Honestly, I missed this episode of GLEE as I was at a high school soccer match, and am beginning to think the athletics program at Smyrna High didn't take the GLEE schedule into consideration when making the soccer schedule. Once again, I thought I'd continue to do my coverage of the show, in my own special way. I use the original artists when possible of the songs from the show, but in relationship to the GLEE storyline. Hope you enjoy.
Well, once we dispense with the recap, we find out that Brittany wants to help Kurt in his bid to become senior class president, for she sees him as a unicorn.That is, no matter what he has gone through, Kurt has never forgotten how special he is. She'd like to help him win, since she doesn't think she is smart enough to hold office. We also learn that since Vocal Adrenaline has fired their coach, and I am sad no more Cheyenne Jackson! Mr. Schuester wants to focus on the Glee Squad winning this year, so he puts Coach Beiste and Miss Pillsbury in charge of the school musical, West Side Story. Rachel is not happy. Mr. Schue offers Artie the chance to co-direct the musical with the teachers. And he has Mike instruct Finn, Mercedes, Kurt, and Blaine on their dancing skills, in hopes of winning Nationals.
Shelby Corcoran, aka Rachel's birth mother and adoptive parent of Quinn and Puck's baby (Beth), comes to McKinley High to head up a second Glee club, featuring the talentless Sugar Motta. The club is funded by Sugar's wealthy and indulgent father. Shelby realizes she needs to reach out to the kids. Meanwhile, Quinn and Skanks are busting kids for their lunch money, and Sue steps in to make Quinn an offer. If Quinn agrees to be part of a campaign video as the girl who lost everything because of "The Arts," Sue will make her popular once again. Quinn agrees.
Brittany is at Kurt's house, showing him her ideas, including a swag bag she plans to call "Kurt's Bulging Pink Fun Sack." Including in the sack are ruby red heels, a teletubby, rainbow flags and a unicorn, among other things. Kurt tries to be nice, but he is worried what Brittany has done is just too, well, gay. Brittany is a bit hurt, but tries to listen. He wants something more understated, less, well, gay. More Judy Garland glamor....
Quinn and Puck see Shelby, and Corcoran offers Quinn the chance to be a part of Beth's life, provided she cleans up her life. Quinn has her say, and leaves. Puck looks at the camera, and my heart melts. Dance camp begins, and we find out Blaine is auditioning for West Side Story, and Kurt suddenly realizes that Blaine would be perfect for Tony, but Blaine reads the situation, and will audition for Bernardo, or Officer Krupke. After all, he is just a junior, and the lead should go to a senior, right? This can not end well.
As Rachel rehearses for the auditions, Shelby stops in. There is great discomfort, and she tells her to audition with Somewhere.
Rachel starts to sing, and soon Shelby is singing at her side. Cut to the auditions, and she receives a standing "O" from the directors. Sue is shooting her scripted documentary about Quinn, and has her go in to Mr. Schue's office to blame the arts and the glee club for her problems. For once, Mr. Schue has a backbone, and tells Quinn to quit playing the victim, and blaming the people who stood by her time and time again.
Puck stops by Shelby's apartment, eager to prove to her he is doing whatever he can to be able to see Beth. When he does, it is a beautiful moment. It is Kurt's time to audition, and he performs I'm The Greatest Star from Funny Girl.
Of course, he had Rachel's permission to perform Barbra. He sings and swings his way around a scaffolding that was build specifically for this audition. And he gets a huge ovation from all there. Puck stops in the see Quinn, and tells her she needs to get her act together. He saw their baby, and she is beautiful, and looks like the old Quinn.
Kurt overhears Artie, Miss Pillsbury and Coach Beiste talking about casting, and how he might be "too delicate" for the role of Tony. He goes to find Rachel for help, and finds Brittany and Santana hanging pink posters of Kurt riding a unicorn. He melts down a bit, shouting for them to come down as he pulls Rachel in for the emergency audition meeting. Brittany fears she has failed her unicorn, but Santana tells her it is a great campaign, and Kurt doesn't deserve the campaign or Brittany as a manager.
Rachel and Kurt take the stage to show his ability to play 'straight', as they do a scene form Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. everyone is laughing at him, and he leaves the stage at a run. Quinn goes to see Shelby, who is finishing up a lesson with the delusional Sugar. Shelby shows her a picture of Beth with Puck, and Quinn starts to cry. Shelby tells her she needs to figure out who she is, and stop blaming herself for what she did as a child.
We get to see Finn at work in the garage, and Rachel is visiting. She is talking about being nervous about casting, and he assures her she will get the role. He talks about staying in Ohio, and working as a mechanic, and she tells him if it makes him happy, sure. But she thinks he is better than that, destined for greatness. Kurt is there as well, and we get our first Burt Hummel sighting. Kurt is complaining that he is too gay, and will never get cast as the romantic lead he wants to play. Burt tells him to get over it, he is gay, and if the roles aren't there, he needs to write them. Like Quinn, he is basically told to stop playing the victim.
Dance camp is back, and Finn is struggling with the moves. He gets a pep talk from Mr. Schue, and miracle of miracles, he does the dance. As the cheers from everyone die down, we see Quinn standing there, looking all blond and sweet. She wants back into Glee, and everyone is more than happy to welcome her. Puck tells her how proud he is, only to be cut off, and told she wants full custody of Beth, and if pretending to be her old self is what it takes...
In the teacher's lounge, Sue comes up on Miss Pillsbury, Coach Beiste, and Mr. Schue, and tells how she is making her hatred of the arts of brand, and she is selling it big time. She is leading the field of candidates, and the teachers want to figure out what to do to stop her. Kurt is in the hallways, hanging up his new posters, much like the ones Brittany suggested in the beginning. He see her, and apologizes. She is thrilled, but tells her she is running as well. Blaine has his turn to audition, and sings Something's Coming.
He is, of course, brilliant. Kurt looks down from the balcony, smiling proudly at the talent of his boyfriend. The directors applaud and Coach Beiste even wipes a tear from her eye. Then Artie notices he is auditioning for Bernardo. He ask him if he would audition for the role of Tony. Blaine stumbles for an answer. The color drains from Kurt's face, and he leaves the theater.
End show. I enjoyed this episode. There were fewer songs, and we got a whole lot of story going on. I like that. At times, this show can get lost in the music, and forget to tell the story of the kids. In this episode, no one was doing it better than Quinn, Puck, and Kurt. Well done!
What will Blaine do? How will Kurt handle it? Will Brittany be the next class president? Will Quinn do anything to get her daughter back? Guess we'll have to tune in to see.
