Glee 3.01 The Purple Piano Project
(The following is ridiculously late because it took me 3 days to write it what with school and work and all...)
I HAVE SO MANY FEELINGS!!! AND I WANT TO SING EVERY ONE OF THEM!!!
Seriously, I've put off writing up my comments on the episode because I just keep rewatching it, and I'm still having trouble comprehending what I have seen repeatedly on my screen.
My beautiful and gorgeous boys are back and more in love than ever before.
I just... my canon ship is so in love. Somebody hold me!!
But beyond that... and I mean, it's not like we didn't know this was coming but still... Blaine is at McKinley.
Blaine is at McKinley.
Blaine is at McKinley.
Blaine is at McKinley.
Blaine is at McKinley.
Blaine is at McKinley.
Somebody keep holding me!! I am seriously not processing this no matter how many times I rewatch.
You're really not going to get much out of me that doesn't extend past whatever scene Kurt was in for this episode. And as a future warning--when Blaine starts having his own scenes minus Kurt (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) I will likely be even less coherent.
<---------- Blainestan for Life. Not changing. Never changing. Worse, in fact, than usual.
We start out the ep with the question foremost in everyone's minds--who's a senior this year? We learn Artie and Tina are juniors. Does this mean more solos for Tina next year once the spotlight stealers (Rachel, Finn, Kurt, Santana, Mercedes, Puck, hell even Mike--yes, I did just list everyone because, let's face it, everyone in this club gets a bigger spotlight than Tina) are gone?? Let's not hold our breath!! (I didn't list Brittany because I think we're all pretty certain she won't be graduating...)
Meanwhile, Rachel and Kurt have their sight and hearts set on New York (where Kurt will be married by 30--legally, in his singsong voice, and OMG Kurt can you get any cuter now that you have boyfriend??).
And Julliard.
Except, for some reason, neither of them have ever bothered looking into the fact that Julliard doesn't have a musical theater department.
(Seriously one of my top 5 adorable Kurt moments in this episode)
Now some may argue that Rachel, of all people, would know something like this, just as she should have known Cats was no longer on Broadway. But. I argue that the girl is so focused and sure of herself, and has been set on a determined path since she was a baby that she doesn't sit around Googling stuff that she thinks should be there prostrated at her feet in worship because she's just that sure of her future. If she believes Julliard--the arts school that everyone talks about--should have a musical theater department, then so be it! It will!
(I honestly can't come up with an excuse for Kurt... or Blaine. I mean, Blaine knows everything, right? So you'd think if Kurt were going on and on and on about Julliard, Blaine would go "Hey...hey, Kurt. Hon? You know they don't have a musical theater department, right?")
But hey, if you were to correct every strange storyline in that comes out of Hollywood with logic, we'd have a lot fewer movies and television shows, point of fact. So. In order to have Kurt and Rachel and almost every adorable scene they shared together this week, plus setting up the potential for a spin-off with NYADA (and omg, no one is going to convince me that they aren't setting it up at this point), Kurt and Rachel both had to be a little... less bright than we'd expect.
So Emma tells Kurt and Rachel about a mixer for the midwest region where they can meet other NYADA hopefuls. Apparently, NYADA only takes 20 applicants a year. (If they set this up for a spinoff, we will completely ignore the idea of them taking two--possibly three if that's what Blaine wants to do with his life, and really, what does Blaine want to do with his life? I hope we find out eventually--from McKinley in one year.) This sets up what is to me the second most ADORABLE duet (Sorry, BICO will forever win first place) the show has ever done... "Ding Dong, The Witch is Dead" between Kurt and Rachel. More on that in a moment because... well, the first Klaine scene of the season.
Some people just don't understand how much meaning this holds for me. Especially considering how GODDAMN ADORABLE BLAINE IS THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE SCENE. SERIOUSLY PEOPLE!! DID HE GET CUTER OVER THE SUMMER OR IS IT JUST ME?? DOES BEING IN LOVE MAKE BLAINE IMPOSSIBLE TO RESIST???
*ahem*
First off, I was in this coffeeshop two weeks ago. Standing right where this table is situated. Although the old couple from BIOTA weren't sitting outside. Dr. Travis from "The Doctors" was.
I digress.
You know what saddens me? We missed an entire summer of these two together. An entire summer, you guys!! And judging from the comfort level these two have with one another, with how easily they can tease each other and just talk about love now like they're so used to hearing it from one another, it was an amazing summer. A summer in which Blaine perfected the utter look of adoration he gazes at Kurt with; a summer in which Kurt has allowed himself to become far more comfortable and confident in himself around Blaine than he has with any other person.
And their banter is ADORABLE. It is beyond adorable. It is the banter of a couple who has been together far longer, and know one another far better, than these two should. And yet, it's perfect for them. It displays perfectly the fact that these two were best friends for months before they ever shared their first kiss. And I think they're still best friends, first and foremost, and boyfriends second. It would take a HELL of a lot for anyone to convince me these two aren't going to one day be married, have a family, and grow old together.
My apologies for the following but... I can't help myself. Look at their expressions.
"You're quiet."
"No, I'm being passive-aggressive. You promised me by the first day of school you'd make a decision. And yet, there you sit. Cute as ever. But still in your Warbler's blazer." (I love how apparently only Warblers now wear the uniform... not Dalton students...)
"I just can't bale on the Warblers. Those guys are my friends." (OMG how is this not so very Blaine?? He doesn't want to upset anyone--and can you imagine the Warbler tears??!)
"Okay. Fine. All right." (How many times have they had this exact conversation over the summer??) "One final sales pitch, and then we can talk about making over Nancy Grace."
"Okay." *giggle*
You guys!! Blaine's adorable laughter here!!! Kurt makes him so fricken happy.
"If you stay at Dalton, you and I are competitors."
"True."
"And I'm just not sure that our budding love can survive that."
"Let me get this straight. I have to transfer because you're just afraid that I'm going to beat you at Sectionals."
