You smell like Craigslist.

[ellydash]

Okay, first things first: I have a lot of Sam, Quinn and Mercedes feelings that might be best resolved in their choosing to have a polyamorous relationship. I’m just saying.

First off, Sam. SAM. SAAAAAAAM. I feel like I can’t write his name without threatening some kind of devolution into hysterical typing where I just interchangeably henpeck the letters S, A and M in various orders while shrieking with joy. This dude is legitimately my favorite character, and he’s almost definitely going to get ruined somehow now that he’s back, but until then, I’m just going to put a lot of really happy words about him on the internet. Yeah, he wasn’t perfect tonight – that condescending speech to Quinn about her “rich white girl problems” really bothered me – but I’m so thrilled to see him that I can’t find it in me to spend much time kvetching or, you know, have perspective.

Instead, I’m just going to focus on how starry-eyed the Sam/Mercedes moments tonight made me. The grin threatening to burst on Mercedes’s face when she was walking away from Sam down the hallway; how proud Sam looked during the Troubletones performance; that embarrassed and thrilled reaction she had during ABC: all of it was magic. This is all so unfamiliar to me – getting to see one of your OTPs actually become/be canon. I feel like I should talk to some Kurt/Blaine shippers to figure out how to process it. It’s like eating a lot of really great gouda when you usually don’t have any extra money to buy really great gouda, and you’re overwhelmed by how full you are, but the gouda is just so awesome that you want to keep eating. MORE GOUDA, GLEE. BRING THAT SHIT ON.

Mercedes herself continues to be flawless. She’s grown into her own this season, and she’s done it on her own terms; I especially love that she refused to come back to ND without making sure first that things would be different. It feels weird saying I’m proud of her, because lol fictional character, but you know, I’m really proud of her.

And then, Quinn. I just, Quinn’s storyline leaves such a bad taste in my mouth. It feels all wrong to me, like they’ve just thrown her into the mud and let her wriggle there for episode after episode, without bothering to ask questions about why she’s this messed up. It seems like we’re supposed to think Quinn’s problems have to do with her lack of perspective, judging by the “fix” she got tonight – apparently it’s as simple as getting her to appreciate her youth and the time she has with her friends. But what we’re being shown is Quinn leaping from irrationality to irrationality with no contextual acknowledgement that if she’s this divorced from reality, there’s something majorly, majorly wrong with her, and she needs way more help than her friends can give. It’s frustrating as hell, and I can’t bring myself to care about it as much as I’d like to, because there’s no sense that anyone involved in writing her has any interest in making this psychologically realistic.

The way she reached out to Mercedes at the end, though? That was beautiful. I’ve missed seeing their friendship so much, and seeing them dance together made my heart happy.

Is it heartless to say I didn’t much care for the Papa Chang/Mike/Tina storyline? I feel like that’s probably a very unpopular opinion. I didn’t hate it, but it felt so familiar and overdone, and tbh I kind of understand where Mike’s dad was coming from. Not that Mike shouldn’t embrace his dreams, if that’s what makes him happy, but a solid backup plan is a really important thing when you’re going for a career in the arts (or, hell, the humanities in general), and a little gray area would’ve gone a long way here. It was nice to see Tina speak and do things, too, but would it be too much to ask for her to have her own plotline that doesn’t revolve around her boyfriend? Don’t answer that.

Other things:

- Fuck it, the Troubletones should’ve won. I’m totally biased, and ND was pretty solid, especially during ABC, but the Troubletones killed. The music tonight on the whole was actually way better than it’s been for a long time, and I loved hearing so many different voices in one episode (especially Tina! Yay, Tina!). “We Are Young” was one of those moments where the song paid off because it benefited from storylines and context, and it reminded me that when it comes down it, my real OTP for this show is everyone/everyone.

- Finn did things tonight that were worth talking about, I guess. Whatever, I'm sure they were offensive somehow even though I didn't really pay attention.

- Kurt and Rachel singing along with Harmony. ♥_____♥

- PUCK PUCKERMAN, WHAT IS YOUR HAIR AND IS THERE EVEN A CURE FOR IT ANYMORE THAT DOESN’T INVOLVE A NUCLEAR OPTION. Like, is that an actual life choice Mark Salling made? Did he lose a bet? Are the hairstylists on the show trying to confuse him? Is he hiding all those unsold copies of Pipe Dreams in that waxy wave? I swear, I missed entire stretches of dialogue because I was giggling too hard to hear anything.

- I lost it at Will’s creepy “Hey guys, I’m here now, yeah! Aren’t we awesome? Hey, remember when I was a major character on this show? Wasn’t that fun? That was cool, right?” laugh at the very end. Like, legitimately got teary from cracking up.

- RIP Troubletones. ;______;

Comments

[the-seaward.livejournal.com]

Man, I loved this episode a lot. Tbh, I've decided to try and watch Glee without focusing on the problematic parts (Finn). Doing so makes for a, uh, leaner viewing experience, but I after I raged myself to death last week, I don't know, man. I just can't do it anymore.

