Great Expectations

I think my expectations are set too high. That is the only thing that I can think of as to why I have yet to be instantly satisfied by a Glee episode this back nine. Weirdly, some of the performances have been some of my favorites (Hello, Hello Goodbye, Borderline/Open Your Heart, and Like A Prayer) and strong contenders for my list of Top Ten Glee performances of the season. Conversely, I haven’t been this happy on Tuesday Night since Buffy and Angel were on the air in 2003. In rewatching last week’s episode I feel that what was wrong with it was that it wasn’t that good of a season opener but a good episode. We needed a buffer of sorts. I get fast forwarding time on the show but, there were a few things that I as a viewer wanted and needed to see. For example what happened to Quinn? Did Rachel and Finn even get to go on a date? Why is Quinn with Puck now when last time we saw her she said she didn’t need any more drama? I wanted to see a school without Sue for an episode and the fall out her “suspension” would bring. Not to mention a few other things. Focusing on this week’s episode though, I am conflicted and I hate that.

Does it make sense that Sue would love Madonna – absolutely. But this level of devotion came out of nowhere like a Tiger Wood’s mistress. What is the motivation? Was Madonna in town? Did Madonna come on the radio? Playing her music over the P.A. everyday all day during classes? Not going to buy it – even in my musical Glee World. I did love the scene in the gym though with Sue inspiring the Cheerios (Becki is back!).

Again we have Rachel making public declarations in front of an Audience which bothers me. I get that Rachel is all about being in public and has that myspace page but some things are private. Rachel talking about the Birds and the Bees to Tina, Mercedes and even Quinn is believable. Santana and Brittany there? Although HIGHLY funny made me cringe and brought me back to my world. Shue just hanging out there and being ignored was funny too since teens ignore parents/teachers all the time. The cut aways to Tina and Emma were hysterical though. I am surprised and thankful though that Quinn didn’t start off the whole look at me I’m pregnant and you shouldn’t have sex -especially since you automatically lose the baby by putting on a bustier.

Emma and Will working together to make them feel better about themselves was great and a nice way to draw Will and Emma together but what did they do? I want the job of writing those pamphlets. The Ray of light Cheer section was amazing but once again a little too over the top. Why couldn’t they have a real cheer leading routine? Stilt walkers in cheerleading? I say thee nay. They should have trimmed that to make room for more snippets of other songs.

Will’s reason for doing the Madonna numbers worked especially since Glee is usually themed like an episode of American Idol anyway. I even enjoyed that the Guys weren’t so quick to be on board. FINALLY we see that the band has to be given a clue as to what song is about to be sung but I will take it. Sight reading is over-rated. The girls getting into full on performance mode was also appreciated (reminding me of Halo/Walking on Sunshine) but come on Quinn is pregnant and she lost her baby bump during the song. Also, CHANGE the guy’s clothes so that it didn’t look like it was the same day. When I pulled my hamstring I went to a misogynist.

Santana/Brittany/Finn at the lockers was amazing and believable. I loved that Santana calls Finn “Finnocence”. I love that she thinks the answers to her problems will be easily solved if she just takes care of the Finn situation and I loved that Finn flinched over the Rachel is dating Jesse comments. Emma V Sue – perfect.

Rachel lying to Finn and him calling her on it was great - especially when she throws the friend card in his face. I needed a little Quinn jab in there though. Rachel had to pine over him for 13 episodes including fake dates while Finn gets to just “deal”. My main problem with this story is that even though I want Rachel and Finn together I don’t want to see it anymore. I don’t think it is always wise to promote the mindset of the second you lose your man you should find another one because then your man will want you back. It is painful, but, sometimes in life the object of your affection doesn’t like you or if they do there is nothing they can do about it. Worse off, sometimes relationships just don’t work out – even if you are “meant to be”. Sometimes you end up just being friends with your “crushes” and that should be ok.

The mashup of Borderline/Open Your Heart'' is amazing vocally but, I hate that they turned it into a weird musical of them walking around the school flanked by Madonna’s everywhere? I mean sure, I am tired of their circling around each other like Roman Polanski and a minor but was this necessary? The weird break away after their liaison though was funny and I think that is where their relationship should reside. I am conflicted on this as I am sure other viewers are. I just think for now though I don’t want to see Rachel and Finn together even though they are my favorite couple. There may be more value in them just having this undercurrent of sexual tension but that she may be more viable with (and I hate myself for saying this) Puck or Jesse. He should find someone new to love like Julie Taylor (Aimee Teegarden from Friday Night Lights).

