Join new contributor Vicky as she looks back over this week’s Glee.
Airdate: Thursday 3rd November 2011
So here’s what you missed on Glee:
Glee made its return to Sky1 this evening after a three week long break to match the hiatus in the US. The episode, titled ‘Pot O’ Gold’, centres around the first appearance of the Glee Project winner Damian McGinty as Irish exchange student Rory Flanagan, who loves all things American – in particular ‘Nascar, the half black president and Victoria Secret catalogues’.
The first conversation of the episode is an amusing exchange that he has with dim-witted Brittany, who seems convinced that he is in fact a leprechaun and a figment of her imagination. We later learn that Brittany has promised that he can get into her ‘pot of gold’ if he grants her three wishes… something any sane man would do.
Elsewhere Mercedes, now a member of rival glee group run by Shelby (played by the very talented Idina Menzel), attempts to recruit Santana, using the lack of solos as a reason for her to also leave. Santana eventually jumps ship and uses Rory and his leprechaun magic to persuade Brittany to join her in the aptly named ‘Troubletones’.
Quinn’s attempts to prove Shelby as an unfit mother are laughable, and you can’t help but question why two high school students think they will be better parents considering one of them was in prison and the other had pink hair…
We also return to Sue Sylvester’s campaign for congress. In this episode she gets a running mate in the shape of Kurt’s dad Burt. The ever lovable Mr Hummel gives an impassioned speech on the news which made even me want to vote for him, and cemented his status as the Best TV Dad of 2011.
Having not watched the Glee Project myself I was surprised by how easily McGinty seemed to fit into the mould of Glee, taking charge of two of only four songs that appeared in the episode. Fourteen minutes before first musical number is very disappointing for Glee and, despite it being given to the new cast member to show off his talents, I can’t help but feel like the show has lost a little of its sparkle. Yes, we all know Brittany is stupid, Rachel is demanding and Mercedes is a bit of a diva – the writers now need to provide us with a little more character depth.
The episode closes with a predictable kiss that will have repercussions for future episodes, but it failed to have the element of surprise the writers were attempting to achieve.
Other Memorable moments…
• We learn that Brittany tortures her cat named Lord Tubbington, in the hope that he will ‘poop candy bars’
• Darren Criss does an awful cover of Last Friday Night by Katy Perry but it is the first moment in quite a while where the Glee club look cheery, which is nice to see.
• Muppets on Glee! The other number sung by McGinty this week was ‘Bein’ Green’ originally sang by Kermit the Frog. Obviously an amusing reference to him being a leprechaun, the song is also heart-warming and helps make Rory Flanagan seem more likable then lecherous.
• After calling Brittany stupid, something we have all learnt doesn’t fit well, Finn apologies and gives a hint of the potential that Cory Monteith has as a male lead in the rom-coms that are undoubtably in his future
Favourite Line of the Week
‘You are such a bacon-wrapped bug-eyed hypocrite, it’s freaking hilarious how jealous of Blaine you are. Every time he opens his dreamboat acapella mouth you are just itching to kick him right in the warblers.’ – Santana proving herself to be the new Queen of one-liners
Favourite Musical number
This week it would have to be ‘Candyman’ performed by Mercedes, Brittany and Santana. It was the most tight vocally, and visually was the most impressive of the episode. Sad to say though that it was the best of a bad bunch.
