‘Glee’ season 5, episode 8 review: ‘Previously Unaired Christmas,’ Santana Claus, and a big mess
Tonight on “Glee,” we learned that there are still some ways in which the show can find a way to be even more ridiculous than it has been. “Previously Unaired Christmas” was a silly, pointless hour of TV that only had a few funny moments, and they were all overshadowed mostly by this being some sort of silly alternate-universe episode that really doesn’t matter.
The basic premise here is that this is a special “created” last year, but then banned from airing. Therefore, they came up with a new one. The entire idea is silly, but the only good thing that could come from it was that it was an opportunity for the show to go completely off the rails. There could have been opportunities to see Kurt, Rachel, and Santana do something even crazier than be robbed by somebody even more nonsensical than a Santa Claus / The Situation crossover.
There is almost no point in talking about the story for this episode since it is useless, so instead let’s just point out the few moments in here that did genuinely make us laugh:
1. The birth of Santana as “Santana Claus,” the Mrs. Claus impersonator who says terrible things to children.
2. Marley, Unique, and Tina making sure that Kitty got the part of the Virgin Mary by making the living nativity into something that she would protest.
3. Becky destroying the world’s smallest xylophone, which is yet another reminder that Becky gets to do all of the fun stuff.
So that’s really about it. This is not an episode that we would have stayed engaged enough to watch were it not for the fact that it’s our job to do so, mostly because a few funny moments don’t make up for the fact that the rest of the story was just so silly and out of place. We don’t mean to be a Grinch here, but we just don’t like that “Glee” and Fox basically took a whole episode, and its finale, and then just turned it into a way to sell albums. Grade: D+.
If you do want to read more “Glee” news, including a preview of what lies ahead, just be sure to click here.
Photo: Fox
Guest
December 6, 2013 @ 6:30 am
I don’t know who reviews these episodes…..and who decided that the Glee Christmas episode deserved a D+. Maybe they should speak to the viewers. I don’t know if I am the only one who liked this episode but it doesn’t matter. i LOVED this episode, I LOVED the music (Chipmunk Christmas Song was brilliantly done, as was Mary’s Boy Child,Love Child, and Away in a Manger). The story made sense to me because everyone knows the real Christmas story and this followed the lines of an ecumenical Christmas, and the “Santa Claus” Christmas. The Scrooges who felt it necessary to criticize have no Christmas spirit.
Thank you Ryan Murphy et al for one of the best Christmas shows I’ve seen in many a year!
Also,,,,,who will cast some of Glee’s talented cast members in other television shows, as themselves. Alex Newell (Unique), will be missed. His character is so different and so believable because he plays himself. And the rest of the cast needs to be heard….they are so talented and sound so good together, there must be a way to continue to show their talents.
atigrace
December 6, 2013 @ 3:31 pm
I’m confused. “Alex Newell (Unique) will be missed”? It’s he leaving Glee? As for xmas episode, I kind of agree w/Discus’ review, but we hard core glee fans, any episode is better than no episode. There have been many lame episodes, so why would anyone think this episode would be any difference? I don’t agree w/the above review w/respect to “Becky” getting all the good lines, I do not now or ever liked “Beckys” character. Not because of her downs syndrome, they’ve given her character a lame one dimensional part which makes her boring.
Guest
December 7, 2013 @ 2:12 am
No Alex Newell is not leaving. I guess I made the comments confusing when I failed to say “after the show goes off”. Sorry for that. I am getting ahead of myself and the show’s schedule, but after watching Alex in the Christmas show, I began to wonder where Alex would go after Glee. I can see him/her playing a character because he/she is so talented, but hopefully someone, somewhere will give him the opportunity to continue to play exactly who he/she is. I think we are all learning something from it…..one thing being to just totally accept Alex, and thus to totally accept others like him./her. This also applies to so many others in the cast. Ryan Murphy has given us a cast and a show that screams “Tolerance” and “Love” and I thank him so much for that.
