On the surface, Glee's season one episode "The Power of Madonna" is a lot of fun. It's the first full episode tribute to a singer; Madonna is a legend for a reason. As far as quality of music in the episode, as well as how well the actors performed the pieces, this installment is top notch. Look a little further into the story, though, and it's actually a mess of an episode, plot-wise.
The plot in "The Power of Madonna" pertains very much to the songs being used, rather than the character arcs and personalities of the main players. Example one, Sue (Jane Lynch) opens up to Mercedes (Amber Riley) and Kurt (Chris Colfer) about how she ruined her hair as a child, and so is jealous of Will's (Matthew Morrison) locks. This vulnerability spurs the duo to give her a makeover, resulting in a supremely wonderful music video of "Vogue," a high point in the episode. Then Sue quickly reverts to her old ways at the end of the hour.
Why would Sue open up to two glee clubbers, of all students? She has nothing but disdain for the New Directions, and even if they offer to help her, she isn't likely to take their assistance. Sue wouldn't do so in any other episode, so why now? Never mind the fact that Sue never lacks self-confidence, and her attitude at the end, wanting to change everyone else instead of herself, is much more in line with who she is. Perhaps she suffers a momentary crisis of confidence,
and Mercedes and Kurt just happen to be in the right place at the right time. But that's really stretching it.
Also, Sue claims she is focusing on "The Power of Madonna" because she finally has a cheerleading squad that can honor the material. Seriously? She recently loses her very talented captain, apparently just about the most talented cheerleader ever, as Quinn (Dianna Agron) was named to that position as a freshman, revealed in an earlier episode. And it's mid-year, so not a lot of new joiners. The timing seems terrible, not great.
Not to mention Figgins (Iqbal Theba) could never give into Sue's demand that Madonna be blasted throughout the school. Teacher and parent complaints would make it impossible for him to comply, and Sue should know that. Jumping way out of realism here.
If anything, Will needs empowered against Sue, the opposite gender roles championed in this episode. Madonna must have some power, as he delivers a real zinger, the first we ever see break through Sue's armor. I'm referring, of course, to "How's the Florence Henderson look working for you?" But this is merely so Sue can, very out of character, as mentioned above, deliver a ridiculous story about how her hair is the crutch of her insecurities.
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Article comments
1 - Volkan Ay
I must see this TV Show