this week's glee

april 29, 2010

Like millions of other viewers, I look forward to each new episode of “Glee,” and wasn’t disappointed in this week’s fare. I was especially interested in how the writers tackled the topic of eating disorders, and thought the message they sent was a positive one:  You are beautiful, no matter what “they” say.

Plus-sized, vocally blessed Mercedes too briefly fell victim to megalomaniac Sue Sylvester’s vision of perfection for her beloved Cheerio’s squad, and her absurd demands that Mercedes drop ten pounds in a week. We watched the previously confident, self-assured teenager transform the moment she began to restrict her intake; she became irritable, insecure, preoccupied and out of her mind with hunger. I was uncomfortable listening to the diet techniques shared by the other members of the cheerleading squad, and hoped that young girls watching the show realized that the weight-loss potion endorsed by Psycho Sue that included syrup of ipecac (the pea-brained Brittany sometimes adds a teaspoon of sand), was meant to be a horrifying joke. No one in their right mind would take that advice seriously, but when we’re talking about Eating Disorders, we are, in fact, including those who aren’t thinking very clearly about what they will and won’t ingest.

There were some touching moments in the show, especially when the pregnant Quinn advised Mercedes to ignore the pressure and just be herself.  She shares her insight as a question: “If I can take care of my body for another person, why won’t I do it for myself?” Ultimately, Mercedes comes to terms with her situation and her size, and we’re treated to a happy ending. Unfortunately, for many many others, this isn’t how the story goes.

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