This was by no means the best episode of the series or even the season. I’m just going to dive right in. This cast is just way too freaking big. Shows like Grey’s Anatomy only thrive with an enormous ensemble because their writers are extremely talented, and Glee just isn’t pulling it off. Yes, I’m angry that this episode had no Sam Evans (and what about all the Tina we were promised?), nor will many episodes featuring graduates, but more so after reading that Blake Jenner’s character, who will be introduced next week, will suffer from dyslexia. Ryan Murphy even went as far as to pat himself on the back for creating a character that nobody has though of before, and clearly forgot that Sam admitted to having dyslexia in the Season 2 premiere. Keeping that continuity with his character wouldn’t explain why he acts so dumb because people with learning disabilities are not stupid (neither is every person with blonde hair), but it would factor into why ‘tests are really hard’ for him. Maybe they’ll bring it back and he and Ryder will have something in common, but it’s still an incredibly shallow back story when others’ are so rich. I don’t want to discount any learning disability, but it also feels incredibly underwhelming in comparison to a teen living with Asperger’s syndrome (Charlie Lubeck, The Glee Project 2), though Parenthood is currently doing the same thing.
I will commend the show on introducing a character as bi-racial instead of just sweeping it under the rug, though I won’t be surprised if that’s the last we hear of it. It doesn’t nearly begin to make up for the fact that Kitty is basically a mini-Quinn, and Marley is as desperate as Season 1 Rachel. When she asks Jake, ‘Do you wanna to go through sheet music,’ she might as well be asking, ‘Do you wanna be my boyfriend now?’ This might be the only reason I’m excited for Blake Jenner’s character to enter.
Of the New York-Lima relationships, I totally side with the Lima losers. It’s not that they’re entirely in the right, with Finn’s silence and Blaine’s infidelity, but Kurt and Rachel have so much going for them that it’s hard to believe that they’ll spend a ton of time getting over their break-ups. I guess we could say the same thing about Finn, now that he’s directing the musical. Did I totally call that last week, or what? I really wish they didn’t totally skip over his conversation with Mr. Schuester, but whatever. I might have felt even more sorry for Finn after Rachel yells at him, then builds him up again and kisses him goodbye. Just leave already! Don’t even get me started on her whore makeover. I get that you’re on television, so you can’t ever be completely bare-faced, but who goes to bed wearing that much makeup? Tramp.
Though the Left Behind Club was an odd parallel to their story, I think Brittany and Santana ended things gracefully, and their break up was actually the only scene that made me cry in this episode. However, it’s completely unrealistic that all three couples would break up at the same time. In addition, Will and Emma shouldn’t have been part of ‘The Scientist’ because they haven’t actually decided whether or not they’ll split. When they showed up in the final number, I was super confused because there was no resolution whatsoever to their story line. In the words of Sue Sylvester: “Sloppy, freak show babies.”
The musical performances were fine, but the song choices just threw me off this week. Just because ‘Barely Breathing’ plays on mix radio stations once a day doesn’t make it a classic. I liked the original ‘Give Your Heart a Break’ more than the show’s version, and I think they could have picked any song to highlight Finn’s disappointment that he’s no longer Rachel’s duet partner. I don’t know what to say about ‘Teenage Dream.’ With the exception of the Season 3 finale, I don’t really like when the show repeats songs, but it showcased Darren Criss’ acting skills wonderfully. It was incredibly painful to watch, which is good writing and acting, but it was also like listening to a cat drowning. I liked the choice of ‘Don’t Speak’ for the New York quartet, but it’s another one of those songs that I don’t get too excited to hear on the radio. Santana’s rendition of ‘Mine’ is what got me crying in that scene, and was definitely better than the original because I just can’t stand Taylor Swift, but then I’m reminded that Santana is singing a Taylor Swift song and that’s just weird. I also liked ‘The Scientist’ as the final song, but I think it should have been sung by only Finn, Blaine, and Santana. The flashbacks were a nice touch though.
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I loved the acoustic version of Teenage drean.It was so raw and painful,so real.Darren Criss is amazing.
This was a great episode,but it did leave me heartbroken.I hope it's not all this sad in this season though.
I actually think they made a special effort to put some comedic scenes with the Lima storylines but it was just crazy.
This episode was all over the place, I'm actually hoping they get rid of the graduates sooner than later...
And thank you for talking abour Will and Emma, I was so happy that Emma wants to stay, that's the best I've seen of her character. But yeah showing them at the end is weird if they just had a fight, Will keeps annoying me to no end.
Ha, I spend every episode hoping somehow everyone will end up in New York so they can get rid of the new people.
And I agree about Emma, I liked her for the first time since the first season.
This episode felt so contrived to make people cry and a lot of it didn't make sense like the Left Behind Club and everything with Mini Quinn. I mean, I have a hard time learning characters names, but should I even bother? They aren't even trying to make Little Quinn, Puck or Rachel anything but copies.