"No. I'm afraid that I'm going to beat you."
"Oooooh!"
"And I know what that does to you. When I win."
*more giggles, and blushing(!!!!)*
"Look, honestly, I just want to see you more. I want my senior year to be magic, and the only way that's going to happen is if I get to spend every minute of every day with you."
(Something I noticed in this sequence, and it brought me back to "Original Songs", when Blaine kissed Kurt. Kurt expresses a lot through his hands. During the kiss, it was that release when he finally allowed himself to believe what he'd wanted for so long was actually happening, and his hand just sprang open, and then the way it fell when it all kind of hit him at the end. Here, it's tiny movements, but still occurring. What he is saying here means a lot to him, what he's feeling is a lot, and we all know Kurt isn't a very expressive individual, and his hand is ridiculously telling in how very much he wants what he's asking for.)
So, so much can be said about that statement from Kurt. Look, I know that throughout the summer fandom cooked up every acceptable reason we could for why Blaine would transfer from some place like Dalton, and choose to go to McKinley. His parents couldn't afford it; he wanted to face his bullies and stop running; Dalton burned down. Whatever. It was argued time and time again that he couldn't just transfer because of Kurt--to be close to his boyfriend. It wasn't worth it for love.
And yet, in the end, that's exactly what it is. These two love each other. They want to be with each other. What... is wrong with that? If you just step back for a moment and consider the lives these two have had up until they found each other--we've gotten a clear taste of Kurt's loneliness since the first episode of "Glee", and a brief description of what Blaine has been through--who the hell is anyone to deny the two of them the chance to be happy their last year of high school? To have their best friend, and lover, there beside them throughout their senior year? People have died for love--and we willingly accept that as an excuse in entertainment--so why the hell can't Blaine transfer schools for it?
It's simple, really, and when has the relationship between these two ever been revealed to us as anything else? It fits them. No complicated back story, no long-winded exposition. Just... hey, they're in love. They're happy, truly happy for what could really be the first time in either of their teenage lives, so let's just be happy with them and give them what two teenage boys in love want.
Oh god. I went on for a while with that.
Anyway, on to one of my top five scenes of the episode that didn't involve Klaine...
Dear Glee. Please to be giving Lea showtunes always, okay? She's okay with pop songs. She kills showtunes like nobody's business, and nothing displays that more delightfully than this number did. She, and I hate saying this, even completely upstaged Chris in this one. It was the fun and delight she inflected throughout the entire number, complete with adorable voice changes and giggles. (Also of note: the adorable voice Kurt does when he says "Before there was "Wicked" there was..." OMG can we please get more of that playfulness??) But really, these two gave us one of the cutest performances ever, and I hope we get a lot more of this throughout season three.
Seriously. BICO only remains my fave because it contains my two favorite characters, I think. Had Kurt and Blaine done this number together? I'd be writing this from the grave...
Then again, the following scene almost achieved that anyway! Can we just give props to "Glee" for giving us a nice little contrast with when Kurt transferred to Dalton and we got to see him putting on his jacket and straightening his tie? (Tumblr has capped and giffed the shit out of this scene, and I can't blame them for any of it if only for the sheer fucking delight and joy Blaine and Kurt display here at being together again. All the awards to Darren and Chris.)
Awwww, Blaine. So smug. So very, very pleased with himself. Showing up like this to surprise his boyfriend with his transfer. How much do I love Blaine's absolute and genuine shock that it takes Kurt doesn't even catch on until he has it pointed out to him??? Also, his greeting *draws hearts around it*
"Hey you."
"Well, aren't you a sight for these sore eyes."
"Bad day."
"Uh, bad week more like it. Wait, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at Warbler practice, putting the fine tuning touches on a new Katy Perry show stopper?" (LOL Kurt, do I detect sarcasm?)
"For someone who loves clothes so much, I can't believe you haven't noticed I'm not in my Warbler outfit." (Back to the Warbler thing... because no one at Dalton would dare wear those uniforms!! :P We get it, RIB, Blaine was a WARBLER!)
"Wait... wait."
Let's just take a moment to appreciate these smiles again.
"Ohhh!!!"
And then comes...
Can we go back, right here, to the fact that Kurt has always been shown to not be an overly expressive individual, especially in the physical sense? Except with Blaine, of course. And here he just throws himself into Blaine's arms (like we saw at Regionals, like we saw when the Warblers came to sing "Somewhere Only We Know"), because he knows Blaine will always be there to catch him. And I just want to applaud "Glee" for not going with the fandom trope that these two would walk into McKinley and be afraid to show their affection for one another. That they would actively seek to behave differently than they should when the whole purpose of them being together is... to be together. Kurt wants to walk down the hallways holding the hand of the boy he likesloves. Blaine's already had the living crap beaten out of him. Does anyone actually think getting slushied is going to stop him from letting people know that he loves Kurt? No. And I'm so, so glad "Glee" decided to allow these two to show their affection, and their strength together, and no matter how the students around them react, they can't touch what Kurt and Blaine have.
I could go on for hours over that hug. A complete juxtaposition to the sadness of their hug when they were parting in Born This Way, there is nothing but sheer joy here. Kurt is near tears, and Blaine is beaming so fricken bright his smile could cure cancer.
"Wait, wait. You didn't do this for me, did you? If-if you did this for me, it would be very romantic for one, but I mean, it could lead to resentment, which could lead to anger (which could lead to hate, which would lead to the Dark Side.... sorry, sorry... my mind fills it in automatically ~Ae), which could lead to a horrible, horrible nasty break up, like you know on 'The Bachelorette' when we watched it, because that was just--"
"Hey, hey. I came here for me because I can't stand to be apart from the person that I love." *cue Klaine theme song*
Anyone who doesn't think this love between them isn't sincere? Look at their eyes.
"Well, then, I guess we'll just have to find a way to ease you into the New Directions now, huh?"
"I already have that figured out."
