GLEE Recap: ‘Funeral’

After the fantastic prom episode, I was fully prepared to be underwhelmed this week, but I was pleasantly surprised. All thanks to the deliciously bitchy Jesse St. James, awesome solo numbers from all of GLEE’s best vocalists, and a Sue Sylvester storyline that was touching but not overly sappy (as it often can be).

Jesse’s turn as Show Choir Consultant was a brilliant excuse to have him involved in Rachel and rest of the New Directions’ lives. I love that he took a Reality Television class at UCLA. I love that he drew a cat on his notepad instead of jotting down critiques during Santana’s performance. I love that his snide remarks are igniting a fire in Finn, allowing him to man up and make decisions (and help him wake up to his feelings for Rachel). I still can’t trust him as far as I as throw him, or throw my soul into ev-e-ry open door…oh sorry, I was having a flashback to last week’s “Rolling In The Deep.” (I’m OBSESSED with that scene. OBSESSED.)

Where was I? Oh yeah, Jesse can’t be trusted. But I can’t figure out what his angle would be. Something tells me he doesn’t really care for Rachel, but why would he lie? Let me know what you think below!

I must say I love whenever they have audition-related story lines because it always involves the individual characters shining at what they do best. Santana’s “Back To Black” was pretty good, but felt a bit like an imitation that paled in comparison to the original – as Simon Cowell might say. Kurt sang a GYPSY song for the second time on the series, and it’s the second time we heard him soar into that “I had a dream” line – and I wasn’t mad at it. No sir.

Mercedes wailed “Try A Little Tenderness” in a way that only she could, and of course Rachel poured her heart (and nose, and lips, and large tear-filled eyes) into a “Funny Girl” number. Predictable? Yes. But in the best way. It reminded me of the auditions in the pilot where each song was a perfect encapsulating introduction of each character. (Except Tina’s “I Kissed A Girl.” I still have no idea who she is.)

With an episode titled “Funeral,” it doesn’t take a spoiler to know that someone will be mourning the loss of a life. We are quick to learn that it is Sue, and we learn this as Will inappropriately pulls a Schuester and storms into a room yelling and scolding before knowing all the facts. He is enraged that Sue kicked Becky off the Cheerios. She tells him she did it because Becky reminded her of her sister Jean – who had died the day before. I felt for Sue and her struggle to deal with missing her sister, and found it really sweet that Kurt and Finn attempted to help. WILLY WONKA as Jean’s favorite movie was a nice touch, and allowed for a tender ND rendition of “Pure Imagination.” (Was kind of hoping Jesse was going to sing it, since I’ve seen J. Groff performances of it on YouTube…but for story purposes I suppose it wouldn’t make sense.) The only thing that made me cringe throughout this whole story line was Will coming up to the podium and continuing Sue’s speech for her. Just once I’d like to see him leave a difficult situation be and not swoop in with his macho-sensitivity trying to smooth everything over.

While I appreciate the sentiment that Sue appreciated Will’s friendship, it seems pretty odd that she says she will no longer come after the glee club. And odder still that she was running for House of Representatives. It sounded a lot like a “moving on” story more befitting of April Rhodes or Holly Holliday, as they ride into the proverbial sunset/hallway. And as we know Sue is not going anywhere. But I’m sure the writers will find a way for Sue to inexplicably snap back to her evil ways. They always do.

Finn finally breaks up with Quinn. In a very Fuinn-appropriate fashion, the break-up was full of tension. In response to Quinn’s relentless fight for prom king and queen fantasy fulfillment, Finn says “Don’t you feel anything anymore?” Which prompts her to start crying. How’s that for feeling, you a-hole? However, he does have a point. When did Quinn stop feeling? I’m sure the Gleekdom agrees with me that it is bizarre that her character had appeared to experience a lot of emotional growth as she went through an unplanned pregnancy and giving up a baby for adoption, and has all of a sudden returned to her superficial, image-obsessed ways.

How about that cliffhanger ending? Quinn couldn’t have quit glee because it would ruin her big New York PLANS? What plans?! Are they evil plans? Are they plans that will hurt Finn? I’m on the edge of my seat!

What do you think? Do you think Finn could’ve at least waited until they pulled away from the funeral before dumping his girlfriend? Do you miss Rachel’s cute dresses as much as I do? (What was that horrendous unflattering mess of a black dress she wore during her audition?) Did you, too, recognize Jesse St. James by the masculine click of his designer boots?