Glee-Cap S4 EP 21

Wonder-ful

SPOILER ALERT!

as always, this review is chock full of them, so if you haven't seen the episode yet, save the review for after you see it!

SO LET’S GLEE-CAP!!

The episode opens with Rachel calling Mr. Schue from New York and lets him know that she has been chosen as a finalist for her big audition as Fanny Brice in the revival of Funny Girl, thanking him for his influence and guidance saying that if it weren’t for him, she wouldn’t be who she was today.

Mr. Schue, beaming with pride, then has the idea to make this week’s assignment Wonder-ful, a Stevie Wonder Tribute episode follows.

Mercedes, Mike and Kurt come back to Lima to help the new New Directions with regionals prep. Mercedes bringing exciting news about the upcoming release of her new album. Kurt returning to Ohio to anxious to hear news regarding Burt’s Cancer (Umm.. Finally, they haven’t touched this since Christmas,) and Mike… well, I’m upset they didn’t do anything with Mike and Tina.

Artie has been accepted to a film school in NY, but is apprehensive about going, claiming his mom is the reason, that she is afraid he’ll have a difficult time without her taking care of him.

Kitty drags it out of Artie, who is reluctant. Kitty then sings Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours in glee club to encourage Artie to go and is received with an upset Artie who wheels away, Kitty suspecting that there’s more to this than Artie is letting on.

FLASH TO NY

Rachel is feverishly preparing for her Funny Girl Callback when the gorgeous Cassandra July comes to offer her guidance.

In attempts to sabotage her focus, she moves Rachel’s midterm to the following day at six in the morning, claiming she has the puffiest morning face she had ever seen.

Rachel is determined to not let this lose her focus, after all she had been dealing with Cassandra all year, she wasn’t going to let her break her resolve.

FLASH TO OHIO!

Mercedes, Mike and Kurt continue to help coach the new New Directions, performing Superstition in the auditorium, a la classic Glee group performance with Mercedes and Marley taking the lead vocals alongside Blaine.

Mike and Mercedes then flag down Jake, and encourage him to consider taking a lead spot at regionals. Mercedes tells him that his potential is incredible to which he performs a rendition of I Wish.

Kurt, Blaine, Mercedes and Mike catch up at the Lima Bean. But Kurt is obviously distracted about Burt’s upcoming test results.

Kurt’s fear of losing another parent is tangible, especially with all Kurt and Burt have gone through and has him become very superstitious days leading up to returning to Ohio, a little Ms. Pillsbury OCD, wearing on light blue socks (because they signify clear skies) and obsessively rearranging receipts on the table as the quartet chat, with Blaine noticing and putting a gentle hand over Kurt’s.

The group reassures Kurt and a little silent confirmation is established.

Kurt, Burt and Carol sit in the doctors office with Kurt nervously pacing, lashing out at Burt for wearing dark blue and Burt telling Kurt to calm down.

The doctor arrives and the intense explanation lingers, and he finally reveals that Burt is in remission! Hallelujah! The three hug with Burt telling them that he loves them and Kurt then dragging Burt to the Glee Club to celebrate with a rendition of You Are The Sunshine of My Life, a song Burt used to sing to Kurt when he was younger, and was now that much more significant.

Artie arrives home from Glee club to find Kitty and his mom (Miss Katey Sagal!) seated on the couch chatting.

We learn that the reservations about going to NY aren’t Nancy Abrams’ but Artie’s. His fears of being in the real world, which isn’t so handicapable friendly has him afraid of leaving home.

After a sweet heart-to-heart, Artie’s mother convinces him that he has always pushed beyond his abilities, and that in NY he’ll accomplish everything he aspires to and reinforcing the fact that his uncanny ability to adapt is what will help him thrive.
Can I just say, perfect casting with Katey Sagal? They look so much alike!

Mercedes learns from her record label that they won’t produce her CD unless she sexes up the cover with a raunchier photo shoot with Mercedes exposing more skin. Torn between what her heart tells her is right and the anticipation of releasing a CD she worked hard on, she looks to Mike and Kurt for guidance. The duo urge Mercedes not to sell-out, that her voice should stand alone and she shouldn’t resort to that to sell albums.

Conflicted, Mercedes heads home to think.

She returns with news that she has decided that her morals are more important than releasing a product that wasn’t done on her terms, so she leaves her labels and independently releases her album.

To reinforce her message of remaining true to yourself, she sings an amazing version of Higher Ground which reminded me why I love Mercedes so much!

FLASH TO NY!

Rachel arrives for her midterm and is surprised to see her entire class and Cassandra raising congrats and good luck signs.

Cassandra breaking out in dance and song to Uptight (Everything’s Alright). Following the performance, Cassandra reveals that the reason she had been so hard on Rachel was because she wanted to make her a better artist. Rachel and Cassandra hug, as Cassandra wishes her good luck.

FLASH TO OHIO!

Burt meets Blaine in the auditorium, and jokingly asks if Blaine is going to sing him a song as well.

Blaine laughs and pulls out a box, a rainbow pin inside it, that Burt accepts and pins onto his shirt to show his support for gay marriage.

Blaine then asks Burt for his permission to propose to Kurt. Burt taken aback, reminds Blaine of the epic fail that was Rachel and Finn last year.

Blaine upset confides in Burt that he has never loved anyone as much as he loves Kurt. That if they were to be engaged, he’d know they were meant to be. Confessing his fears about Kurt dating other boys and forgetting him if they were apart.

Burt reassures Blaine that if he believes it’s true love, that they’ll end up together in the end.

Now although I do want Kurt and Blaine to be together forever, I agree with Burt here, I think they’re far too young to commit to something so serious. Nothing says that they can’t grow together without a ring! Well not now anyway.

But we all know how impulsive teenage love can be, so maybe we might see a real  Klaine proposal in the very very near future.

Blaine catches Kurt in the hallway and it sounds like he’s about to propose, and we’re all at the edge of our seats… when he chickens out and asks him to stay for regionals to which Kurt reassures him he will.

“End of a Wonder-ful week”
“And the beginning of a Wonder-ful life.”

SIGH! Kiss and make up already!!!

The Glee club concludes the episode with a performance of For Once In My Life with Artie taking the lead to celebrate his NY acceptance.

I liked this episode. But as far as tribute episodes go, it didn’t really celebrate the music and life of the artist like previous tribute episodes.

But I think that this is attributed to the fact that with only two episodes left, the writers of glee had to tie up loose ends that had been saved until the last minute with unfortunately subpar results.

I do however, sympathize with the scrambling the writers had to do to come up with alternative storylines due to the double whammy of Cory Monteith’s entrance into rehab and Heather Morris’ pregnancy.

I still do stand with the idea that season 4 should have been executed differently. Despite the last minute surprises with the cast.

Glee comes back this Thursday with All Or Nothing, The season 4 season finale!

Regional finally arrives along with Rachel’s big audition and Mr. Schue’s wedding.

And just maybe a Klaine proposal??

Want to put in your two cents about the episode, anything you like, didn't like, wish they had done differently? Or if I missed anything, feel free to leave comments!