Laryngitis
Glee Episode Review
In which Kurt sings Mellencamp. Glee is all about losing and finding identity this week, from the absurd with Puck to the significantly less so with Kurt. If I didn't know better, I'd think they - like - planned this.
What Happened
Rachel develops tonsillitis and loses her voice. She begins to worry that without her ability to sing, she will wind up totally alone and miserable. Seeing her reaction, Finn tries to put things into perspective by introducing her to a friend of his who was paralyzed in a football accident.
Puck has to shave his mohawk off and loses all his popularity. He decides to get some status back by dating Mercedes, currently the most popular girl in school. She resists, but he charms her with some Sammy Davis Jr (he was a black Jew, you know), much to Santana's displeasure. When Mercedes catches Puck dumping geeks in the dumpster, she reconsiders how much she really wants to be popular and decides to quit Cheerios.
Still jealous of his father's friendship with Finn, Kurt begins singing Mellencamp, wearing overalls, and making out with Brittany. Burt is bemused by Kurt's sudden shift to the hetero and Kurt is upset when his attempt to be the perfect son doesn't have the intended result. Realizing how much Kurt is hurting, Burt reassures his son that he will never lose his father's love.
What I Loved
- I love that Puck started with Mercedes instead of working his way up to her like she's a punchline.
- The amount of hosility and bitter in Kurt's version of "Pink Houses." That is an inspired song choice and delivery.
- That Brittany knows what turns her on and asks the boys to do it.
What I Liked
- Dialogue throughout this one is really strong. Very quoteable.
- Rachel comparing herself to Tinkerbell
- Mercedes with her little walk down the hall - just a bit of bliss. Then - screech - there's Quinn.
- Quinn and her reaction to Puck and Mercedes. She's all reasonable and stuff. When did that happen?
What I Saw Coming a Mile Away but Loved Anyways
- Finn singing "Jesse's Girl." You know they had that planned.
I Know I'm Being Positive and All - But. No.
- "The Boy is Mine." Do not like this song or the performance. Plus, repetitive lyrics much?
Best Lines
Puck: "I feel like that guy who lost his hair and then lost his strength."
Santana: "Samson?"
Puck: "Agassi."
Kurt: "There is never an excuse for stirrup pants!"
What Did I Think?
A bit clunky dragging Finn's paralyzed friend into things. One minute he's singing about how much he likes Rachel and she's perfectly coiffed and pretty. And in practically the next scene, she's a mess and he is telling her to stop whining and grow up. I feel like I needed a transitional piece in there to explain why he's reacting this way. The scene in the doctor's office had moved past Rachel's worries into a discussion of her and Jesse, so I lose the idea that she's throwing a pity party and that's what prompted Finn's response. Maybe seeing Finn visit Sean first and then getting to school to find Rachel shuffling through the halls feeling sorry for herself?
I just chewed over that bit a too much - because the rest of the episode is just so smooth that it really sticks out. And it makes the whole scene with Sean feel contrived instead of flowing naturally from the situation. That needed to be the climax of a progression in Rachel's behavior, not a sudden side-step into a completely out of left field situation.