Spring Awakening/YMMV

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.


  • Alternative Character Interpretation:
    • Despite her actions ultimately leading to Wendla's unplanned pregnancy and death from a botched abortion, it's a lot harder to not feel sorry for Wendla's mother once you keep in mind that she herself is a woman in the 19th century, and women then were regarded as more or less naive children their whole lives. Her unhelpful non-answers to Wendla's questions about where babies come from are probably exactly what she herself was told at Wendla's age, and all she felt allowed to tell Wendla.
    • In the original play, Melchior actually does rape Wendla, and in the early workshop versions of "I Believe", we actually heard Wendla scream at the end. However, in the finished version, it is a lot less controversial as Wendla actually somewhat complies. And doesn't scream.
    • Some have regarded Melchior as everything from a Well-Intentioned Extremist to a Jerkass to a Complete Monster throughout the show. Yes the community's tight lipped policy about growing up is handled badly, but his own attempt at bringing his peer's liberation only managed to kill his best friend, the woman he had the hots for and his unborn child. Really, Melchior is as much an extremest as the town's Moral Guardians, if not more so in that his actions are often violent are forceful in nature.
  • Awesome Music: Now has its own page.
  • Broken Base:
    • When Glee began, there were those who watched simply to see Lea Michelle (Wendla) and instantly loved the show. However, there were those who detested the show for exposing the girl, or perhaps feelings that she had "sold out".
    • A lot of people prefer Steffi D, others prefer Lauren Pritchard. Both had very different interpretations of the character.
  • Draco in Leather Pants: Hanschen. Handsome, blond, suave, and espousing a rather appealing personal philosophy. It was inevitable.
  • Ear Worm:
  • Everybody Remembers the Stripper:
    • The musical tends to get overhyped for featuring "real on-stage frontal nudity!" As if there'd be an entire song and dance number with everyone completely naked. But all we see is one guy pulls his pants down and we can see the side of his ass, and the girl unbuttons the top of her dress. Plus they're in the missionary position so we can't really get a good look at any naughty bits anyways, so it's sort of ridiculous.
    • From the Hate Dumb side of things: this is the musical where they say "bitch" and "fuck", right? After all, no other musical features those words, right?
  • Fan Dumb: There was/is a war in the fandom over whether or not Lea Michelle is really a "bitch", with fans left either sorely disappointed or ecstatic when meeting her at stage door.
  • Funny Moments: Now has its own page.
  • Heartwarming Moments: Now has its own page.
  • Internet Backdraft: WHATEVER YOU DO, do not wander onto a forum/site/comments and start debate on whether Melchior actually raped Wendla in this version, or if she was only hesitant due to the taboo surrounding sexual relations at the time. Most of the die-hard fans (or Guilty Ones) will not take any of it, and you may be picking your eyebrows up off the floor.
  • Memetic Mutation: SKIM OFF THE CREAM!
  • Moment of Awesome: Now has its own page.
  • Narm Charm: Hanschen, definitely. Well, he is a comic-relief character after all!
  • Tear Jerker: Now has its own page.
  • Wangst