Glee: Encore [Blu-ray]

The Feature: 2.5/5

So when does something that amounts to a special feature deserve to have its own Blu-ray release? Apparently when it has anything to do with the highly popular TV show "Glee." Owners of the show's first season on Blu-ray will be familiar with "Glee Encore's" concept, which is to let fans watch just the episodes' various musical numbers without stuff like story context and dialogue. In this age of songs over albums, it's an admittedly entertaining experience, but where the first season provided this "jukebox" feature for every episode and every song, this latest variant provides at most three songs from 17 out of the 22 episodes for a total of 34 songs. For perspective, the first five Season One episodes alone have 18 songs between them. Which begs the question of who would actually buy this trimmed down version of a handy first season extra? Frankly, just the completionists and only those who have $30 to spare (though Amazon.com currently has the item at about 40% the list price). Anyone else is better off breaking out or picking up the first season Blu-ray for a more comprehensive jukebox experience.

"Glee Encore" includes the first season musical numbers listed below. Songs can be played back individually, shuffled or in order.

1. (Episode 1) Pilot - Director's Cut

• On My Own (1:02)
• Don't Stop Believin' (3:06)

2. (Episode 2) Showmance

• Gold Digger (1:53)
• I Say A Little Prayer (:53)

3. (Episode 5) The Rhodes Not Taken

• Alone (1:25)
• Somebody to Love (2:40)

4. (Episode 6) Vitamin-D

• It's My Life / Confession Part II (1:51)

5. (Episode 7) Throwdown

• No Air (2:00)
• You Keep Me Hangin' On (1:52)

6. (Episode 9) Wheels

• Defying Gravity (2:21)

7. (Episode 10) Ballad

• I'll Stand By You (1:17)
• Don't Stand So Close to Me / Young Girl (2:03)

8. (Episode 11) Hairography

• Lean on Me (2:50): Note: The song does not appear on the selection menu.
• Imagine (2:58)
• True Colors (1:52)

9. (Episode 12) Mattress

• Smile (1:44)

10. (Episode 13) Sectionals

• Don't Rain on My Parade (2:50)
• You Can't Always Get What You Want (2:14)

11. (Episode 14) Hell-O

• Gives You Hell (2:18)
• Hello (2:30)

12. (Episode 15) The Power of Madonna

• Vogue (3:11)
• Like A Virgin (2:23)
• Like A Prayer (2:13)

13. (Episode 16) Home

• Fire (1:45)
• One Less Bell to Answer / A House is Not a Home (4:20)
• Beautiful (2:36)

14. (Episode 17) Bad Reputation

• Run Joey Run (2:53)
• Total Eclipse of the Heart (2:53)

15. (Episode 18) Laryngitis

• Jessie's Girl (1:47)
• Rose's Turn (2:00)

16. (Episode 20) Theatricality

• Bad Romance (2:29)
• Beth (2:30)

17. (Episode 22) Journey to Regionals

• Faithfully (2:14)
• Any Way You Want It / Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin' (2:01)

Video Quality: 4.5/5

Audio Quality: 4/5
Though the main vocals in the 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio mix tend to dominate the center channel, instrument placement and supporting vocals get spread through the rest of the speaker array, providing a dynamic and enveloping experience. The track also features pleasing high frequency detail, exhibited by the higher pitched singing voices and occasional orchestral arrangements, as well as a solid depth and fullness in the lower frequencies.

Special Features: 0/5

Here's a conundrum: When the feature is really an extra, what kind of extras can it have? The Blu-ray producers apparently didn't know how to answer the question either, as none are included.

Recap

The Feature: 2.5/5
Video Quality: 4.5/5
Audio Quality: 4.5/5
Special Features: 0/5
Overall Score (not an average): 2.5/5

Watching a highlight reel of "Glee's" first season of musical numbers is admittedly an entertaining experience, but the fact the same can be had, and more thoroughly, through the first season release, makes "Glee Encore" unnecessary. Equivalent audio and video quality between the two releases and the lack of any additional extras only make that more obvious.