atigrace
December 7, 2013 @ 4:30 am
Phew, tx 4 Unique’s clarification. I agree wholeheartily w/you about the message that Glee constantly gives of “accepting” everyone for what they are. But, I’m having a hard time liking Alex’s character. As anybody who watched that 1st season of TGP (the glee project) where Alex were “discovered” which led to him being a regular on Glee saw, Alex himself was a complete a– hole to his fellow contenders. He crossed so many lines by bullying his competitors so badly, that at one point he bullied one of his young competitors to the point of making this 1 poor young guy cry. & he was consistently throwing diva attitudes, tamtrums & bullying all of those kids he was competing against. He’s talented, but with Glee constantly having so many plots & being staunch w/”bullying being unacceptable”, I found it strange that Glee cast him at all. Alex bullied everyone on the Glee Project, which contridicts their message of NO BULLYING EVER. I can’t help thinking “PRATICE WHAT YOU PREACH” every time I see him on Glee. As far as I’m concerned, the “Glee Gods” are incredibly hypocritical with respect to casting anyone whose a flat out, full blown bully in real life. Not exaggerating, Alex undermined the confidence of all those young contestants at every chance he got who were just trying to win a spot on Glee. He was also lazy, wouldn’t pratice their weekly tasks that the resf of these Glee hopefuls worked tbeir butts off to perform & Ryan Murphy warned Alex that he was being a jerk over & over again. And every time Ryan called Alex on it, Alex played this “poor me, I’m black, gay & my dad died when I was young, so it’s not my fault that I can be a jerk” card. Ryan came so close to booting (eliminating) Alex on quite a few episodes for that reason alone. It wasn’t until Alex finally dressed in drag for one of his weekly performances for Ryan, that Ryan finally became interested in Alex. Hypocrisy drives me nuts & Glee hiring anyone whose a bully in real life. That’s sending mixed messages. Did you watch season 1 of The Glee Project? But that’s just my opinion & what I remember about Alex’s stint on The Glee Project.
Guest
December 7, 2013 @ 11:07 am
I actually did see The Glee Project …actually all of them, and you are absolutely right about Alex’s behavior on that show. I had forgotten all about that. I guess now that he is older, hopefully wiser, more educated in the way TV shows are made and the work it involves, he has improved his attitude. I also think that the present members of the Glee cast would keep him in line if he was still bullying. I also hate hypocrisy in any form and I hope Alex was such a jerk because he was young, really wanted to win, and so he foolishly played every card he had. Especially when the whole Glee Project was aired and he looked like such an idiot. Maybe he learned something. I can’t see Ryan Murphy allowing him to stay if he is still bullying people. The cast works too hard for that kind of crap. Also, I think Alex is very much more comfortable on the show when he is in female dress. He seems much more relaxed. We will have to see what happens to him and the rest of the cast after the show is over. Hopefully for Alex, he has learned a hard lesson because he will not get away with it again.
atigrace
December 7, 2013 @ 12:34 pm
I have a feeling you & I have like mindsets! And because I’m way older that the targeted age demographics that make up the majority of are Glee fans, I don’t have any one with whom I can talk about my “addiction” to glee & discuss the good, bad and/or some of the silly Glee episodes with, so I’m enjoying sharing thoughs & opinions about Glee with you! My close pals have been looking for a 12 srep program for me to attend to “curb my Glee addiction”!
As for my comment about our being “like minded” w/same mindset, what I meant was that your hypothesis about “Unique” & why Ryan possibley choose to hire Alex after the way he bullied & got so mean to his fellow Glee Project competitors, was the same as yours. That Alex was a very young & immature back when he was on TGP & has since then, gotten more mature sincethen. I’ve enjoyed our Glee Conversations, more than you know, so thanks for that:-)
Guest
December 7, 2013 @ 2:05 pm
Interesting! About you and I having like mindsets. I have enjoyed these exchanges very much as well……and I am also way older than the majority of Gleeks! I love music of any kind, and I enjoy the young group of actors on Glee singing the songs I know all the words to – from the Beatles to Lady Gaga, Cee Lo Green etc.I think that’s what I enjoy most about Glee, but the characters each bring a different perspective to the story line, most with lessons to leave the audience. When you add the music that goes with the story lines, I love it! And I have to confess….this year I am loving Adam Lambert. Another incredibly talented young man, who has a strong personality that is a little over the top!
I also enjoy our conversations, so you can keep posting your thoughts about whatever. I will be here!
atigrace
December 8, 2013 @ 3:27 pm
I’m cracking up. I was cleaning a closet out yesterday & I found the glee project season 1, the last 5 episodes on a VHS tape. I just popped it into an old VCR & its Alex Newell & the kid he made cry pairing up for “Pairability” week. But the preview, where they start with “and here’s what you missed on the glee project last week”? Its Ryan Murphy jumping on Alex asking him “so do you think your better than everyone here? Because you are sure acting like you think your better.”
Timing, weird that I’d find that tape after mentioning it in last 48 hrs. I didn’t have time to watch it yesterday or last night soo I watching it now. Alex still a jerk, but I’d forgotten how much I enjoyed Damian!
Guest
December 9, 2013 @ 3:38 am
That is a bit weird…to find that tape after these blogs! It refreshed the good and bad parts of the original. We do forget what we what we want to forget and only remember what is in our perception of the truth! Interesting for me to know….I don’t tape the show unless I am going to be out and then I erase it! BTW….I admire that you cleaned out a closet….I have been writing Christmas Cards, and sitting staring at walls. You have pushed me to get a move on! I am going to watch Glee Christmas again, because that one I did tape!!