Archive

“The Glee Project” Recap (2.03): “Vulnerability”

For those of you who are still upset over Dani Shay being unjustly cut from The Glee Project last week, before starting this week’s proper recap I’d like to point you in the direction of a new music video Dani recently uploaded called “Girl or Boy.”  

It addresses the question she’s so frequently asked: “Are you a boy or a girl?” Thank you to the lovely Polkadotwings who included this song in the comments of last week’s recap! Her introduction to the song, the message of the song itself, and her adorable smile throughout it are all fan-freaking-tastic. Take three minutes of your day to watch this video and it will make your day better, I promise!

But now, let’s get to what we’re here for: what’s going on with the contestants we’ve got left this week! Crossing my fingers for a lot of Nellie action.

We start this episode with Robert introducing the week’s theme, which is vulnerability. The Glee Project kids at this point must be trained to act absurdly excited about absolutely any announcement, because as soon as the word vulnerability leaves Robert’s lips about half of them jump up and down and yell excitedly. Small question, kids, do you know what vulnerability means? Because I have a feeling by the end of the episode y’all aren’t going to be as pumped about it.

The homework song for this week is Kelly Clarkson‘s “My Life Would Suck Without You,” and there is a bit of bickering between our peeps as they divide up lines. People seem very possessive of the one single line they each get to sing. Lily says her competitive edge has gone up a notch since she was in the bottom three last week. Uh oh. This all seems ominous.

As we prepare to view their performance of Miss Clarkson’s tune, we are also introduced to the guest mentor this week. It’s Cory Monteith! Finn! Yeah, let’s all feel slightly let down. Whoo, I guess? I must say that I have always been a Kelly Clarkson fan and I love this song. But disappointingly, my lukewarm Finn-induced emotions only continued during their performance of it. Their singing sounded pretty great – especially Nellie! – but I feel they took the vulnerability theme to translate to “standing around looking dejected and then slowly moving to a group hug while giving lots of meaningful looks.” I mean, I guess it looked vulnerable? But vulnerable doesn’t always have to necessarily mean sad, and I feel like there are some really great dancing-your-heart-out opportunities in this song, as well. You can do both! I may just be a little whineypants though, because Cory and Robert are full of praise. The highest praise of all goes to this week’s homework winner: Nellie! Yes! You are so cute!

She’s all, “Aw, me?” Yes, you! I like your face! Here comes the announcement of the Big Group Number: “Everybody Hurts” by R.E.M. Oh man. Now we’re talking vulnerability. And the concept for the music video? Teen bullying. Oh geez. This is going to be overwrought. And I will probably love every minute of it.

While the contestants normally head to awkward dance lessons at this point, instead Erik White, the director of the music videos, sits down for an intimate chat with them about their own personal bullying tales. The tears start to flow almost immediately. Shanna tells a story about finding out about her own mother’s drug usage from other catty girls at school. Ouch. Abraham discusses that, while he’s straight, he was raised by two women (lesbians?! Tell us more, Abraham!) and hence happened to take on many effeminate traits, which he was then endlessly teased for. We hear a heartwrenching story from Blake about a time he witnessed another kid getting beat up – and the guilt he felt forever afterwards for doing absolutely nothing about it.

Being a kid is rough. And then we hear the surprising line from Lily: “In middle school, I was the bully.” While Lily still obviously seems like she hasn’t kicked the bully from her system completely, she’s very honest, which she deserves credit for. Blake actually then makes the astute observation that her story is just as powerful as stories from those who were bullied, because it’s about faults someone has that they have to overcome, which still takes strength. I sort of like you right now, Blake.

As we move to voice lessons with Nikki, Nellie tells us that she’s not normally the type to “dig deep.” Yet in the next minute, she tells Cory Monteith that yesterday was the 10 year anniversary of her sister’s death. Wow. Give yourself more credit, young Nellie. I think you can probably dig plenty deep. This episode needed an “Emotional Trauma Ahead” warning.

On the day of the video shoot, we learn Erik White is really going to put the kids through some psychotherapy by having them act out bullying on each other as they sing. I’m intrigued by this whole set up because not only are the kids starting to really sing from their hearts for this song, they’re also going to have to really, for the first time, attempt to act. Plus, Nellie’s hair is in super cute braid twist things! Beyond Nellie’s adorableness, though, this whole thing starts to get increasingly uncomfortable. I start to feel more and more that the whole set up is unacceptably triggering for all of them. This appears to become clear to everyone on the show, too, at the moment when Charlie gets a little too into his bully role and grabs Mario’s walking cane away from him, an act which Mario wasn’t prepared for.

Robert: Well, that was – scary. Zach: No, I didn’t like that at all. Aylin: Yeah, I don’t like watching this.
Ya think? This is horrible. I guess I won’t love every minute of this. I hope it ends soon.

Charlie then refuses to really admit he did anything wrong, and indeed, when he takes a break, it is Charlie that Aylin goes over to hug, not Mario. Boo hoo, Charlie. I’m so sorry that you’re feeling badly because the mentors are mad at you because you just totally violated a blind man’s safe space. The more I think about this whole scene, the less I like the idea for this video, and the less I like Charlie, too.

