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1.22 Journey Review by Serena Yang Will: "Inside, you're a really good person. I appreciate what you're doing for these kids. I won't forget it." Sue: "I'm seriously gonna puke in your mouth." And so the school year - and season - comes to an end. So, was it cheesy? You bet. Were parts of it completely predictable? Definitely. Was the pacing slightly off, and plot lines dropped? Absolutely. Did it rock? HELL YES. "Journey" is a perfect title for the freshman show's season finale. Not only was this year really, truly a journey - for the kids, and for the viewers - but like the band, no matter how cliche, frustrating, good or bad Glee gets, you just can't help singing along. So the kids lost. I'm not surprised - in fact, I think I would have been mighty annoyed if they had won. It would have been waaaaaay too cliche - plus, they really wouldn't have anything to work towards next year, would they? Placing after Aural Intensity, they of the "not at all stupid name" was kind of surprising though. And I'll admit, even though they set that up with the judges panel scene, I was kind of shocked. But I will say this (at the risk of incurring the wrath of our faithful commenters): While "Bohemian Rhapsody", intercut with scenes of Quinn giving birth, was pure genius from a staging/choreography perspective, New Directions was better. I mean, sure, we knew for weeks that Glee was going for the "New Directions has heart, Vocal Adrenaline is soulless" angle - but I actually agree. New Directions had an energy, an emotional investment that just made watching them a pure joy. And their dancing - that awful Reach to Nowhere - actually wasn't stiff or terrible at all. No, the choreography wasn't anything to write home about, but it made a difference that the kids were having fun. If you think about it, when you and your friends are in a bar or a club or whatever singing along to a classic, are you worried about your lifts and plies? No - you're just standing there, bouncing, singing at the top of your lungs. They actually made the lack-of-choreography work. It felt, ironically, natural. I'm not going to pretend not to be wowed by Vocal Adrenaline, but really, it's like comparing strappy summer sandals to knee-high leather boots: they are just different animals, with merits in their own right. As I said, from a performance perspective, it was spot on - and made all the weirder/quirkier juxtaposed next to Quinn. But it's like watching a technically perfect dance, with no emotion or chemistry. Impressive, but not moving. "I'm forever yours... faithfully": * New Directions performance - definitely deserves a plus 25 to start. The chemistry between Finn and Rachel at their entrance was palpable - plus 5. I'm glad that Santana and Puck had a solo section on "Don't Stop Believin'", and Mercedes did her "wail" - plus 5. I generally hate "Any Way You Want It", but it kept up the energy, and I did like the mini mash up with "Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'" - plus 2. * No points, but I just realized how horrifically 80's it is to have an entire song title ending in "in" instead of "ing". * And hey - for the first time, they actually looked like winners - the dresses were fantastic, and I loved the girls' hair - plus 10. Although minus 1 because Quinn didn't look at all pregnant. (Yeah, yeah - why do I even bother?) * Who else was thrilled that they revisited "Don't Stop Believin'"? I was worried that they wouldn't, since they haven't wanted to repeat songs. But it was the perfect way to cap off the season - with the song that started it all. Plus 15. * Again at the risk of courting controversy - Rachel's spontaneous kiss on the stairs was cute. Plus 5. * I especially liked the "gotta move, gotta move" segment of "Bohemian Rhapsody", and Jesse playing the piano. Plus 5. Overall number - plus 10; being the background of Quinn in labor, plus another 15. * Rod! Plus 2. * The acoustic "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Mr. Schue and Puck was just simply wonderful - plus 10. But I can't credit Glee for this wonderful rendition - a Hawaiian singer named Israel Kamakawiwo'ole made this famous. It has been featured in both Meet Joe Black and Fred Clause. * Yes, shameless emotional manipulation, but I still teared up during "To Sir, With Love." Plus 2. * It wasn't, by far, a satisfying conclusion, but I'm glad that Rachel and Shelby had another scene together. This time, Shelby's conflicting feelings and true regrets on missing out on Rachel's childhood felt a lot more real - plus 5. * Following on that, I'm ambivalent about Shelby adopting Beth. I like it, and I don't