GLEE Season Finale: It’s Graduation Day on GLEE

[The following contains spoilers for the GLEE season finale. If you haven’t seen it you might want to stop reading now. You’ve been warned.]

You know it’s going to be a long night when the show is at the 15 second mark and I’m already reaching for the Kleenex.

I should warn you that this recap is being written within minutes of the episode ending and thus I’m operating from a place of tears, rainbows and the spirit animals of all gleeks – unicorns.

Perhaps there has been a stronger episode of GLEE since the pilot all those years ago, but in this very moment I can’t remember one. A show that sometimes struggles to do anything right pretty much nailed everything tonight. The right characters, relationships and storylines were given the time they needed to be explored and given there proper send-off.  The music complimented and enhanced the storytelling. Even the very shocking twists made sense not only with regards to the story arc for certain characters, but in as much as they left the audience truly invested in how the repercussions will play out next season.

In some ways tonight’s episode felt more like a series finale than a season finale. In some ways I suppose it was. GLEE will of course be back for season 4 but the show will, for better or worse, not be the GLEE we have loved/hated/thrown things at/sang love songs too over the past few years. The specifics haven’t been revealed, but we do know that while some of GLEE will be focused on the remaining members of New Directions at McKinely High, the show will also follow the post-grad lives of the Class of 2012. To what extent we will see Quinn, Puck, Mike, Mercedes and even Finn, I’m not sure. They won’t all be in every episode, but I’d imagine we’ll check in with them from time to time.  If nothing else, let’s not forget the amazing reunion number we’ll get at Mr. Schue’s upcoming nuptials.

To talk about the future plans of the seniors requires that we get some business out of the way.

In the interest of not burying the lede any more than I already have, let’s just jump in with both feet and talk about the more shocking moments of tonight’s episode. (Prepare yourself folks, I have a lot of feelings tonight and this keyboard is taking the brunt of it.)

Rachel Berry got in to NYADA. Kurt Hummel got rejected. Finn Hudson joined the Army. Rachel and Finn essentially broke up.

Okay, maybe Rachel getting into NYADA wasn’t that shocking, but the one-two combo of her getting in and Kurt being rejected was surprising to say the least. I didn’t see that coming. Honestly, I’m not sure why the decision was made to keep Kurt from his NYADA dreams, but I’m going to put faith in the GLEE writers (told you I was writing from a unicorn haze) and hope that they have a different story to tell for Kurt Hummel for next season.  If you’ll be kind enough to let me indulge in a little spoiler-based speculation (or as some may call it, fan fiction), then I’d like to share my thoughts on where Kurt’s journey might take him next season.

The reason that Kurt’s rejection from NYADA was so shocking was that all information shared with viewers so far about next season and the “show within the show” very much hinted at Kurt’s presence in New York City. I think Kurt’s Big Apple dreams are still going to happen next season, but after being rejected from NYADA, I speculate that our dear Mr. Hummel is going to shift his passion for the theater to his passion for all things fashion. Kurt will end up in fashion school in NYC (think Parsons…oh the money Kurt Hummel could spend in Mood) which would dovetail nicely with the confirmed spoiler for next season – the uber-fashion forward Sarah Jessica Parker guest starring as Kurt’s mentor.

If I know my readers, many of you secretly cheered when Kurt received his rejection letter.  One more year in Ohio with Blaine before the two leave Limo behind to live happily ever after in NYC together, right?  Listen, in the interest of being Queen of the Klainers, I’m all for that version of history being written, but all indications lead to Kurt ending up in New York well before his dear Noah Calhoun Blaine graduates from high school. But let’s hold off on that drama for next season. As of right now, our boys are looking at each other with hearts in their eyes and talking about growing old together. Let’s hold on to this moment as long as we can.