Yes. Yes, he does.
Can we take a moment to pause and reflect on the fact that though many claim Blaine has had numerous solos throughout last year, this is, in fact, actually his first true solo on "Glee"? He has had duets, and been the lead on several songs with the Warblers, but "It's Not Unusual" is by all logical meaning of the word, the first time Blaine has soloed a song on this show, and wow, he did not disappoint. There isn't much to say about this scene beyond:
Kurt's adorable reaction to Blaine bursting out into this song is the cutest and most perfect reaction to pretty much EVERYTHING Blaine does!
I mean, seriously, the fact that Alex Anders has said Darren was the one to mention "It's Not Unusual" doesn't surprise me in the least. His performance was fricken adorable, and honestly, cheerleaders or no, I don't blame half the school for dancing along with him and applauding. I'm actually kind of pissed at Santana for ruining that beautiful moment.
Just, UNF:
For as flaily as I was with the wonderful Klaine moments in this episode (and oh, I am waiting with gleeful anticipation for an episode that actually focuses more directly on their relationship), the Hummelberry moments were just as thrilling and perfect to me. I've always enjoyed Kurt and Rachel's interactions--even in season one--and seeing this adorable friendship between them has me beyond happy. I'm sorry, but I just never bought the Kurt-Mercedes friendship. It felt forced to me. They never really seemed to have all that much in common. Their dialogue together in season one was cute but season two left me feeling ridiculously cold. It constantly came off as Mercedes not understanding Kurt AT ALL. From Grilled Cheesus onward. Whereas, Rachel has always seemed to understand Kurt, to recognize his talent, his loneliness, and all of the things that make Kurt special and amazing. I think they work together as friends (and Blaine as an extension) because they are the most alike out of everyone in glee club.
(This is why there needs to be a spinoff with those specific three, because they are all ridiculously talented, bound for the stage, with very similar attitudes, while remaining very individual and unique in their own rights. Blaine has been shown to have the least amount of ambition out of the three, but with a general likeability and charm that the other two are slightly lacking. Kurt is (IMHO) the most uniquely talented out of the three but, unfortunately, is limited simply by who he is, whether that's fair or not. And Rachel is the most ridiculously driven, and by that, will likely succeed where Kurt and Blaine might fail because I think she will always put herself first. And if Kurt and Blaine continue on the path they're on, I think their love for one another kind of outweighs everything else at this point. Again, just MY opinion, or maybe what I want to believe...)
Sorry for the tangent.
Anyway, Kurt and Rachel go off to the NYADA mixer to stun the competition with their own talent, and hopefully cause a few of them to drop out. Except... they encounter a roomful of students just like them (right down to the clothes and personalities) who instead blow them away. (Enter the first of our Glee Project contestants, Lindsay Pearce as Harmony who really is as talented as all that!... Honestly, IMO she was the most talented of the last four contestants but her personality issues really got in the way of her winning, and I think toward the end, she began to develop confidence issues on top of it.)
Cue more adorable reactions from these two as their competition for NYADA sings and tap dances their way through a mashup of "Anything Goes/Anything You Can Do".
It's the squawk at the end when the fire ignites that I love more than anything!
Seeing Rachel and Kurt in tears together over what they think is the end of their brilliant careers is one of the most heartbreaking scenes ever. I just wanted to squish them both.
Poor Rachel, tearfully saying that all that was left for them to do was move away, change their names and resign themselves to a life of community theater such as "Nunsense" and "The Vagina Monologues". And it's sweet, caring Kurt (remember the "most compassionate" person Blaine has ever met) who won't let Rachel give up like that. Because she's Rachel Berry and she's fierce, and she's going to get into that school!
I just think they're both beautiful in this scene.
And then comes one of those moments that makes me realize no matter how she behaves at time, I can never bring myself to hate Rachel Berry because sometimes she just gets things so right. Like last season, when she was the only one to take any notice of Kurt's loneliness and disappointment throughout Duets, and told him he wasn't alone, and asked him to sing a duet with her. And this time? She gets so many damn points for saying this:
"You make me want to be your boyfriend."
That line is sheer perfection. Sheer and utter perfection.
And then she points out to Kurt that he's just as fierce as she is, and he has to promise not to give up, either.
Their gay high five is the most adorable thing ever!
And now to the scene that my opinion seems to differ from the majority of fandom with. Happily, I discovered that flyblackbirdfly got the same impression from it that I did, so I don't feel quite so alone in my Blaine stanning.
But basically, it's this:
To me, this is not excited!puppy!Blaine. Yeah, he's all smiles, and being his adorable self, and trying too fricken hard to make everyone like him. This is nervous!Blaine. This is a Blaine we haven't seen too much of. Nervous, uncertain, walking into unfamiliar territory and just wanting everyone to love him because this is where he wants to be now because the person he loves is there, and they can be together, but he has absolutely no idea if this is where he belongs.
Let's recall back to the scene in the coffeeshop where Blaine said "Those guys are my friends." The Warblers accepted and welcomed Blaine at one of the worst points of his life. He'd just ran away from his school because of bullying, because he had the living crap beaten out of him for being who he was. Like Kurt, he came to Dalton right when he needed it most. Unlike Kurt, he's not going back to a place he wants to be, he's not going back to a group of friends who love him. All he has for certain at McKinley is Kurt.
As much as we've written fic about Blaine making friends with everyone in New Directions over the summer, there's really no reason that would have been the case. Blaine was working at Six Flags, the others were likely all working, any time Blaine and Kurt would have had free would have been spent together. And sure, he saw Finn in passing at the Hudmels, but Blaine is still Kurt's boyfriend, the rival singer from the other school that initially took Kurt away from New Directions, and what reason does Finn have to be friends with Blaine?
