Glee Recap: Michael
Whoever thought of squishing way too many Michael Jackson songs in one hour and consider that a tribute? Apparently the Glee producers need a ratings boost as much as possible.
Last time on Glee: In a time of love and relationships, Will believed that to woo a mature woman was to have his glee club create an epic swimming routine where Artie chucked his paralyzed body into the water. Finn made unnecessarily quick thoughts about marriage with Rachel. We also learned that Becky could think in a British accent, because she can. Why not, right?
Santana was still sour about losing with her Trouble Tones to New Directions' Michael Jackson medley. Mercedes wanted to do Michael Jackson tribute and even before the group could talk to Mr. Schue about everything Blaine automatically started with "Wanna Be Starting Something" where the biggest question pointed out to why the hallways looked so skinny. We returned to the often disturbed library with Quinn, Rachel, and Tina studying. They immediately weren't studying after Blaine was singing past them. Blaine had the Michael Jackson neck motion perfectly. We had the montage of the club dancing in front of the lights and I got to say, Kurt's shaking impressed me the most. We'll learn in the rest of the episode why Blaine had to be shoehorned right in the beginning of the episode.
Finn finally confronted Rachel about the proposal; Rachel tried to diffuse the question by telling him that everything went to fast. Finn thought that being a couple would be harder in New York and being together would be even harder, it seems odd thinking that Rachel would hang around a whole ton of straight men in New York. She called him crazy and tried to reassure him. The two agreed that Rachel should have more time to think even more.
We watched an odd mix of Rachel, Artie, Kurt, Blaine, and Santana hanging out together at the Lima Bean. While I believe that time brought the team together, it's just odd seeing the five of them interacting. I can't even think of a positive moment between Santana and Artie where Santana wasn't making any references to Brittany. While Artie and Kurt clearly had some influences from Michael Jackson but oddly Rachel has no connection. Seriously? Rachel can't even relate to Michael Jackson's connection with The Wiz? Sebastian popped up and announced that he changed the Warblers set list after Blaine mumbled it to him. Wait, how did Sebastian take control when the group was run by not only seniors but by a group consensus? Even when Blaine was put in front, it was because the panel voting him in front. While Santana tried to start a fight, Sebastian played up the fact that he had a lot of money as was the son of a state attorney. Blaine pointed out to the fact that Sue stole a full set list before. It's not like New Directions formed any song list. In one of the only lines that Puck had, Puck called Blaine Eggs Benedict. Hey, at least he was in this episode. Tina and Rory basically had no lines and Sugar wasn't even in this episode. Finn pointed out that they could still win; maybe he'd emerge with yet another song about triumphing over diversity. Schue announced that this week's "lesson" was WWMJD. I totally misread that as What Would Mega Jesus Do? Finn wanted to fight for Michael Jackson. Blaine suggested taking the situation from the streets.
Blaine & Santana took lead as Sebastian and his Warblers arrived to have a "Bad"-off. You know how we had Britney moments that were re-imagined in fantasy or GaGa moments that were inspired by GaGa but not done exactly the same? Apparently, if you're Michael Jackson, we're only allowed to do cheap knock-off versions. Without the Beelzebubs the percussion felt weak, but luckily we had the stronger vocals of the New Directions to make up for it. Some of the camera angles were just odd. I got to say New Directions' dancing in several sections were awful, in minor shots you could see Rachel messing up. There must have been so much choreography that everyone was left confused. The Warblers went for the dreaded Slushie and of course it got Blaine in the eye. The eye!
A saddened Kurt explained that Blaine's cornea was deeply scratched and would have to go to surgery, thus explaining why all the songs performed by Blaine were so early into the episode. Finn was convinced that there was something in the cup. Kurt called Sebastian evil and such. Shue said that the legal departments would deal with Sebastian. Of course, a second "sing-off" could have sufficed. Artie finally hit the boiling point; he's in pain because of his broken dreams. This would have been the one episode where I'd like to hear Artie curse. Of course it turned into fantasy "Scream" mode, which was actually quite accurate for a lesser budget; the only performance that was visually stunning. I'm impressed how much Mike and Artie's vocals worked well together. It also showed that Kevin McHale could have been a great asset for dancers, but instead is stuck to his chair.
