The TV Chick

It’s “A Very Glee Christmas” and as far as Christmas episodes go, I enjoyed this one. There was a good message, a sweet story (Brittany still believes in Santa!) and a lot of the amazing Dot Marie Jones (Coach Beiste). This Jew enjoyed most of the Christmas songs and the overall plot. There was more music than the past few episodes but I feel like they went back to what makes them successful in terms of musical numbers: Rachel belting it out, maybe a Finn/Rachel duet and a couple of numbers with the whole Glee club. I think we all agree going back to what made us fall in love with the show is necessary and I thought this episode was a good start. This is not to say that I don’t enjoy every episode, and that I think that Darren Criss is a gift sent from Moses above, but I just like when they focus in on the tangible instead of the visceral.

Onto the episode! Schue is going to be alone at Christmas, so Emma invites him to her and Carl’s Christmas party. Naturally he declines. The faculty choose secret Santa and Will chooses Sue. Oh boy. We then find out that Brittany still believes in Santa. Seriously, this was the sweetest thing ever. The Glee kids sing “The Most Wonderful Day Of The Year.” This was probably the one song I could have done without. The Glee kids are depressed because despite winning sectionals, they are still not cool. Schue suggests they go caroling in the classrooms to raise money for kids in need. They get booed and even a teacher throws a shoe at them. Wow! Brittany asked Santa for the Glee club to stop getting picked on and is convinced it will work. Artie tells the group that Brittany still believes in Santa and not to ruin Christmas for her.

The Glee kids go to see Santa at the mall. Brittany asks for Artie to walk for Christmas. Let me just say how much I am loving this new Brittany/Artie relationship. She might be ridiculous but I think they are both super sweet to each other and Artie deserves someone like that. Finn and Rachel meet in the auditorium. She gives him a present which is a song of his choice to be sung to him. Side note, if Lea Michele (or Rachel Berry) gave me this present, it would probably be the best present ever. Finn doesn’t think so though, and he’s not ready to forgive Rachel. Aw. She sings “Merry Christmas Darling.” I love Lea’s voice and enjoyed this song thoroughly.

Meanwhile, over at Dalton: Blaine has to rehearse and asks Kurt to help him practice “Baby It’s Cold Outside” I loved this when it leaked, and I loved it again. Makes me think of Zoey Deschanel’s version. LOVE! Is it wrong that I might have wanted to yell “Make out!” at the screen? Darren Criss is such a brilliant addition to the cast and I can’t wait until Kurt and Blaine go out on a real date and hook up. Later, Schue shows up to talk to Kurt. He wants advice on what to buy for Sue.

But apparently, Sue rigged Secret Santa so everyone pulled her name. Beiste, Emma and Will tell her she wont let her get away with it. They team up and take all of Sue’s gifts to donate to kids in need. This is so sweet. Artie and the Glee kids ask Beiste to dress up as Santa to tell Brittany that Santa can’t make Artie walk. Aw! That night, Sue dresses up as the Grinch, and Becky as a rein-dog. She appears to be the one singing “You’re A Mean One, Sue the Grinch” but apparently KD Lang and Matthew Morrison sing it. She ruins all the presents and all their sheet music. BOO SUE! Brittany shows up dressed just like Cindy Lou Who (BRILLIANT) and sees Sue’s massacre. She was bringing a present to put under the tree. Sue doesn’t ruin her faith in Santa and tells her there was a light broken so she was just going to fix it. I guess there’s a little bit of Christmas spirit in Sue.

The next day, all the glee kids and Schue are depressed about Sue’s massacre. Rachel is determined to save Christmas. Her and Finn go tree shopping. They sing “Last Christmas,” which was so good. I like when they go back to the basics — Finn and Rachel. Rachel belting out something special. They almost kiss, but he gets mad. He officially breaks up with her. He tells her he’s all messed up because his only 2 girlfriends have cheated on him. I never thought of this but Finn hasn’t had the easiest of times. No wonder he does some crazy things sometimes. The glee kids decide to go all Gift of the Magi and selling their hair/watches to raise money. Schue gives them a lecture on Christmas and losing that feeling of the first Christmas. They curb the Magi plans.

That night, Santa aka Beiste visits Brittany. Dot Marie Jones is AMAZING! She tells Brittany a story of a little girl (aka herself) growing up and asking to look like all the other girls. This touched my heart. Beiste might be this big intimidating coach but she has so much heart and depth to her. It reminded of me of when we met Sue’s sister and saw what made her the way she is and just how caring she is capable of being. Beiste was so incredibly sweet with Brittany, but tells her she might not be able to make Artie walk. Brittany used to think Santa could do anything and is now sad.

However, after a touching performance to the faculty where the Glee kids are able to raise money, Artie can walk!! Not in the conventional way, of course, but he got some sort of piece of machinery that walks for him and he can use it a little. We then see that Beiste bought it for him and left it under Brittany’s Christmas tree. AWWW Beiste bought it! SHE IS THE BEST! Seriously, THE BEST. I loved how they handled this Artie story. The entire time, he wasn’t trying to convince himself he could walk, he just didn’t want Brittany to lose faith. In the past, he has been sort of unrealistic but this was nice to see. It was so amazing to see him “walk.” In the end, the whole Glee club and Sue shows up at Schue’s place so he won’t be alone for Christmas.

I was discussing this episode with a friend of mine and she was saying it seems so commercial and the purpose it serves is just to release an album (she still was enjoying the episode though). I see her point for sure, but I think the fact that the music really tied in with a great message, and a GREAT Artie storyline, makes it all the much better. I think the show has made leaps and bounds plot wise from last season. I liked Sue’s hilarious storyline, her dressing up as the Grinch and all the Christmas spirit. I would have loved to see Rachel and Puck bust out an Adam Sandler Hanukkah song though — come on, they are classic! And I liked seeing Emma in the episode, even if she didn’t have a big role. This is the last episode before a big hiatus and I think it went out on a good note. I know Ryan Murphy has said they are going to focus more on the main cast when they return and I hope that’s true. I want to see the Carl/Emma thing resolved — maybe John Stamos can be on screen for more than a second and they can break up? I know I will miss the show a great deal (although last year’s hiatus was MUCH longer) and I look forward to its return in the New Year.