So really, why would Blaine feel excitement beyond getting to be with Kurt now? (Which he clearly displays once he's finally sitting beside him--where he feels safest--with the adoring looks we're so used to seeing from him when Kurt is nearby.) This is how Blaine enters the choir room:
That's nervousness right there. Uncertainty. He actually looks around as if he's waiting for something to jump out at him. And when he does his little speech:
"Thanks so much everyone"--even though no one has reacted yet--"I'm so thrilled to be here! It's going to be a great year I can feel it. We're all going to go to Nationals!"
...Not only is it hurried, and far from the confident!Blaine we know and love in tone, he keeps looking to Will for fricken approval! (And, okay, this is one of the few times I almost found myself liking Will because he seemed to realize that when he reached out and patted Blaine.) Blaine even rubs his hands together at the end, which is an extremely telling nervous gesture--his palms are probably sweating and his heart is racing a mile a minute.
I mean, not only is he now in an environment far from Dalton, but he doesn't want to fail--not in front of Kurt. He wants to know he made the right decision, not just for himself but to ensure Kurt as well because Kurt was panicking over the thought that Blaine's transfer could end up bad for them if Blaine wasn't happy. (Oh, these two! Can I just hold them and put them away together somewhere that they'll be totally safe and happy???)
So then what happens?? Douchebag Finn decides to rear his ugly head. (Seriously, I bounce back and forth on my feelings for Finn so badly, I've gotten severe whiplash.) For the most part, I adore Finn, and I get why he reacts the way he does, especially here. He does feel threatened (and he should!), and we all know when Finn feels threatened he'll go so far as praying to a sandwich to get what he wants. But I think what upset me most here was Finn has always been shown to be welcoming when it came to glee club--far more welcoming than Rachel, etc. And yet here he is, making baseless accusations at Blaine (The Warblers, who wore their school uniforms to competitions and repeatedly did the step, touch, touch have "bells and whistles"?? Not to mention, where does the "ball hogging" thing come from?? Unless Kurt was bitching at home--which I can't even picture--I am a bit flabbergasted here. Pot meet kettle, when it comes to singing lead in competitions, Finn!!!), and being a complete snot.
Yeah, Finn scored no points from me in this ep. He might as well have sent Blaine to a crack house.
No, baby. You didn't. Finn just has this thing for occasionally being a douchebag.
I do love Blaine's reaction to Santana getting kicked out. Like, this is his first day in glee at McKinley and that happens. Such a thing probably required a majority vote among the Warblers! And I'm sure hasn't happened since like 1946 or something!
But hey, Blaine has Kurt back beside him now. Where he can apparently reach out and do dirty things to when no one is looking:
Kidding, kidding. It's sweet how excited he seems to be for his boyfriend to be running for class president! I imagine them laying on their stomachs in the Hudmel house, making glitter signs together. *draws hearts around the most perfect canon couple ever*
And then the episode ends with a big group number that, honestly, I am still having trouble dealing with because Blaine is in New Directions, and my mind STILL isn't processing this fact properly. I have trouble even watching the scene because it's so hard to wrap my mind around, and as much as I began hoping for it to happen once the tour got underway, I'm still kind of baffled that it has. I mean, he's out there, dancing with Tina and jumping on furniture with his boyfriend at the end like perfect bookends, and my Blaine stanning heart. Can't. Take. It.
(A CARTWHEEL!!! Oh Darren!!!)
(I will never stop being amused at Chris falling down, and Darren spinning around like he could somehow reach far enough to help him up... I luff them!)
Other things happened in this episode beyond OH MY GOD BLAINE IS NOW AT MCKINLEY AND HE AND KURT ARE GOING TO BE MARRIED BY THIRTY--LEGALLY--AND MY BABIES ARE SO HAPPY AND BEAUTIFUL TOGETHER I CAN BARELY STAND IT!!!
- Mercedes got a new beau, Shane, and they're ridiculously adorable together. She's obviously quite happy, and he obviously worships the ground she walks on. (Also, LeMarcus Tinker couldn't be any cuter than when he talks about Amber!)
- Sugar Motta happened. I kind of love her. I love that she is "self-diagnosed" Asperger's. What a great way to get away with saying whatever the hell you want! Surprised Rachel didn't think of that excuse. :P Her audition was hilarious, and I really want to see more of her. We need a new obnoxious student around.
- I think things were going on between Will and Emma but all I really noticed was too many shirtless Will scenes, and I did like their lunch boxes. But that was it because... well, I tend to turn my focus to the internet when they come onscreen. Sorry. :/
- Sue is running for Congress to abolish arts programs. It has the potential to be a fun storyline from the upcoming spoilers about her opponent, but for now, I am really sick of the back and forth with Sue, and I wish the writers could decide if she wants to end the glee club or leave it alone.
- Santana has been kicked out of New Directions by Will. I have mixed feelings here. Rachel has walked out of that club time and again. Will has sabotaged it out of his own selfishness repeatedly. And while yes, what Santana did was wrong, she also had her reasons and has her own fears, and god, we all know it's the best part of her day. Seeing her force that false happy smile before she walked out about killed me. And I kind of wanted to smack Mercedes for her whole "Good for you, Mr. Schue" comment. All in all, it does make me curious as to where the storyline is going for the first half of the season.
- Hell, this whole EPISODE has me curious as to where they're going this season!!
All in all, it's one of the best Glee episodes, in my opinion, ever. It was hilarious in all the right places, and I really, really hope they continue that feeling the rest of the season because I would love to see Modern Family actually get some damn competition at the Emmy's next year. If Chris can prove that he can also be funny on top of his amazing grasp of dramatics, they'd be more stupid than ever not to give him that Emmy.
If you actually made it to the end? You deserve something. Like Darren showing up at your doorstep in nothing but a big red bow...
Now I am off to continue to listen to Darren KILL IT singing "Something's Coming"... (My god, Dare, could you be more perfect??!?!)
*** NONE OF THE GIFS ABOVE ARE MINE. MY THANKS TO THOSE AMAZINGLY RESOURCEFUL GIF MAKERS AT TUMBLR WHO FEED ALL OF OUR OBSESSIONS.
