"Glee - Journey" S1, E22

Gleek Out!

As season two of Glee premieres tomorrow we thought we would recap the finale of season one.

First line of the show is a wonderful quip by Sue. She will be judging regional’s (oh no).  I love the interaction between Will and Sue – one of the show’s hearts is their relationship.  She always has the funniest things to say about his hair and this is another classic one. "I have to be honest I'm having a really difficult time hearing anything you've said today because your hair looks like a briar patch. I keep expecting racist animated Disney characters to pop up and start singing songs about living on the bayou." Will throws a fit with Principle Figgins and gets nothing. Flip to a scene of hot ass Puck and Quinn making out. (so jealous and the Mohawk returns for a flashback cameo), then flip to her pregnant. Will and the gang are gathered together to come up with a new set list and it seems everyone’s in the doldrums. Poor Asian girl (terrible crier) wah wah's about being special.  Big eyed red aka the counselor gives Will a pep talk.  She then tells him she's seeing someone, (bitch) her dentist... really? (kick him while he's down why don't you – rumor that the dentist next season is going to be played by John Stamos – how about that for some competition Will?) Will tunes to Journey while driving in his car and has to pull over to break down and cry. Finn finds Rachael at school and yells at her to step it up as the leader. It's a sense of rallying and it's awesome! Will gives the club a pep talk.  It's decided they're doing a journey medley (YES!) "regionals here we come" Introducing  the judges: Josh Groben, OLIVIA NEWTON JOHN!!!! some other guy who might be Sue’s former lover? and Sue.  (I love hating her and I love the “C” she flashes the crowd as she is introduced with her hand, because that’s the way Sue C’s It.) Finn tells Rachael he loves her right before they start... Faithfully is the first song. Rachael and Finn’s duet starts from the back and they walk through the audience. They run on stage as the curtain goes up and the gang is behind them to begin the chorus. (chill bumps) A peppy rendition of anyway you want it begins (I want to make out with Puck). The crowd is very into it, lots of cheering. When they begin Don't Stop Believing, the crowd is on their feet and dancing. (Mercedes does not get enough time to show off but she never does, sigh.) They basically knock it out of the park! Quinn’s mom shows up after the show back stage and she drops a huge bombshell, that her dad was having an affair with a tattooed freak (Jesse James?) and that she's left him.  The mom asks “Quinney” to come home and she'll turn the guest room into a nursery.  Quinn has a shocked look on her face, so the mom asks her to say something and she replies "my water just broke" (Awesome way to hit us with that news.) We come back from commercial to Vocal Adrenalin singing Bohemian Rhapsody. (Jesse, you're a douche) It flips back and forth from the gang running through the hospital and regional’s as the notorious Rhapsody builds to its big finish, Quinn pops out a big finish on her own. Really sweet moment where Quinn pulls Mercedes with here. Pan back to regional’s with some really awesome choreography.  Some really well timed phrases with Quinn yelling it while they're singing, excellent cutting here. We see Rachel watching from the back of the auditorium with a look like she wants to kill Jesse as they wrap up one of the greatest songs of all time. Quinn holds her baby with everybody all smiley around her. Rachael asks her mother to come co-direct the New Directions, more of a ploy to spend time with her mother than anything else. Mother fails to see this and completely rejects her. Blah blahs about dreams and balance and family.  (Yes, I'm still very bitter at "mommy-dearest". Why even give Rachael a glimmer of hope at getting to know her mother if just to rip it from her hands. To me she's saying "I want to know you, but actually, it's all too much so here's a face plant in the mud")   Cue to Sue and the judges.  Sue quips "Newton-John, you're dead to me" then begins snapping at everyone else. Adorable Josh Groban, asks Sue if she's single (I love that they've made here such a sex kitten and I love the Newton-John rivalry)

Groban says that enjoys the heart of New Directions and O.N.J. take it upon herself to completely shred them, even going as far as to ask, "Are they a poor person school?" (ONJ is bitching her image up though) We see a much softer side of Sue as she stands up for the "rag-tag misfits". Apparently, a huge mistake because everyone turns on her and knocks her down a peg or five. (I actually started to feel sorry for Sue for about 4 seconds and then happily realized she brings it all upon herself.  If she'd kept her big nose out of it, she wouldn't be there in the first place to be verbally slapped up one side and down the other.)

Cue to the stage where all the teams are standing together hoping to be crowned. Don't forget that if New Directions doesn't win, their program will be cut, reducing Glee members back to "loser" status. Sue, still bitter at being shut down in the judging room is exceptionally rude as she announces the winners.  The runners up are not at all stupidly named Oral Intensity, and the winners are Vocal Adrenaline.  New Directions are handed a tiny trophy and their heart broken faces and sad music almost bring a tear to my eye. Almost. 

Quinn and Puck are discussing the options of keeping the new baby girl and they both agree they don't want to keep her.  It's a bit of a sappy moment.  "mommy-dearest" waltzs up and asks quinn which one is hers and when she asks the name, only puck has a response, "Beth". (Kiss Song they performed last episode)

We see big-eyed Red screaming at the principle and Will walks down the stairs to see her storming out of the office.  This is one of the only times we see a much less demure side of Big Red as she gruffs about some things being worth fighting for. They banter back and forth loudly and as she walks away Will grabs and proclaims his love for her.  He then plants a big smooch on her and he's interrupted by Rachael requesting his presence in the auditorium.  The kids are all sappy and unveiling their secrets.  (are they trying to make us cry? P.S. no one can cry and sing at the same time, I'm just saying) Sappy song choice, a little unimpressive for the season finale. I find my finger itching to fast forward, there's really nothing to write about... Oh wait... WAIT... Sue in the back of the auditorium with tear filled eyes? Can it be? Is it so? 

Will is sadly packing up the Glee room as Sue strolls in.  (This scene is probably the best writing of the season.)  Sue, "It's as barren as me in here will, movin on to greener pastures?" Will, "did you just come to gloat Sue?" Sue, "Mostly" Will, “Congratulations, you got what you wanted.  I should shake your hand." Sue, "Not unless you've got some hand sanitizer. I've seen that car you drive, I don't want to catch poor." Awesome! We see that Sue in fact voted for New Directions to win and was thwarted by the other judges. Who knew she had a heart?!!?  She then regales us with amazing attacks on Will, the kids and yes, his hair of course. We find that Sue has gone to Figgins to get another year for Glee.  WOOHOO!!  As they're shaking hands Will tells her how good of a person she is and her comment is "I'm seriously going to puke in your mouth." (I almost dropped my laptop from laughter fits.)

The kids are gathered together all somber and Shuester drops the awesome news that they have another year. Yay, it's a celebration.  Will wants to return the favor of the serenade so Puck accompanies him for a beautiful rendition of Over the Rainbow. (Yes, I'm biased to Puck and anything he does is regarded as wonderful) Lots of sappy looks and smiles between the kids - cut to a nurse telling "mommy-dearest" the adoption papers are all in order. Looks like she is holding Beth, Quinn and Puck’s daughter and then (bleh) back to the classroom for more silly sappyness. 

And that kiddos, is the end of Season 1. Will you be tuning in tomorrow for the premiere of Season Two? Are Will and Emma (Big Eyed Red) back together? How are they going to fit all these episodes devoted to specific artists? Looking forward to Sue’s continued reign of terror?

I'm out pimps.

B-