Glee went for the double dose last night, presenting two new episodes the week before its third season finale. Why make the penultimate week a two- hour special, and leave the finale a mere 60 minutes? Well, for one thing, the last episode will be paired with American Idol. And secondly, after an hour of high excitement Nationals competition, wouldn't the softer toned goodbyes seem to drag on? Glee made the right decision.
To the episodes! The first, "Props," opens with an understated Rachel (Lea Michele) performance of "I Won't Give Up." It's a fantastic song, not in your face, that allows Michele to emit the pain and determination of this struggling diva-wannabe. Rachel becomes sympathetic in a way that she rarely is as she vows not to quit on her dreams. With this number, her NYADA future is sealed, even if there is no clear path for her to get into the school yet.
It really changes the tone of Glee to begin with a song like this. It adds some weight and heft to the episode, letting viewers know the show means serious business this week. It actually works really well.
A handful of supporting characters get their dues in "Props." Most prominent is Tina (Jenna Ushkowitz), who delivers a startling rant about being shoved into the background for three years, and threatens to quit the New Directions. She has a point, in that she is a founding member of the group who never gets her due. Then again, Tina is a boring character, and does not need any more plot. This episode will suffice nicely for covering the base. She cannot possibly be the lead next year. Please, no!
The best part of Tina's story in "Props" is when she bumps her head. Suddenly, she is Rachel Berry. Better yet, Finn (Cory Monteith) has become Kurt and Puck (Mark Salling) is Blaine! In fact, all of the New Directions members, including its coaches, have switched bodies! This may be gimmicky, but it's incredibly enjoyable. Some of the actors really capture the spirit of another character, while some fall a little flat. But any way you slice it, this is a brilliant move.
Of course, the whole ordeal has a purpose. After performing an acceptable, but not Rachel-level, quality "Because You Loved Me," Tina comes to the conclusion that Rachel's life is hard, too. To make up for her meanness earlier, Tina drives Rachel to confront Carmen Tibideaux (Whoopi Goldberg), who gives Rachel the appropriate smack down. But at least Tina believes in her! To celebrate, they duet "Flashdance... What a Feeling."
Article comments
1 - AJ
"Then again, Tina is a boring character, and does not need any more plot. This episode will suffice nicely for covering the base. She cannot possibly be the lead next year. Please, no!"
That's not the character's fault. It's Ryan Murphy's fault for being a crappy writer who ignores the character for three years and at the most giving her thin, flat plot lines that does nothing to develop the character.
Jenna can act, and we got a glimpse of what Tina could be with her rant. But it was too little too late. The fact that she relented twenty minutes in and apologized to Rachel goes to show he doesn't take the character seriously.
I feel bad for the actress (Jenna) at how bad Murphy treats the character. It'd be better for her to leave and do something else other than be ignored for another year next fall.
2 - DRB
I agree with you, AJ. In fact, the bias of this "reviewer" goes against my grain because Tina was being "mean?" As Tina herself rightly pointed out, when Rachel throws tantrums, it's chalked up to her claiming her star power, but when someone else does it, it's mean, or selfish? That's just B.S. And in what universe would Tina NOT dump Mike Chang for being such an unsupportive jerkwad, even going so far as texting her that Rachel is one-of-a-kind? If I had been Tina and he had texted that to me, it would be the slap in the face that ended that relationship, expecially after all I did to help his sorry butt.
I am looking forward to more Tina next year and far, far less Rachel - Ryan Murphy better deliver on the implied promises he placed in this episode.
3 - Jerome Wetzel
Tina picked a bad time to throw her tantrum, as Rachel points out. But no, I don't think Rachel should throw tantrums either. If you notice, I mention that Rachel is rarely sympathetic, though she is in "Props." So I am not bias pro-Rachel anti-Tina. Though I think Michele is a much better actress. And I wish Tina, who is a lame character, whether by fault of writing or acting or both, would go away.
4 - Liz
Rachel acting incredibly selfish AGAIN is somehow sympathetic? You are not pro-Rachel, Anti-Tina but believe Tina is a lame character who should go away? You blatantly brush off the episode because you do think Tina is boring but then ignore an episode for character development?
AJ is correct- the viewer is basically badgered into wanting Rachel to succeed even at the cost of others. Tina had nothing to apologize for. Rachel's a spoiled brat who hasn't changed a wink and who's had everything handed to her on a platter. And Michele is a one note actress. Bias is what bias does and the review is dripping with it.
5 - Jerome Wetzel
I like what I liked. You are free to disagree. :)
6 - Lainie
Calm down, Liz. Jesus...