Don't Stop Believin'

I liked Glee when it first premiered.  I loved it when it returned after a way-too-long hiatus.  But after this week's finale, I (heart) it so much words cannot describe my warm and fuzzy feelings for this show.  Every scene was emotional, every Sue moment was HI-LARIOUS (and one was actually touching), every song was awesome and the surprises were perfect.  In fact, the entire episode was kinda perfect.  We even got an awesome Jesse solo (despite his evil, heart-breaking ways, I still adore his angelic voice).  But the most exciting thing about this week's season ender for me was that fan-freakin-tastic Journey medley that New Directions performed at regionals.  Oh. My. Steve Perry!!  It was the greatest thing since, well, the last time Glee did Journey (a little awesome number called "Don't Stop Believing" during the series premiere).  And then there was the night's biggest twist that led to a happy ending for several of our favorite characters.

'Glee' Has the Funk

Somebody has egg on their face today and it isn't Rachel!  I totally, 100%, completely believed that Jesse St. James was a good guy.  Maybe his sweet voice made me want to believe so badly that I finally did -- I don't know, but I was very wrong about him and I'm so, so bummed.  In fact, I'm so bummed, I'm in a funk.  Maybe I should try the Quinn panacea for getting out of a funk.  Or maybe, I should just listen to Jesse sing "Hello" and "Total Eclipse of the Heart" over and over until it erases the bad taste of this week's events.  I get it -- everyone deals with having to say goodbye in their own way.  More than likely, Jesse's horrible behavior was his way of distancing himself from Rachel and focusing on beating her and New Directions at regionals next week, but seriously dude, FIND A BETTER WAY!  Preferably one that doesn't break my Rachel's heart.  Fortunately, there was one lasting moment at the end that almost made everything O.K.

Gaga for 'Glee'

If Lady Gaga and Glee aren't a match made in Heaven, I don't know what is!  A show about the picked on social outcasts at a small town high school took on the music from the woman who champions the outcasts of society.  Her dedicated fans lovingly call themselves her "Little Monsters," and more often than not, could each fill a book with their high school experiences.  Much like the kids of Glee who have been called "freaks" more times than they care to remember.  This is especially true for Kurt who took more than his fair share of crap this week for his love of all things Gaga.  But, it was nice to see him back to expressing his true self and being happy with who he is instead of trying to be someone he thinks his father wants him to be (and MAJOR to kudos to his dad for defending him against Finn).  This week, however, it might have been Rachel who was having the most difficult time.

'Glee's' Not So Impossible Dream

Neil Patrick Harris and finding out Jesse isn't bad all in the same episode??!!  What did I do to Glee to deserve such awesomeness??!!  The only thing missing from this episode was Jesse's sweet, sweet voice serenading me Rachel, but I'm going to overlook it this one time because of two incredible duets that made up for it: Rachel and Ms. Corcoran singing "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Miserables and Will and Brian Ryan (NPH) singing Aerosmith's "Dream On."  I think Glee might have crossed that threshold where actors (particularly those broadway-trained) and musical artists are lining up to be on the show.  Idina Menzel has a recurring role and NPH made a guest appearance even though he has his own very successful comedy on CBS.  I love it!  But it wasn't just great guest stars and awesome duets this week.  Rachel made quite the emotional journey and ended up uncovering a family secret.

Vocal Expression

Just in case you forgot, Glee decided to remind you why it's one of the best shows on TV!  Seriously, could they have packed any more awesome moments into a single episode?  Just when I thought they had max-ed out on awesome, they go and give us that moving story involving Rachel and the former football player who is now paralyzed from the chest down.  I feel pretty confident declaring that scene at the end between them one of the most moving scenes ever.  In the span of a single episode, this show managed to make me laugh so hard I had to pause my DVR and blink away tears so I could see the characters without the blurry glow that tear-filled eyes provide.  And while I missed Jesse (or rather, his perfect voice), the bonus Brittany this week seemed to make up for his absence.  But the episode's best lines were once again relegated to one Sue Sylvester.

'Glee' Has a Bad Reputation

I know I shouldn't, but I LOVE Jesse St. James!  I'm aware that he has some sort of sinister motive for dating Rachel, but he sings like an angel, dances like a dream and has an intensity so strong it burns through my TV screen!  I'm going to end up hating myself for this when his true intentions are revealed, but not him -- not with that talent.  Seriously, I need help.  Moving on because if I don't, this post will quickly morph into a fangirl "I (heart) Jesse" diatribe that no one (including me) wants to read.  This episode freakin' ROCKED!!  I've said it before, but I'll say it again: this show is at its best when it sticks to the glee club kids and relegates the faculty members' personal stories to the back burner.  I didn't post anything about last week's episode because it was not my favorite.  In fact, I found the Will/April story line to be boring and completely without merit (I did, however, LOVE the Mercedes story and her scene with Quinn was one of the show's best thus far).  This week, the focus was back on glee club and the talented kids in it.  More specifically, which of those talented kids posted the "Glist," an act that was destined to give him/her a one-way ticket to suspension.

