imelmooy:

awaxwingslain:

OMW was simply reinforcing and revisiting the most commonly portrayed image of a gay teen. There is nothing revolutionary or inspiring about his story, and the writers of Glee are well aware of that as they write him.

Of course I still support him being on the show despite the stereotype, but not for the writers to simply hold his character down in place for the sake of ratings-grabbing melodrama. Especially with the many promises and opportunities for his story to progress into someone with unique desires and goals, and subtler/more nuanced characterization.

Glee also needs to abandon the ‘Very Special Gay Message’ episodes entirely, and focus on the characters and story lines it has already developed that don’t treat gay people as an alienated set of special cases. Most gay teen representation on TV is Dave’s story. What Glee has the opportunity to do is to continue with it’s existing, progressive and positive representation: Kurt, Blaine, Santana and Brittany.

If Karofsky can now be written as joining the ranks of kids who are in the process of overcoming, then I welcome it with long-held open arms. But the regression into melodrama of OMW was not only unnecessary, it was done because the show knew it could capitalize on the tried and tested formula of angst that Kurt/Karofsky provided them in S2. It was cannily and knowingly re-done.

The next step with Karofsky needs to show something yet unseen on television. We got a glimpse of that in his fantasy - now it’s time to actually set an example with his character and show him moving toward that future, without falling back on tears and drama as substitutes for nuance and complexity.

[I wouldn’t normally express an opinion about this so loudly, but having spent last night and this morning/afternoon reading and responding to fans who feel sucker punched by last night’s episode (and have said nothing about shipping), I think they deserve to have a voice. This includes Pirates who go anon to avoid backlash in their fandom, and hate that Dave was dragged through the mud once again just for a winter finale ratings plea. So I hope I do all of these fans justice.]

Show, don’t tell, It Gets Better.