like it, so no points, although there's a plus 1 in there for leaving the door open for her return next season. * Emma screaming at Figgins - plus 5. You go girl. * I'll be honest - cheesy/cliche be damned, Sue's change of heart made me happy, and actually felt genuine. Not because the other "celebrities" mocked her presence as a judge, but because Sue truly considers herself an educator. It gets lost sometimes in her competitiveness, but I honestly believe she cares about what she brings to the kids. I liked how she actually got offended when Olivia started picking them apart - "Hey, they're just kids." Brava to Jane Lynch for taking a potentially one dimensional character, and giving Sue Sylvester depth - plus 10. * A lot of tender moments between our couples - Finn and Rachel, Quinn and Puck. Plus 2. * And, finally: "Your father cheated on me with some tattooed freak." Best moment of the night - plus 100! "You suck, you suck, you suck..." * The couples confessions doesn't include Will/Emma. I'm glad she's dating her dentist, but that "Emma, I love you" felt forced and off. Minus 5. * It would have been nice if they at least had Jesse acknowledge Rachel by looking at her/making eye contact. You're right, they blew it - minus 10. * And his hair looked terrible - minus 2. * The timing of the whole episode was really weird - minus 5. * Wait - Quinn's water broke, she went into labor, and she gave birth all by the time the results were announced? Minus 20. * Also, Will cleared out the choir room, and put it all back together in, like, an hour? Minus 10. Although, I suppose it could have been another day, but still. * Josh Groban was not funny. I needed more blowsy alcoholic love from him - minus 5. * There's no way in Jersey that they'd be picking a set list that close to Regionals. I know that it would have made Glee musically boring, but in reality, they would have sang the same songs and practiced it ad nauseum for both Sectionals and Regionals - minus 25. * Why was Kurt wearing a sailor hat? Minus 5. * Also, why did Will buy a ticket to go into the theatre? Minus 2. And why were the judges sitting in the audience? Minus 3. * Don't eat me - I love me some Sue Sylvester, but her snarky comments about Will's hair are just too long. They would be a lot funnier if they were actually one liners. Minus 5. I'm not even going to pretend to tally, since this episode clearly came out on top. The minuses really were minor nitpicks that annoyed me, but overall - very good season finale. I won't say that its the best episode of the season - and it definitely pales in comparison to the other intense, epic season/series endings we got this May, but it was true to the spirit of Glee, and reminded me why I love this show to begin with. Three out of four Journey singles. Quotes: -- Sue: "I'm a celebrity now, William. Now I realize my cultural ascent only serves to illuminate your banality, but face it, I'm a legend. It's happened." -- Sue: "I'm having a really difficult time hearing anything you have to say today because your hair looks like a brier patch. I keep expecting racist animated Disney characters to pop up and start singing songs about living on the bayou!" -- Artie: "What's the point, Mr. Schue? Coach Sylvester's one of the judges. She's going to crush us." Will: "Artie, you don't know that." Santana: "Yes we do. She told us at Cheerios practice." Brittany: "Yeah, she said, 'I'm going to crush glee club.'" -- MC at Regionals: "She is fresh off her 5th consecutive national cheerleading title, and author of the upcoming memoir I'm A Winner And You're Fat." -- Sue: "Kiss my ASS, Josh Groban! I'm an internationally ranked cheerleading coach!" Olivia Newton-John: "Who lives in OHIO!" -- Will: "I should shake your hand." Sue: "Not unless you got some hand sanitizer. I've seen that car you drive -- I don't want to catch 'poor'." -- Sue: "But what kind of a world would that be, Will? A world where I couldn't constantly ridicule your hair. A world where I couldn't make fun of you for tearing up more than Michael Landon in a sweeps week episode of Little House on the Prairie?" -- Olivia Newton-John: "That whole 'We're inspiring! We're a rag-tag bunch of misfits!' thing is so 2009." -- Sue: "It's as barren as me in here." -- Quinn: "Did you love me?" Puck: "Yes. Especially now." -- Mercedes: "You think Puck and Santana will acknowledge my existence if we're not in glee club together?" Puck: "She has a point." -- Quinn: "I'm the president of the Celibacy Club. I took a vow." Puck: "So did Santana and Brittany. And I did them." Until next fall... Serena View all comments or post a comment. |
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