Up until this episode I could believe that the writers perhaps sometimes didn’t realize how Tina was coming across. In the episode where she molested Blaine it seemed like we were expected to feel pity rather than horror, although I was definitely feeling horror. But this time it seemed like we were really intended to believe that Tina is now a worse person than Santana, or even Sue.
It’s my understanding that when a song is licensed for a cover recording then the cover-er cannot make significant changes to the lyrics, but I think gender-swapping is normally considered a minor change that doesn’t require additional permissions. I’d guess that not changing the lyrics might have more to do with potential MP3 sales.
A bit off topic, but, have they ever explained Tina Cohen Chang’s name? And since they dated I’m going to assume she and Mike Chang aren’t related. (I know Chang’s not an uncommon surname in China, but I’m guessing it is in Lima.)
Nice seeing Mike again; too bad he didn’t dance a farewell. Harry Shum’s moves are truly an art form.
Her last name has never been explained. I think they did once throw in a “no relation” comment when she was dating Mike.
Chang is both a Chinese and a Korean family name, and while IIRC Mike was explicitly identified as Chinese-American in season three I don’t think Tina’s specific ethnic background has ever been addressed. Since actress Jenna Ushkowitz is Korean and Tina sang in Korean when they performed “Gangnam Style” it may be that Tina comes from a Korean Chang family rather than a Chinese one. But I’ve probably put more thought into it just now than the writers have.
I felt really happy to see Mike again, even though I don’t think he even had a line in this episode and he had been around several times last season. But seeing him in the choir room reminded me of a time when this was a show I didn’t feel bad about watching.
It’s also been a relief to have the season four newbies left largely in the background these past three episodes. Nothing against the performers, but their stupid, boring characters and their endless stupid, boring storylines are the main reason why season four went wrong for me. I have not missed them at all.
I’ll admit, I found it moving. There were some flat notes, but for the most part it you could feel the grief of the cast. In a way, some of the scenes were almost too personal. I did think they should’ve either used a pic of Finn in his letterman’s jacket or in a Glee outfit for the first song - generic football Finn wasn’t who they were eulogizing.
Glee was renewed through season six before Monteith died, and it was announced at the time that the series would very likely not extend beyond that time. So Monteith’s death probably had little if anything to do with the decision to end the show after six seasons, although as the article indicates it has drastically changed Murphy’s plans for the final season.
I suspect that the end he mentions having in mind in the article is the same one Rachel described in “The Quarterback”, where she’d be a Broadway star and he’d be a schoolteacher and she’d come back to Lima for him.
This just aired in the UK. I did find it moving - Burt and Carol’s scene especially - Carol’s speech made me sob. And I thought the actor who plays Sam looked genuinely devastated a lot of the time, I wonder if the actors were good friends in IRL?
I though Puck’s scenes were dreadful, but I can understand why if they were first takes and he was too upset to do more.