Next up for my look back at Glee's first season is "Hell-O." The question is whether "Hell-O"'s theme is "Hello" or "Hell?" It's hard to tell.
Rachel (Lea Michele) and Finn (Cory Monteith) struggle to make their new relationship work. Finn realizes too late that he wants to be with Rachel, as she meets and falls for Jesse St. James (Tony award winner Jonathan Groff). Jesse is actually the star of rival glee club, Vocal Adrenaline, sparking unease between Rachel and her fellow group members. Will (Matthew Morrison) goes to speak to Jesse's coach, Shelby Corcoran (Idina Menzel, Rent, Wicked), and soon discovers he is not as solid with Emma (Jayma Mays) as he'd like to believe.
Musically, "Hell-O" is interesting because each performance is great and adds to the story, but none stand out as requiring paragraphs of discussion to dissect. They are straight forward, and fit with the episode title. "Gives You Hell" is a personal favorite, but "Hello," "Hello Again," "Hello, Goodbye," and "Hello, I Love You" not only share similar titles, but are all solid musical numbers. "Highway to Hell" is sung by Vocal Adrenaline, so it is not required to fit the theme. Though it kind of does, in a slightly more subtle way.
Two long-simmering, budding relationships don't even get off the ground in "Hell-O." It isn't fair that Glee strings its viewers along for 13 episodes with two couples who can't quite be together, only to break them up after less than one episode. Finn and Rachel have a long road to happiness, of course, as do Emma and Will. "Hell-O" is probably too early for things to end happily ever after for either couple. But then why even tease by allowing the four to couple up, only to destroy them so quickly? It leaves a big feeling of disappointment.
Yet, neither guy is ready for a new relationship. Finn and Will are jumping headfirst into new loves after just losing their former ones. Both need to take the time to figure out who they are, which they are told, but have trouble taking the advice. As most people do. It's nice to see Will try to mentor Finn, but the effort falls flat when Will clearly doesn't have it together, either. Both need to be alone for a bit.
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Article comments
1 - frank
Sorry to have to correct you yet again but Jon Groff was nominated but did not win a Tony.
2 - frank
But Idina is and you don't mention that.
3 - frank
Sorry but Quinn was not and is not a break out star not like Lea and Chris at all. I would say Naya is more that Dianna. Really?
4 - Jerome Wetzel
frank - You are correct that he was nominated and did not win. My bad. I know Idina won, but I felt that her profile is high enough, it wasn't necessary to mention that, but give her credits instead. For Groff, I did not list credits. So I did something different on each.
As far as for Quinn, I apologize if my wording was confusing. What I meant when lumping her in with Rachel and Finn is that, in season one so far, she gets much more plot and focus than the "secondary" members of the club. You are right in that Naya is more breakout. I would add Heather Morris as breakout, too.
5 - Sol
Jesse St. James definitely stole my heart he was not correct in his actions but I have to say that he and Rachel have incredible chemistry and certainly miss him on the show!