As someone who can't stand Finn, I did love when Rachel yelled at him. What does he expect after breaking up with her, deciding she should go to NY and then not even trying to contact her. Twice. I'm all for her and Brody. He is so conventionally attractive that it hurts to look at him, he has beautiful arms and he genuinely seems to like her.
On one hand I agree about Brittany and Santana's breakup. I loved how mature Santana and Brittany were about ending their relationship. On the other hand, Blaine cheated, Finchel had a shitton of drama and Brittana broke up because Santana smiled at another girl? It's just hard to tell if this was well thought out or if Brittana were overlooked for the other couples. This is the same relationship where Santana worried about coming out for ages and then we got a two second no worries, her parents are just fine with it. Plus, Santana said she wanted to come home every few weeks to do laundry and they seemed to actually be talking out their issues, so while long distance relationships are hard, it seemed like they would be solid enough to make it work. And I get what Santana was trying to convey with that song, but it's still a weird thing to sing right before a breakup. Or an unofficial break up, whatever. It just seems like they broke up to add a bit more drama to the episode, and because Sam and Brittany can happen now.
Jesus, I wasn't intending to write so much. Anyway, this was my least favorite episode of the season so far. It was way over dramatic, but Brittana did manage to make me sob. I'm glad the Grease episode looks lighthearted so I can just overlook whatever doesn't make sense and enjoy the show when it comes back.
I'm totally Team Finn, so agree to disagree :)
I like the point you make about the way each couple ended. I think if anyone were to stay together, it would be Brittana. Having a long distance relationship is hard when you feel like you can't have a life at school (on Santana's end), but they had a good system in place and everything. It was totally forced to make way for Bram, which sooo needs to stay a friendship, but it won't because Ryan Murphy is an idiot. Don't worry about your long comments, I just love comments period :)
I loved this episode so much! It wasn't the best episode ever, but taking into account the previous 3 episodes were barely interesting for me, I give this episode an A-. Artie's reaction to seeing Finn, was exactly how I felt when I saw Finn & Santana, and all the scenes were all s1-3 Glee members together. I just don't like the newbies, sorry....and I just loved that scene where Marley and Jake had no idea who Finn was, or why everybody was so excited. Yeah, guys, you will never be that awesome...
While the break-ups were really heartbreaking, I loved the songs and the scenes they shot for that. " Don't Speak" was soooo good!!!!!!!!!! You last week when I saw the promo I wanted to kill Ryan Murphy for breaking up my fav couples, but they actually did in such a way that really, they had to break up. Although I am still on the fence about Emma and Will because, that was just too sudden. And I didn't really get what that as all about - I guess what puzzles me is Emma's response "Did you just expect me to pack up my life and leave?". Because, um, well, that counter question: "When you encouraged Will to go ahead and apply for that position, what did you expect to happen? That there would not be any changes in your life?"
I love Finchel so much, I hated reading so many comments from people saying Finn is an arrogant prick who would make Rachel feel terrible....Finchel's break up was sad but not as terrible as I imagined it would be. And thank God it wasn't about the shower dude.... Both were right and knew they had to end things. Finn said from the beginning he has no idea what to do with his life and Rachel wants to pursue her dreams in NY. As sad as it was, those two still love each other....so there haters.
But Klaine's break-up was just very badly written, because I don't believe for a second that Blaine who knows what it is like to be cheated on after Kurt's texting last season, would just go and be with someone whom we have never even met... Like, come on, Kurt may have been very distant in both senses but Kurt did not deserve that.
I have to agree with @QMargo:disqus, this to me was the best episode of the season thus far. I just finished watching the last two episodes, and so I felt like the Blaine cheating thing was building up to that nicely enough (or as nicely as Glee can do it, 2 episodes is about as long of an arc they can do…). The fact of the matter is that long distance relationships *are* really hard, and it's evident that no one is getting what they need out of the relationships, so it's time to move on. Brittany/Santana did seem like they were making things work, but I felt like it just made sense — they have attractions to other people, and it makes no sense to drag out something just *because* in this moment of their lives, being so young. I don't know, that just all made sense to me. Call me crazy, which I've been feeling because I've actually sort of liked this season after quitting the show a year ago.
And I continue to reiterate: everything at McKinley sucks. I don't know why they went this route (except it showed how well Blaine was unsatisfied). Just stick to New York, that's really all that works to be honest. (I also like the SJP character.)
I must say Teenage Dream made me kind of cringe... Blaine/Darren looked borderline stalkerish and creeped out a little when he started crying.
I agree that the song choice was kind of "meh".
Also, I can't bring myself to care about the new girl and guy (yup, can't recall their names), and the weirdo girl and her club and the prank... it all just felt so forced! The rest was fine, except that Will and Emma confused me... what was she expecting?
Although I enjoyed it overall, many parts felt... contrived.
didn\'t enjoy this episode. i just can\'t imagine what can happen now. Its like : they aren\'t in the high school but they still being in the serie. that\'s weird. and i didn\'t like when blainr and kurt relationship went apart. i loved blurt. So i think this is the worst epsode in the serie ever. THS SEASON SUKS!!