Reviews

So, a jealous wife decides to spy on her husband by moonlighting as the school nurse. Yeah, I thought it was crazy, too. 'Vitamin D' shines a light on Terri's craziness as her jealousy over Will and Emma's friendship escalates to new heights. At the same time, Will decides to form a boys vs. girls competition to give the club more energy and more fun. To perform better, the club decide to go to Terri for Vitamin D so they can have more energy and perform better.

The cast performances are all fine. Matthew Morrison's Will Schuester doesn't shine really until the end of the episode. Throughout the episode, he doesn't play a very large role, as he's trying to get space from Terri, coach the club, and spend time with Emma. Jane Lynch is entertaining as Sue Sylvester. As part of her plan to destroy the Glee Club, she decides to go after Will by lying to his wife about a fake affair he is having with Emma. Jessalyn Gilsig is good as Terri Schuester, but she really shows her crazy in this episode. While I understand her wanting to keep an eye on her husband to make sure he isn't cheating, pretending to be a school nurse is just insane. How was she able to get away with it so easily, and why was she not arrested for giving drugs to students? Jayma Mays gives a strong performance as Emma Pillsbury. While still being close to Will, her relationship with Ken is taken to the next level, leaving her at odds. Her confrontation with Terri was nice to see, as it was interesting to finally see someone stand up to her. Patrick Gallagher and Iqbal Theba are fine as Ken Tanaka and Principal Figgins. Lea Michele is great as Rachel Berry. Now that she is back in Glee Club, all she cares about is winning and tries to put out all the stops to defeat the boys by herself. On Vitamin D, it was actually pretty funny, as she talked faster and more than normal. Cory Monteith is hilarious as Finn Hudson. While he was losing sleep trying to balance his school life with his personal life, he's gotten to the point where he's exhausted, which leads to him going to the nurse for help. When he is given Vitamin D, it makes for a really entertaining scene where he is full of energy, and you wouldn't even believe he was tired. Chris Colfer and Mark Salling are fine in their short roles as Kurt Hummel and Noah 'Puck' Puckerman. Dianna Agron shines as Quinn Fabray. She isn't in the episode much but has two really big scenes that focus on her struggle with her pregnancy and what she is afraid of in the near future. It shows that even the most popular girl in school can have issues. Kevin McHale, Amber Riley, Jenna Ushkowitz, Naya Rivera, and Heather Morris are okay in their very short roles.

Besides the funny Vitamin D storyline, I really liked the introduction of mash-ups and the boys vs. girls competition, which eventually becomes a yearly tradition for the club. Before 'Glee', I didn't even know mash-ups existed, and I thought the idea of them were very cool and unique. 'It's My Life/Confessions' and 'Halo/Walking on Sunshine' worked really well, and considering those were the only performances in the episode, they were great. I really had a problem with Terri becoming school nurse. Here, she works part-time at a retail store and decides to moonlight as a nurse 'to help pitch in with finances', but she later reveals she isn't built for working five days. This episode really works hard to show you how crazy and neurotic she is. And in case it wasn't clear, she cares too much about herself. When it comes to the end of the episode, to me, it was a stupid decision to bring in a co-director for the club. While I love that it was Sue, I didn't feel that a co-director could fix the club's problems. 'Vitamin D' is probably a forgettable episode for the most part when you look back on the show, but there are plenty of memorable moments.

Pros: -Great cast performances -Great musical performances -Introduction of mash-ups/boys vs. girls competition -Vitamin D storyline

Cons: -Terri becoming school nurse -Co-director

8/10 "Great"

After an amazing episode like 'Preggers', an interesting move was made by steering away from some of the bigger characters of the episode like Kurt and Quinn and focused on some others instead. In 'The Rhodes Not Taken', Will helps one of his former classmates finish her high school career while also joining the Glee Club in Rachel's place.

