Opening Yourself Up To Joy

After much encouragement from loved ones and friends, I finally broke down and bought the premiere season. I started it and breezed through it in one weekend. Granted, I don't have much to do in the wee hours of work anyways, but this show is, in fact, Gleeful.

Never before has a show punched its fist inside my chest, grabbed a hold of my still beating heart, and ripped it out of my body. Never has a piece of media reminded me of the most happy moments of my adolescent life, and actually brought me to tears at the end of almost every episode. I know this is a quirky, dramatic comedy that is only surprisingly deep and compelling, but it is so much more than that to me.

It has a character that, although a little exaggerated, my high school self can relate to completely. Not everyone was either a nerd or a cheerleader. Not everyone was a whore or a gross virgin. There are people in between, and the character of Rachel displays that balance perfectly. I relate to her need to belong to every club possible, and to be the best performer in the school. I can relate to seeing the show choir from another school and feeling hopeless. I can relate to the devastation of not getting funding for show choir when cheerleaders and football players are loaded up the whazoo.

Every character is beautiful in this show, every character is compelling and sweet. They all have depth that reaches deep, and makes the musical numbers they perform even more amazing. I never thought I would like hearing Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" again, but this show makes it entertaining and beautiful.

I can't wait until April 13th and this show returns to Fox. Watching it weekly will be another thing besides Lost that I can look forward to every week. I am so glad someone created this show, and brought the world of Glee Clubs and Show Choirs to the public in an un-embarrassing manner.

Cheers.