I HAVE SO MANY FEELINGS!!! AND I WANT TO SING EVERY ONE OF THEM!!!
Seriously, I've put off writing up my comments on the episode because I just keep rewatching it, and I'm still having trouble comprehending what I have seen repeatedly on my screen.
My beautiful and gorgeous boys are back and more in love than ever before.
I just... my canon ship is so in love. Somebody hold me!!
But beyond that... and I mean, it's not like we didn't know this was coming but still... Blaine is at McKinley.
Blaine is at McKinley.
Blaine is at McKinley.
Blaine is at McKinley.
Blaine is at McKinley.
Blaine is at McKinley.
Somebody keep holding me!! I am seriously not processing this no matter how many times I rewatch.
You're really not going to get much out of me that doesn't extend past whatever scene Kurt was in for this episode. And as a future warning--when Blaine starts having his own scenes minus Kurt (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) I will likely be even less coherent.
<---------- Blainestan for Life. Not changing. Never changing. Worse, in fact, than usual.
We start out the ep with the question foremost in everyone's minds--who's a senior this year? We learn Artie and Tina are juniors. Does this mean more solos for Tina next year once the spotlight stealers (Rachel, Finn, Kurt, Santana, Mercedes, Puck, hell even Mike--yes, I did just list everyone because, let's face it, everyone in this club gets a bigger spotlight than Tina) are gone?? Let's not hold our breath!! (I didn't list Brittany because I think we're all pretty certain she won't be graduating...)
Meanwhile, Rachel and Kurt have their sight and hearts set on New York (where Kurt will be married by 30--legally, in his singsong voice, and OMG Kurt can you get any cuter now that you have boyfriend??).
And Julliard.
Except, for some reason, neither of them have ever bothered looking into the fact that Julliard doesn't have a musical theater department.
(Seriously one of my top 5 adorable Kurt moments in this episode)
Now some may argue that Rachel, of all people, would know something like this, just as she should have known Cats was no longer on Broadway. But. I argue that the girl is so focused and sure of herself, and has been set on a determined path since she was a baby that she doesn't sit around Googling stuff that she thinks should be there prostrated at her feet in worship because she's just that sure of her future. If she believes Julliard--the arts school that everyone talks about--should have a musical theater department, then so be it! It will!
(I honestly can't come up with an excuse for Kurt... or Blaine. I mean, Blaine knows everything, right? So you'd think if Kurt were going on and on and on about Julliard, Blaine would go "Hey...hey, Kurt. Hon? You know they don't have a musical theater department, right?")
But hey, if you were to correct every strange storyline in that comes out of Hollywood with logic, we'd have a lot fewer movies and television shows, point of fact. So. In order to have Kurt and Rachel and almost every adorable scene they shared together this week, plus setting up the potential for a spin-off with NYADA (and omg, no one is going to convince me that they aren't setting it up at this point), Kurt and Rachel both had to be a little... less bright than we'd expect.
So Emma tells Kurt and Rachel about a mixer for the midwest region where they can meet other NYADA hopefuls. Apparently, NYADA only takes 20 applicants a year. (If they set this up for a spinoff, we will completely ignore the idea of them taking two--possibly three if that's what Blaine wants to do with his life, and really, what does Blaine want to do with his life? I hope we find out eventually--from McKinley in one year.) This sets up what is to me the second most ADORABLE duet (Sorry, BICO will forever win first place) the show has ever done... "Ding Dong, The Witch is Dead" between Kurt and Rachel. More on that in a moment because... well, the first Klaine scene of the season.
Some people just don't understand how much meaning this holds for me. Especially considering how GODDAMN ADORABLE BLAINE IS THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE SCENE. SERIOUSLY PEOPLE!! DID HE GET CUTER OVER THE SUMMER OR IS IT JUST ME?? DOES BEING IN LOVE MAKE BLAINE IMPOSSIBLE TO RESIST???
*ahem*
First off, I was in this coffeeshop two weeks ago. Standing right where this table is situated. Although the old couple from BIOTA weren't sitting outside. Dr. Travis from "The Doctors" was.
I digress.
You know what saddens me? We missed an entire summer of these two together. An entire summer, you guys!! And judging from the comfort level these two have with one another, with how easily they can tease each other and just talk about love now like they're so used to hearing it from one another, it was an amazing summer. A summer in which Blaine perfected the utter look of adoration he gazes at Kurt with; a summer in which Kurt has allowed himself to become far more comfortable and confident in himself around Blaine than he has with any other person.
And their banter is ADORABLE. It is beyond adorable. It is the banter of a couple who has been together far longer, and know one another far better, than these two should. And yet, it's perfect for them. It displays perfectly the fact that these two were best friends for months before they ever shared their first kiss. And I think they're still best friends, first and foremost, and boyfriends second. It would take a HELL of a lot for anyone to convince me these two aren't going to one day be married, have a family, and grow old together.
My apologies for the following but... I can't help myself. Look at their expressions.
"You're quiet."
"No, I'm being passive-aggressive. You promised me by the first day of school you'd make a decision. And yet, there you sit. Cute as ever. But still in your Warbler's blazer." (I love how apparently only Warblers now wear the uniform... not Dalton students...)
"I just can't bale on the Warblers. Those guys are my friends." (OMG how is this not so very Blaine?? He doesn't want to upset anyone--and can you imagine the Warbler tears??!)
"Okay. Fine. All right." (How many times have they had this exact conversation over the summer??) "One final sales pitch, and then we can talk about making over Nancy Grace."
"Okay." *giggle*
You guys!! Blaine's adorable laughter here!!! Kurt makes him so fricken happy.
"If you stay at Dalton, you and I are competitors."
"True."
"And I'm just not sure that our budding love can survive that."
"Let me get this straight. I have to transfer because you're just afraid that I'm going to beat you at Sectionals."
"No. I'm afraid that I'm going to beat you."