Rachel talked to Quinn about the whole proposal issue. Quinn didn't think it was the smartest idea. She got accepted into Yale and explained that she wanted to make the most of her time for the rest of the high school era, but not have an anchor keeping her down. She explained to Rachel that her dreams wouldn't work if Finn was around; Rachel should have known what opinions Quinn would have provided (straight and thoughtful). Quinn then sounded like a Women's Day and tried to make the women's movement sound important. Quinn shifted into "Never Can Say Goodbye," which is an odd transition from the whole "Blaine's eye is in trouble" plotline. She had a stunning dress and got to flash through her relationships with Puck, Finn, and Sam. I'll admit she looked the best with Sam. We also got to look into her locker had images from the past two seasons (or years). She performed the end of the sequence in front of the group (sans Sugar) and told the group that she got accepted. Quinn thanked the group for surviving with her through all the drama.
Santana talked to Kurt about getting revenge. Kurt created a list of things that he wanted to do to Sebastian. Santana wanted revenge as well. The biggest problem was that Kurt fought against violence as his platform for elections. Santana thought of her way of taking the high road.
Mercedes got a text to go to the "AUDITORIUM. NOW" which I'm sure that she knew was Sam. She easily was swayed and went to the auditorium or maybe it was the power of capital letters. Sam suggested the two duet to "Human Nature" and before she could walk away, the music started to play and the two started to sing. Mercedes provided some really light vocal runs which was a great difference from belting high notes near the end of the song. The two ended with a bit of a special moment.
Schue was in the middle of his Spanish class. That's right, he still teaches classes. Burt arrived and decided to pull Kurt out for a few minutes, in his hand Burt had Kurt's NYADA letter. After finding the perfect room to open the letter (the choir room), the two opened the letter: he was a finalist. Burt was the most excited father; he was the one who wanted to tell Blaine. He then provided Kurt with a "You Won" speech. He ran to Rachel all excited and Rachel was in tears because she was convinced didn't make the finals. Even if she never got the actual letter. She explained that her life plans started to fall apart. We went to commercial as there was an awkward camera pan upwards.
Kurt and Blaine were at Blaine's (small) bedroom. Finn/Rachel arrived with snacks and movies that had to do with eye patches. Blaine made a toast to Kurt, leaving both Rachel and Kurt feel uncomfortable about life. Blaine was upset about not singing his favorite MJ songs and nervous about his surgery. Rachel prepped her pitch pipe and Kurt started "Ben." Wasn't that song about a mouse? Were they not allowed to say change the word "Ben" to "Blaine"? Hearing Finn/Rachel/Kurt in harmony was great.
Santana arrived, I'm assuming at Dalton, to talk to Sebastian about the whole Blaine/eye incident. While there was a Warbler dissent from Trent (the cute chubbier Warbler), Sebastian dismissed his group so the two could "battle." In a slightly ADHD version of "Smooth Criminal" the two dueled to the passionate cellos. I was actually impressed by the interesting panning and spinning of the camera. Of course Sebastian in his utter bitchy nature slushied Santana and admitted to having rock salt in the Blaine paralyzing slushie.
The gang arrived before Schue arrived at the choir room. Apparently during the "Smooth Criminal"-off Santana had a recorder taped to the unders of her breast. Kurt thought of a different way of getting payback. He wanted to teach them a lesson. He forced the club into the auditorium. Finn hung back to talk to Rachel and decided to sing "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" as a way to win her over especially considering that Rachel doesn't normally listen to Finn. The two sang as the camera panned in circles around them. Finn was giving some really ugly face during the performance. Rachel gave her the "You're the love of my life" speech and she eventually said yes, caving from the assumption that she was rejected from NYADA. Now, would Brad the pianist tweet that out?
The Warblers arrived to talk to New Directions. They were okay with allowing the Warblers choose whatever they want and they wanted to be a "Supportive" show choir. The New Directions wanted the Warblers to point out they actually understood Michael Jackson. Understanding is apparently singing "Black or White." The awkward camera panned up. Magically the "Like a Prayer" choir returned to the performance in their yellow robes. Somehow we had the transition part of the music video, which originally had Tyra Banks. The Warblers were converted, except for Sebastian. Santana and Kurt pointed out to the Warblers how bad Sebastian actually was.
We ended the episode with Rachel's NYADA letter. She's also a finalist. Obviously she didn't tell Finn.
Next Week: Ricky Martin as a Spanish teacher. Sue wants a baby.
Michael Pascua - TVLatest.com
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