The Gleek Critique: "Nationals" Episode

Will and Emma on Glee. Image property of Fox.

by Jack Garcia

The kids are in Chicago and things aren't going so well.  Mercedes is sick, the boys are all fighting, Puck is trying to study and Quinn's newly rehabilitated legs are struggling with the dance moves. Will is really worried that the kids won't win and he can't bear the thought of a second Nationals defeat.  And to make things worse, Jesse St. James is harassing Rachel and she's just stressed that Ms. Tibideaux isn't there to watch her perform.  Luckily she has Finn to cheer her up with a Chicago glass mug that he plans on smashing at their upcoming Jewish wedding.

Now it's time for the competition!  New Directions performs first in what they call "the death slot" but they pull it together and perform amazingly well!  And after a pep talk from Kurt and Mercedes, the drag queen Unique is the star of the Vocal Adrenaline performance.  The celebrity judges include blogger Perez Hilton, actor Rex Lee and actress Lindsay Lohan, desperately trying to make a comeback.  She's devastated to find out the event isn't televised nor does she get a spinning judge's chair like on NBC's The Voice.  After a comedic debate, the winners are announced:  Unique wins MVP but Vocal Adrenaline as a whole gets second place.  Who gets first?  NEW DIRECTIONS!

The kids are ecstatic and they return to McKinley High as champions.  Instead of slushies in the face they get confetti thrown at them.  Everyone is kissing and hugging.  There's champagne and cake.  A giant trophy to put up in the choir room.  Finn made a bet with the hockey team that they would win so he's rolling in dough.  Sue gets to give a big ol' check to Figgins, securing her spot as Cheerios captain.  Hopeful lower classmen are asking for Rachel's autograph in the yearbook.  Emma Pilsbury decides she's ready to have sex with Will.  The good vibes just keep coming!

And to top off the happiness, Principal Figgins asks Rachel and Finn if the group will perform at the school's awards assembly where they present Mr. Schuester with the Teacher of the Year Award!  Oh, and how could I forget the other good news:  Ms. Tibideaux showed up and even Jesse told her that she should give Rachel a spot in NYADA.  We'll see what happens...

The Pros:

• I love the Troubletones!  You know, the short-lived all-girl group they formed earlier this season...  Anyway, I love them and I loved their version of Lady Gaga's "Edge of Glory."  I even love the random female backup dancers that are in no way part of the glee club.
• The New Direction set list continued with a Rachel Berry solo, sung to Celine Dion's "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" and then ended with a fantastic and rousing number of Meat Loaf's "Paradise By The Dashboard Light"!  It was so so so so good!
• Wade's female persona Unique shone once more as she led Vocal Adrenaline in their performances of Nick Minaj's "Starships" and The Who's "Pinball Wizard."  He really is something else... and he more than hinted that he'd be going to McKinley High next season.
• The "when it's finally time to have intercourse" pamphlet made me happy!  Yay!  Go Emma and Mr. Schue!  And I loved when Sue asked Emma, "Why do you look different?" after they did the deed.
• The group's cover of Grouplove's "Tongue Tied" was a fun soundtrack to their victory at Nationals and I really loved their rendition of Queen's "We Are the Champions."

The Cons:

• How the hell is Jesse St. James the director of Vocal Adrenaline anyway?  He was in high school two seasons ago.  Wouldn't he need some sort of degree?  But I did like his suit jacket. :)