Glee’s most recent episode, titled “Shooting Star,” tackles the issue of gun control. In the episode, the characters experience the horror of hearing (SPOILER ALERT) gunshots ring through the halls of their school.
While the episode started light and fluffy (see below) with Brittany’s prediction that another asteroid will hit the earth,
“Hide your wife, hide your kids… and hide your wife.” - Brittany #glee twitter.com/GLEEonFOX/stat…
— GLEE (@GLEEonFOX) April 12, 2013
…it quickly escalated and had Live-Tweeters and Live-Tumblrs alike on the edge of their seats … or in some cases, face down on their mattress:
Here are a few reactions from tweeters last night during the show:
Glee is back and they decided to start the episode with a viewer discretion about school violence..I’m not prepared for this, Glee.
— Dori Rhode (@ahDORIble) April 12, 2013
“shooters have smartphones too” words of wisdom from mr. Schue
— Glee is Life (@I_ship_Glee) April 12, 2013
Glee’s first move in a school shooting is to tweet.
— Myles Tanzer (@mylestanzer) April 12, 2013
Remember when #Glee was a musical comedy? They are currently midway through a shooting at school and are filming good-bye videos. #toneshift
— Erin Strecker (@ErinStrecker) April 12, 2013
Many were horrified and shocked:
This episode of Glee needs to be watched by every school child. Violence in schools is real. They need to know what to do.
— Free Spirit (@TeeJaiP) April 12, 2013
Watching “Glee” with my 9th-grade daughter. This is intense to the point of being disturbing to both of us. Wow.
— Randy Parker (@Rparker717) April 12, 2013
Glee legit got me scared tho. Omg what happened t the person out side the door tryna get but got shot?!
— Sage Beez In Da Trap (@DaYoungBarb3) April 12, 2013
Then there were those who were just upset with the series itself:
sorry but i hate glee but ill like find an incredible song that i love and realize glee covered it and barf out my intestines
— ☯ anneke ☯ (@craicist) April 12, 2013
I’m glad I live in country where I’m free to find “Glee” absolutely reprehensible.
— Ted Travelstead (@trumpetcake) April 12, 2013
Quite a few viewers picked up on the Degrassi undertones:
This Glee episode is not as good as the Degrassi episode where Rick put Drake in a wheelchair.
— Sunny Jacob (@jacobjunior7) April 12, 2013
#Glee does a school shooting episode and Drake is nowhere to be found. SOMEONE CHECK ON DRAKE!
— Charla Boveland (@Charla4Mayor) April 12, 2013
Of course the episode couldn’t end without touching upon the key talking points in this debate:
Sue: It’s registered I have a license for it. I’m sorry but in light of recent events, I feel more safe with it in my office.
Principal: Look, Sue, I’m not going to argue the merits of armed teachers right now.
Sue: It’s a different world from when you and I started teaching. Or rather, when I started teaching, and you started doing whatever it is that you do. The safety net of the public mental health system is gone. Parents with troubled kids are too busy working three jobs to look after them. And the gun yahoos, have everyone so worked up about Obama taking their guns that every house has a readily available arsenal.
