A Certain Slant of Light

Glee fics! Remember when I used to watch Glee? Yeah, that was a long time ago. I probably should have recced these fics back then before they were completely out of date. But they’re still awesome.

Title: Taking This One to the Grave
Author: tamakito
Fandom: Glee
Pairing: None
Rating: R
Word Count: 4,749
Warnings: Bullying, homophobia, sexual assault, mentions suicide attempt.
Summary: Some people have diaries; Kurt has Azimio, his French partner for the last year and change. Confident that Azimio doesn’t understand a word he’s saying, he’s been telling Azimio everything – including what Karofsky’s done to him. And Azimio, who just doesn’t want to have to talk to Kurt, is actually a genius at French.

Excerpt:So, on the downside, he knows way more about Hummel than he ever wanted to. He’s pretty sure he was the first one to know for actual certain-sure that the dude’s queer and not just metro, because:

Madame Mitchell makes them talk to each other for at least ten minutes every lesson, and in their third week Hummel, who had plainly already studied this crap, said in French, “I go to the restaurant every day at four. You do not understand a word I say, do you?”

“I go to the lamp day at two past three,” said Azimio charitably.

Hummel’s expression didn’t change. He said, “I am gay.”

Yeah, no kidding. “When do you go to the lamp?” Azimio asked.

“My god. I have never told anyone.”

Why I loved it: This fic is written in pitch-perfect bro, and one of the reasons I’m reccing it is that I’m just so, so impressed that tamakito could go so deep into the headspace of someone who is not characterized much on the show, but what little characterization he gets - which tamakito expands - is that of an incredibly misguided homophobic bully. He’s absolutely believable and well-portrayed here. He feels like a real person, never a caricature.

But even though he is so awful, Azimio’s not totally irredeemable, which is the thing that makes this fic so fascinating and painful. Azimio is doing the best he can to look out for his best friend Karofsky, and it’s painful to watch because we know that the way he’s doing it will only make things worse.

If the show Glee had ever been this good, I would still be watching it.


So that was super-angsty. Here, have a couple of porntastic AUs to make you feel better!

( One Glee, and one Glee/Doctor Who fic )

I finally got around to watching the first few episodes of the second season of Glee (yes, I fail as a fan). I have kind of a love-hate relationship with Glee, and the problem is that actually watching it brings the hate side of my feelings to the fore.

When I haven't seen Glee recently, the parts that stick in my mind are the musical numbers and the touching moments and interesting and complicated character dynamics. (Glee characters aren't deep, except maybe Kurt Hummel, but they are vivid and distinct which is almost as good.)

When I watch it, I realize that I remember Glee this way because I've blocked out of my mind the many, many incidents which hit my embarrassment squick. At least once every episode I'm out of my seat, walking away from the screen to defuse the pain.

For a show that is so very much against bullying, Glee finds humiliation surprisingly hilarious.

Also? Will Shuester is the worst teacher ever. What kind of numbskull sits there and listens, unspeaking, while his students verbally flay each other?

Okay, yes, I realize that it's a dramatic necessity that he act like that - otherwise Glee meetings would be on topic and boring and not involve the members singing their deepest and most obnoxious feelings at each other - fine, I'll accept that if the show will only stop insisting that Shue is an amazing teacher. Couldn't we just de-emphasize his role altogether? He's boring!

I watched the last episode of Glee last night. I'm watching this show almost on time! It's so exciting! I don't think this has happened since Veronica Mars!

A few thoughts:

First, I think it's ridiculous that Will didn't go to Broadway. Yes, yes, "for the kids" blah blah blah - but you know what? I think the kids would benefit a hundred times more from seeing Will fulfill his dream, than seeing him kick it to the curb on their behalf. Finn and Quinn especially need to see that it's possible to get the hell out of Lima.

Speaking of Finn, I am so, so tired of the never-ending Rachel/Finn will-they/won't-they saga. Rachel and Finn are cute but their relationship is much too boring to devote, God help us, half of every other episode to it.

Also, I was just about ready to strangle Rachel in the finale, when she suddenly decided she didn't want Finn. We were this close to a resolution to their boring, boring plotline - and the writers panicked and made her change her mind for spurious reasons, just to keep the misery going! GAAAAAAAAH!

I like Rachel a lot, but I wish she wasn't so determinedly the center of the show; she gets so much attention in every episode that the other characters often get shortchanged. Glee would be better as a genuine ensemble, instead of an ensemble with a *STAR*.

I'm especially irritated because the Saga of Rachel and Finn meant that we didn't get to see the development of Sam & Mercedes' relationship. Do they have anything in common besides both being single while in Glee? But it could be really sweet if the writers ever show us any of it, and it will be awesome for Mercedes to get some development that doesn't involve collapsing in a puddle of tears.

I also want more Tina. *waves little Tina flag* All my favorite shows seem to have a geeky girl somewhere off to the side - Tina, Mac (in Veronica Mars), Tosh from Torchwood - who never gets the attention she deserves. Buck the trend, Glee!

You know what would be the best crossover ever? Tina & Mac & Tosh team up! And fight CRIME! Tina would be ever so slightly outclassed, though. Perhaps she could design super-awesome superhero outfits for everyone? And then she could SING at the bad guys. They wouldn't know what hit them!