The cast performances are all really good. Matthew Morrison is great as Will Schuester. It's really nice to see how hard Will works to take care of the people he cares about. He had to make a difficult decision in the previous episode and is dealing with the consequences by having to replace the star of the club. Inviting someone he barely knew but admired to replace Rachel was a bold move but proved rather interesting. Jane Lynch is fine in her short role as Sue Sylvester, as well as Jessalyn Gilsig as Terri Schuester. Jayma Mays is great as Emma Pillsbury. Besides helping Finn figure out his future, she tries to convince Will that April is bad news and will only hurt the Glee Club. Stephen Tobolowsky is funny as Sandy Ryerson. This time, he's pretty much berating Rachel for the entire episode, and it's pretty funny to watch. Lea Michele is great as Rachel Berry. While it starts to become more understandable why she doesn't want to come back to Glee, her reasons for doing so are sort of contradictory. When she goes bowling with Finn, she mentions to him that she doesn't see the point in being somewhere where she isn't appreciated. If that's the case, why doesn't she quit the play due to Sandy berating her? Is it her trying to prove a point to the club or to herself? Cory Monteith is pretty good as Finn Hudson. While his reasons for hanging out with Rachel in this episode are a little selfish, it's understandable and doesn't make him an unlikable character, as he really just wants to find a way to support Quinn. Dianna Agron is fine as Quinn Fabray in her short appearance. Chris Colfer is hilarious as Kurt Hummel. It's always funny when I rewatch this episode, and he's drunk and throws up on Emma's shoes. Mark Salling is pretty good as Noah 'Puck' Puckerman but also doesn't have a large role. Kevin McHale, Amber Riley, Jenna Ushkowitz, Naya Rivera, and Heather Morris are all fine as Artie Abrams, Mercedes Jones, Tina Cohen-Chang, Santana Lopez, and Brittany. Guest star Kristin Chenoweth is great as April Rhodes and gives one of the best performances in the entire episode. A few years older than Will, she inspired him to join Glee Club, and she has an incredible voice. After failing to make it big, she became an alcoholic and had no place to go. Even though Will tries to help her reinvent herself, she struggles giving up alcohol and her spotlight. The end of the episode is where the character really shines. Coming to terms with where her life is now, she realizes that she needs to move on to something else and let the Glee kids have the dream she always wanted. It's a really inspiring scene.

April's storyline was really the most interesting to watch. She's an interesting character with really difficult struggles, and she really just needs a fresh start in life. The idea of her joining the Glee Club actually works, as it makes the club invested in her witty personality. Although they're reluctant, they all quickly grow to like her but for all the wrong reason. And although it wasn't a major storyline in the episode, I liked how the Glee Club found out about Quinn's pregnancy. While it may be seen as poorly written, like Kurt said, this was the Glee Club's first big scandal. And for the (unbeknownst to them) father of the baby to tell the club that Quinn was pregnant was pretty crazy, and it was sort of a betrayal in a way. Plus, it shocked everyone, especially Rachel, as it made her feel betrayed by Finn.

The musical performances were also really good, with the standout obviously being 'Somebody to Love'. Incredibly sung, this song worked really well for a group number, and all the harmonies flowed together well. Overall, this episode was definitely solid even though it may not be viewed as one of the best episodes of the season.

Pros: -Great cast performances -Great musical performances -April's storyline -Glee Club finding out about Quinn

Cons: -Some of April's choices -Rachel's choices for not coming back to Glee

8/10 "Great"

Because of this episode, 'Glee' raised the bar for important teen issues. Teen pregnancy is known to be an awkward trope for television, but 'Glee' handled it pretty well. The head cheerleader and president of the Celibacy Club would probably be the last person to get pregnant while in high school, but this episode subverted expectations. Besides Quinn getting pregnant, Rachel is jealous of Will giving Tina her dream solo, and Finn has to deal with his girlfriend getting pregnant and trying to lead the football team to their first win.

