tina wasn't mentioned in season 3 when they decided to do West Side Story again.
 |
| Mr. Schue chooses Tina to sing Tonight over Rachel. And Mercedes is a Jet. |
Sectionals Disqualification. In season 1, Mr. Schuester was disqualified from Sectionals because he slept in one of the mattresses that the club received for doing a TV commercial ad. In season 3, it was Rachel's turn to get DQ-ed for cheating on the class presidential elections to make Kurt win.
 |
| Grounds for DQ: Vote rigging and mattress sleeping |
Gleeks Protecting Their Own. In season 1, the glee kids went up against Jesse for egging Rachel while in season 3, they all went up against Sebastian for slushing Blaine and hurting his eye.
Even the perfomances were repeated...
I Kissed A Girl makes a comeback. In season 1, Tina's edgy rendition of the song got her into New Directions. Ok fine, everyone who tried out got in... except Becky Jackson. In season 3, the song was used (ironically, I think) to celebrate Santana's acceptance of the fact that Finn outed her.
Single Ladies also makes a comeback. Tina and Brittany joins Burt Hummel in the season 3 performance as a graduation present to Kurt. I wonder why the ladies had to wear some sort of flimsy skirt/cover-up in 2012. Did they get more conservative or did they put on weight? Hehe
 |
| Burt Hummel: Best. Dad. Ever. |
Sit Down You're Rocking the Boat makes a comeback, too. All 5 original members perform the song to show how far they've gotten. In Artie's words... "from the ghetto to the penthouse. National champs, baby."
Little details were also re-used, whether conscious or not.
Brittana holding hands while waiting for the winners of Regionals to be announced. See, the parallelism is evident, even in the tiniest of details.
 |
| Or maybe Brittana always held hands. |
Regionals, black and gold. In both season 1's and 3's regionals competitions, the New Directions wore an ensemble of black and gold. I think that if Blaine did not transfer to McKinley in season 3, the boys wouldn't be wearing bowties instead of neckties.
 |
| gold = victory |
Bullet-proof case in the choir room. It was built by Sue's shop class in Season 1 to house the Cheerios' 2010 Nationals trophy. In Season 3, it was used to house the New Directions' 2012 Nationals trophy. Reversal of fortunes: New Directions were National champs in 2012 while the Cheerios lost theirs.
 |
| "How the mighty have fallen." |
Lights. In season 1, the lights spelled Kurt's name. In season 3, it spelled Mercedes'.
 |
| Altho, upon closer inspection, I think the lights were different. Kurt's was more similar to ones they used in the "Michael" episode. |
Kurt's spider pin. Kurt wore it in his Defying Gravity performance in the episode "Wheels" in season 1, and in his graduation in the the season 3 episode, "Goodbye".
 |
| Only Kurt Hummel can pull off a spider pin without looking tacky. |
-----------------------------------------
You may want to see my other posts about Glee (yes there are a lot!!!):
Quintet 3: GLEE-king Out
Things I Missed From Glee's Season 1 (Part 1)
Things I Missed From Glee's Season 1 (Part 2)
Things I Missed From Glee's Season 1 (Part 3)
McKinley High School in a Decade
15 Glee Club Truths
Final(e) Thoughts: GLEE-duation
Who Wore It Better: Kurt vs Santana
Kurt's 27 (Head) Dresses [Updated]
Glee "Mysteries": Mike, Quinn and Mercedes
How Sue Sees It
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