Whether or not Rachel Berry and Finn Hudson will have their happily ever after is a bit more up in the air right now. Now I don’t think there was a single one of you that thought this season would end with Rachel Berry actually deferring NYADA for a year to wait for Finn and Kurt. Her intentions seemed on point, but we knew it wasn’t really going to happen. And I’m guessing most of you probably figured out during the course of the episode that Finn was going to get rejected from Pace and end up joining the Army. But those final scenes in which Finn picked up Rachel who thought she was en route to her wedding only to have the car ride end in Finn sending her off to NYC all alone after he revealed to her that he had joined the military was utterly heartbreaking. (Almost as heartbreaking as that run-on sentence.) Lea Michele’s emotional breakdown killed me and I don’t think that Cory Monteith has ever had a more authentic moment of acting during his entire stint on the show.

Finn did the right thing. He loved Rachel so much that he put his own desire to marry her aside to do right by her. Can’t ask for more than that. I have no doubt that Finchel fans are carrying a heavy heart tonight, but I don’t believe for one minute that this is the end for Finn and Rachel. Take comfort in how epic their Season 4 reunion will be.  And when you are feeling especially down over the summer, think about how damn good Cory Monteith is going to look in a uniform next season.

Finn, Rachel and Kurt might have been at the epicenter of tonight’s more shocking moments, but all most of our seniors (sorry Mike and Mercedes) had their chance to shine, or at least a well deserved voice over (sorry Mike and Mercedes).

Oh the stories Quinn Fabray will tell when she looks back on her high school days. In the end, she figured it all out and ended high school a better person than she was when she first walked through the halls of McKinley. Her journey has no doubt been the most difficult, but she persevered and is off to Yale in the Fall.  Who would have thought Quinn would end her HS days having a heart to heart with Rachel Berry and gifting her with a train pass so they can be sure to keep in touch. How far we’ve come, Faberry.

Sue and Q shared a final moment that allowed Sue, in her own special way, to tell Quinn just how proud she was of her. The scene, punctuated with just enough Sue’isms to make it real, was one of the biggest heart-wrenchers of the episode, and that’s saying a lot given how much I cried tonight.

The writers also gave Quinn and Puck a nice moment tonight where the two could heal some old wounds and acknowledge a bond and a relationship that the show too often glossed over.  In the end, it was some inspiring words from Quinn (and one hell of a kiss) that gave Noah Puckerman the confidence he needed to pass his final exam and graduate along with his class.

What’s next for Puck? Will he live out his dream of opening up a pool business in Los Angeles? Looks like we won’t find out until next season. But I’m putting my money on Puck. He’s not going to end up a Lima Loser.

If you’re a fan of the fiesty Latina that is Santana Lopez, then you’re probably pretty excited about her future plans.  Santana finally revealed to her mother (guest star Gloria Estefan) that she didn’t want to go to the University of Louisville, but rather wanted to try to make it in NYC. Mama Gloria come on , shake your body baby, do the conga’d that idea pretty fast and insisted NYC would still be waiting for Santana after college.  In the end, Gloria (and I’m assuming the rest of Miami Sound Machine) decided that Santana’s happiness is all that matters.  As a graduation gift she was given the money she needed to begin her life in NYC.

Snaps all around for the writers landing Santana in NYC alongside Rachel (and assuming Kurt). Looks like Naya Rivera will still be a big presence on the show next year and that’s a very good thing.

As for Santana’s relationship with (senior year again) Brittany? I don’t see the romantic part of their relationship lasting, but I would imagine those girls will be connected in some capacity the rest of their lives. I know Britanna fans were very invested in that relationship, but I’m on the record as saying that I never really understood it, so forgive me for glossing over it tonight.

In quick moments, a little undeserving of both their characters, we learned that Mercedes was offered a contract to be a back up singer for an indie label in L.A., so she’ll be doing that in addition to taking classes at UCLA.  Mike declined Julliard in favor of a scholarship to be part of the Joffrey Ballet School in Chicago.

