The second season of breakout hit Glee bursts out of the gate, building on the show's strengths and responding to criticisms--sometimes responding within the show itself! The high-school glee club New Directions sings a greater variety of songs; even more sardonic quips slide by so quickly much of the audience won't catch them; and various episodes take more time exploring the characters viewers have grown to love. Kurt Hummel (Chris Colfer), the only openly gay student in William McKinley High School, is the center of several powerful story lines, including Kurt's father having a heart attack (which leads to one of the most complex discussions of religion ever seen on network television--that episode alone is essential viewing) and going to an all-boy's academy, where Kurt meets another out gay student, Blaine (Darren Criss). The season's first 10 episodes (which are all that are included on Glee: Season 2, Volume 1) only hint at romance between these two, but other relationships form, including dim bulb Brittany (Heather Morris) and wheelchair-bound Artie (Kevin McHale) and a love triangle with teacher Will (Matthew Morrison), school counselor Emma (Jayma Mays), and a hunky dentist (John Stamos, Full House) whose nitrous oxide inspires Britney Spears fantasies in just about everyone.

There are some awkward turns along the way--tyrannical cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester (the peerless Jane Lynch) becomes principal, then marries herself, then acts out a flat retelling of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. It's understandable that the show's writers want to explore this fantastic character, but Sue is at her best when used sparingly. Lynch carries Sue through these implausible turns with sheer force of will, but let's hope Sue's future story lines stay a little more rooted in sense. All in all, Season 2, Volume 1 is uneven, but the high points are so good that when things go askew it can be forgiven as restless experimentation. Besides, though many of the interpretations are unadventurous, every episode features a handful of stunning vocal performances--and when they do take chances, such as with Kurt's yearning take on "I Want to Hold Your Hand" or Mercedes's rousing gospel rendition of "Bridge over Troubled Water," the results are delirious. --Bret Fetzer