Season finale tonight. New Directions is finally headed to Nationals in New York City. According to Cory Monteith they did actual location shooting in NYC. It’s airing an hour later because of American Idol.
[ul]
[li]As Long As You’re There[/li][li]Bella Notte[/li][li]For Good[/li][li]I Love New York/New York, New York[/li][li]Light Up the World[/li][li]My Cup[/li][li]Pretending[/li][li]Still Got Tonight[/li][li]Yeah![/li][/ul]
I see someone has already voted “Meh”, with the episode not set to air for another hour and a half.
Well, i watched it and still voted ‘meh’. I thought it was incoherent, even by Glee standards.
I was having a bit of trouble getting into the first half but then the last half was great.
I loved that they didn’t even place.
I find it hilarious how of all the theatres on Broadway they apparently managed to break into the Gershwin to sing on it’s stage. If you’re familiar at all with the layout of that theatre you’d realize how utterly impossible such a thing is. (Which is why they didn’t actually show them breaking into the theatre - just walking into the auditorium.)
Of course, they were also able to write, choreograph & rehearse two new songs in what, less than a day?
The show itself was meh.
I haven’t voted yet, but I tend to agree. There were enough good moments that I think it may wind up a “like” for me, but there were also a LOT of moments where I was having to call up the MST3K mantra.
Why would they not just go with existing songs when they had no original numbers at the 11th hour? How did they pull two original songs out of thin air at what seemed like literally the last minute? Did it not occur to anyone that they didn’t make the final 10 not because Finn and Rachel’s kiss was unprofessional, but because the judges didn’t like their songs or maybe, just maybe, because leaving no time to rehearse is really unprofessional? Just how long were they in NYC before the competition? Did Mr. Schuster leave them alone the entire time? Did a haircut really resolve all Quinn’s issues?
I was also wondering who thought it was a good idea to go with that terrible original song about New York rather than just having them sing “New York, New York” or any number of other existing songs about the city. The only thing that number had going for it was that the lyrics were so stupid I could believe they were written by a not-very-bright group of teenagers using a rhyming dictionary. Then I checked online and found out that “I Love New York” is actually a Madonna song. :smack: Their original numbers were much better than that, although I’d still prefer good existing songs to original songs.
I do kind of want a spin-off about Rachel, Kurt, and Blaine all living together in NYC (on Blaine’s trust fund) and trying to make it on Broadway. Finn can stay in Lima because I have been bored with Finn/Rachel since December. I’m hoping that next season their relationship can just be in the background like Tina/Mike was this season and the show can focus on other things.
I’m glad they didn’t place. The duet was ok, but I thought the last performance number was horrid. Sorry…a performance on stage should not be autotuned to within an inch of its life. Rachel/Kurt’s “For Good” performance was very good, though I found the cuts jarring since I know the show well. The plot was stretching credulity even for Glee standards, but I have to remember that this is not a show based in reality, so it’s all OK. Not sure if we were all supposed to be shocked by Sam/Mercedes at the end, but I just thought “makes sense…they haven’t done the rotation yet.” 
I really hope that they do some market research and decide that no one likes the original songs. Because I sure didn’t.
I thought this was one of the weaker episodes, overall. The glaring artificiality of almost all the musical numbers was exacerbated by what seemed like really bad audio mixing or something. I liked some of the character moments, and the Rachel/Curt duet, but aside from that was pretty let down by the whole thing.
I understand the real-world reasons behind the original songs, but yeah it’s a really stupid idea in-universe. And of course in real life they would be performing new numbers (of existing songs) all the time either, but that’s a much more acceptable break from reality. It seemed like they were only in NYC for a day or two. And yes, Mr. Schuester did just tell them to stay in their hotel rooms and go off to do his own stuff all day. He’s either the best or worst chaperone ever depending on your persepective (student, parent, or administrator).
Quinn is just a sad little bitch. She doesn’t even have any hopes or dreams beyond marrying right out of high school, having kids, & staying in the same small town for the rest of her life. She acts like it’s her God given right to date Finn and Rachel’s going against the laws of nature by intefearing. She’s no older than 17 and actively looking for a life mate, but shocked that the boys she’s dating just don’t see it that way.
That spinoff does sound fun, but I suspect Michele will head back to Broadway when her contract’s up and Colfer & Criss will probally follow her (ironic isn’t it). Also the setup would probally get old real fast and devolve into a really corny sitcom. This episode probally would’ve benifited the most from an extended timeslot.
I’m normally a serious Glee apologist, but this was one of only a few episodes that left me cold in the end. It’s just a shame that it had to be a finale they dropped the ball so severely on.
We all knew they weren’t going to win, this season never was about that like it was in the first year and as it surely will be next year. The first season was an inspirational underdog story that could have been self contained had it not been popular enough to warrant extension, but it was and so New Direction lost at regionals in order to give us something bigger to shoot for in the coming season. Since we know that there will be a senior year it only stood the reason that they would hit another snag at nationals for the same reason. That’s all well and good.
The problem is that the finale they delivered did not flow with second act of the three act structure they are setting up. The whole point of season two was to flesh out the entire cast to the point we can just dive into climactic run for the championship that will happen next year. For the most part the season did that quite well. They dropped the unnecessary characters and developed a voice and basic drive for every everyone else, which is no small task for an ensemble this large. But then they wasted the entire season finale.
Where do I start? The normally (and forgivably) stretched TV logic was pushed to illusion shattering extremes. The premise that they are so driven to win and have “worked so hard” for an all original performance that they literally had not even begun to prepare for until they reached their hotel a day or two ahead of time is just so absurd that it’s hard to feel bad for their inevitable loss.