All the performances are very good. Matthew Morrison is pretty good as Will Schuester. He doesn't have a very large role in this episode besides having to deal with tension in the Glee Club. Choosing between Rachel and Tina will bring consequences no matter what, and trying to help a teen dealing with a pregnancy while dealing with a pregnancy of his own is tough for any one person to deal with. Jane Lynch is great as Sue Sylvester, as she gets a hilarious segment on the local news station that brings lots of laughs. Jayma Mays is fine during her brief appearance, but Jessalyn Gilsig as Terri has taken an even crazier turn. Besides lying about her pregnancy, she now wants to help Quinn by raising her baby so she cover her own skin while helping the teen live a normalish life. It's borderline psychotic, but it makes for interesting TV. Patrick Gallagher, Stephen Tobolowsky, and Iqbal Theba are still pretty good and hilarious as Ken Tanaka, Sandy Ryerson, and Principal Figgins. The introduction of Mike O'Malley as Kurt's father Burt is great. He's one of TV's best dads, and this episode solidifies as he accepts his son's homosexuality and promising to love him no matter what. Lea Michele is fine as Rachel Berry, but Rachel is the biggest problem with this episode. We've known since the pilot episode that Rachel is a diva and incredibly ambitious, but thus far, she has been very supportive of the Glee Club until now. Selfishly, she doesn't want Tina to get the solo she feels she deserves and feels Will is punishing her. I know it's to show how much of a diva she is, but she was pretty unbearable in this episode as much as I like her character. Cory Monteith is amazing as Finn Hudson. He struggles a lot in this episode when he finds out his girlfriend is pregnant, and it, and it affects his leadership skills on the football field. He wants to do right by Kurt and help him impress his father but is also trying to think about his future and wants to solidify it via football. A lot has been put on his plate, and asking his teacher for help was a pretty ballsy move even though he looks up to him. Chris Colfer is again amazing as Kurt Hummel. When he wants to impress his father by joining the football field, it seems crazy since he knows nothing about sports. But introducing music on the field and helping the football team learn how to dance was hilarious and was one of the best moments in the entire series. His coming out to his father was emotional yet relieving, as it gave Kurt more confidence. Dianna Agron is great as Quinn Fabray. Having to deal with a pregnancy as a teenager is not easy, and it doesn't help when you're one of the most popular kids in school. The fact that her boyfriend's best friend is the actual father doesn't help at all and just makes her situation worse for her. Agron shines in this episode and actually makes you sympathize with her character even though we kinda hate her so far. Mark Salling is great as Noah 'Puck' Puckerman. Still pretty funny in this episode, his scenes with Quinn are especially intense. Jenna Ushkowitz is pretty good as Tina Cohen-Chang, as she finally gets more to do when she is offered her first solo. She doesn't have a large role but ultimately has a hard time dealing with the drama that Rachel is causing. Kevin McHale and Amber Riley are fine as Artie Abrams and Mercedes Jones but are barely in the episode, along with Naya Rivera and Heather Morris as Santana Lopez and Brittany.

Besides Rachel being selfish, this episode had some amazing storylines. Without repeating myself, Quinn's pregnancy and Kurt's coming out were handled greatly and opens up a lot more to do moving forward. While there are musical numbers, that wasn't really a bad thing, as it gave more time for story. This episode, while dramatic, still had plenty of great humor and moments that are still remembered fondly ten years later.

Pros: -Cast performances -Great storylines -Hilarious -Musical performances

Cons: -Rachel's selfishness

9/10 "Fantastic"

'Acafellas' shows us more of Will's backstory, as his parents are introduced. In the past, Will dreamed of being a performer but settled on being a teacher so he could still inspire people. After the Glee Club gains three new members, Will forms a group with his friends called Acafellas so he can see what it's like to perform. This causes a severe strain on his Glee duties, as he shows up less frequently, thus forcing the club to find a new choreographer.

The cast performances are all very good, with there being a good amount of standouts. Matthew Morrison is okay as Will Schuester, but the character takes a somewhat bizarre turn this episode when he decides to form a boy band so he can follows his dream of being a performer. I don't mind Will wanting to chase his dream, but considering how committed he wanted to be to the Glee Club, it's sort of surprising that he would drop everything at the first chance he got. It's completely out of character for him. Jane Lynch is great as Sue Sylvester, as we see more of her plan unfold along with more of her humorous side. Jayma Mays is great as Emma Pillsbury. In this episode, Emma does what she does best and gives important advice to Will that continues to help him make the right choices in his personal life. While we don't see much development of her relationship with Ken, it's clear that she is still hung up on Will. Jessalyn Gilsig is fine as Terri Schuester for her brief time on screen. It's nice to finally see her start to support Will, even though we know it won't last long. Patrick Gallagher is still pretty good as Ken Tanaka, and Stephen Tobolowsky's return as ex-Glee Club director Sandy Ryerson is nothing short of hilarious. Lea Michele is great as Rachel Berry, as we see more of her leadership skills so she can repair the damage that Will caused by leaving Glee Club. While she ultimately regrets her decisions, seeing her stand up for the Glee Club was great and showed how much she cares for them. Cory Monteith is great as Finn Hudson, but we see a different side for him, as he sticks up for Schuester as opposed to hiring a new director. While this puts a strain on his 'relationship' with Rachel, he ultimately wants to do the right thing but feels that having Mr. Schuester guide them is the best way to do that. Dianna Agron is pretty good as Quinn Fabray. Since she's a spy for her cheerleading coach, we don't see a lot of good in her in this episode until the end, but it shows her character growth. Chris Colfer is amazing as Kurt Hummel. Besides being just comic relief, we finally get to learn more about him and his preferences, and he has a touching coming out scene with Mercedes that is still one of his best scenes of the entire series. Colfer paved the way for more storylines like this, and it shows. Amber Riley is great as Mercedes Jones, and she has a pretty interesting storyline this episode when she falls for her friend without knowing he is secretly gay. While it's hard to watch because it's so awkward, it's clear that she just wants to find love since it's hard for her to find because she has low self-esteem due to her being an outcast. Mark Salling has a pretty funny role as Noah 'Puck' Puckerman, as we learn that he is a big fan of cougar moms and also has a passion for singing as well. Kevin McHale and Jenna Ushkowitz are fine as Artie Abrams and Tina Cohen-Chang. Naya Rivera is fine as Santana Lopez while Heather Morris as Brittany has literally no speaking lines. Iqbal Theba is again very funny as Principal Figgins. The guest stars in this episode have some of the most interesting roles. Victor Garber is great as Will's dad. Though we only see him in this one episode, it's clear that he's a lot like his son, as he wants to follows his dream of being a lawyer but doesn't have the guts. By the end of the episode, he vows to do so thanks to his son inspiring him. Debra Monk is fine as Will's mom, but Josh Groban is hilarious as himself. Though he's only in the end of the episode rejecting Sandy, it's a hilarious scene, and he does well.

