GLEE Fall Finale – Sectionals

December. January. February. March. APRIL! That’s how long we’re going to have to wait for a new episode of GLEE. I know the wait seems unfair, but at least we got one hell of a great Fall finale to tide us over until the Spring. Great music. Major plot movement. And a kiss that left me…gleeful.

Kudos to the writers and the director of last night’s episode for taking a step back, slowing things down a bit and giving us digestible and related story arcs rather than the frenzy of plot points usually shoved into an episode of GLEE.  Of course I mean in no way to imply that the episode wasn’t chock-full of hefty storylines, because it was. But the pace at which the stories unfolded had a certain calmness and in turn lent gravitas to each of the arcs. “Sectionals” would have served as a respectable series finale had the show not been picked up for the full season. But it did, and television is better off for it.

Since the very first episode of GLEE, way back in May, we’ve been following McKinley High’s ‘New Directions’ on the road to Sectionals, and tonight we saw the culmination of all their hard work. But as usual with this group of songsters, getting on to the stage proved to be the hardest part.

Rachel and her psychic abilities started to suspect that Puck and not Finn, could be the father of Quinn’s baby. Using a Jewish genetic disorder as her device, Rachel set off to discover the truth. Upon realizing that her suspicions had merit, no one – not even the gleeker party line – could stop Rachel from telling Finn.

In one of the more emotional scenes of the season, Finn confronted Quinn and his best friend Puck with the rumors and demanded to know the truth. A heartbroken and furious Finn left the club and was a no show as the gleekers got on the bus to leave for Sectionals.

Having been disqualified from the competition, Mr. Schue handed the glee club over to the dainty, delicate, and willing hands of Emma Pillsbury. Unfortunately the competition fell on the same day as Emma and Ken’s wedding. Faced with the scheduling dilemma, Emma did what every bride would do, she pushed back her wedding for a few hours so she could chaperone high school kids to a singing competition. Perfectly normal.

Without their leading man, New Directions felt a bit despondent, but Rachel rallied the troops and got them properly amped up for the competition ahead. But that excitement was soon thwarted when it was revealed that their two other competitors took Sue’s advice and stole the set list from the gleekers. The Jane Adams Reform School for Girls took on “And I Am Telling You” – the ballad that Mercedes would have owned – as well as the ‘Proud Mary’ wheelchair dance, which left Artie wheeling himself repeatedly into a wall. And if that wasn’t enough, the Haverbook School for the Deaf took New Directions signature piece, ‘Don’t Stop Believin’.

Left with nothing to sing, the gleekers were devastated and racing to pull together a repertoire. They knew they could end the show with the crowd pleasing ‘Somebody to Love’, but without Mercedes’ solo, and another group number they wouldn’t be able to compete.

It was time for their Captain to step up and take control. This was Rachel’s moment. All season long she let everyone know that she was a star. But now she had to prove it, and the whole glee club needed her to shine.  When Rachel said, “Well, I do have something I’ve been working on since I was four.” everyone knew she wasn’t kidding. All that she went through this year prepared her for this moment. She was going to stand center stage and represent the glee club. But they were still missing one more ensemble piece.

A panicked Emma called Will for advice, but there was little he could do. He did however have an idea of one person who could help. Will tracked down Finn in the locker room and shared some inspiring words. He also left his set of cars keys hoping that Finn would find his way to Sectionals.

He did. And the co-Captain brought with him a new song for the group to sing, inspired by Mr. Schu’s advice.

It was time for New Directions to hit the stage, but not before Emma Pillsbury confronted the advisers for Jane Adams and Haverbrook and ripped them a new one. Go Emma!

With Mr. Schu listening in through Emma’s cell phone, Rachel emerged dramatically from the back of the theater and broke into a stunning version of Barbra Streisand’s “Don’t Rain on My Parade” that would have made Babs proud. As she and her fellow gleekers made their way to the stage, a teary eyed Will listened with pride. The performance ended with the crowd on their feet. But New Directions was just getting started.  Finn’s last minute music suggestion of The Rolling Stones “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”, once again had the crowd on their feet, but this time it was mid-song as the audience couldn’t help but stand up and dance to the music. Another well deserved standing O! But was it enough to win?

