GLEE #44/Season Finale: New York

[GrayLinnorm]

So it all comes down to this. The glee club has finally reached nationals in New York City (this was actually filmed in New York) where they will once again face Vocal Adrenaline (who really should have gotten more air time this season). Will they finally beat them? Once again they're using original songs, and there will be four of them in tonight's episode: "As Long As You're There" (performed by Charice and Vocal Adrenaline), "Pretending" (Rachel and Finn), "Light Up the World" (New Directions), and "My Cup" (Artie and Brittany). The first three are on Glee: The Music Volume 6, which comes out today.

The rest of the playlist:

Mr. Shu sings "Still Got Tonight", originally performed by Matthew Morrison

New Directions does a mashup of "New York, New York", originally performed by Frank Sinatra, and "I Love New York", originally performed by Madonna

The boys sing "Bella Notte", originally performed in Lady and the Tramp

Rachel and Kurt sing "For Good", originally performed in Wicked

The Crawford County Girls Choir sings "Yeah!", originally performed by Usher

That's it until fall. I'll leave you with two questions:

1. What is Quinn up to?
2. I thought they were going to do 25 episodes this season. What happened?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

2. I thought they were going to do 25 episodes this season. What happened?

They ran out of people to do special episodes centered around.

Hopefully they rediscover plot and character-driven storylines next year. More season one, please, less season two.

 

[fba827]

2. I thought they were going to do 25 episodes this season. What happened?

Wikipedia (not that it is an authoritative source or anything) has always listed it as a 22 episode season.

Hopefully they rediscover plot and character-driven storylines next year. More season one, please, less season two.

Next season is supposed to "introduce 4 new characters, each with their own new character story arcs" (quote is, again, form wikipedia, so not claiming it as an authoritative source, just a source)

 

[Rhun]

I just hope tonight's episode is good. This season has been hit and miss for me.

 

[Umbran]

Next season is supposed to "introduce 4 new characters, each with their own new character story arcs" (quote is, again, form wikipedia, so not claiming it as an authoritative source, just a source)

Yes, well, it seems to me they don't lack for characters as they are. Adding more will mean that each individual gets even less spotlight. Given how little screen time each already gets, this does not seem to me like a great thing. Someone's forgotten how to write for an ensemble cast.

I don't see the show's problems as a character issues, but a plotting issues. You don't ever, "run out of characters to do special episodes centered around". With a cast that large, you can just circle back to the beginning again. I think the basic problem they have is that they've made the relationship musical chairs be the driving force of events, more than allowing other events to shape the relationships.

 

[Fast Learner]

Unfortunately the episode was both predictable and not very entertaining, at least for me. The little epitaph was particularly strange, neither providing resolution for the earlier climax nor setting up anything particularly interesting for next season. Very strange.

New characters are being added, I assume, so they can transition some of the current ones out at the end of next season. And/or they have more contract negotiation power over the current stars.

 

[Umbran]

The little epitaph was particularly strange, neither providing resolution for the earlier climax nor setting up anything particularly interesting for next season. Very strange.

Depending what you're referring to, I thought it did lead to some resolution, detailing how characters felt about the events that had transpired.

By the way, I want to go on record as having been robbed. Having Finn say, "Take a chance on me," and then *not* having them segue into an Abba song was a crime.

 

[Kzach]

Have to say that it was pretty weak as a series finale. The best moment was far and away the two songs and the kiss. Everything around that was hit or miss.

MVP of the season I think should go to Britney.

 

[Rhun]

Have to say that it was pretty weak as a series finale. The best moment was far and away the two songs and the kiss. Everything around that was hit or miss.

MVP of the season I think should go to Britney.

I agree with both of these points 100%.

 

[Thunderfoot]

Hey, at least they got a trophy this year.

I like the fact that there is a budding romance too (Sam and Mercedes). My big prediction is that Sunshine will transfer back to McKinley as one of the "new" members. Also, I have a feeling that Brittney is close to departing, Heather Morris is beginning to show most of her 24 years (she looks closer to 30 without her make-up).

Also, what happened to Coach Bieste? She was quickly becoming one of my favorite characters and then....nothing.