The TV Chick

Last night’s episode of “Glee” was the big sectionals episode, and I can tell you I was very eagerly awaiting this one. Last year’s sectionals episode was one of the best of the series (um, hello, Will kissed Emma in spectacular fashion!) so I had high hopes for this episode. The creative team continued to cut down the music — there was only one song 30 minutes into the episode — and there was a lot plot wise, but a key couple broke up and someone got married and broke my heart just a little. But I’ll have a lot more to say on that later. As the Glee kids prepare for sectionals, Emma tells Will to use the other members of the Glee Club for their set list and change it up a bit. She points out Quinn’s beautiful voice and I was so happy to hear this somewhere other than my own reviews. Schue decides to heed her advice, and of course this doesn’t please many Glee club members.

In the midst of the Glee madness, Schue gets pissed at Rachel for having a bad attitude and Santana spills the beans that Finn slept with her. Rachel and Finn go to Emma for advice. It’s about time! Emma gives them both rather ridiculous advice, but who would she be without that? Brittany is afraid of the pressure to be a featured dancer at sectionals. Artie gives her a “magic comb” to help calm her nerves. This is super adorable! I wasn’t really sure about this relationship to start, but it has turned into something really cute and sweet. Schue goes to Puck to try and recruit a new Glee club member because they need an additional member for Sectionals.

Across the not so real pond over at Dalton, Kurt gets initiated into The Warblers. He tries to suggest song choices but apparently they have a committee to decide those sort of things. Blaine invites him to try out for a solo though. Meanwhile, Puck gets trapped in porta potty for 24 hours because the football players got mad at him for trying to recruit another glee club member. Puck has to make out with Lauren (um a little gross) but the club gets their 12th body. Puck offers to help Rachel with guy problems. I think this is going to lead to some not-so-good Puckleberry places. Tina tells Artie that Brittany is kissing other guys. In my opinion, Tina might be a little jealous.

Kurt goes to Rachel for help to figure out a good solo for his tryout. Rachel sings Don’t Cry For Me Argentina which transitions into Kurt singing the same song as his audition piece. I’m not a big Evita (the musical not the movie) fan but this is actually a song I like, and I enjoyed this performance. I love both of their voices so much. Everyone seemed to enjoy Kurt’s audition but sadly, he doesn’t get a solo. Blaine tells Kurt not to try so hard next time. He shouldn’t be so concerned with getting noticed. I get this and I don’t get this. On one hand, The Warblers are entirely different from the rogue “underdog” New Directions. On the other hand, Kurt is original and should be praised for his originality, not made to conform. I also want something to happen in this Blaine and Kurt relationship. There is very obviously something there, so let’s make it happen people! Can we get Kurt a real first kiss, because he deserves it.

Back at McKinley, Brittany is all standoffish to Artie, which makes him think she cheated on him. Will and Emma talk. He’s never seen the club so out of sync. Emma can’t go to sectionals. Apparently, she didn’t tell Carl and he has some issues with Will (after the Rocky Horror situation, I understand). Carl and Emma fought and made up and Carl said I love you and she said I love you back. WHAT NO!!! She wishes him good luck and kisses him on the cheek. I think their love story is just going to take some time sadly.

On to sectionals! Rachel and Kurt have a heart to heart before the competition. He misses his old Glee club. The Warblers don’t appreciate his individuality. Rachel’s being nice for a change and I kind of like it. The first group is an old people singing group. They are very cute and sort of like an older version of New Directions. But not to sound agist, aren’t there age limits to a high school show choir? Regardless, Puck getting emotional over the old people was adorable. Next up, The Warblers perform. I watched this number when it was a sneak preview and I am continually blown away by Darren Criss. If there is one thing I am sure of in this crazy Glee world, it’s that adding him to the cast (and promoting him) was a brilliant move. The moment where Rachel reminds Kurt to smile during the performance gets me every time. And Mercedes encourages them all to stand up and cheer for Kurt. This was an emotional moment in the TV Chick household.

Backstage at sectionals, everything is disastrous. Quinn is nervous, Artie is upset about Brittany, and they all get mad at each other. Schue gives them a pep talk. Artie and Brittany talk and apparently she thought adultery meant being stupid. Brittany lost his magic comb, but she didn’t cheat. Aw Brittany. They kiss. Love it. Sam and Quinn have a sweet moment  before the curtains open and they sing “I Had The Time Of My Life.” I swooned. I want their dresses. It’s about time Quinn got a real big solo. She also is dancing better and Brittany is rocking it too! Dianna Agron has a magnetic personality and the singing chops and ability to be a big star. She might not belt it out like Lea Michele does but her voice is beautiful and this duet was so so good. New Directions’ next number is “Valerie” with Santana on lead vocals. I’m all for giving more people the lead, and I like Santana. However, this was maybe the one song I could do without. Mike Chang and Brittany kicked some serious ass with their dancing though.

Time for the results! In third place: The Hipsters (the old people), and New Directions and The Warblers tied. Schue comes to Emma’s office with the trophy, but Emma has some news to break to him. She got married to Carl in Vegas over the weekend. Here is my first reaction (I typed this part while watching the show): OMG. WHAT. WHAT. Oh there are going to be so many upset people. Here’s my reaction after thinking on it for a while: Having spoken to Jayma Mays (Emma) on a few occasions, I know she thinks that Will and Emma are meant to be together. I know she isn’t necessarily part of the creative team, but I think Carl was meant to be Emma’s road block on the way to Will. Marriage is a big road block, but Emma almost married Ken last season (seriously!!) so this seems to be something she takes kind of lightly. Also, Will isn’t perfect either. He almost slept with Shelby and as of late has tried to be upfront about his feelings but it hasn’t always been that way. Here’s what makes me certain we will get a Will and Emma happy ending: Did you happen to notice her face when she hugged Carl in her office? She looked like she was regretful, and that’s probably because she just married the wrong guy for her. Ken was the wrong guy for her too she just needed to come to terms with it. She will realize that she belongs with Will, but love stories take a while. Ross and Rachel on “Friends” took 10 seasons. It won’t come easy. Patience!

But back to the Glee kids. Rachel and Finn make up but not for long. She tells him that she made out with Puck because she was mad. She apologizes, but Finn breaks up with her. Rachel is devastated. And I go back to what I said before. True love takes time. I do think that in this case though, it’s high school and people cheat and break up and make up. I don’t think this will be the last of Finn and Rachel. But it was so sad to see her take off her Finn necklace and take the decorations off her locker.

At the end, the Glee kids celebrate their victory with song. Rachel defers the solo to Mercedes and Tina. They sing “The Dog Days Are Over.” I loved this number. It was fun and playful and what Glee is all about. For me, the second half of this episode was stronger than the first. However, I liked it a lot. The music was good, there was a lot of plot and Quinn got a solo with Sam. The season has had its ups and downs, not even I will question that, but I enjoyed “Special Education.” I laughed, I cried, I sang along. I would love to see Blaine (Darren Criss) transfer to McKinley. I would also love to see Jesse St. James (Jonathan Groff) return and tell Rachel of his new maturity and changed ways. Groff is in a play in London however, so that might take a while. What I did not like was hearing today that the Glee kids would graduate by around 2012 and there would be a rotating cast. I understand they can’t stay in high school forever, I just hope Lea Michele gets the proper tearful sendoff she deserves.

Glee airs on Tuesday nights at 8 pm on FOX.