Liz's Instant Glee-Cap - 5x03 - The Quarterback
I don’t live under a rock, so I knew perfectly well that this was going to be the Finn/Cory tribute episode. But I did manage to stay almost entirely un-spoiled, otherwise, save for the promo at the end of “Tina in the Sky with Diamonds,” and a single song spoiler that I accidentally laid eyes on.
And even still, I had dreams about this episode last night, and woke up this morning nearly sobbing in my sleep. I could see the punch coming, but there was nothing I could (or would) do about it. Sad as I know this hour will be, it feels like it’s time. We’re as ready as we’re going to be, and I think we need to go through this to move on.
Honestly, I don't have my usual detailed recap in me tonight. I've spent almost the entire hour sobbing. So for tonight, just a few disjointed thoughts.
"Seasons of Love" was the one song I was spoiled for, and even just knowing it was going to be there was a punch to the chest. I was crying (loudly) before it was over. I was so glad Mercedes got the part she did in that song. (On second watch, I noticed Kurt and Blaine's ties matched, and so maybe I won't complain as loudly about the fact that they mostly didn't sit next to each other the whole episode.)
Kurt back in the loft, packing for Lima, was so hard. But I'm glad he was the one to say, essentially, "how he died doesn't matter, and if you have a problem with that, he was MY brother." He was the right person to say that, and dare anyone to question him.
Mercedes singing "I'll Stand By You" was a gut-wrenching surprise, and she was as incredible as I would have guessed she'd be. I miss her so much. I was watching Kurt while she sang, though. It was such an unusual posture for him - slumped, so terribly sad.
The entire scene with Burt, Carole and Kurt in Finn's room had me sobbing so hard my husband came in to check on me. I'm so glad the three of them were there for each other, and the acting from all three was so powerful. Look, I'm a mother. Carole's wondering how anyone goes on, how anyone breathes again... every mother feels her heart ripped out from that. The three of them curled up in a heap on the floor is almost too much to bear.
Santana's defensive and explosive anger was incredibly believable, totally in-character, and so sad to watch. Sue's usual insults were equally in-character, and when she finally confessed her own regret, that she liked Finn and knew he was a genuinely good guy, DESTROYED me.
Tina's character assassination continues. Of COURSE they give her the superficial expression of grief in wanting to change clothes. And honestly? I don't actually criticize the superficial thoughts - really and truly, everyone grieves in their own way and on their own timeline. But you HAD to give that part to TINA? God they really hate her for some reason.
The Bieste & Puck scenes... I'm sorry, but they didn't work for me. Puck as a character deserved to have his goodbye to Finn, and some of the stuff he said made sense for their relationship. But the scenes didn't land for me in the way some others did.
Santana falling apart during her song? Now that landed. She and Kurt in the auditorium, with her telling nice stories about Finn, and then crying again and asking Kurt to leave her alone? That worked. I thought they were going to do more with passing the letterman jacket along to each person who needed it in that moment. But that they didn't makes it weird for me that Kurt ultimately gave the jacket to Santana of all people.
Rachel's arrival and song were perfectly placed and completely devastating. Blaine (who didn't speak the entire episode) falling to pieces and clutching Kurt's arm while she sang was brutal. Her plan for eventually coming "home" to Finn was probably unrealistic in a million ways, but heartbreaking nonetheless. And the plaque with "the show must go all over the place, or something" was so perfectly Finn.
That we ended on Schue finally having his ugly cry doesn't bother me nearly as much as the fact that HE was the one who stole the letterman jacket from Santana. I'm sorry, but WAY TO REMIND ME YOU'RE A CREEP. Probably the most sour note for me in an otherwise gut-wrenching episode.
Liz's Instant Glee-Cap Rating: 4/5 stars. I was torn to shreds the entire time. It felt like the most important people got to say their goodbyes. There were a few parts that I didn't exactly care for, but I think they generally accomplished what they needed to do: let the characters, the actors, and the audience say goodbye.
Liz's Instant Song Downloads
"Seasons of Love" (I found out about it nearly a week ago and have had it in my head ever since, but have refused to let myself listen to the RENT version, nor download the Glee version)
"I'll Stand By You"
"Fire and Rain"
"Make You Feel My Love"
Hugs to all of you out there in Glee-land. Feel free to commiserate in the comments. I might have more thoughts later as I digest all of this, but I can't say for sure.