The storyline isn't the greatest in this episode, as it mainly focuses on the Acafellas. While the premise isn't a bad idea, it felt too early in the series and felt too out of character of Will at this stage. I think the most interesting storyline was between Kurt and Mercedes. While it was pretty awkward for the most part, it ends on a positive and compelling note. Mercedes was the first person that Kurt came out to, so the fact that he was able to build enough confidence to tell her even though he wasn't ready to come out to the school, it was incredibly brave and moving. The romances pretty much take a backseat in this episode since it wouldn't work too well for the overall story, but it wasn't a bad decision.

If I had to pick the best overall musical performance for this episode, I would probably say 'I Wanna Sex You Up'. Even though Amber Riley kills it singing 'Bust Your Windows', I'm not a big fan of the song, and I felt the group performance just worked better and showed off multiple great voices as opposed to just one. 'Acafellas' is a pretty enjoyable episode just for the humor aspect alone, but seeing more of the minor supporting characters really helped.

Pros: -Kurt/Mercedes storyline -Guest stars -Cast performances -Decent musical performances -Humor

Cons: -Will's commitment to Glee Club -Some cringeworthy dialogue

8/10 "Great"

'Glee''s second episode finds the New Directions having to perform at an assembly to recruit new members since they need double the amount to qualify for competitions. The only problem is that Mr. Schuester is making them perform a disco song, and they fear that performing disco will make them even bigger losers than they already are. This is one of 'Glee''s many episodes featuring recruiting, but this episode is arguably the most important of the bunch since it's a newer experience for them.

The cast shine once again, with there being more than one standout. Matthew Morrison is great as Will Schuester, and we see more of his home life in this episode, as he and his pregnant wife are searching for a house but can't really agree on what will make them happy. Besides that, he is causing a problem for his students because he is forcing them to perform a song he likes without considering their ideas. This especially affects Rachel because all she wants is the club to be successful but worries that performing 'bad' music will ruin their chances. Yes, it was pretty stupid for Schuester to ignore his students, considering that they're the reason he even has a job anyway, but after he learns his mistake, he promises to be better and hear them out more. Jane Lynch is hilarious as Sue Sylvester. This time, we understand better as to why she will hate the Glee Club so much (budget cuts), and she gets a lot more screen time as well, which gives her more time to shine. Jayma Mays is great as Emma Pillsbury. While still struggling with her feelings for Will and trying to push Ken away, we learn more as to why she struggles with messes. While it's eventually retconned in the third season, her reasoning is compelling. Emma has some funny moments as well, which make her a more enjoyable character. Jessalyn Gilsig is pretty good as Terri Schuester, but her character is a nuisance by the end of the episode, as she chooses to lie about her pregnancy to avoid losing her husband. It's a stupid decision, of course, but the character at least gets plot for several episodes because of this, and we grow to hate her more and more. Patrick Gallagher is fine as Ken Tanaka, and Iqbal Theba is entertaining as Principal Figgins. Lea Michele is great as Rachel Berry, as she tries to make the club happier by betraying Will. While this eventually blows up in her face, she gets her point across pretty well. At the same time, she has started to develop feelings for Finn, which escalates her rivalry with Quinn. Seeing her struggle with her feelings was incredibly realistic, as many people find themselves falling for the 'wrong' person. Cory Monteith is great as Finn Hudson, and while he takes more of a backseat this episode, his morals from the pilot episode carry over. While his peers aren't happy about him being in Glee, he chooses to stand his ground, as being in Glee Club makes him happy. His budding friendship with Rachel takes a toll as well, as he starts to have feelings for her while he is already in a relationship. His relationship with Rachel works well and doesn't feel rushed, but it doesn't feel very satisfying when they kiss for the first time since they hadn't many interactions with each other at this point. Dianna Agron is pretty good as Quinn Fabray, but her motivations are pretty lousy. She doesn't want to lose Finn, so she joins the Glee Club to stop Finn and Rachel's budding relationship while she also decides to spy on the club for Sue. While her feelings change as the show progresses, she comes off as desperate in this episode. Chris Colfer is great as Kurt Hummel but isn't much different from the previous episode, as he is still the comic relief. Kevin McHale and Jenna Ushkowitz still don't get enough screen time as Artie Abrams and Tina Cohen-Chang, thus making them pretty forgettable. Amber Riley is great as Mercedes Jones and really shows off her talents for the first time during the club's 'Gold Digger' performance. Mark Salling is fine as Noah 'Puck' Puckerman but has less screen time this time.