"Oooooh!"
"And I know what that does to you. When I win."
*more giggles, and blushing(!!!!)*
"Look, honestly, I just want to see you more. I want my senior year to be magic, and the only way that's going to happen is if I get to spend every minute of every day with you."
(Something I noticed in this sequence, and it brought me back to "Original Songs", when Blaine kissed Kurt. Kurt expresses a lot through his hands. During the kiss, it was that release when he finally allowed himself to believe what he'd wanted for so long was actually happening, and his hand just sprang open, and then the way it fell when it all kind of hit him at the end. Here, it's tiny movements, but still occurring. What he is saying here means a lot to him, what he's feeling is a lot, and we all know Kurt isn't a very expressive individual, and his hand is ridiculously telling in how very much he wants what he's asking for.)
So, so much can be said about that statement from Kurt. Look, I know that throughout the summer fandom cooked up every acceptable reason we could for why Blaine would transfer from some place like Dalton, and choose to go to McKinley. His parents couldn't afford it; he wanted to face his bullies and stop running; Dalton burned down. Whatever. It was argued time and time again that he couldn't just transfer because of Kurt--to be close to his boyfriend. It wasn't worth it for love.
And yet, in the end, that's exactly what it is. These two love each other. They want to be with each other. What... is wrong with that? If you just step back for a moment and consider the lives these two have had up until they found each other--we've gotten a clear taste of Kurt's loneliness since the first episode of "Glee", and a brief description of what Blaine has been through--who the hell is anyone to deny the two of them the chance to be happy their last year of high school? To have their best friend, and lover, there beside them throughout their senior year? People have died for love--and we willingly accept that as an excuse in entertainment--so why the hell can't Blaine transfer schools for it?
It's simple, really, and when has the relationship between these two ever been revealed to us as anything else? It fits them. No complicated back story, no long-winded exposition. Just... hey, they're in love. They're happy, truly happy for what could really be the first time in either of their teenage lives, so let's just be happy with them and give them what two teenage boys in love want.
Oh god. I went on for a while with that.
Anyway, on to one of my top five scenes of the episode that didn't involve Klaine...
Dear Glee. Please to be giving Lea showtunes always, okay? She's okay with pop songs. She kills showtunes like nobody's business, and nothing displays that more delightfully than this number did. She, and I hate saying this, even completely upstaged Chris in this one. It was the fun and delight she inflected throughout the entire number, complete with adorable voice changes and giggles. (Also of note: the adorable voice Kurt does when he says "Before there was "Wicked" there was..." OMG can we please get more of that playfulness??) But really, these two gave us one of the cutest performances ever, and I hope we get a lot more of this throughout season three.
Seriously. BICO only remains my fave because it contains my two favorite characters, I think. Had Kurt and Blaine done this number together? I'd be writing this from the grave...
Then again, the following scene almost achieved that anyway! Can we just give props to "Glee" for giving us a nice little contrast with when Kurt transferred to Dalton and we got to see him putting on his jacket and straightening his tie? (Tumblr has capped and giffed the shit out of this scene, and I can't blame them for any of it if only for the sheer fucking delight and joy Blaine and Kurt display here at being together again. All the awards to Darren and Chris.)
Awwww, Blaine. So smug. So very, very pleased with himself. Showing up like this to surprise his boyfriend with his transfer. How much do I love Blaine's absolute and genuine shock that it takes Kurt doesn't even catch on until he has it pointed out to him??? Also, his greeting *draws hearts around it*
"Hey you."
"Well, aren't you a sight for these sore eyes."
"Bad day."
"Uh, bad week more like it. Wait, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at Warbler practice, putting the fine tuning touches on a new Katy Perry show stopper?" (LOL Kurt, do I detect sarcasm?)
"For someone who loves clothes so much, I can't believe you haven't noticed I'm not in my Warbler outfit." (Back to the Warbler thing... because no one at Dalton would dare wear those uniforms!! :P We get it, RIB, Blaine was a WARBLER!)
"Wait... wait."
Let's just take a moment to appreciate these smiles again.
"Ohhh!!!"
And then comes...
Can we go back, right here, to the fact that Kurt has always been shown to not be an overly expressive individual, especially in the physical sense? Except with Blaine, of course. And here he just throws himself into Blaine's arms (like we saw at Regionals, like we saw when the Warblers came to sing "Somewhere Only We Know"), because he knows Blaine will always be there to catch him. And I just want to applaud "Glee" for not going with the fandom trope that these two would walk into McKinley and be afraid to show their affection for one another. That they would actively seek to behave differently than they should when the whole purpose of them being together is... to be together. Kurt wants to walk down the hallways holding the hand of the boy he likesloves. Blaine's already had the living crap beaten out of him. Does anyone actually think getting slushied is going to stop him from letting people know that he loves Kurt? No. And I'm so, so glad "Glee" decided to allow these two to show their affection, and their strength together, and no matter how the students around them react, they can't touch what Kurt and Blaine have.
I could go on for hours over that hug. A complete juxtaposition to the sadness of their hug when they were parting in Born This Way, there is nothing but sheer joy here. Kurt is near tears, and Blaine is beaming so fricken bright his smile could cure cancer.
"Wait, wait. You didn't do this for me, did you? If-if you did this for me, it would be very romantic for one, but I mean, it could lead to resentment, which could lead to anger (which could lead to hate, which would lead to the Dark Side.... sorry, sorry... my mind fills it in automatically ~Ae), which could lead to a horrible, horrible nasty break up, like you know on 'The Bachelorette' when we watched it, because that was just--"
"Hey, hey. I came here for me because I can't stand to be apart from the person that I love." *cue Klaine theme song*
Anyone who doesn't think this love between them isn't sincere? Look at their eyes.
"Well, then, I guess we'll just have to find a way to ease you into the New Directions now, huh?"
"I already have that figured out."
Yes. Yes, he does.
