'Glee' Recap: Michael Jackson Tribute Was Bad (As in Good) -- Billboard
While the queer content of Glee is what maybe grabbed my attention first, what keeps it is the theme of ambition and growing up. I could think about ambition all the time, how it plays out for these characters, how they construct their own destinies within their fantasy land and how that crumbles or holds up in the real world. So this week was especially good for that on Glee, with so much fantasy in the performances and so much reality in the consequences.
We have Sebastain, the most intense and harsh villain on Glee so far, who caps off a dance battle with a slushie that sends you to the hospital, flipping on its head the slushie as ridiculous and surreal threat into the real world. We have Rachel’s fear about her future leading her to an engagement that she’s not 100 percent behind. We have Kurt, and his dad, and the utter joy and pride at his bright future.
And the future, it looms. Quinn might be set, and Kurt and Rachel are on a path that will lead both of them to take losses for what they hope to gain. Ryan Murphy has said the end of this season will be heartbreaking, following these more lighthearted episodes. They’re only finalists for their dreams so far, and they likely won’t get an easy road. The others, too, don’t have any clear paths. Santana, Britt and Mercedes haven’t outlined anything yet, Mike might not be good enough to dance like he hopes. Parents, who continue to play a greater role in this season, will have to let go of their children as they become adults. “Glee” payed homage to Michael Jackson this episode, but now it’s time to leave Neverland for the rest of the journey.
We see how Kurt, excited about his future, is able to be mature and take the high road against his enemies, while Rachel grasps for straws to solidify a future for herself even if it’s not the exact one she wanted. They’re both not to safety yet, no one is, but the Great Escape From Lima is barreling ahead full force, and interesting to see Quinn lead the charge on this one. She’s arguably the character that has went through the most hell at McKinley, and so she gets the first prize. Followed by Kurt, who at least gets the next triumphant taste. My bets are on Mike Chang next.
(I’m going to save my eye trauma commentary for another post.)
