For its opening acts, this outlandishly entertaining series seemed to be trying to show us that it could do many things well. The first episode scattered its plots and songs; the second largely put plot aside for a tightly themed tribute to Britney Spears; and the third put plot and Kurt center stage for a lovely, thoughtful exploration of the importance of the sacred.
And each offered multiple musical pleasures, from Rachel's power-ballad version of What I Did for Love to Kurt's surprisingly tender I Want to Hold Your Hand.
There's little doubt the third episode, and third approach, was Glee at its best — but one of the joys of the show is its ability to switch styles like it's trying on hats.
It might be wise for the writers to restrain some of their wilder impulses, but a more restrained Glee might not be Glee at all. The show has to be wary of going too far, but for now, let's just figure that mess is part of the success.
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