(S01E02) After the terrific premiere episode of Glee last May, it was probably inevitable that the second episode would have a hard time recapturing that euphoria. For the first few minutes, however, Glee had succeeded. As Will made his entrance into McKinley High, high on the joy that the New Directions had brought back to his life and seeing it reflected in the lives of the students in the club, I related to the euphoria. I love that euphoria.

As the music to Dean Martin's "Ain't That A Kick in the Head" played (sans vocal) in the background, it seemed that Glee was sailing. More on the rest of the show after the jump.




Somewhere along the way, the four letters that spell Glee went from "g-l-e-e" to "s-o-a-p." Complications were expected, but too much angst has gripped the group and it's happened really fast. Will's marriage is turning into Jon and Kate Plus One, all happy on the outside but covering up a nest of nastiness. And the inconsistencies in their relationship made my head spin.

Initially, Will was suckered into the overpriced tract house, taking a demeaning second job as the school's night janitor to afford the "grand foyer." But later, Terri gives the house up when her bun in the oven turns out to be a hysterical pregnancy and she doesn't tell Will about it. Is this The Young and the Restless or Glee? One scene has Will and Terri sharing a bath, then she's lying to him about the baby?

Meanwhile, Emma continues to pine for Will, but opts to accept a date from Ken when he gives her an honest, but grim look at why she should go out with him. I understand Emma's longing, especially when Will continues leading her on; doesn't he know what he's doing to her? Still, Emma's been out with Ken and knows that he will never make her happy.

Then there are the students and the problems they're facing. While performing "Le Freak," "Golddigger" and "Push It" they were pretty upbeat, but once the music stopped, oh the drama. I expected the celibacy club would be a funny premise, but it wasn't. It did set up a wry bit about how Finn keeps from bursting below the belt when he gets sexually aroused by using the image of a postal worker splashed across his windshield! Lea Michele's solo "Take A Bow" was beautifully done, but kind of a downer way to end the show.

Another downer was Sue Sylvester. I love Jane Lynch. I love the idea of her heading up the Cheerios and plotting their success at all costs. I don't buy her morphing into Snidely Whiplash. She did everything but twirl a mustache! Sue has to have more of a comic tone. She can't seem to be losing it in her desire to destroy the glee club.

Finally, there's one thing missing from Glee that needs addressing. Where are the parents? Surely Rachel's two dads would be there for every performance, even an assembly. That's a ripe comic vein that should be mined.

I still have faith in Glee; I'm not giving up. I'm just hoping for more.