Will VS Sue in the hallway was perfection but I don’t think it is enough for Kurt and Mercedes to forget everything that Sue has put them though. I get it is a plot point to bring the two of them against Will and calling him out for never giving them solos but it wasn’t the best way of making this click for me. I loved that Sue opened up to them though about her “past” and why she picks on Will. But by now you have to think why the characters don’t know better then to trust or associate with her. 4 Minutes, a song I hate due to overplay (I know the ironies), has never sounded better. I also loved the look of jealousy in Quinn’s eyes as future center square and his brassy hag tore that Madonna song a new one.

Sorry Degrassi, but Jonathon Groff’s Jesse is the sexiest Melchior I have seen in modern teen High Schools. I don’t blame Rachel for agreeing to go forth with their dalliance. The entire scene with them over the piano was perfection. Rachel conflicted between her obvious love for Finn and attraction to Jesse choosing to lie and say that she slept with Jesse in order to see if Finn was hurt reminded me of the games that one plays when they are insecure in a relationship. Fair? Nope. Real? Yes. Finn on the other hand is an idiot. He didn’t want to lose face with Rachel so he lied about his romp in the motel 6. But thinking that Santana isn’t going to say anything about it because she told him that she was using him to secure head cheerleader is dumb even for a character that thought he got his girlfriend pregnant by hot tub-ination. Lying to Rachel about tramping it up in a motel room was believable although not enjoyable. I did enjoy though that he realized how big of a mistake it was though.

The Like a Virgin dream sequence was HOT. I loved how everyone handled themselves and that Santana finally sang. Not to mention the ramifications of the event/non event well, except for Jesse St. James.

I get why they moved Jesse into McKinley but ARE YOU KIDDING ME? The kid in the last semester of his senior year where he is the star of the show is going to just drop everything for a girl he just started dating? If this isn’t part of a nefarious plan I will be livid. Also, how is Jesse graduating if he is that talented? This is Vocal Adrenaline where the teacher get’s kids to not be able to graduate so that they can be eligible to compete. Remember, that is where Cheno, I mean April, came from. Plus this will affect his early admittance to UCLA. I did love that Finn’s reaction was so raw and focused on him. Not to mention Kurt and Mercedes pointing out their obvious lack of screen time. The “story” of how he transferred is not legit. I also love Santana’s self revelation,” He’s a spy, I should know”. Will Santana move from Finn to Jesse to further destroy Rachel? How is Sue going to react to this? Not to mention that Shelby is going to raise shades of hell that – eh it’s not real and I am not entertaining it. At least Rachel’s virtue is intact. Nothing will beat “Mr. Shue, is he your son?” Especially when my Idina is Lea’s mom theory is proven correct.

But where was our new “son” during the boys’ lesson on how they are jerks? If you are going to integrate him into the choir make him be there. Especially since Will knew that he was causing Rachel problems. Glad to hear Puck and Artie sing though. I still want to see and here more from Shaft and Other Asian (Matt and Mark). Tina losing her stuff in the hallway though was the most we have seen from her in episodes and it is a crime. Her scene with Artie at the piano cracked me up. If he says “get up on this” one more time though I will pull a Desmond on him.

Finn’s heart breaking apology and then accepting of Jesse was very adult and more like last year’s Finn and that is why the scene WORKED. Finn isn’t stupid he is trusting. It led to his down fall and will again but he doesn’t lose that quality which is why he “let’s” Jesse into the group. I love the song and performance of “Like A Prayer”. They should have shown more of it in the episode but the moment that curtain gets lifted and you see an ENTIRE GOSPEL CHOIR BEHIND THEM it makes you wonder two things. 1. Can I get a reservation for Gospel lunch at B.B. King’s because I miss Gospel music. and, 2. WHERE THE HELL DID THEY GET A GOSPEL CHOIR FROM? You can’t compete with a second choir plus we haven’t mentioned them before. They are just there. I hate things that are just there. I wanted a story behind it besides “Hi, I’m Finn and here is your gospel choir.” The biggest thing that pissed me off was that the end was cut off on my DVR because Idol went over. I had to wait till midnight JUST to buy the stupid episode so that I could watch the ending and it not be the complete song on air.

Overall I am going to give it a B+ because my initial reaction to it wasn’t strongly positive but the second viewing did sedate me a little. Either that or because LOST was so freaking awesome I was in the best mood ever to rewatch. I think Finn said it best, "I don't feel different because it didn't mean anything"