I understand that for whatever reason the producers wanted to do original songs, but almost any narrative trickery they could have come up would have been better than that pretense. Like say, off the top of my head, they are rehearsing with a selection of their best previously used numbers but then they have to upend their set last minute because…a key element of the performance becomes nonviable…or they discover other groups are using those songs…or they obtain intel on the judges preferences for original songs and Rachel just happens to have a few in her back pocket…or hell even a cheesy last moment rush of inspiration about their destiny or somesuch. It would have risked possibly revisiting some previously used plots, but anything would have been better than their being completely nonchalant about something they supposedly care about so much.
Oh and it didn’t help that the original songs were nowhere even near the quality of the ones they did for regionals. In fact I found all of the numbers rather uninspired for a finale.
So the main thrust of the plot was misguided, what about character development? The tease about Quinn’s plans for NY went nowhere as she had none. We learned that Rachel wants to dream big (knew that), that the love triangle is messy (knew that), that Will is torn about pursuing his own dreams (knew that, added nothing new), That Vocal Adrenaline is ruthless and impersonal (knew that, all those scenes were passionless retread). Then to cap it all off we get a reveal about Sam and Mercedes which just feels tacked on to give them something to do, and we are told that Brittany and Santana like each other (again).
I just really think they needed a two parter here. Because as it stands this is the first competition episode that did not leave me anxious and wanting more. I know this season was never supposed to be as inspiring as what came before and what will come after, but ending the season on such a muted note of “meh” is still a disappointment.
But hey it’s still a successful and well made musical TV show. Truly that is worth suffering through a clunker every now and then.
My only comment is that I think all the broadway theater security guys are saying, “Shit.”
Glee security guy was awesome, but I’m guessing the real-world guys are not interested in being pestered by hordes of teenagers.
Any thoughts on the PSA by Lauren Potter and Jane Lynch?
Does anyone else find Cheyenne Jackson creepy?
“Most of the other teams divide the kids by sexual orientation.”
I do. I think it might be because he’s a stage actor and doesn’t know how to take it down for TV.
Agree that even with MST3K rules applied the “not having an idea what we’re going to sing” twist was the stupidest laziest writing possible. If I were principal I would pull the funding or get another sponsor- that’s ridiculous. It’d be like deciding on a class play three hours before curtain.
Seriously, the whole idea of arriving in NYC and only then start to write songs to perform in a final competition? Even the worst slackers in my college classes would see that as a really dumb idea.
Than again, considering how horrid those songs were, maybe the actual writers of this show decided to start write those songs four days ago - and it showed.
And excuse me for pointing out the obvious, but if a choir director (or performer) had the chance to go and star in a Broadway production, wouldn’t their choir or friends be jumping up and down with excitement and joy?! Geez - talk about sucking the life out of a dream opportunity - that was a piss-poor learning experience for the kids. “No - I will quit this and go back and teach you all how to sing Memory from Cats…hip-hop style…”
So, we learned never to prepare for a final, and to turn down a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. No wonder our education system is in the toilet.
I agree this was a pretty unfocused episode. And yeah, I was thinking while I was watching the show that Broadway theatres are going to be besieged with Gleeks trying to sneak in to prance about on the stages …
And what is it with Quinn? Are we really supposed to feel sorry for her (remember, leader of the Celibacy Club, keeping Finn on a leash while she screwed around with Puck and got pregnant … while claiming Finn was the father - and he hadn’t even got to score with her? And this year it was all about being prom queen and popular? We’re supposed to feel sorry that she has no one to love her? Your own fault, girl)? And, great ‘plan’ and payoff, by the way. “I’ll tell Mr. Shue about Finn and Rachel sneaking out! Wait, let’s get you a haircut. Yay!” What the heck???
You know, in any sane universe, a show choir from The Ohio School of Misfit Toys - that wrote their own original songs just hours before performing them in competition - would be absolutely thrilled with a 12th place finish at Nationals. Nationals! Twelfth in the *nation, *yo! If it wasn’t for Mr. Shue irrationally getting their hopes up (“I think we’ve got a great chance to win this!”), they’d be ecstatic with 12th.
Best part: The names of some of the top ten choirs.
Portland Scale Blazers
Waffletoot Singers
Twelve Steps (to rehab, I guess?)
Jefferson City Airplane
I also appreciated that the show choir nationals were upscale enough to actually, you know, design and print a formal sign listing the ten going to the showcase. Classy!
So apparently Vocal Adrenoline is in Carmel, Indiana, which is 3 hours from Lima. Not that it matters or any attempt at geographic logic is applicable. (There is a Carmel, Ohio but it seems to be a crossroads community.)
What is it about Chris Colfer that makes him attractive in some scenes and almost fugly in others? I think his mouth is a part of it- when he’s singing he’s more trouty mouthed than Sam.
And why are Sam and Mercedes so secretive about their relationship? Most of the Glee club would probably be happy for them.
In nothing flat. They apparently brought the industrial printer to the concert hall.
Especially today. It’s not like it’s 1840 and you’re never going to hear from them again if you move a few hundred miles. With Skype, Facebook, email, cell phones, etc., you can still get sick of each other. PLUS, he could do the kids more of a service by doing it because if it does work out he’ll really be in a position to help them (introductions, possibly a place to crash once in a while [at least on theatre trips], advice, etc.) and if it doesn’t he’ll still have great stories and be able to give them advice and stories.
Oh, and what was with the 100% out of character joke at the beginning? Do you think there is ANY chance whatsoever that Rachel doesn’t know that:
a) Cats isn’t the longest running show on Broadway any more (Phantom)
b) that it closed 11 years ago (Sep. 2000)?
Really? I know these things (well, I had to look up Cats’ closing date), and while I enjoy broadway shows, I couldn’t recognize Patti LuPone on sight like Rachel can, and I’m not obsessed with it. It was so jarring. It would work with Finn, not with Rachel.