The idea of an episode focusing on recruiting new members makes a lot of sense to show how the club really is not that important at school. Nobody wants anything to do with the club, but desperate times call for desperate measures, and the club works hard to do so The romance developments work very well, as you can tell that Will and Emma have feelings for each other as do Rachel and Finn. Both couples have great chemistry and become two of the central couples of the entire show. Sue's rivalry with the club is silly but makes for great comedy. Her rivalry did last six seasons after all, so something clearly worked. Speaking of comedy, this episodes introduced many running gags such as Finn's 'problem', Sue's made-up stories, etc. that lasted for a while.

This episode had some decent performances, but the standout has to be 'Take a Bow' sung by Rachel. It sets the tone for the love triangle that has been created and shows it will play a major role for episodes to come. Lea Michele undeniably has an amazing role, and her performance is great as always. Overall, 'Glee' continues on a high note, and 'Showmance' defines how people just want to be accepted and noticed.

Pros: -Continuation of storylines introduced in pilot -Introduction of hilarious running gags -Romance development -School assembly segment -Great cast performances -Decent musical performances

Cons: -Lack of screen time for supporting characters -Some storylines don't work so well

8/10 "Great"

One of the best shows around has finally returned for a second season, and it does not disappoint. 'Cobra Kai' became a massive hit in 2018 and was one of the most-searched TV shows of that year and as a result. The pilot episode has been viewed tens of millions of times, and the first season still has a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. All of these signify that 'Cobra Kai' is not going anywhere any time soon.

The cast performances are amazing once again. Ralph Macchio arguably gives his best performance yet as Daniel LaRusso. After the events of the season one finale, Daniel opens Miyagi-Do Karate so he can teach karate the right way and by defeating Cobra Kai once and for all. His ambitions are more selfless this time around, as you can see his motivations are not that personal this time around. He really wants to help the community and doesn't want it infected with the negative influence Cobra Kai has. As a result of him spending so much time teaching karate, his focus on his car dealership takes a toll on the ones he care about, leading to strains in his relationships. William Zabka is amazing as Johnny Lawrence. After watching his son Robby lose the All-Valley karate tournament by his star pupil Miguel fight dirty, Johnny vows to teach Cobra Kai differently. At the same time, his worst enemy has returned in his life and has to deal with the consequences of the choices he makes throughout the season. Martin Kove is great as the sinister John Kreese, the former founder and sensei of Cobra Kai who tried to kill Johnny in the beginning of 'The Karate Kid Part II'. Kreese is still down on his luck three decades after all his students left Cobra Kai. Kreese tells his backstory after those events to Johnny so he can reconnect. If you're a fan of 'The Karate Kid' franchise, you will know that Kreese always has tricks up his sleeves. As Kove said while promoting the show, Kreese is a good and bad character this time around. Like Johnny, he wants to redeem himself but can't let go of the fact that he believes Cobra Kai should show no mercy. Now that Johnny has students of his own, Kreese tries to teach them his way instead of Johnny's. It was refreshing to see Kreese return, as his role in 'The Karate Kid' sequels were underwhelming due to his character arc. Xolo Maridueña is pretty good as Miguel Diaz. After winning the tournament, it seemed like he was going to become a newer version of Johnny, but that did not happen this season. Instead, Miguel is very loyal to Johnny and not to Kreese. He is still trying to get Sam back, but that all changes once Tory comes into his life. Being with Tory gives Miguel more confidence but also helps him move on. He's not the same Miguel from the first season. Mary Mouser is decent as Samantha LaRusso. This season, she's very conflicted because she now joined Miyagi-Do Karate but has a hard time dealing with her break-up with Miguel and how that affects her newfound crush on Robby. While she does have more screen time, she's not as interesting of a character as she was in the previous season. Tanner Buchanan is good as Robby Keene, Daniel's mentee and the estranged son of Johnny. Still holding a grudge against his father, more of his focus is on karate than anything else. While he has feelings for Sam, he is also having a hard home life due to his mom being away all the time. He's a more sensitive character this time around, which I enjoyed, but it becomes clear that Miyagi-Do is greatly affecting him. Newcomer Peyton List is great as 'Tory with a y', a new member of Cobra Kai that kicks serious ass. Throughout the season, it's obvious that she is a very troubled character, and when she becomes enemies with Sam, it just gets worse from there. Her relationship with Miguel is interesting, as it doesn't totally seem they belong together, but she does a great job with helping him move forward in his life since she has had to do it her whole life. Courtney Henggeler is still great as Amanda LaRusso while Nichole Brown is underused as Aisha Robinson. Gianni Decenzo and Jacob Bertrand are much better as Demetri and Hawk, the latter having a larger role this season. With his friendship with Demetri strained, Hawk is becoming more of a bully this season and is acting like the kind of person he hates. His progression is one of the most interesting character progressions so far in the entire series.

