I watched The New Normal

[wowbright]

This is what I thought. 

It was cute and the jokes were funny, although I didn't catch all of them. When Bryan would make his jokes, I occasionally got ready to rewind to hear them again, and then I remembered I was watching on a TV, not a computer. Sigh.

There are definitely themes and archetypes that also appear in Glee (choosing your family, the importance of not being normal, the witty bigot, the boring gay couple), but the show itself is quite different from Glee. It's a sitcom first and foremost, not a satire or drama-with-humor. Unlike Glee, its plots don't run on boatloads of awkward. I really value and enjoy the awkward aspect of Glee - it takes place in a high school, after all - but it's nice that The New Normal appears not to run on awkwardness, because maybe my partner will be able to watch it without leaving the room every four minutes like he does when he's watching Glee because the awkwardness makes him so squirmy.

I adore Shania. The conversation she has with Bryan in episode 2 about wanting to be normal parallels a conversation I had with my dad at that age, except that my dad was bewildered and Bryan gave very good advice. I also like Goldie, although I don't feel that I have as good a handle on her character yet.

I guess I might as well cast my vote about whether Bryan is like Kurt and David is like Blaine, since that was the hot topic after the pilot came out (and before). My answer is that I really don't see much similarity. Okay, so none of them particularly like hanging out in gay bars (although maybe Brian used to?), but beyond that, I can't see Klaine=Bravid. Bryan is fashionable, but more superficial and high-strung than Kurt; David is shorter than Bryan and watches football, but otherwise bears very little resemblance to Blaine. What really cinched David≠Blaine for me is when David breaks down, just before Goldie's insemination, about always having to be the rock at home. Blaine is not "the rock" in the Klaine relationship, and I very much doubt that he sees himself as one. And then there were the clothes, and the ignorance about "gay stuff," and the not dancing, and ... Yeah, I don't see it.

Which is nice. I am all for more kinds of more gay people all over the airwaves.

Comments

[mixed-berryjam.livejournal.com]

I agree. It is witty and funny and different enough that I'm hooked so far. I also like your thoughts about their similarities to Klaine. I feel there's some similarities but differences too to make them different enough. Loving the Shania relationship too! So true and lovely. I almost feel she's a mini-Kurt in the sense that she's unique and misunderstood and is gaining a support system. I am liking Goldie but feel we haven't gotten to really see her yet. I feel there much more to come with her and I'm excited! So glad you enjoyed too! <3

[wowbright.livejournal.com]

That is so interesting that you said Shania is like a mini-Kurt! rm posted on her tumblr on Tuesday that she identifies most with Blaine out of Klaine and Bryan out of Bravid. I totally identify with Kurt more than Blaine, so I thought about whether the opposite applied to me in terms of Bravid. But so far, I don't identify strongly with either Bryan or David. I responded that I identify with Kurt and Shania the most. All kindred spirits ...

It's so fun to have two whole TV shows I want to watch every week now. Yay!

[mander3-swish.livejournal.com]

omg I LOVE THE NEW NORMAL!!!
Justin Bartha...love love love that guy!

*fingers in my ears as I live in my fantasy a while longer that this is a pseudo future klaine AU* ...i'll just be over here in my corner.

;)

[wowbright.livejournal.com]

Enjoy your corner! I do not begrudge it. Currently I am betaing the perfect Klaine-become-dads fic, so maybe that's why I insist on not seeing Bravid as Klaine. It would be inconsistent with this perfect fic! ;D

[ladydreamer.livejournal.com]

This makes me wonder if I should try to rewatch when I'm in less of a bad mood over RL and impending Glee tears.

[wowbright.livejournal.com]

Well, it may still not be your cup of tea. I may have viewed it, too, with more rose-colored glasses because I hadn't been reading anything that Ryan Murphy had to say about it. All I knew about it was what I had seen on the promotional ads during the Olympics, and of course the fandom Klaine/Bravid comparison. The girl Shania was a DELIGHTFUL surprise for me. And I don't know if you've seen the second episode yet, but I think it was better than the pilot - each of the four main characters started to grow a little more distinct (especially Bryan, whom I didn't like in the first episode but started to like in the second).

[ladydreamer.livejournal.com]

I didn't make it to the second episode, so maybe I didn't give it a fair chance. It was just grating to watch with the claims of Adult Klaine in mind. Klaine are already kind of adults, even if they have growing up to do.. It's too bad that the pilot wasn't better abou their characterizations. I guess RM gets more leeway than some other shows when it comes to letting them find their footing. Although it seems like there might be more of a chance for it if RM would just shut up!

[wowbright.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I never listen to RM, so that might help. I watched the third episode yesterday and thought it was okay - somewhere between the 1st and 2nd eps in quality for me -- some very good moments, some eh moments, and one "That has never been a funny joke and never will be so why why why is it in this show?"