Can we take a moment to pause and reflect on the fact that though many claim Blaine has had numerous solos throughout last year, this is, in fact, actually his first true solo on "Glee"? He has had duets, and been the lead on several songs with the Warblers, but "It's Not Unusual" is by all logical meaning of the word, the first time Blaine has soloed a song on this show, and wow, he did not disappoint. There isn't much to say about this scene beyond:
Kurt's adorable reaction to Blaine bursting out into this song is the cutest and most perfect reaction to pretty much EVERYTHING Blaine does!
I mean, seriously, the fact that Alex Anders has said Darren was the one to mention "It's Not Unusual" doesn't surprise me in the least. His performance was fricken adorable, and honestly, cheerleaders or no, I don't blame half the school for dancing along with him and applauding. I'm actually kind of pissed at Santana for ruining that beautiful moment.
Just, UNF:
For as flaily as I was with the wonderful Klaine moments in this episode (and oh, I am waiting with gleeful anticipation for an episode that actually focuses more directly on their relationship), the Hummelberry moments were just as thrilling and perfect to me. I've always enjoyed Kurt and Rachel's interactions--even in season one--and seeing this adorable friendship between them has me beyond happy. I'm sorry, but I just never bought the Kurt-Mercedes friendship. It felt forced to me. They never really seemed to have all that much in common. Their dialogue together in season one was cute but season two left me feeling ridiculously cold. It constantly came off as Mercedes not understanding Kurt AT ALL. From Grilled Cheesus onward. Whereas, Rachel has always seemed to understand Kurt, to recognize his talent, his loneliness, and all of the things that make Kurt special and amazing. I think they work together as friends (and Blaine as an extension) because they are the most alike out of everyone in glee club.
(This is why there needs to be a spinoff with those specific three, because they are all ridiculously talented, bound for the stage, with very similar attitudes, while remaining very individual and unique in their own rights. Blaine has been shown to have the least amount of ambition out of the three, but with a general likeability and charm that the other two are slightly lacking. Kurt is (IMHO) the most uniquely talented out of the three but, unfortunately, is limited simply by who he is, whether that's fair or not. And Rachel is the most ridiculously driven, and by that, will likely succeed where Kurt and Blaine might fail because I think she will always put herself first. And if Kurt and Blaine continue on the path they're on, I think their love for one another kind of outweighs everything else at this point. Again, just MY opinion, or maybe what I want to believe...)
Sorry for the tangent.
Anyway, Kurt and Rachel go off to the NYADA mixer to stun the competition with their own talent, and hopefully cause a few of them to drop out. Except... they encounter a roomful of students just like them (right down to the clothes and personalities) who instead blow them away. (Enter the first of our Glee Project contestants, Lindsay Pearce as Harmony who really is as talented as all that!... Honestly, IMO she was the most talented of the last four contestants but her personality issues really got in the way of her winning, and I think toward the end, she began to develop confidence issues on top of it.)
Cue more adorable reactions from these two as their competition for NYADA sings and tap dances their way through a mashup of "Anything Goes/Anything You Can Do".
It's the squawk at the end when the fire ignites that I love more than anything!
Seeing Rachel and Kurt in tears together over what they think is the end of their brilliant careers is one of the most heartbreaking scenes ever. I just wanted to squish them both.
Poor Rachel, tearfully saying that all that was left for them to do was move away, change their names and resign themselves to a life of community theater such as "Nunsense" and "The Vagina Monologues". And it's sweet, caring Kurt (remember the "most compassionate" person Blaine has ever met) who won't let Rachel give up like that. Because she's Rachel Berry and she's fierce, and she's going to get into that school!
I just think they're both beautiful in this scene.
And then comes one of those moments that makes me realize no matter how she behaves at time, I can never bring myself to hate Rachel Berry because sometimes she just gets things so right. Like last season, when she was the only one to take any notice of Kurt's loneliness and disappointment throughout Duets, and told him he wasn't alone, and asked him to sing a duet with her. And this time? She gets so many damn points for saying this:
"You make me want to be your boyfriend."
That line is sheer perfection. Sheer and utter perfection.
And then she points out to Kurt that he's just as fierce as she is, and he has to promise not to give up, either.
Their gay high five is the most adorable thing ever!
And now to the scene that my opinion seems to differ from the majority of fandom with. Happily, I discovered that flyblackbirdfly got the same impression from it that I did, so I don't feel quite so alone in my Blaine stanning.
But basically, it's this:
To me, this is not excited!puppy!Blaine. Yeah, he's all smiles, and being his adorable self, and trying too fricken hard to make everyone like him. This is nervous!Blaine. This is a Blaine we haven't seen too much of. Nervous, uncertain, walking into unfamiliar territory and just wanting everyone to love him because this is where he wants to be now because the person he loves is there, and they can be together, but he has absolutely no idea if this is where he belongs.
Let's recall back to the scene in the coffeeshop where Blaine said "Those guys are my friends." The Warblers accepted and welcomed Blaine at one of the worst points of his life. He'd just ran away from his school because of bullying, because he had the living crap beaten out of him for being who he was. Like Kurt, he came to Dalton right when he needed it most. Unlike Kurt, he's not going back to a place he wants to be, he's not going back to a group of friends who love him. All he has for certain at McKinley is Kurt.
As much as we've written fic about Blaine making friends with everyone in New Directions over the summer, there's really no reason that would have been the case. Blaine was working at Six Flags, the others were likely all working, any time Blaine and Kurt would have had free would have been spent together. And sure, he saw Finn in passing at the Hudmels, but Blaine is still Kurt's boyfriend, the rival singer from the other school that initially took Kurt away from New Directions, and what reason does Finn have to be friends with Blaine?
