Glee Review: Practically Magical

I can’t imagine that I’m the only one who felt that this post-World Series return of Glee was slightly off and quite serious. The writers shoved a ton of plot and character development right in our faces with little finesse, and I wondered if the show I’d grown to love was heading down a path of no return. I miss the bubbly, fun Glee. New characters, a new glee club and some new and very unbelievable story lines made this quite funny and enjoyable episode hard to digest.

Damian McGinty finally got his Glee Project prize and made his first appearance as Rory Flanagan, an Irish exchange student staying with Brittany. He was as sweet and adorable as I remembered, even if he was playing an actual character this time. Brittany believed him to be a leprechaun who could grant wishes so he played along, getting her a box of all-marshmallow Lucky Charms and Lord Tubbington to “poop” chocolate bars, all in the hopes that he could lose his virginity and get into her “pot of gold.” (Anyone else grossed out when they ate the “chocolate poop” that had been sitting in the kitty litter box?) While Rory spent most of the episode trying to fulfill Brittany’s wishes, he also spent a good amount being bullied and getting shoved into lockers. Mr. McGinty flopped helplessly to the floor like a pro.

As per Finn’s usual, and now pretty boring, MO, he tried to stand up for Rory and act as his friend while also gaining some inside scoop for himself since Santana wanted Brittany to defect to the new glee club and join Mercedes in The Troubletones. Finn pushed Brittany a little too far when he called her an idiot for thinking Rory was a real leprechaun and pushed her right into Shelby’s arms. Santana couldn’t have planned it better. The rude awakening also worked against Rory, who was not getting anywhere near Brittany’s golden pot, but did give a nice audition for glee club. Truthfully, he never had a chance since Brittany confirmed for Santana that they were in fact dating in a very “Awww” moment where they held hands under a napkin at Breadstix.

The glee club, for the fifty millionth time, was breaking apart. Mr’s Schue’s new lesson, “The Magic’s Back,” was clearly not in effect. This is like the worst group of friends…ever. Quinn blamed Mr. Schue for being so hard on Mercedes. Tina blamed Artie for not casting Mercedes as Maria. Finn just hates Blaine no matter how hard he tries to be part of the team, tries to brighten his fellow glee club members’ spirits through song or how funky-hipster he dresses now that he doesn’t have a uniform. Poor Mr. Schue. All he wants is to lead his kids to a Nationals victory this year, and they’re dropping like flies.

Though Schue had a hard time inspiring the club to work together, he did partly inspire Burt Hummel to throw his hat into the congressional race against Sue. After Figgins agreed with Sue to cancel the school musical, Burt got a few members of The Rotary Club (three men in black suits who own a pet funeral home, a human funeral home and a crematorium that makes delicious brick oven pizza) to back him up and fully front the musical. To him, the arts saved Kurt’s life. It was a very touching admission, and any reason for Mike O’Malley to return in a greater capacity makes me happy. But a write-in candidate, really?! Anything can go on Glee, I suppose, a fact I’ve learned a million times over.

Yet, there’s still one more plot line that is more unbelievable and cliché in the Puck-Quinn-Shelby storyline. Quinn still vehemently wants to discredit Shelby as a mother so she can get baby Beth back. Everyone else has plans for their future, so she also wants something that’s perfect and just for her. She planted books about baby botulism and potential hot sauce torture, things Child Protective Services are always on the lookout for. Puck was a little smarter in his assessment, realizing how hard Shelby was working and how much she cares for Beth. He also enjoys being a part of the baby’s life. It’s something he’s good at. I can’t understand the real motivation, but their joint care and support for Beth brought the stressed out mom and semi-softie underachiever closer together, close enough for a smooch. And the scandal begins.

So what did you think about this week’s episode of Glee? Was Rory the bright spot in a very dark and deep episode? Even though I disagree with the writers’ decision to split up the club, don’t The Troubletones look like serious trouble and serious fun? Until next week folks!

THE SONGS
Bein’ Green from Sesame Street. Cover by Frank Sinatra. Sung by Rory. – It was a great song to introduce Rory with, and it had metaphorical significance. A-
Friday Night (T.G.I.F) by Katy Perry. Sung by Blaine, Artie and Mike with New Directions. – Though I would never picture Blaine singing this kind of song, it was old school Glee fun. For a second, it seemed like everyone got along. B+
Waiting For A Girl Like You by Foreigner. Sung by Puck. – Stripped down to its pure bones, was Puck really singing to Beth or should it have been meant for Shelby? B
Candyman by Christina Aguilera. Sung by The Troubletones. – I finally got a little excited about this new separate glee club storyline because the girls looked so cute in their era appropriate outfits, all hopped up on girl power. A
Take Care Of Yourself by Teddy Thompson. Sung by Rory. – Sure, it was a left field choice for his audition song, but he sang it so well, even Kurt looked scared of his range. B+

MEMORABLE MOMENTS

• “First of all, you look magical and amazing, but I don’t understand what you’re saying so if you want to make it in this land, you really need to speak English.” – Brittany to Rory
• “I have in my hand the budget for the McKinley High production of West Side Story, a musical about a race war that glorifies gang violence yet still seems extraordinarily gay.”  – Sue
• “If this nation wants to impress its future Chinese overlords, we need to get our priorities straight.” – Sue
• The lady who assaulted Figgins with a brick because her son can’t read or write but he wants him to sing and dance. She then paraded outside his office with an “Angry” sign.
• “The arts are going down. Today, the musical. Tomorrow, the glee club. Next week, NPR and the Opera and brunch and Tom Bergeron.” – Sue
• “I love everything about America, especially NASCAR, your half-black president and Victoria’s Secret catalogs.” – Rory
• “She’s kind of like Rainman with boobs.” – Finn about Brittany
• Kurt’s Banana Republic, Mad Men-inspired outfit
• “You mess with me, I will Temple of Doom my first through your chest and pull out your still-pumping artificial heart which I will then hook up to my car, power us down to the lumberjack convention for some deep discounts on the Midwest’s largest selection of ill-fitting flannels.” – Sue
• Santana: I want to talk about that, you know, that thing that we never talk about.
  Brittany: What, that Sour Patch Kids are just Gummy Bears that turned to drugs?
  Santana: Are we dating, or what?
  Brittany: Wait, isn’t this a date? Aren’t you paying because I ordered shrimp. Wasn’t last week when we were taking a bath together, wasn’t that a date?
• Mike getting the chance to sing on another song!
• Santana calling out Finn. “It’s freaking hilarious how jealous of Blaine you are. Every time he opens his dreamboat a cappella mouth, you’re just itching to kick him right in the Warblers.”
• Santana also putting annoying, and not yet that funny, Sugar in her place.
• The completely ludicrous idea that Finn could possibly run Burt’s shop once he graduates if Burt wins the election.
• “Say U2’s overrated! Say it!” – Mullet toting hockey player to Rory

For another take on this week’s episode, check out More Puck, Less Rachel Works for Me by Alana D.

Season 3, Episode 4: Pot of Gold (originally aired November 1, 2011)

Glee airs Tuesdays at 8 ET/PT on Fox.

Images courtesy of Adam Rose and Fox.