'Glee' continues to fall flat with creative problems

Just last week Fox's musical dramedy Glee returned after a two-month hiatus. As many others have said, season five has been the worst of the series. But I have to say the show's creative problems began in season four, when the majority of the original characters were written out after graduating high school. They all made returns at some point, but their places were taken by new characters all of which I don't care for. I have to admit Marley's (Melissa Benoit) bulemia storyline last year was pretty well written, but was still propping a new character.

But it's pretty obvious that Glee has become almost unbearable since Cory Monteith's sudden death of a drug overdose last summer. Monteith, who portrayed central character Finn Hudson, was given a pitiful onscreen farewell. The writers felt that the episode should be about how the character lived, and not how he died, therefore not revealing Finn's cause of death. I felt this was an utterly stupid decision. It's a television drama. A teen drama at that. People die. It happens. Life happens. So the writers don't have to spare our feelings if that's what they were going for. Not to mention Dianna Agron, who portrayed original character and Finn's longtime girlfriend Quinn Fabray, was not asked back to the tribute and the character's absence was not explained.

Ever since Finn has been gone, the show has delved into a downward spiral. And as I've said many times, you know your show is bad when you start to like characters you previously loathed, because all your faves have come and gone. All the originals were taken off contract this season and have made minimal appearances, apart from Lea Michele, Chris Colfer and Naya Rivera, who portray Rachel, Kurt and Santana respectively, who have remained a central part of the story as they continue on with life in New York City. I have to admit my jaw dropped open when in a November 2013 episode, muppets were incorporated into an episode and the characters performed "What Does The Fox Say?"

Series creator Ryan Murphy has confirmed Glee will air for one more season and then conclude after a six-year run. Honestly, maybe the show would still be watchable if Monteith hadn't have passed. But currently, I never cease to grimace every new episode when a questionable creative choice has been made. When future generations wonder now Glee crashed and burned, they can blame 90% on the writers. Catch Glee Tuesdays at 8/7c on Fox.