Glee: It’s Just a Little Crush (On Glee)

Prior to this episode, a friend told me she had a feeling that this week would really epitomize and stretch the weirdness that is Glee. With previews displaying Terri’s return and Rachel hitting on Mr. Schu, this was perhaps no huge secret. The only real disappointment was that we only got a small taste of Rachel singing Jennifer Paige’s “Crush.”

I particularly loved this episode’s use of broader concepts, like music as self-expression and life as imperfect. Will instructs the club to pair off (as pulled from a hat) and sing ballads to one another–what he explains as “stories set to music.” When Rachel and Will are paired together, she quickly offers them for a demonstration, belting out a rather sexually charged version of the famous duet, “Endless Love“–at least on her end.

As if this show didn’t already have enough characters, there’s a new kid on the block: Susie Pepper, an old student of Will’s who developed a major school girl crush on him. His memory of her is sparked when Rachel gives him a gold star tie, similarly to Susie’s gift of a tie decorated with peppers. In school years past, when Will tried to let Susie down gently, she retaliated by eating the “world’s hottest pepper,” which burned holes in her esophagus and put her in a medically induced coma for days. I understand the need for guest characters to move the plot along, and while Susie’s story was hilarious, it also seemed unnecessary. Also, she creeped me out; never trust anyone with the last name “Pepper.”

This episode also subtly confirms that Emma is still in love with Will when she tries to help him communicate his feelings to Rachel via (you’ll never guess!) music. Will sings Rachel a mash-up of “Young Girl” and “Don’t Stand So Close To Me.” Emma nods in approval at the end of the medley, saying “Bravo,” and totally neglecting Rachel, who doesn’t seem to have picked up on Will’s very obvious messaging.

Kurt and Finn have also been paired up, and Kurt urges Finn to express his feeling for Quinn and the baby through ballad as well. Finn’s mom also sees Q’s sonogram, but is pretty cool about the whole thing. This episode, however, serves as a reminder that parents–though seemingly disposable in the Glee world–still exist, and like all adults or humans, are varying degrees of flawed.

At dinner with Quinn’s parents, Finn decides to reveal the truth (also through ballad), singing Paul Anka’s “You’re Having My Baby.” Finn’s father flips out and kicks her out of the house. We also learn that Q believes her mom knew about the pregnancy and had kept her mouth shut, afraid of what her husband would do. These fictional parents need to get a grip! Luckily, Finn’s Mom immediately agrees to take in Quinn. It also looks like Puck is out of the picture, as he admits to Mercedes that he is the baby’s real father. She promptly puts him in his place, saying that Quinn chose Finn and he should respect that decision–he is distant for the rest of the episode, which seems to imply he will.

Susie Pepper is apparently Rachel’s new therapist, telling her that she is only after Mr. Schu because he is unattainable, reinforcing her conviction that she is not worthy of being loved. Rachel–who has already shown up at Will’s house and been made a bathroom slave by the evil Terri–finally realizes the error of her ways. To make up for it, she brings Will flowers and a note: “Sorry for acting crazy.”

Kurt wants to sing “I Honestly Love You,” to Finn, because he honestly does, but Mercedes and the rest of the gang have already planned their uprising against ‘Baby Gate.’ In a great scene, the Gleeks sing “Lean On Me” to Finn and Quinn to show their support–kind of corny but enjoyable.

To recap: Rachel falls for Mr. Schu but a weird girl named Susie saves the day; news of the pregnant Cheerio captain reaches the land of adulthood and ignorance; and Terri continues to treat people like dirt while Will is an attention-whore. In the absency listings this week are Sue, Ken Tanaka and last week’s prominently featured Artie (who did, however, have a great solo in “Lean On Me”).

For another take on this episode, check out Let’s Sing About Our Feelings by Matthew Turnier.

Season 1, Episode 10: Ballad (originally aired November 18, 2009)

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Wednesdays at 9pm on Fox

Photographs courtesy of Fox and IMDbPro