Glee Review: Glee Gets Funky

“Fasten your seatbelts it’s going to be a funky ride,” declared Puck. I couldn’t agree more, Gleeks. In the last episode before next week’s season one finale, Glee definitely got a bit funky in more ways than one.

The episode opens with some surprises—in an effort to psych out New Directions before regionals, Vocal Adrenaline performs “Another One Bites the Dust” in the McKinley auditorium. Also, Jesse makes the bold announcement that he transferred back to his old high school. Plus, the club finds their choir room TP’d by Vocal Adrenaline! Always the bearer of good news (heavy sarcasm), Sue proclaims that she will turn their choir room into her trophy annex when they lose at regionals.

Later on, Terri and Will sign their divorce papers and Terri states, “you’re still that 16-year-old boy to me, you always will be.”

Will then discusses regret with the glee club. He explains that they shouldn’t allow Vocal Adrenaline to put them in a funk before regionals and that they should retaliate. Bad idea Mr. Schu, because Puck and Finn slash the tires of the Vocal Adrenaline cars. Luckily, the guys aren’t expelled but must get jobs to pay for the tires.

However, Will comes up with a better idea—beat Vocal Adrenaline, who has never done a funk number, with funk. Quinn immediately wants to perform a solo although Mercedes doubts she can pull it off.

Rachel explains to Will that she thinks Jesse, who she “wants to be eaten by a lion,” broke her heart on purpose to throw her off before regionals. This inspires Mr. Schu on how to take down Sue. So in an awkward to watch scene, Will pretends to want Sue’s advice, then hits on her and performs a suggestive “Tell Me Something Good.”

Puck and Finn end up working under Terri at Sheets N Things. While at work, they perform “Loser.” Who knew Puck could play the guitar?! Terri imagines Finn as Will and in a very uncharacteristic move, she offers to help Finn with his glee club assignment.

While writing in her journal, Sue admits to having “sexy non-murdering feelings for Will Schuester.” Will interrupts her writing and invites her to dinner on hump day, Wednesday.

Meanwhile at glee club, Quinn performs her funky solo, “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World” with the “Unwed Mothers Connection.” I liked Quinn’s performance but the dancing pregnant girls was a little weird.

Will stands Sue up at the restaurant and she rushes to his apartment to confront him. Will exclaims, “cruelty was the only way to get your attention. Consider this a taste of what you love dishing out.”

Next funk performance—“Good Vibrations” by Puck, Finn and Mercedes. What a fun performance! I love seeing more of Puck!

In a touching and cute scene, Mercedes invites Quinn to move out of Puck’s house and in with her family. “Us sisters got to stick together right,” says Mercedes.

Will discovers that since he stood Sue up, she hasn’t gotten out of bed and goes to her house. Sue is depressed that she is alone and even tells Will, “you’d make a great trophy husband.” Will apologizes and convinces Sue to get out of bed and take her Cheerios to nationals.

Rachel receives a phone call from Jesse asking her to meet him in the parking lot. She excitedly runs toward him when suddenly she is egged by Vocal Adrenaline. Jesse breaks the last egg on her forehead and says, “I loved you.” Seriously Jesse? Totally uncalled for and mean! Poor Rachel!

Puck and the rest of the guys are furious about the egging and want revenge. Mr. Schu stops them and calls Jesse to invite Vocal Adrenaline to their auditorium on Friday.

Sue’s Cheerios win the national championship. She shows up at Will’s apartment with the trophy and two choices: putting the trophy in the choir room or kissing her with tongue. They come close to kissing (Gross!) but Sue stops it and the trophy ends up in the choir room.

On Friday afternoon, glee club performs a lively “Give Up the Funk” in front of Vocal Adrenaline. After their performance, Jesse says, “They did a funk number. We’ve never been able to pull off a funk number. I’m so depressed.” Take that Jesse!

As you know last week’s episode wasn’t one of my favorites but I enjoyed this week’s so much more! I was happy to see the club really bonding and sticking up for each other this week—like Mercedes inviting Quinn to live with her, Finn and Puck getting along again and the guys all sticking up for Rachel.

I can’t believe Jesse was that mean to Rachel. Besides the “Run Joey Run” video, what else did she do to him that was so awful? Did I miss something? But I am hoping next week we will see a rekindling of Finn and Rachel’s relationship.

Looking forward to next week’s finale. I am expecting elaborate and show stopping performances by both clubs. With Will’s divorce finalized, will Will and Emma’s relationship take off at all? Also, will Quinn have second thoughts about giving up her baby? Plus, we learn in the preview that Sue is one of the judges, so who knows what will happen.

“See you punks at regionals,” Puck tells Vocal Adrenaline. New Directions is ready and so am I! I’ll talk to you Gleeks after regionals!

For another opinion about this episode, read Can I Uncover My Eyes Now? by Stephanie Jaar.

Season 1, Episode 21: Funk (originally aired June 1, 2010)

For more on Glee, click here.

Tuesdays at 9pm on Fox

Photographs courtesy of Fox and IMDbPro