It’s clear when show creator Ryan Murphy began Glee, 13 episodes was as far as he could wish for given the risky premise. Luckily, as the show draws to a temporary end with ‘Sectionals’, it proves not only to be commercially viable but satisfactory in terms of storytelling as well.
The Obstacles
The episode proves very cathartic due to the Glee club’s obstacles this week. For one, Quinn’s pregnancy secret is finally revealed, although not too graciously by Rachel. It doesn’t paint a good color on Rachel, but considering Quinn’s role in this, I’d say they’re about even. Ultimately, this storyline is the only major piece to continue when the show gets back from hiatus in April. It remains unresolved, but it gives something fans can mull over in the coming months.
Besides, this is hardly the focus of ‘Sectionals’. The musical challenge proves even more provocative, especially due to Sue’s responsibility in this and the reflection of the other competing Glee clubs. There’s a lot more at stake than before and our Glee kids have never seemed more like the underdog. It’s hardly probable that they pulled together a new set list in an hour, but seeing Rachel and the rest of the kids flourish under pressure makes the logical stretch worth it.
Volume One
Due to the potential for cancellation, ‘Sectional’ ends like a series finale, with all the emotional closure to go along with it. Will and Terri go their separate ways, with a slight potential for Terri to return, although whether she does or not is hardly a concern for me. Will and Figgins finally have their say against Sue, although it’s clear this is only kindling for Sue’s fire. Most surprising of all, Will and Emma have their first kiss. Although still a cliffhanger of sorts, the final piece to the puzzle leaves viewers with a sweeter taste in their mouths than I could’ve ever bargained for. The episode even explains Brittany and Santana’s presence in Glee club and gives Figgins his shining moment, two things I bemoaned in my previous reviews.
Glee has definitely done everything they can to bless a safe and popular return in April. Viewers can soon enjoy the first 13 episodes on DVD later this month. The best treat, however, is knowing that ‘Sectionals’ is not the end. With more singing, more dancing and more Glee, I look forward to the show’s return.
Rating: 9.6/10
Popularity: 18% [?]
Nice review, and I’m much of the same mind. It was a lovely little bookend of the half-season, and would serve quite well as a series-end if it needed to be. Really agree with you on just about everything, except:
“For one, Quinn’s pregnancy secret is finally revealed, although not too graciously by Rachel. It doesn’t paint a good color on Rachel”
Is it just my morals that are that out of sync with the world at large’s? Rachel’s the first person who’s done anything remotely moral about this pregnancy since it was revealed. How do you go around thinking someone you care about might be changing their life on the basis of a lie convincing them a child that doesn’t belong to them is theirs, and then NOT TELL THEM? It’d abhorrent. The only person in the entire show who knew and sort of could get away with not telling Finn immediately would be Puck, considering his motives for putting Quinn’s wishes above his own and those of his friend. But other than that… Mercedes not telling Finn immediately when she found out appalled me. The rest of the club not doing so either painted them in a horribly selfish light, passively – even actively, trying to keep Rachel from telling – maintaining a lie that was manipulating a completely innocent guy into thinking a baby that he had nothing to do with was his. Not to mention staying in a relationship with a girl who lied to him every single day. Now, if they considered it none of their business, fair enough. But they all explicitly said nothing out of either self-interest, or some sort of insane sympathy with the girl who created the entire situation.
The only people who’ve acted sanely about this has been Rachel in this episode, and I was honestly quite relieved. This show can suspend my disbelief in a lot of way, but these otherwise relatively kind-hearted kids were starting to make me disgusted with their behaviour. At least Quinn’s lies made sense with her personality, agenda and wishes and were in character.
Long-winded as usual – I really don’t feel as strongly about this as it now seems, I just, totally do not get how Rachel was being anything but gracious about it, or how it in any way painted her in a poor light. She’s Finn’s friend, not Quinn’s, her obligation was to him. And even if she was friends with both, I’d have a lot of problems seeing how she should have handled it any way but how she did. I’ll be the first to agree Rachel’s actions are frequently misguided and often rather pathetic, but I fail to see how telling Finn in any way added to that impression. If anything, combined with her very gracious behaviour with Quinn afterwards, to me it did the exact opposite.
“Rachel’s the first person who’s done anything remotely moral about this pregnancy since it was revealed.”
I obviously meant about the LIE of the pregnancy – plenty of people have reacted to the actual pregnancy rather well, including in particular Finn and even Puck.
Upon a second pass, I will agree that Rachel’s actions are not completely reprehensible. It does reflect her big mouth nature, but since it is actually a beneficial reveal, the gesture ultimately stands good.
Yays, then! Agreement!
i believe rachel was ungracious because she did reveal the pregnancy out of selfish motive. she did it because she wants to date finn, she did it to purposely break them up. not because she is finn’s friend. and she said she did it because she wanted him to be happy. but she gave him news that would clearly make him UNHAPPY. even if yes he will be happier in the long run. and at first when mercedes found out i was confused by her reaction to tell puck he had to right to complain about everything giving finn sympathy because that is who quinn chose. which would have been fine if finn had known the truth. but he didn’t. in the end it was clear the rest of the glee club were only supporting the lie to get through sectionals, not in any wish to hurt finn. yes they were selfish, but i think rachel could also have been more prudent and waited to tell finn. but let’s face it. they are highschool kids, teenagers (and even adults) often act selfishly with out thinking of others. not that this is ok, but it is an accurate portrayal of their age group. so i rachel’s actions did reflect on her poorly. by not thinking things through she jeoprodized the club itself. she could still have been a good friend to finn and not almost split up the club.