The Gleek Critique: "Hold On to Sixteen"

New Directions performing a trio of Jackson songs at Sectionals.  Image property of Fox.

by Jack Garcia

Finn realizes that New Directions doesn't have a chance at winning Sectionals.  His brilliant solution to this problem?  Hunt Sam Evans down and convince him to transfer back to McKinley!  It doesn't even matter that he's moved completely out of the state!  So he and Rachel convince Sam to come back (which means the real-life actor has decided to return to the show) and his parents agree.  For some reason.

Quinn continues on her psychotic mission to regain custody of her daughter.  The info Puck shared with her about he and Shelby's coitus is proving very useful.  If she can get Shelby fired, she'll be seen as an "unfit mother."  She's also trying to get back with Sam, which isn't working because he is determined to get back with Mercedes.

Sebastian shows up to flirt with Blaine again and he makes it very known to Kurt that he doesn't like him.  It's okay though, because Kurt doesn't like Sebastian either.  But they both like Blaine... and the game is on.  Not everybody likes Blaine though.  Finn seems to hate him, but when Blaine confronts him about it, he admits that he is really just jealous.  The two make amends and everything is good in the hood.

Mike's dad is still very opposed to his son pursuing a career in the arts, so Mike decides to apply for Stanford to make him happy.  But with a little coercion from Tina, Mike's father comes to Sectionals and is moved by his son's performance... causing a heartwarming (or gag-worthy?) change of heart.  And Mike's dad isn't the only one who loved New Directions.  The judges were impressed as well and they win the competition!

The Pros:

• Sam is back tonight!  And he came back naked!!  That's right.  Naked.  Well, almost naked.  He's been working as a male stripper...
• The sexiness continues when Blaine is seen boxing!
• "Buenos Aires" from the musical Evita was really fun!  That Glee Project winner is really good.  I liked the song she did in the first episode as well.
• I liked Shelby's advice to Quinn... and thank goodness it seems like she is actually following it!
• The Troubletones can do no wrong!  Their mash-up of "Survivor/I Will Survive" at Sectionals was fantastic!  Seriously, Mercedes and Santana should sing together all the time.  Over and over.
• The Asians got solos at Sectionals!  Ignoring how racist I just sounded, Tina never gets solos anymore so I was thrilled that she was featured as was Mike Chang.  Doing the Jackson Five's "ABC" followed by Janet Jackson's "Control" and Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror" was a tremendous tour de force and I ate it all up!  Seriously, New Directions kicked butt tonight!
• Speaking of the New Directions, I love how they solved their low numbers by recruiting the random band kids that accompany them in the choir room.
• Their last song "We Are Young" made me happy inside... mostly because all of the kids were together again!

The Cons:

• A clown is judging Sectionals?
• Again... a clown? 
• Sue isn't to be seen... but we get a clown.