SGU

I haven't followed any of the Stargate series until SG Universe, but I have to say I'm enjoying it very much. And they've chosen some wonderful music to accompany their series (like Alexi Murdoch's Breathe). But more importantly, SGU shows us how that music can be used effectively. Now, I'm not a huge fan of the montage in TV shows, but it works very well in this series. Maybe it's the isolation of the people, the despair that they must feel, the secrets that are going on amongst the crew that can only be introduced through montage, etc, but I've come to expect these episodes to end with a touching and often beautiful montage.

This past week was especially poignant and introduced me to Fink's Song of Revolution. What a beautiful and soulful voice. And here, unlike Saving Grace's horrible ending, Fink's song is both lyric and tone appropriate. The crew came so close to going home - but no. This song echoed their emotions so well.

Choosing to Follow

There was a lot of religion on TV this week. Maybe it stood out to me because I had just had a religious conversation with my mother, but I found main characters on TV echoing my thoughts.

Glee's religious-centered episode had Kurt dealing with his father's hospital stay and the whole club wanting to sing spiritual or religious songs. I was quite surprised actually that Glee would be outspoken in these matters. Yes, the show pushes the edges routinely, but isn't a large demographic for this show conservative youth into show choir clubs? I wouldn't think they would appreciate the debate unless it came back to a "religion is the answer" ending. Maybe that isn't the demographic at all - I like the show and I'm nothing like a teenage show choir. Maybe Mercedes' comment summed up a current trend in acceptable, edgy conversations - "so we can't sing about religion, but we can sing about losing religion?" I don't know... but I am appreciative that the topic is at least broached in prime-time broadcast.

Of course Community took a comical look on the subject this week. They outright blasted Chevy Chase's cultist religion, glorified Jeff's non-religion and shoved aside Shirley's classic Baptist.

I'm glad the discussion is a little less taboo. Not that it just happened though. You hop over to cable and you'll get more of it and if you stumble on Bill Maher, you get it in spades - but broadcast..?? How do very religious people feel about these episodes? Do they shrug them off as one episode in poor taste, do they abandon the show or choose to follow?