Glee Review: The Boy That Was Queen

Glitz and glamour visited McKinley High this week as the New Directions teens prepared for prom. It all started when Figgins hired the Glee club to perform at the prom when Air Supply, his favorite band, canceled. At first, Will is apprehensive, but they need the money for Nationals so he caved quickly. It’s also TV, so thanks for the set-up. Let’s get to it!

Glee poked some fun at itself by throwing the spotlight on some of their less favorable numbers. Sue claimed she’d concede to the plan if Will refrained from reprising “Run, Joey, Run” and the mash-up of “Crazy in Love” and “Hair.” For once, Sue, you actually made sense.

Everyone but Mercedes was planning to attend, so everyone else in the club took the news well, but Mercedes was down because no one had asked her. Poor girl. She just wants to live the fairytale of it all for one night. In one of Rachel’s more sensitive moments, she tried to lift her up. She didn’t have a date either, but she promised to come up with a plan, a three-way date “but not the dirty kind” with Sam. Even sweeter, he couldn’t even afford one date, but they loaned him his part.

I squealed for glee as Kurt asked Blaine to accompany him, but Kurt was disappointed when it reminded Blaine about his first dance after coming out. Sadly, he and his date were beat up. Kurt thought, even though Blaine couldn’t face up to the bullies then, maybe they can face the ones at his school now…together.

Asking some random set builder to tell her if she’s amazing or just plain outstanding, Rachel readied herself to run through “Rolling in the Deep,” when Jesse St. James sang his way into the auditorium. “How was I supposed to know that I was actually supposed to show up to those other classes at school? I was majoring in show choir. I just assumed it would be like Carmel and the school would get some Asian kid to take math, and English, and scientific for me.” Oh, he also came back to see her and apologize for the way he treated her. Remember that egging incident? The trade-off of placing in 4^th at Nationals over humiliating Rachel didn’t pay off. If it was first, well, that’s a different story.

I’m all for the return of Jesse – not because I love him with Rachel or even believe the girl needs a man to create a storyline – but because his character, like Sue, is purely a caricature. No one in the real world should ever be as conceited, airhead-like and so full of airs. Yet the absurdity of it all is highly entertaining. Finn showed major signs of jealousy after learning of his ex-nemesis’ return, and the potential for the two to reconcile elicited a surprisingly seething and territorial reaction.

Elsewhere, Artie had his own lady problems. He desperately tried to win Brittany back in time for prom with a spontaneous rendition of “Isn’t She Lovely,” with a little home ec backup from Puck, Sam & Finn. It truly was lovely, but she can’t get over that “stupid” thing. Puck’s bright idea to regain some cred by spiking the punch bowl (word on the street was that Lauren wears the pants in the relationship) gains traction when Arties says he’s in since he has “nothing to live for” without Brittany as his prom date. These kids and their gross exaggerations.

While everyone got a little action, both vocally and story-wise, because of prom the focus was really on Kurt. First, the Bullywhips (still seemingly only Santana and Karofsky) offered to protect him, escorting him through the halls. While Karofsky’s on Bullywhip duty, Kurt confided that he believes there could be a day, soon, when Karofsky can come out and be happy. He notices the vibe in the school possibly shifting from ignorance to indifference. Beggars can’t be choosers, I suppose. It was a touching moment when Kurt confessed that he could have hated the former bully, but he can only see his pain now. With that, Karofsky broke down and apologized. Kurt accepted again, but this time, Karofsky’s words felt real.

During prom, Rachel slowed it down with “Jar of Hearts.” She and Finn shared stolen glances that were so overt that any blind person could have sensed them. Meanwhile, Sue catches Artie spiking the punch. She tried to interrogate him into naming the mastermind behind the mission, but before she could place her hands into his mouth (with some pliers), a fight broke out between Jesse and Finn. What could have been the reason when everyone appeared to be having such a good time? That’s exactly it! Rachel and Jesse were actually having a good time. Seriously, Finn! Make up your mind and quit playing games. It’s just getting rude now. The two were ejected right before the big coronation.