The plot for this season is pretty good and consistent. Kreese's storyline is probably the most interesting since he's another character trying to redeem himself. There is definitely more drama this season and less humor. While the balance of genres could have been better this season, there were still plenty of interesting storylines going on. The romances were fine but not really investing. In my opinion, the only interesting romance storyline was Johnny trying to find romance so he could move on from Ali. With him being so out of time, it was really interesting seeing him use dating apps and Facebook for the first time. When it comes to nostalgia, there was a lot but not nearly as much as season one. As a massive fan, that was pretty disappointing. On the other hand, the action sequences were a blast, particularly in the season finale.

Season two may not have been as amazing as its predecessor, but it was still great. At this point, a third season will be inevitable. Hopefully, more fan favorite 'Karate Kid' characters will return because what they teased for season three could potentially be the most interesting storyline yet.

Pros: -Great cast performances -Kreese's return -Awesome action sequences -New characters -Some S1 supporting characters were improved upon...

Cons: -...but some were underused. -Not as much nostalgia as S1 -Balance of genres wasn't as strong as S1

8.5/10 "Great"

With the tenth anniversary of my favorite show approaching, I wanted to do something special and write a review for every episode throughout the year. Starting with the pilot episode, it was pretty nostalgic. When high school Spanish teacher Will Schuester takes over the school's failing Glee Club, he recruits a group of outcasts to join and tries to balance his work life while also dealing with a struggling marriage.