So really, why would Blaine feel excitement beyond getting to be with Kurt now? (Which he clearly displays once he's finally sitting beside him--where he feels safest--with the adoring looks we're so used to seeing from him when Kurt is nearby.) This is how Blaine enters the choir room:
That's nervousness right there. Uncertainty. He actually looks around as if he's waiting for something to jump out at him. And when he does his little speech:
"Thanks so much everyone"--even though no one has reacted yet--"I'm so thrilled to be here! It's going to be a great year I can feel it. We're all going to go to Nationals!"
...Not only is it hurried, and far from the confident!Blaine we know and love in tone, he keeps looking to Will for fricken approval! (And, okay, this is one of the few times I almost found myself liking Will because he seemed to realize that when he reached out and patted Blaine.) Blaine even rubs his hands together at the end, which is an extremely telling nervous gesture--his palms are probably sweating and his heart is racing a mile a minute.
I mean, not only is he now in an environment far from Dalton, but he doesn't want to fail--not in front of Kurt. He wants to know he made the right decision, not just for himself but to ensure Kurt as well because Kurt was panicking over the thought that Blaine's transfer could end up bad for them if Blaine wasn't happy. (Oh, these two! Can I just hold them and put them away together somewhere that they'll be totally safe and happy???)
So then what happens?? Douchebag Finn decides to rear his ugly head. (Seriously, I bounce back and forth on my feelings for Finn so badly, I've gotten severe whiplash.) For the most part, I adore Finn, and I get why he reacts the way he does, especially here. He does feel threatened (and he should!), and we all know when Finn feels threatened he'll go so far as praying to a sandwich to get what he wants. But I think what upset me most here was Finn has always been shown to be welcoming when it came to glee club--far more welcoming than Rachel, etc. And yet here he is, making baseless accusations at Blaine (The Warblers, who wore their school uniforms to competitions and repeatedly did the step, touch, touch have "bells and whistles"?? Not to mention, where does the "ball hogging" thing come from?? Unless Kurt was bitching at home--which I can't even picture--I am a bit flabbergasted here. Pot meet kettle, when it comes to singing lead in competitions, Finn!!!), and being a complete snot.
Yeah, Finn scored no points from me in this ep. He might as well have sent Blaine to a crack house.
No, baby. You didn't. Finn just has this thing for occasionally being a douchebag.
I do love Blaine's reaction to Santana getting kicked out. Like, this is his first day in glee at McKinley and that happens. Such a thing probably required a majority vote among the Warblers! And I'm sure hasn't happened since like 1946 or something!
But hey, Blaine has Kurt back beside him now. Where he can apparently reach out and do dirty things to when no one is looking:
Kidding, kidding. It's sweet how excited he seems to be for his boyfriend to be running for class president! I imagine them laying on their stomachs in the Hudmel house, making glitter signs together. *draws hearts around the most perfect canon couple ever*
And then the episode ends with a big group number that, honestly, I am still having trouble dealing with because Blaine is in New Directions, and my mind STILL isn't processing this fact properly. I have trouble even watching the scene because it's so hard to wrap my mind around, and as much as I began hoping for it to happen once the tour got underway, I'm still kind of baffled that it has. I mean, he's out there, dancing with Tina and jumping on furniture with his boyfriend at the end like perfect bookends, and my Blaine stanning heart. Can't. Take. It.
(A CARTWHEEL!!! Oh Darren!!!)
(I will never stop being amused at Chris falling down, and Darren spinning around like he could somehow reach far enough to help him up... I luff them!)
Other things happened in this episode beyond OH MY GOD BLAINE IS NOW AT MCKINLEY AND HE AND KURT ARE GOING TO BE MARRIED BY THIRTY--LEGALLY--AND MY BABIES ARE SO HAPPY AND BEAUTIFUL TOGETHER I CAN BARELY STAND IT!!!
- Mercedes got a new beau, Shane, and they're ridiculously adorable together. She's obviously quite happy, and he obviously worships the ground she walks on. (Also, LeMarcus Tinker couldn't be any cuter than when he talks about Amber!)
- Sugar Motta happened. I kind of love her. I love that she is "self-diagnosed" Asperger's. What a great way to get away with saying whatever the hell you want! Surprised Rachel didn't think of that excuse. :P Her audition was hilarious, and I really want to see more of her. We need a new obnoxious student around.
- I think things were going on between Will and Emma but all I really noticed was too many shirtless Will scenes, and I did like their lunch boxes. But that was it because... well, I tend to turn my focus to the internet when they come onscreen. Sorry. :/
- Sue is running for Congress to abolish arts programs. It has the potential to be a fun storyline from the upcoming spoilers about her opponent, but for now, I am really sick of the back and forth with Sue, and I wish the writers could decide if she wants to end the glee club or leave it alone.
- Santana has been kicked out of New Directions by Will. I have mixed feelings here. Rachel has walked out of that club time and again. Will has sabotaged it out of his own selfishness repeatedly. And while yes, what Santana did was wrong, she also had her reasons and has her own fears, and god, we all know it's the best part of her day. Seeing her force that false happy smile before she walked out about killed me. And I kind of wanted to smack Mercedes for her whole "Good for you, Mr. Schue" comment. All in all, it does make me curious as to where the storyline is going for the first half of the season.
- Hell, this whole EPISODE has me curious as to where they're going this season!!
All in all, it's one of the best Glee episodes, in my opinion, ever. It was hilarious in all the right places, and I really, really hope they continue that feeling the rest of the season because I would love to see Modern Family actually get some damn competition at the Emmy's next year. If Chris can prove that he can also be funny on top of his amazing grasp of dramatics, they'd be more stupid than ever not to give him that Emmy.
If you actually made it to the end? You deserve something. Like Darren showing up at your doorstep in nothing but a big red bow...
Now I am off to continue to listen to Darren KILL IT singing "Something's Coming"... (My god, Dare, could you be more perfect??!?!)
*** NONE OF THE GIFS ABOVE ARE MINE. MY THANKS TO THOSE AMAZINGLY RESOURCEFUL GIF MAKERS AT TUMBLR WHO FEED ALL OF OUR OBSESSIONS.