SAM. Love u, Sam. His storyline about being pushed out of teenagerhood and having to be an adult resonated with me, a lot. I liked the chat with his parents in theory, but it was a little cheesy in practice. I liked Sam being a stripper in theory, in practice, in abs, in everything. What I'm saying is, someone bettah write fic where Sam gives Quinn Rachel Blaine Puck Sugar Will Mike ChangMercedes EVERYONE a private ~show.

Sugar is the best. I totes snarfed my bourbon when she yelled 'tickles.' Honorable mention: Harmony. Shit gurl, you cray and I love you for it.

Finn. Le sigh, Finn. Can you just be the dumbest and have silly one-liners about Backdraft: The Musical and being really good at looking busy, please? I'm trying to wash from my brain everything that Finn has done in the past few episodes because if I don't do that, I will go insane, and I will take you all with me. When he fist-bumped Blaine during the TT performance I CACKLED and was like "the only explanation is that he needs glasses and a hearing aid." But then I was sad because I knew what was gon happen.

Artie's line about tingling in a 50% tingle zone was hilar, not sry2say.

Speaking of tingle zones: The Troubletones, ladies and gents. No commentary needed.

Quinn, your storyline is so fucking odd I can't wrap my mind around it. I get what Sam was trying to say to Quinn, and it would be fine if she was like "oh no, I flunked my Trig test and my life is OVER" but girl has ISSUES and is trying to get CUSTODY of the baby she put up for adoption by ruining someone else's LIFE, so, uh, Sam—you should probably keep your advice to yourself. The whole thing is just so very Glee, and not in a good way. I guess at least they are acknowledging that Shelby is messed up, too? I dunno, I think they have no idea what the HALE they are doing with this mess. WEIRD, I KNOW, USUALLY GLEE'S STORYLINES ARE SO WELL-THOUGHT-OUT WITH FOCUS AND CLARITY.

I'm glad you have that unpopular opinion about Mike's storyline. During Tina's scene with Chang Sr. in his office, I was just like "uhhhhh sry Tina but Big Daddy Chang has a point."

Kurt was the most perfect Kurt that ever Kurted in this ep. JUST PERFECT.

And then of course I mean at the end when Will had the trophy and made the little "4 you" gesture and pointed out into the audience Emma was there but like Rachel was standing right next to her and well I ju—YOU GET THE IDEA.

The only crime is that we didn't get Puck Puckerman reaction faces when the other clubs were performing. A TRAVESTY. He we probably too busy feeding that thing that lives on his head now.

[kitsune13.livejournal.com]

And then of course I mean at the end when Will had the trophy and made the little "4 you" gesture and pointed out into the audience Emma was there but like Rachel was standing right next to her and well I ju—YOU GET THE IDEA.

YEEEEES. Also, I loled so hard when Mercedes said that even if Will signs off on their solos, it doesn't mean anything unless Rachel does too -- Rachel runs his ass, and they all know it. When combined with the "omg don't rat out Shelby!" thing, I am delusionally hoping for a Will/Rachel plotline come season 4.

The only crime is that we didn't get Puck Puckerman reaction faces when the other clubs were performing. A TRAVESTY. He we probably too busy feeding that thing that lives on his head now.

This! His hilar performing faces were great as always, but it was simply NOT ENOUGH.

[the-seaward.livejournal.com]

I am delusionally hoping for a Will/Rachel plotline come season 4.

This will be my wish until Glee's dying day. When Rachel said "Puck's 18 so it's not illegal," I was just like UMMMM RACHEL ISN'T YOUR BIRTHDAY COMING UP?

[ellydash.livejournal.com]

Watch, we'll get a Will/Rachel/Emma love triangle in Season 4, because once Ryan Murphy took a screenwriting class and the instructor said, "Sometimes a love triangle is a good way to generate conflict," and what he heard was "ALL OF THE TIME a love triangle is a good way to generate conflict! Also, women are the worst."

[ellydash.livejournal.com]

I know I'm viewing all of this through my nice rosy stan glasses, but the whole reintroduction of Sam back into the show did a pretty good job (for Glee, I mean; we're not talking actually "good" as the concept applies to every non-Ry Murphs show) of ~developing his character along the lines we've seen before. He's a good guy who's committed to helping out his family and his friends, and if he has to be sexy in order to do that, well, then, Sam Evans will just have to take one for the team.

How is this show so awesome at bringing on new characters? Like, every time a new character's announced I'm all, noooo, less screentime for people I want to see, but then the new people turn out to be amazing and hilarious.

Finn just needs to be dumb all the time. I legit howled at Backdraft: The Musical, but everything else was just Finn being White Heterosexual Privilege Ken, ugh.

KURT. ♥______♥ I adore him always, but I adore him the MOST when he's being snarky and hilarious, oh my lord.

And then of course I mean at the end when Will had the trophy and made the little "4 you" gesture and pointed out into the audience Emma was there but like Rachel was standing right next to her and well I ju—YOU GET THE IDEA.

I MUST'VE TAKEN OFF MY SHIPPER GOGGLES BECAUSE I DID NOT NOTICE THAT AND NOW I KIND OF HATE MYSELF, TBH. Atoning with this perfecting stalker icon.