Quinn is embarrassed and visibly disappointed; she even slapped Rachel who could, at least, appreciate “the drama of it” all. But it’s no matter. Karofsky won for King, and Kurt won for Queen. No one clapped and everyone stared. Hoooorrifying. But after a little venting to Blaine, Kurt goes back out there to get crowned and even takes the bejeweled scepter Figgins hands him. “Eat your heart out Kate Middleton,” he yells, and it rouses cheers. Then, Figgins brings up the first dance. Why he does this is beyond me when he knows their history. Kurt encourages Karofsky to take the opportunity and come out, but he’s not ready and runs off before the two tango. I mean, what’d you expect when he found out the song playing would be “Dancing Queen?!” Fortunately, Prince Charming Warbler swoops in to the rescue, ending the night on a happy and triumphant note for the two.

The Songs

“Rolling in the Deep” by Adele
Sung by Jesse St. James and Rachel Berry
Grade: B+
There’s no way this can stand up to the original, but bonus points for the a cappella arraignment and the set builders morphing into backup singers.

“Isn’t She Lovely?” by Stevie Wonder
Sung by Artie Abrams
Grade: A-
I know I dreamed of an admirer disrupting class and serenading me to the adulation of all my peers.

“Friday” by Rebecca Black
Sung by Sam Evans, Noah Puckerman and Artie
Grade: B
I should despise this song, but now I only, sort of, hate it. Damn you, Glee.

“Jar of Hearts” by Christina Perri
Sung by Rachel
Grade: A
Just another ballad tailor-made to express Rachel’s position on her confusing semi-relationship with Finn.

“I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You” by Black Kids
Sung by Blaine Anderson feat. Tina Cohen-Chang and Brittany Pierce
Grade: B+
No Warblers! No Jacket!! A fine number but something definitely felt off.

“Dancing Queen” by ABBA
Sung by Santana Lopez and Mercedes Jones
Grade: A-
I couldn’t help smiling at this perfectly fun and nostalgic number that concluded the episode. The prom photo montage certainly helped.

Memorable Moments

• “I’m not scared. I’ve been hit by a girl before.” – Jacob
• “This glass is half full of dreams for all of us.” – Figgins
• “Every year, I honor the prom with a bowl of my family’s secret punch recipe; made all the more meaningful to me because it’s the punch bowl my grandmother drowned in.” – Sue
• “Please tell me we’re not signing songs about prom,” Sam says after Mr. Schue writes it on the chalkboard.
• “I don’t have a date. I’m just going to dance, and then all of your dates are going to ignore you and come dance with me…so your dates are really my dates.” – Brittany
• The “Prom Gown Dry Run” where the ladies milk Kurt for his fashion expertise.
• “Go with God, Satan…Santana.” – Kurt
• Santana escorting Kurt through the hallways publicizing, “Teen Gay, you may now proceed to the next checkpoint without fear of violence.”
• “I just don’t understand the difference between an egg with a baby chicken inside it and an egg with an egg in it….That’s really confusing because this is a baby chicken’s house.” – Brittany
• Rachel stays classy, helps Finn get the perfect corsage for Quinn. She was right, too.
• Kurt’s “gay Braveheart” prom kilt/finned tux ensemble.
• Rachel believing in Jesse’s plan and dubbing him a future “show choir whisper.”
• The look on Finn’s face when he first saw Quinn in her dress.
• “You just told me the one thing you really want. You are the worst POW ever. John McCain is rolling around in his grave.”
• “Just because I hate everybody doesn’t mean they have to hate me too.” – Santana
• “Soon as we get to New York, I’m bailing to live in a lesbian colony. Or Tribeca.” – Santana
• “They must have sensed that I’m a lesbian. Do I smell like a golf course?” – Santana
• After losing the crown, Rachel comforts Quinn. Brittany comforts Santana, and Brittany showing she can be “emotionally” smart when she realizes they have to get back to the dance and support Kurt who’s had it the worst, by far.
• Mercedes getting her wish when Sam tells her that she looks beautiful before asking her to dance.

Season 2, Episode 20: Prom Queen (originally aired May 10, 2011).

Glee airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on Fox.

Images courtesy of Fox and IMDb Pro.