Glee continues to impress in its third outing with a episode about the power of confidence, plus…you know singing and dancing.  This week follows the creation of an a new acapella group, dalliances with a rival show choir’s choreographer and some hilarious unrequited love.  The biggest conflict this episode stems from Rachel complaining Mr. Schuester’s choreography isn’t good enough, breaking his confidence as a coach and causing him to withdraw.  An upset Mr. Schuster commiserates with his male coworkers and after a rousing rendition of For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow they agree to form a male acapella rap group, the Acafellas.  After kicking Sandy out for being creepy and loosing other members the group is down to just Mr. Schuester’s and coach Tanaka.   

Meanwhile distressed at their coach’s new lack of enthusiasm Rachel and the gleeks try and hire the state champ’s choreographer.  The choreographer does get a few laughs with his mean attacks, ordering them to loose weight, learn to walk, quit or get plastic surgery.  However, the entire plotline feels ripped off from Bring it On the criticism scene itself was practically taken verbatim.  The big difference is that because this is Glee these kids at least have the sense to stand up for themselves and kick him to the curb.  Good job gang!

As Rachel continues her cloying for perfection Finn seeks fulfillment outside the group and joins the Acafellas.  Mohawked bad-boy Puck is also persuaded to join believing the group will attract major MILFs.  By the time their performance comes around the group has managed to put together a pretty good show of bad 90’s R&B.  Throw in a surprisingly hilarious Josh Grobin cameo (complete with restraining order against Sandy) and the whole episode makes for some great TV.

After only three episodes Glee really has become the phenomenon it was designed to be.  I always know something has to be good when its recommended by everybody from close friends to my own mother.  The songs are fun, the visuals are good and the performances are very strong.  Glee makes for a fun hour of escapist TV.  For me the big standouts are Jemma Mays and Matthew Morrison as Lima High’s own Ross and Rachel, will they, won’t the couple.  Jane Lynch is of course hilarious, but I would much rather she have stayed on Party Down instead (or done both) as her character there was far funnier and more original than the Cheerleading coach, Sue, who is a bit too one note.

The only major concern I have is that the plot seems to be rocketing forward far faster than it needs to, which worries me about where it‘s headed.  The glee club was formed in the pilot and in that episode alone Finn decided to quit and rejoin, as did Mr. Schuester.   Now this week there are threats to both of them remaining.  Similarly Sue already hiring spies and successfully getting them in the club feels like fast forward.  It just seems that they could have built those conflicts slower.  And also the romances are the same way, it was only episode 2 and already Finn and Rachel were kissing and Terri Schuester is already faking a pregnancy to save her marriage.  I am hopeful though because this show was creates by Ryan Murphy of Nip/Tuck fame and anybody who has seen that knows he can handle plots at break-neck speeds.  Let’s just cross out fingers Glee doesn’t swing towards the batshit crazy Nip/Tuck is known for.