The Glee Project 2×01 ‘Individuality’ recap: Glorious Outcasts!

Oxygen’s talent show The Glee Project returned for its second run, where the winner gets a guest spot on FOX’s comedy Glee. I actually don’t watch Glee, I haven’t watched it since the first season. So I’m not that bothered with who would look good next to Artie or Brittany. But I just can’t help watching this show. For me, it easily outshines some of the more popular talent shows nowadays. You don’t have to be the best dancer, singer or you don’t have to have the ‘x-factor’ to win this one. It’s all about the outcasts and it shows in their contenders.

This year they’ve started with fourteen contestants. All of them really diverse in their own way.  Let me begin by saying that these people are a far better choice than last year. I have a feeling they thought it more through, plus they have a far more interesting story to tell. From Mario, a blind guy who rather sees himself as an artist who happens to be blind, to Tyler, a transgender. They should be looking for these kind of storylines on a show that is about accepting who you really are.

The season follows the same routine as the previous one. It’s only too bad that they will probably follow the same themes. Their first assignment song is Lady Gaga’s ‘Born This Way’. I’m so tired of that song being used in every talent competition, but it’s a Glee-anthem. So it’s suited for their theme ‘Individuality’.

During their rehearsal, it becomes clear that Charlie has ADHD. In a very serious form, he was all over the place. You could already see some frowned faces on the other contestants, so I’m sure this will get too much for them at one point in the competition.

It’s revealed that not only Ryan Murphy, but also leadstar Lea Michele would be watching them perform. It was crazy how much these kids love Lea, Lily even started to cry. She did  cry even harder when Lea called her ‘strikingly beautiful’. Lea crowned Shanna, a girl devoted to Jesus, the winner of the assignment.

For their music video they are assigned the song ‘Here I go again’ from Whitesnake. Oh I love the 80’s! Anyway their dancing isn’t going very well, Tyler is already moaning about everything. I figure he won’t make it very far.  I really loved the effort Zach made for Mario. I’m so impressed with Mario, so fearless with his dancing.

At the recording studio, most of them did very well. Except Taryn, who is just very shy and doesn’t really have enough confidence to believe in herself, Aylin and Maxfield. Maxfield is just out-of-place in this talent competition. He has a great voice, and will probably be a great country singer. But I don’t think Glee is something for him.

When they are finally filming, some of them just lack the energy they should have. It’s the first assignment, you guys should be exited and happy. Aylin, just sits there ‘I’m here to flirt you guys.’ Lily keeps saying she’s here to win it, but I don’t see that in her actions. And yeah Maxfield is kind of out-of-place. Tyler is moaning again.

So it’s no surprise that during evaluation, the ones who kept moaning or hadn’t got the confidence were at risk. Finally the final three who had to perform before Ryan Murphy were Aylin, Tyler and Maxfield.

Aylin did very well before Ryan, he was really impressed. I like Ryan, he’s a jerk. Yeah, but he has to write for these people, so I understand. Tyler didn’t do very well, Ryan did bluntly say that Tyler wasn’t good enough around the other contestants. And as the last one to perform, Maxfield did great but Ryan really saw that Maxfield was out-of-place and I think everybody saw it too. So the first one to go is Maxfield.

The ones that stood out for me were definitely Dani, Abraham, Shanna, Charlie and of course Mario!

Next week the theme is Dance-Ability. I’m really exited for this one. I’m dying to see how Mario does in this assignment!