Now that Glee aired its one hundredth episode, reflecting on the show that has been a champion for this band of underdogs, I have a renewed connection and hope for the program. The writers have dropped the seemingly fragmented McKinley High storyline and aim to focus on the possibilities of life in the concrete jungle of New York. Season five has lacked the passion, humor and fire its predecessors were so flushed with, and this renewed vigor needs to be capitalized on. Having the core group (sadly sans Cory Monteith) return to the hallowed halls of McKinley made the show feel special and relatable again. It's time for the bright lights of New York to light the white way of Glee's cast and rejuvenate ratings and fandoms' love for this powerful program. New York is famous for chewing people and their wide-eyed innocence up, but it's also famous for giving them thicker skin and molding them into the stars they aim to be.
What made the show unique originally was the focus on a core group of misfits mixed with losers, wannabes and popular kids who fought to be seen as equals. During season five it detached itself from that in favor of splitting focus, which jumbled storylines, characters and time frames. In Glee's one hundredth episode the core group was together as one once again fighting for a purpose, trying to save the Glee Club. Not only did they reunite for saving the club, but Brittany (Heather Morris) and Santana (Naya Rivera) reignited their relationship spark which rekindled the flame in the hearts of the Brittana fandom. Quinn (Dianna Agron) and Puck (Mark Salling) also decided to finally give a relationship a try, despite their distance, breathing new life into the hearts of Quick fans. Both couples prove old flames cannot be truly extinguished. Having characters and fandom's to root for, and look forward to seeing week after week, had become a distant memory in season five.
Glee had a built in fan base that devoted time weekly to not missing a minute of episodes to see how, and how much, their favorite characters would be featured. That devotion had taken the show far, except in season four when the writers deviated from the formula that produced international fever for Glee. Fan favorites Brittany and Santana had their secure relationship torn apart and also Brittany discovered to actually be a genius who heads off to school at MIT -- but not before a controversial school shooting episode and overly drawn out Catfish storyline played out. When the core cast returned for Glee 100 it was as if the pages in their history book never ended. They all picked up where they left off and even old and new grudges between Rachel (Lea Michele) and Santana were laid to rest. Brittany and Santana taught each other about love, life and happiness. They also gave fans more than one reason to fall in love with them all over again as they fell in love with each other. Fans are still keeping the faith that Morris will either return full time or part time and continue to grace Glee with her effortless humor, poignancy, and smooth dance moves. Rivera and Morris have such genuine chemistry that it becomes infused naturally and flawlessly into their characters. With Santana's invitation for Brittany to come home to New York with her, the storyline possibilities for these ladies seem endless. It's also long overdue for these ladies to get the focus and happiness the other romantic pairings on Glee have been given. Quinn and Puck finally gave into realizing that they actually compliment one another despite their differences and decided to give their love the go of it they always deserved. Fans have never been given the opportunity to see this pairing play out as an actual couple, and bringing Agron back to be the yin to Salling's yang would be fresh and very worth watching. Before departing for Yale, at the end of season four, Quinn gave Rachel a metro pass to visit her. These two characters struggled for years to be civil to one another, let alone be actual friends. The Yale bound Quinn and New York Rachel relationship never blossomed beyond the promise of visits. The wasted storyline could, and should still be explored, as the push and pull of the relationship these two shared bonded them in high school and can continue to propel them long after graduation.
The new characters did not have that solid bond as their predecessors because they were dropped in and expected to seemingly replicate the spell the original cast had enchanted fans with and it never worked. One of the show's first original songs was called "Loser Like Me," but nothing about the new characters felt authentic or relatable. Returning characters Blaine (Darren Criss), Tina (Jenna Ushkowitz), Artie (Kevin McHale) and Sam (Chord Overstreet) were the main focus of the Lima storyline, and the constant switch between McKinley and New York never allowed enough time for the new cast to develop as a whole or individuals.
Having the entire cast, new and old, reprise the program's champion song "Don't Stop Believin'" was the best tribute and gift to both Monteith and the show's fan base. Romance, reunions, and revisiting old songs favorites were the fountain of youth that Glee was craving. Everything truly came full circle for mr. Schue (Matthew Morrison), the Glee Club, and show fans.
Glee and its cast are going in new directions, but the heart and soul still comes from the unity that originally brought depth to the show. If the writers can find that allegiance and unifying tie that previously bound this show and it's characters, there may be a reason for fans to don't stop believing.