In this week's episode of FOX's Glee, "Prom Queen," the kids go to prom! But they don't just attend the dance, they are asked to provide the musical entertainment. An old foe returns to stir things up. Three members of the New Directions continue to battle it out for Prom Queen. Several students question whether they can finally come out about their sexuality. Others consider that the anti-homosexual attitude may be disappearing. At the dance, drama, fights, spiked punch, a dental interrogation, and some musical numbers make it a memorable evening.
A big question since the series started is, what grade are these kids in? Considering social standing and attitude, it is unrealistic to believe they are all freshman (or even sophomores), though that would give the student stars four years before they need to be rotated out of the show. Finn (Cory Monteith), for instance, is already in a leadership position on the football team in the pilot, not something an underclassman would have achieved. But none of the characters were seniors, either, as every member of the New Directions, save a transfer, returned in season two.
In "Prom Queen," it appears that all of the main characters are juniors. It's a "junior prom," which I guess is a thing at their fictional high school, and all are planning to attend even before they are asked to perform. So we're expected to believe that every single student that was already in Glee Club when the series started, and every single student they've recruited since then, are all in the class of 2012? Even for television, it's stretching reality, and doesn't make sense, for the story, or the show.
Putting all of the main characters in the same grade is dumb. While naming them all juniors in season two allows the entire original cast to stick together for a third season, something they are probably eager to do considering their great success, for Glee to be a long running series, they need to rotate some of them in and out, rather than graduating them all at once. Now season four is set for a completely new cast. Instead, they should quickly announce that Artie (Kevin McHale), Tina (Jenna Ushkowitz), Mike Chang (Harry Shrum Jr.), or other more supporting players are seniors, and graduate them this year. Chang could even return next year as the hired choreographer. But it would open the door for fresh blood.
Even the fresh blood that has been added for season two, namely Sam (Chord Overstreet), Lauren (Ashley Fink), and Blaine (Darren Criss) seem to be juniors, too. Why? Blaine needs to be older because of his mentor relationship with Kurt (Chris Colfer). But Sam and Lauren could easily have been introduced as freshman this season, thus guaranteeing Glee some wonderful characters for years to come. If two to four characters are rotated in and out every year, the show could continue indefinitely.
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Article comments
1 - Nancy
Jesse is devious, but I've never considered him evil. For me, "Rolling in the Deep" was a good match with Jesse and Rachel. She refused to let him pull her up. She is hardly the naive one.
Kurt was the victim of a "Prom Queen" joke? This could also be interpreted as acceptance by McKinley. He and Karofsky getting crowned was an acknowledgment of a difficult time, and the students are stronger now.
2 - Rebecca
I really like glee!!! It's awesome and shows that we can all somewhat get along!!! :) keep up the good work!!
3 - Jerome Wetzel
Nancy - You think Kurt was named Queen out of respect for him? I never even considered that. It would certainly be an interesting twist. The way the announcement played out with the crowd, and Kurt's reaction, made it seem the opposite to me. But I could be wrong.
4 - Tash
I really liked this episode, although I found Artie's 'Isn't she lovely' awkward and the song Rachel sang dragged on a bit. I loved Friday - surprsingly - it's the song that really stood out for me this episode. Of course the other three songs were class as well. I totally agree about Sue, they need to either get rid of her or make her interesting again, because she's just plain dull. And I'm getting a bit bored of Finn/Quinn/Rachel, he needs to pick. Jesse needs to get lost, I don't like him as a character and I thought Rachel would have learned her lesson this time, he's not to be trusted.
LOVED Santana in this episode, I think she's the most realistic view of the whole gay-teen thing, while Kurt is SO out there it's quite intimidating at times, and Karofski is the opposite, Santana is realistic, with just the right amount of attitude and raw emotions.
As for the age thing, I find it hard to believe they are all the same age, and 'junior prom'? So they're going to have another one? But didn't Quinn say that you could get married loads of times but will only have the chance to be prom queen once?
Sort your story out, Glee.
5 - James
Well, the episode was OK. I really envy Diana...if only we could all slap Lea in the face.
6 - Kelly
WHAT?! "Jesse never meant to hurt Rachel, which is a lie" SINCE WHEN IS RE-UNITING HER WITH HER MOM CONSIDERED HURTING? That was his ulterior motive, he screwed up and apologized. "Somewhat insincere"? WHAT? How was that insincere. I'm sorry but the only ULTERIOR motive he had for coming back- was to BE WITH RACHEL. "nicer guys like finn" Finn, the guy who dumped her for cheating and then moved on to his ex who also cheated on her (by encouraging her to cheat on her bf) and then accusing that bf of cheating with quinn in "Rumors". To me, Jesse seems like a much nicer guy than Finn.