Glee Review: Don't Dream It's Over

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A swan song is, by definition, a final public performance or a person's last performance before retirement. Why tonight's episode of Glee was titled "Swan Song" is anybody's guess.

Even if the New Directions did lose Sectionals, nothing about tonight said "the end." Tonight was about starting over. Regrouping. New beginnings.

Whoopi Goldberg as Carmen

We've debated in recent weeks what the point of Glee is exactly. Is this a show about high school? Or is it a show meant to follow its original cast into perpetuity?

It seemed like the writers were finally trying to tell us what they think Glee is all about.

Rachel: Finn, listen to me. You know, even if we, we never won our Sectionals, or Nationals had never happened, it still would have been worth it. I mean, glee, it's about the love of the music. It's about people like Puck and Artie not just singing together but actually being friends. It's about Brittany and Mike dancing just for fun when no one else is around. It's even about the romances. You know they come and go, but they're just as important. | permalink

Tonight Glee was about the characters. Which is why most of tonight's New York scenes didn't bug me. In fact, most of them reminded me what I love about Kurt and Rachel as individual characters and as friends.

I could have done without the Rachel-Cassie showdown of "All That Jazz." In fact, I'm getting to the point where I'm done with Cassie July altogether. I love Kate Hudson's chiseled abs and ascerbic remarks as much as the next person, but Rachel's not a dancer. (And truth be told, all of the "dance-offs" that have happened this season have sort of proven that point already, with tonight being no exception.)

She's never going to be a dancer and she knows it. Rachel Berry was born to belt out the ballads and belt she did.

Rachel Berry totally owned the NYADA Winter Showcase. I got chills while listening to her sing "O Holy Night."

But it was her speech to Brody beforehand that I loved the most about her performances tonight. Rachel, for all of her lack of confidence, has never lacked said confidence on stage. She has always known who she is when she's singing. That has always been clear.

Tonight felt like Rachel was reminded of that, or reminded herself of that. And using that confidence, she did what she does, which is blow everyone else out of the water.

She also loaned a little of that confidence to Kurt. He's always hidden behind his "careful assortment of bells and whistles" and tonight he showed his vulnerability at just the right moment. Doing so paid off as Kurt is now NYADA's newest student. Finally, something good for Kurt Hummel!

But not so much good happened for the New Directions back at McKinley. Unless you count Brittany and Sam.

They're a strange pair, really, and the set up has been only slightly more developed than that of Sam and Mercedes, but I don't hate it.

Their breaking of the fourth wall tonight to directly address the backlash the writers knew would come out of their pairing was well played. Love is love. And if anything, Brittany's character was always written as bisexual, so her decision to date Sam doesn't seem outside the scope of something her character would do. I can be Team Bam for as long as this lasts.

However, I'm irritated that the only mention we got of Marley's eating disorder came from Santana calling Kitty out and everyone ignoring it. Completely irritated. I don't know why I expected that more would happen with that, but I did. I hoped this would be the Big! Issue! that Glee got right.

I suppose there's still hope for the writers to revisit this in future episodes, but it bothers me that Kitty caused so much destruction and will see no repercussions. At this point, she's irredeemable for me.

After Marley's tumble at Sectionals, the New Directions lost when they fled the stage to take care of her as the judges declared the Warblers the winners. Better luck next year?

To be honest, I was kind of shocked by that turn of events. I expected one of the other girls to jump in, sing with Blaine and the New Directions would go on to a victory. It was interesting to me to see the possible collapse of the glee club thanks to a wonky set of rules and Sue's maneuvering.

But the glee club is kind of like The Goonies, and goonies never say die.

They'll regroup. They'll move forward from here. And Finn will help them do it.

What did you think of "Swan Song"? Are you Team Bam? Did Rachel blow you away with her ballad? Be sure to check out the rest of the Glee quotes (and the Glee music!) and I'll see you in the comments!

Swan Song Review

Editor Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
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User Rating:

Rating: 4.2 / 5.0 (177 Votes)

Miranda Wicker was a Staff Writer for TV Fanatic. She retired in 2017. Follow her on Twitter.

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Glee Season 4 Episode 9 Quotes

Brittany: Did you lay out the line of cereal for me?
Sam: Well, it's Tuesday, and I know how you forget to eat breakfast on Tuesday because the first few days of the week tend to confuse you.

This is all Marley's fault. New Rachel, my butt. I knew Rachel Berry. I was friends with Rachel Berry. And you, Marley, are not Rachel Berry.

Tina

Glee Season 4 Episode 9 Music

  Song Artist
Something Stupid Glee Cast iTunes
Song All That Jazz (feat. Kate Hudson) Glee Cast iTunes
Being Good Isn't Good Enough Glee Cast iTunes