Oh, Episode 3, thank you for so many things... like an all-male a capella group that sings suggestive songs in front of a high school audience. And the presence of Victor Garber as Will's dad (gosh, I miss Eli Stone!)
"Acafellas" starts off with the glee kids rebelling against Mr. Shue and his mediocre choreography. Hey, his step to the left and clap your hands is about all the dance moves I could handle, but Quinn and the other Cheerios convince Rachel that Mr. Shue's dance moves aren't going to get them anywhere, competition-wise. They need Dakota Stanley... and we the audience needed this slight rift in the glee club. Everything can't be happy song and dance routines all the time, can they?
There was a bunch of plot development going on in between this week's music numbers:
Rachel/Finn
I was happy to see Finn sort of stand up for himself and Mr. Shuester. Finn seems to be the only one able to tell Rachel that she's a bit much... her and her plate of "I'm Sorry" cookies. I also appreciated that the writers gave them a confrontation scene after glee rehearsal. Finn flat out asked Rachel if she was mad/wanted to talk about the stage incident from the other day (i.e. last week's episode). Although Rachel said she didn't want to talk about it, she chose to side with the Cheerios and get Dakota Stanley even though Finn was vocally opposed to the whole idea.
Mercedes/Kurt
Awwwww - a girl's first GBFF (Gay Best Friend Forever). Poor Mercedes, thinking that she and Kurt are going out as more than just friends. She's fierce, but self-esteem wise, she feels she's at the bottom of the social food chain. Mercedes is right - Kurt is nice and treats her well (as all men should treat ladies... hint hint), but he's not going to be any more than her GBFF. This story line was poignant in that there are not very many gay high school aged characters on television. Kurt's as fierce as Mercedes - they share a penchant for dramatic/loud/stylish clothing and are both key members of the glee club. Their final scene together at the lockers was brilliant. Little Chris Colfer should get some sort of special award for how sincere and vulnerable he plays Kurt in this out-of-the-glee club-spotlight moment.
Cheerios/Glee Kids
Quinn, Santana and Brittany (right?) infiltrated the glee club at the end of episode 2. Quinn manages to talk Rachel into dumping Mr. Schuester's choreography and hiring Dakota Stanley - a pricey choreographer who happens to block Vocal Adrenaline's dance sequences (competition!). Rachel, in a moment of stupidity/trying to fit in with Finn's GF, leads the glee kids to an utterly horrific encounter with Dakota Stanley (played by that little kid from the beginning of Jurassic Park... I know, right?). Short in stature, but big on cruelty, Dakota Stanley berates the glee kids - going so far as to tell Artie he's out of the group for not trying hard enough to walk. Oh Artie, I love you and your wheelchair. I got a kick out of when Dakota called Finn "Frankenteen". (Glee fans on Twitter know that's Cory Monteith's handle... too funny)
One by one, all the glee kids walk/wheel out of the rehearsal room. Luckily, Rachel pulls it back together and mentions how their differences are what makes them special. If Finn's smile didn't make your heart melt, then you have no soul. (Props for bringing up Jim Abbott - he used to be my favorite pitcher!!)
Puck/Acafellas
As much as I heart Finn, I equally heart his cocky friend Puck... holy smokes. Sure, that character is a jerk, but he's FINE and can sing. Really well. Puck asks to join Acafellas because he wants a shot at all the moms in the audience.
Let's back up for just a sec... Acafellas is an all guy a cappella group that Mr. Schuester starts b/c he loved to perform and he was having trouble with the glee kids. I'm glad we finally get to see Matthew Morrison sing something. But, why oh why, creators of Glee, must he always be singing Hip Hop songs? (As I'm writing this, the show will air its 8th episode tomorrow and Mr. Shuester will be singing not one, but two hip hop numbers. GIVE THE MAN A BALLAD. Some Michael Buble or something... geez!)
Mr. Shuester recruits Ken Tanaka, Finn, some guy from Sheets 'N Things and (faux) thumbless guest star John Lloyd Young to be in the singing group. (BTW - when I saw John Lloyd Young, I screamed with GLEE at my television... Jersey Boys 4EVA!) Sheets 'N Things guy and John Lloyd Young would be replaced by (sexy) Puck and (creepy) Sammy Jenkis from Memento... who is obsessed with Josh Groban. And rightly so... if you don't love Josh Groban, than something is seriously wrong with you.
So, Acafellas sing "I Want to Sex You Up" at a PTAesque gathering and it is glorious. Especially the part where Puck is singing and he's looking at Sue Sylvester. PRICELESS.
Music Numbers
We get a few numbers out of Acafellas and though all are good, they weren't showstoppers. The two big numbers were "Mercy" and "Bust Your Windows". "Mercy" was sung by Vocal Adrenaline... the rival group who sang "Rehab" in the pilot. Solid number, but I'd rather watch the glee kids from McKinley High School (go Titans!) sing and dance.
Mercedes (the amazing Amber Riley) bust the windows out of "Bust Your Windows". I'm glad she finally got a full song to herself. Clutch my pearls, that girl can SING.
Favorite moment of the episode
I'm going to say it's a toss up between 3 things...
3. Kurt coming out to Mercedes (couldn't find clip... but stay tuned for the next post when I'll talk about Kurt and the Single Ladies dance... woot!)
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