FOX's Glee presents "Hold on to Sixteen." Finn (Cory Monteith) and Rachel (Lea Michele) are worried about Sectionals, so they travel to Kentucky to bring back Sam (Chord Overstreet), whom they find working as a sexy dancer. Sam agrees to return to McKinley, though Blaine (Darren Criss) isn't pleased, feeling shoved out of the group. Finn makes peace with Blaine, and the New Directions win Sectionals. Quinn (Dianna Agron), who decides to keep Shelby's (Idina Menzel) secret, at least for now, convinces Will (Matthew Morrison) to fold the losing Troubletones back into the group, with the caveat that they get to perform a number at all future contests. Thus, the band is back together again.
The most glaring thing wrong with "Hold on to Sixteen" is Quinn's conversion back into the good girl. She is ready to spill the beans on Shelby, but a few words from Rachel change her mind? And they're friends now? Though, kudos to Rachel for calling Shelby "Beth's real mom," which she definitely is. Shelby also tells Quinn that she needs to enjoy being a teenager, a concept that Sam echoes to Quinn earlier in the episode. But it just doesn't gel. Quinn acts nice at the end, but all that keeps coming to mind is, "What's her angle?" Is her character so ruined that she cannot be seen as a decent human being anymore? Or is it intentional that Quinn is merely acting that way to further her next scheme?
Mike Chang's (Harry Shum Jr.) first, and probably only, real character arc comes to an end in "Hold on to Sixteen." Tina (Jenna Ushkowitz) makes it her personal mission to convert Mike Chang Sr. (Keong Sim) into a believer in his son's dancing. And, of course, she does, even though Mike Sr.'s outlook is much more realistic. This entire plot in "Hang on to Sixteen" is cheesy, and yet, still heart warming. Sometimes a little cheese is OK in a series like Glee, and this is probably one of those times. Let's just hope Glee doesn't shove Mike back into the background for the rest of the season.
And Tina will never, ever make it as a professional performer of any notability.
Annoyingly, it does not appear that Blaine's stalker with the "CW hair," Sebastian (Grant Gustin), is going away. He pops up again in "Hang on to Sixteen," and his exchange with Kurt (Chris Colfer) is quite fun. Yet, he feels like an unnecessary hindrance, and the series would be better off without him.
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Article comments
1 - Barbara
Best sectionals yet? Don't Rain On My Parade and You Can't Always Get What You Want would beg to differ.
2 - Jerome Wetzel
I admit, that first Sectional was very, very good. But I like that this one wasn't just all about Finn and Rachel, as many sets have been.
3 - Grace
We must not forget, Quin started out as a villain. She was scheming from the get go, so her behavior so far this season has just been a version of her furthered by hurt.
"I also started the Dalton branch of fight club, which I obviously can't talk about!" Best line ever.
4 - Jerome Wetzel
Grace - She sure did! But she softened over time, and I feel like she was in a good place not too long ago. Then everything changed, for the worse. It's tragic.