'Glee' is what the Marvel Cinematic Universe is now: a giant ensemble cast in a successful series. Because of this, there are many cast performances to focus on. Fortunately, there are only a few characters the viewers need to focus on in the pilot episode. Starting with adult actors, Broadway alum Matthew Morrison is pretty convincing as struggling teacher Will Schuester. He's a compelling character, and his motivations are very clear and understandable. He wants to relive his glory days by getting involved in the Glee Club by coaching but wants to make a difference in the students' lives, particularly the outcasts. While he is shown to be a well-respected teacher, he is struggling at home because while he loves his wife Terri, played by Jessalyn Gilsig, she doesn't make him feel very good about himself and doesn't support his decision to coach the Glee Club, as she wants him to have a better job so she can have more materialistic things. Morrison does a great job in the role and shows us what kind of teachers we want/wanted growing up. Jessalyn Gilsig is pretty good as Terri Schuester, as she portrays a pretty unlikable character from the start. It's clear she's very controlling and wants things her way, and that makes for an irritating character. Gilsig does a good job portraying that. Jane Lynch is entertaining as cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester. Known for comedy movies, Lynch joins the television world playing a unique villain who doesn't seem that way at first. It's clear that she has some animosity towards Schuester and the club when he asks her for advice as to how to recruit more people. While she eventually becomes incredibly entertaining, she doesn't have much screen time, which is pretty disappointing considering Lynch's celebrity and the importance of her character in this show. Jayma Mays is great as school guidance counselor Emma Pillsbury. Right away, we're introduced to her struggle with OCD, but we don't know much about it. Later on, we find out she is crushing on Will even though he is married. At the same time, she is pushing away the one guy who likes her, the football coach Ken Tanaka. She's a very relatable character and stays that way throughout the entire series. Patrick Gallagher is good as the creepy yet entertaining football coach. All we know about him at this point is that he is madly in love with Emma and will stop at nothing to be with her. Somehow, this makes him an interesting character. Iqbal Theba is good as Principal Figgins, as is Romy Rosemont as Carole Hudson. On to the students, Lea Michele is great as diva Rachel Berry. Incredibly ambitious and the school loser, Rachel has always dreamed of being a star and dreams of being on Broadway. When she joins the Glee Club, she struggles with sharing the spotlight and is bossy. Michele does a great job playing this role thanks to her own background as a Broadway star. Cory Monteith is amazing as the quarterback Finn Hudson. He's basically Troy Bolton from 'High School Musical' but on a TV show, as he struggles choosing football/popularity over being in Glee Club. A born leader, Finn is the most interesting character in this episode, as we learn about everything that made him who he is today. His speech to his teammates makes him the standout of the episode. Chris Colfer is great as Kurt Hummel, the only openly gay kid in the school, thus making him an outcast. We don't know much about him at this point, but he's pretty much the comic relief. Kevin McHale is fine as Artie Abrams, a kid in a wheelchair, and Jenna Ushkowitz is okay as Tina Cohen-Chang, the shy girl, but both don't get enough screen time. Amber Riley is pretty good as Mercedes Jones, fellow diva to Rachel and just as ambitious as her. When she first meets Rachel, it's clear there is tension between the two and that they will be competing against each other. Mark Salling is pretty good as Noah 'Puck' Puckerman, Finn's best friend and the school bully. Puck is very unsupportive of Finn's choice to be in Glee Club and isn't afraid to let him know it. He bullies most of the kids in the club and is also seen as an unlikable, immature character. Salling does a good job for the time he is given on screen. Because she was only cast the day before filming her scenes, Dianna Agron doesn't get a lot of screen time but is good as Quinn Fabray, the head cheerleader, president of the Celibacy Club, and rival of Rachel Berry. Like Puck, she's mean and is incredibly popular. Thanks to this, she's also dating the other most popular person in school, Finn Hudson. Everybody does a good job, but balancing many characters in the pilot proved to be a challenge.

Before airing, 'Glee' was pitched as a movie, and that's exactly what this episode feels like. While the plot is interesting, the structure feels too similar to a movie's, as it feels like most of the storylines that were introduced were wrapped up. At times, it's even predictable. But what is so great about this episode is how it sets up the entire show. Our introduction of the characters shows how they will be going forward. The characters have certain traits that help them grow, Finn being a great example for this episode. There is a realistic high school setting, as there are several scenes featuring bullying, and the main characters are all outcasts in different ways. With them being outcasts, they all eventually bond and feel like a team by the end of the episode. To progress to that level that quickly is pretty impressive, as it works really well.

I can't end this without mentioning 'Don't Stop Believing', the song that became the show's anthem. It's the most popular song the show ever did and has stood the test of time as one of the best performances in the entire show. In my opinion, it's even better than the original. The pilot episode is definitely one of the best in the series, as it really did a good job introducing characters and performances people still talk about ten years later.

Pros: -Introduction of characters -Realistic high school setting -Great cast performances -Sets up entire show -Great musical performances -Team progression -Plot

Cons: -Some characters don't get enough screen time -Story structure feels like a movie/short film

9/10 "Fantastic"

With season two fast approaching of the hit YouTube series 'Cobra Kai' based off 'The Karate Kid' films, I wanted to revisit the first season of the show the capitalized on my love for 'The Karate Kid'. I got pretty emotional when this show was first announced because as much as I loved the idea of a sequel series to my favorite movie, I never imagined it would actually be happening. Thirty-four years after the events of 'The Karate Kid' at the All-Valley Karate Tournament, Johnny Lawrence is trying to redeem himself by reopening the Cobra Kai dojo. When Daniel LaRusso finds out about this, it reignites their old rivalry. It's crazy how a silly idea can bring back love for this franchise.