Next up, life continues to be sunny when we get to see Lily beat the crap out of Aylin. Okay, so she doesn’t actually beat her up, but she throws her to the ground and gets on top of her and curses a lot and Aylin cries all while the mentors stand around and watch and say what a good job they are all doing. Huh? Robert does let out an “Oh my God!” when Aylin gets stomped in the grass, but otherwise everyone seems rather jazzed about how “effective” this all is and how great this thing is going. Maybe I’m being overly sensitive. I know that tapping into painful emotions is part of an actor’s role; indeed, it’s often their whole job. Maybe it’s the fact that these kids aren’t yet actually being paid to act that bothers me. They’re still just kids fighting for the chance to sing and dance on TV. Having them talk about their past seemed like a normal thing to do to get their heads and hearts in the game, but to then act out that past takes it to a physical, unnecessary level.

That said, I do feel a little better after watching the finished, polished video, because when those horrible scenes are paired with all the kids holding hands and repeating “Hold on, if you feel like letting go, hold on” things do feel a little more empowered and balanced and OK. Goshdarnit, mentors, it is effective. And I think everyone sounds great in it. OK, well fine. Thank you, Michael Stipe.

So who’s going to be in the bottom three this week? I honestly have no idea.

The first thing we find out is that, for the first time this season, Tyler is not in the bottom! Hurray! A hug for you, Tyler! I can literally feel your relief!

Before the final three are revealed, there are a few others that get criticism. Nellie cries a little and explains that she’s not as great at acting because she’s afraid of looking stupid. She is, basically, bad at being vulnerable. Nellie, most people are. Try it! It’s scary, but people normally turn out to be more supportive than you expect. And the ones who aren’t – well, you’ll just have to get over that.

Zach does call out Charlie for his inappropriateness with the cane, and Charlie apologizes to Mario, and it all seems genuine. Good. I feel (kind of) better. Strangely, Ali also gets criticized for being bad at being “raw” and emotional because she’s “too good” at being perky and happy. Wait, why was Dani kicked off last week, again? For not being perky enough? Hm. Interesting.

But in the end, the bottom three end up being Charlie, Mario, and Lily. Lily is pissed.

Her song is Duffy‘s “Mercy,” which she sings well. When she’s talking to Ryan Murphy and the mentors afterwards, however, and Ryan suggests that she has been somewhat one-note in her sassy-bitch routine so far, she breaks down and very tearily explains that who she really is is just her voice and a piano, all ballads and openness. She’s certainly being very open right now. I would like to see this vulnerable voice and piano in song, for sure, but this crying and over-explaining bit I’m a little over right now. The judges, though, seem to love it. Charlie’s song is Coldplay‘s “Fix You,” and he seems to sing his own little variation of it. Some of the notes are stretched out longer; some are inflected differently than what we’re used to Chris Martin singing. It throws me off a little, but it does work, and he does perform the hell out of it. And Ryan Murphy Loves it, with a capital L. In fact, he says, “I could not have loved him more. May be my favorite thing I’ve seen on this show ever.” Oops, Ryan, your pupils just turned to stars and bulged out of your head. Oh, and you probably weren’t already predisposed to like this song when you shouted “I love Coldplay!” before Charlie even began singing. Nope, definitely not.

Something still seems a little off to me about Charlie though, something slightly skeezy, and like he’s trying too hard. I just don’t believe in him like I believe in many of the other performers. Sorry, Ryan. (Not really sorry, though.)

Last but not least, Mario sings an Israel Kamakawiw’ole-inspired version of “Over the Rainbow,” and I love it. I feel like every ounce of Mario’s heart bleeds through his voice. But the whole time my own heart is sinking after Ryan’s praise of Charlie, because I feel like Mario will not be able to live up to it, and another unique, talented person isn’t going to get his due. But I will continue to hope that I am wrong. And Ryan is, in fact, really nice to him. Mario expresses his absolute sorrow over possibly making a bad impression by some of the defensiveness he’s shown throughout the episode, and he classily apologizes to Nikki for his poor performance during vocal training.

But then in the back room, Mario seems to do an about face and continues to be defensive to his fellow contestants about Nikki’s criticism, saying, “Other people were off pitch, too!” Shockingly, this does not make everyone else happy. It seems that, in general, Mario is not necessarily excelling at making friends. Egads. Don’t make me take back my love for you, Mario! While Lily tries to explain why everyone is upset with him, there’s a hilarious shot of Nellie sitting back with her eyes wide, clearly thinking, “Whoa, drama! Gonna keep my mouth shut always!” Probably smart, Nellie. And then the call back list is up. Lily, Charlie, and Mario take their dramatic walk up to the board and then –

Hey.

Wait a second.

Huh?

Everyone is called back! No one loses this week! I actually was surprised, but glad. All I have to say is, you guys better thank Taryn for quitting last week and making this cop out possible! There was much rejoicing and hugging and happiness! Charlie, you can keep flirting obnoxiously with Aylin! All is not lost!

The preview for next week seems to be full of awkward sexy dance moves. And I am all. for. that!

Were you happy with the decision to keep everyone this week? Who do you think should have gone?

Lesbian Apparel and Accessories Gay All Day sweatshirt -- AE exclusive

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Back to top button