'Glee' Strikes a Pose

So we've all pretty much been excited about this Madonna-themed episode of Glee since it was announced several months ago.  With shoes that big to fill, the show ran a huge risk of coming up short.  But then again, this is Glee and it's about the only show that can both take on Madonna and live up to the hype surrounding such a huge endeavor.  Therefore, I didn't lowball my expectations the way I do whenever I hear something good about an upcoming episode of any of my other favorite shows (I find, overall, that my expectations set standards that no show can live up to, and as such, I wind up being disappointed more times than not.  Hence, the lowball plan works pretty well).  I expected this episode to deliver.  I expected it to rock.  And, I expected it to do Madonna proud.  The only question, then, did it succeed in meeting these expectations?

'Glee'-ful Return

While I'm happy to have Glee back, I hate this Tuesday night thing!  I have so many other shows to watch that I couldn't even DVR it, so I had to watch it on the net yesterday (thank you, Fox.com).  But seriously, can all of the networks quit conspiring against me and put some of their big shows on nights other than Tuesday?!  Once I was able to watch this episode, it was worth the hassle.  It had me laughing right out the gate.  Sue was her usual hilariously obnoxious self, Puck was giving Quinn a hard time for getting "fat" (kinda happens when you're PREGNANT!  And yes, Puck, it IS your fault), and Rachel was giving Finn a couple's calendar with all of her their future plans.  We hadn't even gotten to the first commercial break and I was already hooked and happy to have this fun show back.  As the episode progressed one thing became painfully obvious to everyone except the one person it needed to be apparent to and it may just cost her something much, much better.

'Glee'-mance

The only bad thing about this week's "Fall Finale" of Glee is the depressing fact that the show isn't returning until freakin' APRIL!! I'm so thankful they wrapped up a few loose ends before it signed off for four months, but there were some developments that I can't wait to see explored further next year. Mainly, the end of one tired story line and the beginning of another more captivating one. I've lamented the Will/Terri/Emma love triangle saga from the start primarily because I felt like the show was better than it. Add in Terri's fake pregnancy story (which the show mercifully put out if its misery last week), and you get the weakest scenes. But, out with the old and in with the new because Will took two major steps this week that should make Terri's faux baby bump and that silly love triangle part of the show's past.

Once Upon a Mattress Ad

This week's episode was sorta destined to fall short after last week's awesome outing, and yet, it had moments that made me very happy.  It's no secret that I enjoy the episodes that center around the glee kids and steer away from the Will/Terri/Emma triangle, so things were on shaky ground from the get-go.  But then, something great happened!  Will discovered the truth about Terri's fake pregnancy!  I was so frickin' excited.  That story line played itself out weeks ago and I was so over it.  I'm so glad he knows that she's a faker.  I have to say, though, that moment was bittersweet.  It was vindicating and heart-wrenching to see Will discover the truth and to then watch that truth play out on his face.  I can't even imagine the disappointment and anger he had to have been feeling in that scene.  And yes, Emma had a point (and I kinda hated that she did), but the fact is that faking a pregnancy isn't Terri's only fault and it isn't the only thing that makes her a bad match for Will.  She's incredibly selfish.  I hope Will takes the time to really evaluate his relationship with her before he goes running back to her prematurely.

Remember how I was saying last week that I (heart) Quinn more and more with each passing episode?  Well, this week filled me with Quinn-love.  Talk about gumption!

Filled with 'Glee'

I haven't written about the wonderful Glee here at PTR yet, but after this week's outstanding outing, I could remain silent no more.  I liked this show from the pilot, but I wasn't in love with it.  I enjoyed the episodes, but it wasn't like I was waiting for the next one with thrills of anticipation.  That changed when the show returned from its baseball-induced hiatus.  Something wonderful happened and this show went from fun and likable to absolutely-can't-miss-because-I-eagerly-await-each-episode.  The focus shifted slightly from the Will/Emma saga and "Terri fakes her pregnancy"(the show's only weak links, IMO) to the amazing kids in McKinley High's glee club.  It sounds like common sense, but this show's strength is its glee club and the stories directly surrounding the kids in it.  These kids have the remarkable ability to make you laugh out loud one moment and move you to tears the next.  But this week's outing had the most moving moment yet...