Glee Encore takes the show back to its roots, but not in the way you might expect. Actually, considering how things have been going with the series, it is probably exactly what fans might expect. The entire 77-minute Blu-ray removes any pretense of story, instead collecting 34 of Season One's musical performances and offering them in a back-to-back format.
Though an interesting idea, it doesn't make complete sense considering the same concept was available as an extra in the Season One release. Even more puzzling, the available songs aren't the best ones, so it isn't exactly a "Best of..." release. Not to say Glee Encore scrapes the bottom of the barrel; you get the show-defining rendition of "Don't Stop Believing" and Jane Lynch's remake of Madonna's "Vogue." At the same time, bigger numbers, like "Dream On" are missing.
Worse still, each song is straight from the show. Rather than including an extended version of the performance, you're left with what sometimes amounts to a minute or two of a song before you're dropped into the next one. It's jarring and, really, not that much fun unless you're just around for the music. But, even then, Glee Encore is still a questionable purchase since, again, you can get the same - if not a better - experience as an extra on the season release. Even the upgrade in visual and audio quality doesn't do much to sweeten the deal.
The only real benefit I can see to purchasing Glee Encore is for parents with younger kids. The musical numbers are a blast, but the content between isn't always suitable for younger audiences. To that point, Glee Encore fits the bill nicely. Otherwise, you're better off picking up the Season One Blu-ray.