All the main cast performances were very good in 'Cobra Kai''s first season. It felt so great to see Ralph Macchio return as Daniel LaRusso thirty years later and to see his life finally have balance and success. Since Mr. Miyagi's off-screen death seven years prior due to Pat Morita's death, Daniel has found his life pretty difficult without his mentor after Johnny Lawrence has re-entered his life decades later. Once Daniel becomes obsessed with taking down Cobra Kai, his personality starts to change around his loved ones, making him realize how much he still needs to use Mr. Miyagi's lessons in his everyday life. Some might say that Daniel has no right to care about Johnny reopening Cobra Kai, and they may have a point, but Daniel isn't just looking out for himself as it may seem. He knows what he went through and just doesn't want anyone else to have to go through it themselves. Macchio returning to the role is very reminiscent almost as you get to relive 'The Karate Kid' films all over again but in a different way. William Zabka returning as Johnny Lawrence for the first time since 1986 was truly refreshing, as we see a different version of his character that is hard not to love. Down on his luck for decades, he finally starts to pick himself back up by reopening the Cobra Kai dojo after his life takes some more bad turns that affect him greatly. Back in the '80s, it's safe to say that while most people loved the character of Johnny Lawrence, they probably rooted for Daniel throughout the movie because Johnny did bully Daniel, regardless of what you believe. Johnny Lawrence is still badass all these years later, but he's also the show's comic relief for the most part. Throughout the season, you definitely root for Johnny, which is kind of surprising, but once you learn more of his backstory and his reasonings for the events of 'The Karate Kid', he's a character you can actually sympathize with. And as an adult, he struggled having a relationship with his now-estranged son Robby Keene, and I think that is where viewers can sympathize with him the most. It's always hard not getting along with family members no matter who they are, but Johnny wants to make the past right again. And although he enjoys running Cobra Kai, he starts to see how Kreese's wrongdoings in the '80s are still affecting him so many years later. The newer younger cast is amazing. Usually, when newer characters are introduced into a big franchise, they're usually forgotten about or boring, (I'm looking at you, 'Glee'.), but the newer main characters Miguel Diaz, Samantha LaRusso, and Robby Keene are incredibly investing characters, the former being the larger standout. In the beginning of the season, Miguel is the new kid in Reseda and is basically a modern version of Daniel LaRusso. He gets bullied a lot, is a social outcast, and he falls for the wrong girls. But all that changes once Johnny takes him under his wing and trains him as his first student. They have a very important relationship throughout the season, as you can see by how it evolves to the point where Miguel is looking at Johnny as a father figure, and Johnny is looking at Miguel as the father/son relationship he could have. Xolo Maridueña does a great job at bringing Miguel to life and introducing us to a character anyone could relate to. Mary Mouser is great as Daniel's daughter and Samantha. What makes her character interesting is her social dynamics with other characters. Becoming friends with the popular kids greatly affects her friendship with her closest and oldest friend Aisha. She watches her friends bully her best friend and doesn't do much to stop it, therefore severely straining their friendship. Being an older girl in high school, although she has a great relationship with her father, she has moved on from the karate training they used to do when she was little. There are many moments throughout the season where it's teased she will take it up again, but by the finale, it's clear she will. Tanner Buchanan was pretty good as Johnny's estranged son Robby. I probably related to the character of Robby the most because of his relationship with his dad and how it's affected him his whole life. While he's an interesting character, he didn't really need a reason to fight like Miguel or younger Daniel, but his relationship with the latter is like Daniel and Miyagi 2.0. And even though they don't have much screen time together, Miguel and Robby's dynamic was pretty intense. As the season progresses, both characters change drastically. Miguel is starting to fight dirty while Robby is becoming a better, more honest person by finding balance in his life. Courtney Henggeler, Nichole Brown, Gianni Decenzo, and Jacob Bertrand are all great as Amanda LaRusso, Aisha, Demetri, and Eli/Hawk, although the latter can be a little over-the-top at times.

The story throughout the season is just outstanding. What the creators have done with this show is just amazing. There is a perfect balance of drama, humor, and nostalgia. Being that 'Cobra Kai' is a television series, there is more development character wise and story wise, so seeing the progression was incredible to watch. There was more focus on a high school setting and relatable issues. And of course, it can't be 'Karate Kid' related if it doesn't have important moral lessons.

Season one was such a fresh start to a series I know will continue to be great because the creators truly care about what they are working with. In terms of improvements, some of the writing is either cheesy or over-the-top at times, but that's pretty much it. Whether you're a 'Karate Kid' or just want to watch something new, 'Cobra Kai' is THE show to watch.

9.5/10