What can I say about the Glee season finale? How about last week should have been the season finale so we could have gone out on a really terrific episode full of heart. This week, it was pretty anti-climactic as New Directions headed to New York for Nationals. I mean, seriously, did anyone think they were going to win? The kids will be seniors next season, so they have to end their time at McKinley on a high note that was not going to be spoiled by earning a win this season.
I know I’ve said in the past that there comes a point with Glee when you just have to let go of any sense of reality and just accept the story for what it is … but I’m really having a problem with the fact that the kids had to write TWO original songs — as well as compose and orchestrate the music! — while they were in New York just a day or two before the competition. Really?!? They spent more time talking, having pillow fights or sneaking out of their rooms than they did writing, but at least Rachel’s rejection of Finn’s affections spurred him on to write a pretty decent duet (and, I assume, the upbeat group song). And he/they did all of this without an ounce of input from Will.
Why? Because he was too busy sneaking off to pursue his dream of appearing on Broadway with April Rhodes. It would have been nice to have seen them on stage together (and it’s amazing how fast she got her show together too … I guess Finn helped her out) so that Will’s decision to stay with New Directions was more heart-wrenching as he wrestled with his love of the glee club and his dream to sing and dance on the Great White Way (and can someone please tell me why Matthew Morrison’s vocals sounded auto-tuned in places, as did the group number at Nationals).
And what exactly was Quinn’s big threat from last week? How exactly was she planning to get back at Finn for rejecting her? It seems like her only plan was to rat out Rachel and Kurt for sneaking out of their room (to have “breakfast at Tiffany’s”) which would have gotten them suspended and out of the competition, but Santana and Brittany talked her into getting a haircut instead. That’ll show ‘em! Had Rachel not left her room, then what?
I did like parts of the show, though. I really enjoyed Kurt and Rachel’s duet from the stage of the Gershwin Theatre singing the big closing number from Wicked. There are some lines at the end where both characters ask for forgiveness for the things they’ve done to each other in the past, and it suited both Kurt and Rachel perfectly. It also set up Rachel to show Sunshine some compassion and apologize for her behavior at the start of the season. I think it also has made Rachel resilient and steadfast in her dream to leave Ohio for New York (and a chance meeting with Patti LuPone didn’t hurt).
I also liked how the kids seemed happy at the end and accepted their 12th place finish. That was a nice moment as were the scenes between Blaine and Kurt — both saying “I love you” for the first time — and Santana and Brittany strengthening their bond, their friendship, their relationship. I think the biggest surprise of the episode was the revelation that Sam and Mercedes are dating. I did not see that coming, but as far as surprises on a season finale go, that one was more of a cute rather than forehead slapping moment. At least everyone ended the season in a relatively good place … except for maybe the viewers.
“Take her on one of those big, awful dates you see in those unwatchable romantic comedies that you grow a vagina if you watch all the way through.” — Puck gives Finn some dating advice
Want to buy the music from this week’s episode? Click the links below.
Clacked by Chuck Duncan 
on May 25, 2011 @ 02:32 EST5EDT
I’ve been a Glee defender for most of the season, but I got very frustrated by finale time. There were things I hated, and things I liked…
I am definitely on board with you regarding the original song. I know that the show is not meant to be realistic, and we’re supposed to suspend our disbelief about some things. However, to imply that they could be that polished as a glee club in a day with all new songs is just…out there. But of course the plot had to revolve around writing the songs…still it bugged me.
I hate how we just find out about Mercedes and Sam like that, which really shows how under utilized some of these very talented cast members are. I would have liked to see a bit more of how they ended up together, instead of just the end result.
Big solo numbers/duets – I’m really tired of how the performance numbers just single on one or two people (Sunshine/Rachel&Finn). I liked the Vocal Adrenaline numbers from the past, in which they were large, mostly group numbers.
What I did like: Rachel & Kurt on the Wicked stage (although it was a bit meta!); finally Rachel & Finn getting back together…not that I care if they are, but now maybe we can focus on someone else; that they didn’t win (even if I expected it, it was definitely a bit more realistic)
*POST AUTHOR*
I don’t know why they didn’t get Kristin Chenoweth back for this episode. It would have been great to see her and Will perform together on the stage, and maybe she could have taken Rachel and Kurt to the Gershwin (talk about meta!).
As for the performance numbers, I’m no show choir expert but I have seen a local high school group perform and there are some solo numbers where the group takes a back seat. I guess in competition, you have to have some showstoppers like that to win (feature the best vocalists to their advantage), but New Directions did perform as a group in the second number instead of just backup singers like in the first number. I think it would be too overwhelming to have a big group coming at you in song like that with every number … but that’s just me!
Sam and Mercedes — I guess that was supposed to be the big OMG moment of the finale, but with not even a hint in past episodes of some attraction between them (did she even visit his hotel room when the other kids were popping by?), it became more of a WTF moment.
Oh, I don’t mind the occasional solos, but I would like to see more group numbers, especially Vocal Adrenaline. I don’t feel like we’ve gotten enough of them.
*POST AUTHOR*
Yeah, they really blew it with Vocal Adrenaline this season. They make a big deal of the new girl, Sunshine, and they hire Cheyenne Jackson as the new coach and they were hardly used. There really should be more rivalry shown between the various glee clubs leading up to the competitions.