As the cameras took us, documentary style, behind the closed doors of the judges room, we got a hilarious look at the deliberation of the three, completely unqualified judges. Cult fandoms collided as TRUE BLOOD’s Anna Camp, who plays Sarah Newlin on the HBO show (as well as Pam’s sister on THE OFFICE), came to GLEE as one of the judges.

Having been affected by Emma’s speech, the adviser of the Jane Adams school, tried to do the right thing an attempted to confess to the judges, but their minds were made up. McKinley High’s New Directions won Sectionals!! Yay Gleekers!

Later in the day, as Will was getting ready for Emma and Ken’s wedding, an apologetic Terri let her husband know that she is going to counseling (albeit it at the local community center), and that she wants to make their marriage work. Unfortunately for her, Will isn’t sure he can see a future together. I wouldn’t get too excited. They are still married, so I’m not sure Terri Schuester is going to disappear anytime soon. But here’s to hoping.

The Schuester’s aren’t the only ones whose love life is in ruins. After realizing that Emma put being there for Will above her own marriage, Ken called off the wedding to Emma. When Will found her in the reception site (which also served as the local VFW), Emma confessed that she didn’t take over the glee club for the kids, she did it for him. She told Will of her feelings for him and then told him that she resigned from McKinley. Having hurt Ken so badly, and being so heartbroken over Will, she didn’t think she could stay in the school any longer. As she walked away, Will stopped her to tell her that he just left his wife. Not wanting to be the rebound, Emma couldn’t be with Will just as his marriage was dissolving.

Back in school on Monday, Principal Figgins finally got a set and fired Sue Sylvester as the coach of the Cheerios before suspending her from the school. An irate Sue confronted Will and vowed to get back at him for what he took from her. “You are about to board the Sue Sylvester Express. Destination – Horror!”

Having being reinstated as the head of the glee club, Will returned to the music room where the kids presented him with the sectional trophy. They also had another surprise in store for their mentor – a rendition of Kelly Clarkson’s “My Life Would Suck Without You” complete with bits of choreography reminiscent of all their musical numbers to date. A very sweet moment.

While the kids were singing, the lyrics really hit home for Will. As the music played in the background Will ran to look for Emma. He was devastated when he found her office empty and completely cleared out. But as he walked away he saw her standing at the end of the hall. He ran to her and without hesitation kissed her like every woman deserves to be kissed.

Fade to black…until April. How cruel.

Incredible musical numbers. Sassy and snarky dialogue. Emotional confessions. I’m not sure you can ask for any more. The fall finale of GLEE was perhaps the best episode of the season, which is good because it’s going to have to tide us over for a few months.

Before we get to Amber Riley’s jaw-dropping performance of “And I’m Telling You”, a few parting quotes that just can’t be ignored…

• Brittany: “Sex is not dating. If it were, Santana and I would be dating.”

• Emma (about her wedding): “We just pushed it back a few hours. Now it doesn’t have to happen in broad daylight.”

• Sue: “I’m reasonably confident you’ll be adding revenge to the long list of things you’re no good at, right next to finding a hairstyle that doesn’t make you look like a lesbian.”

• Will: “You make a beautiful bride.”

• Rachel: “I’m going to give you a hug now.”

• Finn: “Don’t play dumb, you’re too freakin’ dumb to play dumb!”

• Kurt: “Damn her talent.”

And now…Ms. Amber Riley.

This might be the last time we talk GLEE for a while. Talk to me about last night’s episode. What will happen now that Finn know about the baby? Will this pave the way for him and Rachel? And what’s to come of Emma and Will after that breathtaking kiss? Thoughts on last night’s music? So much to talk about. The comments are open…