Tonight wasn’t just about the seniors saying goodbye, it was also about saying goodbye to the seniors. After the New Directions Class of 2012 passed the torch to the remaining members of glee – Blaine, Tina, Artie, Sam, Brittany, Rory, Sugar and Joe – by serenading them with a fun yet heartwarming version of “You Get What You Give”, the underclassmen said their own goodbye with a lovely rendition of “In My Life” by The Beatles. The song was given a special dedication to Finn for his role in making it ok to be in GLEE for the guys of McKinley (except for all the times that he didn’t and it wasn’t, but that’s what not what we’re here for tonight.) I know the remaining gleeks won’t be the sole focus of the show next year and that the choir room will see some new faces next season, but there are still some talented voices left and a lot of stories left to tell. Ok, I might be thinking mostly of Blaine, but just give me that as a departing present for this season.

In their final musical performance as McKinely High students, Puck and Finn sang Springsteen’s “Glory Days” as the seniors of New Directions were called to the stage to accept their diplomas. It wasn’t realistic in the least, but with the catch all explanation from GLEE’s Zach Woodlee, “It’s Glee” – and with that, all is to be accepted.

Tonight’s season finale was about moving on. So it was fitting that in the final moments of the episode, the members of New Directions came together to see Rachel Berry off as she boarded the train to New York City.  As the train pulled away from the station, Rachel looked out and waved a final goodbye to her friends. Finn walked and then ran along with the train until it sped off into the distance. (By this point I’m a totally crying mess and vow that from this moment on, I will only travel by train in the hopes of living out this utterly romantic fantasy moment in real life.)

We the audience see Rachel Berry walking (and singing a power balled) through the streets of New York City. She’s weary at first but as she walked down Broadway and by the theaters that she will no doubt one day be performing in, her pace quickened, her smile brightened and we all know Rachel Berry is exactly where she should be. Well done you, Rachel.

Of course this overly verbose recap didn’t capture all the special moments in tonight’s GLEE. Here are a few more, and I hope that you can fill in what I missed in the comments below.

• I wasn’t joking when I said I was misty-eyed 15 seconds into the show. Mr.Schue watching the original five members of New Directions perform ‘Sit Down Your Rockin’ the Boat’ and then flashing back to their very first time singing that song in the pilot episode…damn, I’m getting choked up just thinking about it now.

• Although Mr. Schue usually annoys me to no end, the way he so thoughtfully sang “Forever Young” to his glee club was very touching. There wasn’t a false moment of acting from anyone in that choir room.

• To know me is to know my love for all things Burt Hummel, so to see him show his son how much he loves him by performing “Single Ladies” alongside Brit and Tina was just perfection. All the awards to Mike O’Malley. Once again a nice use of flashback to show the original performance of that now iconic number from “Preggers” the fourth episode of the series.

• While I mentioned all the other voice overs, I failed to mention Kurt’s.  He talked of his journey from in the closet to the confident man he is today. And it was a nice nod to his influence that some adorable and fashionably dressed gay boys walked through the halls of McKinley with their heads held high.

• Kurt’s final choir room speech was the only slight (and I mean slight) misstep in the episode. Kurt went out of his way to thank the guys of glee for always treating him with respect and acceptance.  Not to say the guys didn’t go to bat for Kurt more times than not, but that came after some dumpster tossing and slushy throwing. But much like Kurt, I think I can let that go in favor of the sentimentality of the moment.  Kurt’s performance of “I’ll Remember’ was sweet, but it turned ugly for me when I realized that it was Kurt’s (most likely) last choir room performance. Sniff. Sniff.

• Roz Washington once again gets the best quote of the episode with this doozy: [With regards to her suggestion to Sue that they team up to oust Figgins] “You think that over Sue Sylvester while you nurse your thousand year old vampire baby. You just be sure to bottle feed because that baby is going to use those sharp ass teeth to bite holes in those saggy old boobs.”

• Ok, was anyone else secretly waiting for Finn to show up in NYC with Rachel?  I was.  It was all those damn pics that were snapped of Lea Michele filming in New York.  Cory Monteith was there while they were shooting. But in the end, it seems he was there in the role of Lea Michele’s real life boyfriend and not her her TV one. Nothing like dating your co-star as the ultimate foiler.