Glee just began its fourth season of slushies, singing, and high school romances. Up until this season, Glee had taken place in Lima, Ohio at McKinley High School, with every episode’s plot revolving around the New Directions, McKinley’s Glee Club. New Directions had the same members for three years, with the exception of a few additions here and there. As of the end of last season, at least five of the club’s members graduated, leaving behind friends, teachers, and open spaces to be filled in the Glee Club.
Now, not only does the storyline revolve around McKinley High in Lima, Ohio, but we are also taken to the streets of New York City, as lead singer Rachel Berry (Lea Michele) begins her singing and acting training, with best friend Kurt Hummel (Chris Colfer) at her side. Not only is Rachel in a new place with none of her friends, her boyfriend Finn Hudson (Cory Monteith) is off in the army, and Rachel has not seen him since graduation at the beginning of the summer. Now add on her Broadway disaster, a rude and pushy dance teacher, played by Kate Hudson, and a brand new school and apartment, and you get the sense that Rachel is having a bit of difficult adjusting to her new life.
Back in Lima, we see that everyone is trying to fill Rachel Berry’s shoes as the new lead singer of the Glee Club. Not only that, but they are auditioning new students to fill the open positions of Glee Club. With so many of the original Glee Club members gone, the remaining members begin to forget the reason why Glee was started in the first place – to celebrate differences and be accepting of all people, regardless of race, sexuality, gender identity, or background. They will now have to rediscover what it truly means to be “Gleeks”, without their upperclassmen to set an example for them to follow.
I think that the producers of Glee led it in a great new direction. Many people expected the show to be a flop with so many of its former core stars, no longer playing central roles in the show; however, it seems that the producers know how to keep audiences hooked and looking forward to the next episode. So if you haven’t already, you might want to consider getting your Gleek on for Glee, Season 4, Thursday nights on FOX.