And even still, I had dreams about this episode last night, and woke up this morning nearly sobbing in my sleep. I could see the punch coming, but there was nothing I could (or would) do about it. Sad as I know this hour will be, it feels like it’s time. We’re as ready as we’re going to be, and I think we need to go through this to move on.
Honestly, I don't have my usual detailed recap in me tonight. I've spent almost the entire hour sobbing. So for tonight, just a few disjointed thoughts.
"Seasons of Love" was the one song I was spoiled for, and even just knowing it was going to be there was a punch to the chest. I was crying (loudly) before it was over. I was so glad Mercedes got the part she did in that song. (On second watch, I noticed Kurt and Blaine's ties matched, and so maybe I won't complain as loudly about the fact that they mostly didn't sit next to each other the whole episode.)
Kurt back in the loft, packing for Lima, was so hard. But I'm glad he was the one to say, essentially, "how he died doesn't matter, and if you have a problem with that, he was MY brother." He was the right person to say that, and dare anyone to question him.
Mercedes singing "I'll Stand By You" was a gut-wrenching surprise, and she was as incredible as I would have guessed she'd be. I miss her so much. I was watching Kurt while she sang, though. It was such an unusual posture for him - slumped, so terribly sad.
The entire scene with Burt, Carole and Kurt in Finn's room had me sobbing so hard my husband came in to check on me. I'm so glad the three of them were there for each other, and the acting from all three was so powerful. Look, I'm a mother. Carole's wondering how anyone goes on, how anyone breathes again... every mother feels her heart ripped out from that. The three of them curled up in a heap on the floor is almost too much to bear.
Santana's defensive and explosive anger was incredibly believable, totally in-character, and so sad to watch. Sue's usual insults were equally in-character, and when she finally confessed her own regret, that she liked Finn and knew he was a genuinely good guy, DESTROYED me.
Tina's character assassination continues. Of COURSE they give her the superficial expression of grief in wanting to change clothes. And honestly? I don't actually criticize the superficial thoughts - really and truly, everyone grieves in their own way and on their own timeline. But you HAD to give that part to TINA? God they really hate her for some reason.
The Bieste & Puck scenes... I'm sorry, but they didn't work for me. Puck as a character deserved to have his goodbye to Finn, and some of the stuff he said made sense for their relationship. But the scenes didn't land for me in the way some others did.
Santana falling apart during her song? Now that landed. She and Kurt in the auditorium, with her telling nice stories about Finn, and then crying again and asking Kurt to leave her alone? That worked. I thought they were going to do more with passing the letterman jacket along to each person who needed it in that moment. But that they didn't makes it weird for me that Kurt ultimately gave the jacket to Santana of all people.
Rachel's arrival and song were perfectly placed and completely devastating. Blaine (who didn't speak the entire episode) falling to pieces and clutching Kurt's arm while she sang was brutal. Her plan for eventually coming "home" to Finn was probably unrealistic in a million ways, but heartbreaking nonetheless. And the plaque with "the show must go all over the place, or something" was so perfectly Finn.
That we ended on Schue finally having his ugly cry doesn't bother me nearly as much as the fact that HE was the one who stole the letterman jacket from Santana. I'm sorry, but WAY TO REMIND ME YOU'RE A CREEP. Probably the most sour note for me in an otherwise gut-wrenching episode.
Liz's Instant Glee-Cap Rating: 4/5 stars. I was torn to shreds the entire time. It felt like the most important people got to say their goodbyes. There were a few parts that I didn't exactly care for, but I think they generally accomplished what they needed to do: let the characters, the actors, and the audience say goodbye.
Liz's Instant Song Downloads
"Seasons of Love" (I found out about it nearly a week ago and have had it in my head ever since, but have refused to let myself listen to the RENT version, nor download the Glee version)
"I'll Stand By You"
"Fire and Rain"
"Make You Feel My Love"
Hugs to all of you out there in Glee-land. Feel free to commiserate in the comments. I might have more thoughts later as I digest all of this, but I can't say for sure.