Fandom on the Rocks

Season 6 continues its surprising campaign to remind us why we liked Glee in the first place — at least whenever it isn't introducing a storyline that makes us stare suspiciously at the writers' room.In 6x03, “Jagged Little Tapestry,” Carole King meets Alanis Morissette, Kurt Hummel discovers that his inside feelings have unfortunately become outside feelings, and Santana Lopez delivers the kind of verbal annihilation we have deeply missed.This episode, we're talking:Klaine pining. So much Klaine pining. “It's Too Late,” old photos, coffee-shop memories, one perfect Kurt Hummel tear — Dave Karofsky may technically be Blaine's boyfriend, but spiritually he is a plot device, and we all know it.Brittana thriving. Brittany and Santana are adorable, emotionally functional, and suddenly engaged. Kurt handles this extremely poorly, Santana chooses verbal violence, and we are reminded why Santana Lopez is a national treasure.Becky's new boyfriend, and a storyline that wants to make a point about disability, relationships, independence, and infantilization but keeps getting in its own way.Coach Beiste's transition, a storyline we approach with plenty of goodwill toward the character and considerably less goodwill toward writers who seem to have forgotten several seasons of previous characterization.Plus: impossible mashup assignments, Mounds bars as official lesbian candy, Sue Sylvester briefly behaving like a supportive human being, our growing appreciation for Season 6 Brittany, and an alarming amount of discussion about why nobody should ever put their outside feet on the pillows.Honestly, the music still slaps.

If you've ever wondered how money works in the Hale Family… well, keep wondering. Because Teen Wolf 4×02 "117" gives us more questions than answers.Kate Argent, freshly transformed into a werejaguar, is still having trouble with her transformations and she's hoping to find a Hale Family heirloom to help her out. Unfortunately for the gas station attendant who tries to get Kate out of the bathroom, she still hasn't totally figured out her control, and he pays for it… yeah, it's gruesome.Meanwhile, age-regressed Derek has been whisked away to the animal clinic, being watched over by Lydia (👀) and he panics—like y'do—when he wakes up in a strange place with strange people he doesn't recognize.But, for all the tomfoolery of this plotline, this episode does bring out some heavy fandom hitters: Scott and Malia finally confront Peter for some answers ("Satan in a v-neck"), Lydia and Kira find what's left of the gas station attendant in Kate's wake, and Stiles and Special Agent Douchebag have a very special dinner with Dere—I mean, Cousin Miguel.Oh yeah, and there turns out to be a Hale Family vault underneath Beacon Hills High School where Peter Hale has kept the entire Hale Family fortune of 117 million dollars… in bearer bonds… which Kate stole… and she needed Derek to get into the vault… so she de-aged him to a time when he still trusted her… for the money… Oh, brother.xoxo, Fandom on the Rocks

Turns out Glee might actually remember how to be Glee.In 6x02, “Homecoming,” the alumni descend on McKinley to help Rachel and Kurt rebuild the New Directions, Blaine discovers that “tradition” is maybe not the compelling argument he thinks it is, and we finally meet some new-New Directions kids who are not simply photocopies of characters we already knew. Progress!This episode, we’re talking:Blaine, Dalton, terrible plaid, and the complicated politics of Jane wanting to become the first female Warbler.Roderick, Spencer, the McCarthy twins, and why these new newbies already feel more promising than the Season 4 replacements.The return of the Unholy Trinity, because apparently Glee wanted to personally attack us.Sue continuing her lifelong mission to destroy arts education through increasingly elaborate and ineffective schemes. Sue, come on, just admit you love those kids.We also take several completely necessary detours into Blaine’s hair, Dalton’s mysterious history, Dear Evan Hansen, Texas homecoming mums, and the eternal question of whether or not Emma Pillsbury-Schue is actually still alive. (American Horror Story: Lima, anyone?)Against our better judgment, Season 6 is… kind of working? We don’t like being surprised either.xoxo, FotR

Season Four of Teen Wolf, baby! We’re back, we’re going to Mexico, Derek Hale is missing, and absolutely no one involved in this rescue mission seems interested in asking whether any of this makes sense. (It doesn't matter.)Scott and the pack head south of the border in search of Derek, which means negotiating with a group hunters called the Calaveras, discovering that Kate Argent is somehow alive, and eventually finding Derek in an underground temple. Except he’s approximately sixteen years old now. Sure. Fine. Why not?This episode, we’re talking:Stiles and Lydia traveling all the way to Mexico with $50,000 to rescue Derek Hale, because apparently Stiles simply cannot keep that man’s name out of his mouth.Kira and Malia’s extremely heterosexual nightclub dance, glow-stick nunchucks, and our continued campaign to LET MALIA BE FERAL.Scott actually getting to behave like a competent Alpha: making plans, protecting his friends, and taking every available electrocution so Lydia doesn’t have to.The return of Kate Argent, an impressive amount of retroactive continuity gymnastics, and approximately nine thousand questions required to make any of this plot work.Somewhere inside this extremely messy premiere is a genuinely good scene about how Scott, Stiles, and Lydia each understand Kate through the person she hurt most in their lives. Unfortunately, it is surrounded by a lot of us asking, “Wait. How do they know that?”Welcome to Season Four of Teen Wolf. Apparently we’re doing this.xoxo, FotR

We made it to Season 6 of Glee on the Rocks! But at what cost? Our sanity? An official Glee-boot? Apparently Rachel Berry’s Broadway career, Klaine’s engagement, several successful futures, and the entire state of New York.In 6x01 “Loser Like Me,” Glee kicks off its final season by dragging everyone back to Lima and hitting the reset button with both hands. Rachel’s TV career spectacularly implodes, Sue has purged McKinley of the arts, Blaine is back where nature intended him—with the Warblers—and Kurt is about to discover that breaking up with the love of your life has consequences. Especially when said love of your life starts dating Dave Karofsky.This episode, we’re talking:Rachel Berry hitting rock bottom at roughly age 20The triumphant return of Dalton, the Warblers, and one extremely beloved blazerThe Klaine breakup, some genuinely excellent heartbreak, and Kurt realizing he may have made a terrible mistake (no duh) Karofsky. Just… Karofsky. We have thoughts. Many of them.Glee’s attempt to return to its Season 1 roots by erasing approximately two seasons of character developmentThere are flashes here of the Glee we loved: familiar sets, old dynamics, musical nostalgia, and characters finding their way back to the place that once gave them somewhere to belong. There’s also a lot of yelling “BUT WHY?” at the television.The final season has officially begun. God help us.Let’s overthink television together.xoxo, Fandom on the Rocks