MEOW!
Rarely have I come across such polarizing opinions for just one episode of GLEE. Some have said "Shooting Star" to be one of the most emotionally charged nights of television they've ever experienced, allowing a shocking amount of depth to shine through the unlikeliest of characters. Then some have considered it to be the most offensive thing to ever come across television screens--a forced, manipulative episode with a heavy political agenda involving gun laws and school shootings. Bottom-line: this episode can cause as much of a debate as anything surrounding the thirteenth amendment.
As I've read other perspectives after viewing "Shooting Star," a couple of questions began to stir inside my thought-provoking mind: 1.) Was it too soon for Ryan Murphy to create an episode like this, or was it something that should have been addressed long before the Aurora and Newtown shootings unfortunately commenced? And 2.) If you stripped off any of the political motivations surrounding this episode, would it still be very good or unbelievably unnecessary?
The keywords in that first question are 'too soon.' As someone who has gone through losing a crucial member of the family, I consider the opinion of something being finished 'too soon' a rather invalid one. There have been plenty of moments in my life that end way 'too soon,' such as experiencing an extraordinary film in the comfort of a quiet movie theater, performing in a musical over the summer with some of the best friends someone can ask for, and having the time of your life with a family that loves you no matter what strengths and weaknesses that you could possibly contain. Yes, when it's over, I yearn to go back and wonder why it ended so quickly, but the fact of the matter remains that the end is inevitable, and unfortunately for some, it could arrive quicker than they would have possibly imagined. That is what the members of "New Directions" feel two-thirds into this episode, where they have been locked inside a choir room due to the sound of a few gun shots. Parallel to their learning assignment for the week, they accomplish whatever possible to make amends with their fellow classmates, which eventually leads them to becoming one big, non-biological family. Bonding with the unlikeliest of people would never be considered 'too soon,' even in the most sudden of all situations.
With all of that being written, I personally think this episode would have benefited from being the last episode of the whole series. On top of that, had this been a two-hour episode with limited commercial breaks, there would have been more time to develop the characters inside and out of William McKinley High School. We would have gotten to see reactions from not only people like Finn, Kurt and Rachel, but also the parents of those who were locked inside the choir room. In fact, had the writers really wanted to become courageous (although the GLEEk inside of me wishes for this NOT to happen), they would have had an incredibly crucial character become a victim in a school shooting. Which character, you may ask? In all honesty, it would have been fascinating, gut-wrenching, and HEART-BREAKING to see Will Schuester become the unfortunate victim.
OK...now bear with me for one paragraph, because I know you're in shock. In every way, Will Schuester had been the driving, optimistic force of New Directions, while also being a genuine father figure as well. If he became a victim of a school shooting, then you wouldn't imagine the emotional wallop the episode would provide. You wouldn't imagine the amount of heartbreak everyone, including those who watch GLEE religiously, would suffer from upon hearing such emotional news. Yet, through it all, there would be a light at the end of the road. The high school would need a few new show choir directors--people who not only know the joys of belonging in a group like New Directions, but also understanding that "being a part of something special makes you special." Without question, I would hire Finn, Kurt and Rachel to take over New Directions. Finn would finally come to grips with who he was destined to become in the first place, while Kurt and Rachel would both be making sacrifices by selflessly honoring Will for the work he has done over the years. It would have been an absolutely beautiful and honest tribute to one of the most influential characters in Television history, but now, there is probably no chance of an episode like that being created anytime soon.
As is, with the exception of its gut-wrenching middle section, I found this episode to be rather rushed. The whole sub-plot involving Brittany seeing a potential meteor falling down to Earth is an interesting slice of dark humor that isn't given its due. In fact, every character takes it so seriously right away that it ultimately comes across as off-putting. Another sub-plot involves Brittany wanting to sing what she wants to sing to Lord Tubbington, as it could possibly be her last week on Earth. Not only is it an amusing concept that is also not given its due; it's already an amusing concept for another episode. Come to think of it, both concepts belong in their own episodes, and not in an episode like this. Both concepts turn what could have been one of the most powerful nights of Television into, at least during the first half, an awkwardly rushed mess.
The 'big reveal,' without giving too much away, is what people are going ape over, and not in a positive way. They say it's about as disgusting and offensive as anything you could possibly see on Television right now. I'd be lying if I wrote that there could not have been a different and possibly superior ending to the one as is (refer to the episode that will probably never become made), but on the other hand, when judged on an emotionally deeper level, it supports the irony of the song "Say What You Need To Say" before the credits start to roll. I understand that we have to pay for our souls when we eventually reach that day, but why pay more for the therapy bills when we can easily talk to the people we love at no extra charge? Oh, I see. Because in this day and age, we can't even speak to the people we normally turned to when facing our frightening fears, and that we do have to pay for the therapy bills in order to feel emotionally satisfied about ourselves. I'm not saying that therapists are bad people, for they are genuinely one-of-a-kind; I'm saying that we need to stand up and take action to those that need it the most, because if we do, chances are we will have a healthier and stronger society in the future. That is something worth more than a million dollars in my book.
"Shooting Star" isn't a consistently sensational episode of GLEE, and it is completely understandable if those involved in the Aurora or Newtown shootings refuse to watch it like the plague. But if you are willing to open your heart and mind to such emotional and thought-provoking topics, then I recommend that you give this episode a go. Kudos to everyone involved for taking a trip around the riverbend, and I hope superior episodes like this are made sometime in the near-future.
For now, here is the link to "Shooting Star," courtesy of Jon Gomez: http://gorillavid.in/0qbism9e0kr1 (You might want to copy and paste it).
Until next time,
MEOW!
