For me, the sure sign of a really good episode of Glee is when I catch myself bopping around in my car jamming to the songs on my way to work the next morning. This morning I was not only jamming but I was full on gleeking out. I wanted to get out of my car at one of the longer red lights I have to sit through and dance as well but I just turned 40 last weekend and well, I no longer have any rhythm whatsoever. Last night’s episode was amazing. I loved every second of it completely.
Regionals are upon us again and they wasted no time getting down to the music. The show opened with Blaine (Darren Criss) and the Warblers rehearsing Maroon 5’s “Misery” for regionals but not everyone was feeling it. Kurt (Chris Colfer) finally asked why Blaine sings so many damn solos and this was obviously the first time anyone had ever thought about it. I have to wonder about the other Warblers. They all roll over to allow Kurt to step up without even a whimper despite previous episodes where they were foaming at the mouth for a chance at a solo. What is in the Kool-Aid over at Dalton Academy? Anyway, this sets the stage for a Kurt/Blaine solo that serves as a romantic wake up call for the eternally clueless head Warbler and a big payoff for Kurt. Chris Colfer looks so young I have to remind myself that he isn’t actually sixteen sometimes.
Rachel (Lea Michele) served up another Kids Incorporated ballad straight from the pages of “The Babysitters Club Super Special #45″ entitled “Only Child”. Finn was quick to point out that while it was better than “My Headband” she is only dealing with the easy pain. I wonder what a song about Finn’s pain would reveal? Something to think about.
Quinn (Dianna Agron) finally owned up to her real motives behind her pursuit of Finn. Like any sensible girl she wants to be prom queen again and be back on top of the teen pecking order. After all prom queens live five years longer than normal people because they smile more and get to wear crowns. Oh Quinn, poor simple Quinn.
As New Directions flexes their songwriting chops we get a couple amusing misfires like Santana’s (Naya Rivera) tribute to Sam (Chord Overstreet) called “Trouty Mouth” which contained more than one reference to sucking and Puck’s (Mark Salling) ode to Lauren (Ashley Fink) and her larger than life personality “Big Ass Heart”. The true gem here was “Hell to the No”, a sassy diva track by Mercedes who ran away with it. Well done Miss Amber Riley.
One of the highlights of the regionals buildup was a scene between Quinn and Rachel where Quinn lays it all on the line about Finn (Cory Monteith). She knows how this plays out; she gets Finn and they stay in Ohio to raise kids and live a mediocre life while Rachel goes on to great stardom and fame. You can tell part of her is jealous and is holding onto Finn with all her might because she honestly believes it is all she’ll ever get despite what her dreams might be. She also believes Rachel has the world at her feet and she doesn’t deserve Finn too. You kind of love her and hate her at the same time for this. The news sends Rachel back to her bedroom to pour her heartache out on paper, complete with teardrops falling on to the page. Diana did a great job straddling the emotional line on this one. A tip of the tiara to you Miss Agron.
The big news this week was of course the kiss that caused Twitter to erupt with glee. Blaine FINALLY realized his feels for Kurt and layed a wet one on him. It was so cute to see Kurt completely melting inside when Blaine confessed his love. SO CUTE.
Oh yeah, that regionals thing happened this week as well. No big surprises there. Aural Intensity, coached this year by World War Sue (Jane Lynch) brought a set list designed specifically for the judges, who were a religious Tea Party nut named Tammy Jean Albertson (Kathy Griffin), a nun (Loretta Divine) and local newsman Rod Remington. They performed “Jesus Is My Friend” by Sonseed and ended in a Star of David formation that had New Directions giggling. Dalton’s Warblers knocked it up a notch with Kurt and Blaine’s romantic solo “Candles” by Hey Monday followed by Pink’s “Raise Your Glass” that had me wanting to dance around the living room. Seriously, I replayed this song three times on the way to work. The Warblers slam slam oh hot DAMN KILLED on this one…KILLED. I can’t say it enough. KILLED.
New Directions won of course after two top notch performances. The first was Rachel’s tear stained solo “Get it Right” which was just the sort of song that Lea Michele shines on, and then an upbeat in-your-face pop number called “Loser Like Me” that ended with a neat nod to the whole slushie phenomenon. Sue doesn’t take the loss well though and punches the drunk Lieutenant Governors wife in the face after she announces the winner. Seriously, why hasn’t this woman been arrested yet?
I can’t wrap up without mentioning the guest stars, Kathy Griffin and Loretta Divine. The judge’s deliberation scene was pretty darn funny, but Kathy’s hair weave was terrible. Loretta Divine’s Sister Mary Constance got most of the good quips, like “I didn’t like being pandered to when I was a stripper” and I enjoyed Kathy’s “when I lost my first election I didn’t sing about being a loser, I just tweeted that President Obama was a terrorist.” HA! I’m sure someone’s panties got into a twist somewhere in the mid-west over that one. My favorite quote came from Mr. Remington though.
“May I add a dash of Rod to this lady soup?”
The hour ended with the presentation of the first ever MVP award for New Directions, which was unanimously given to Rachel who seems to have turned a corner with her character this season. The whole Rachel/Finn thing bores me a little but I am interested to see what their dynamic will be as season two winds down.
Glee returns in a month with “Night of Neglect” and the return of Gwyneth Paltrow.
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- REVIEW: Glee “Prom Queen”
