tvdinner&amovie

The Story

Rory Flanagan (Damian McGinty), an Irish foreign exchange student, has moved in with Brittany S. Pierce and family. She thinks he is a magical leprechaun and she promises to let him get her “pot of gold” if he gives her three wishes. Starting with an all marshmallow box of Lucky Charms. Straight comedy.

Puck and Quinn have started their plan to get their child, Beth, back from Ms. Corcoran. They talk her into letting them babysit.

Sue is on another campaign to take money away from the arts and leave the Glee Club with no money to perform West Side Story.

Mercedes tries to convince Santana to join the new “all girl” Glee club. Finn overhears the conversation. Santana is hesitant because she doesn’t want to leave Brittany behind but Mercedes says Brittany is welcome – she is a girl so I thought that was obvious. There is dissension in the ranks of the New Directions. Tina is sad that Mercedes is gone and Puck doesn’t think they stand a chance without her. Finn still hasn’t accepted Blaine as a member and Rachel’s campaign for Class President has her at odds with Kurt.

When Shelby leaves Puck and Quinn alone with Beth, Quinn begins to sabotage her house to make it seem as though she is an unfit mother. Puck doesn’t want to go along with Quinn’s plan, but he does want Beth back so he doesn’t stop her.

After Kurt tells his father about Sue’s plan, Burt takes it in his own hands to find supporters to fund the play. This, of course, makes Sue livid. She promises to destroy Burt in true Sue form. Burt doesn’t budge on his stance.

When Rory gives Brittany her “magical” Lucky Charms he asks to go on a date but she tells him she has plans with a friend. She has a “date” with Santana at Olive Garden Breadsticks. Santana wants to know their relationship status and if Brittany will join the new glee club with her. Brittany says she needs a day to consider.

Quinn tells Puck he needs to quit his pool cleaning job and find a real one because raising a child isn’t cheap. She is worried that everyone else is making big plans and Beth is her “perfect thing”. Shelby tells Puck about a possible year-round pool cleaning job and he seems interested.

Shuester lets the glee club know that they have raised the money to perform West Side Story. Blaine leads the New Directions in a performance of Katy Perry’s Last Friday Night. And again we got to see Kurt’s signature shoulder shimmy – I guess “Booty Camp” training didn’t stick? Afterwards, Santana says that because Mercedes is gone the new focus will be on Blaine and Rachel – maybe because they have the best voices? Maybe? – and she is tired of being in the background. She then confronts Rory in the hallway about he and Brit’s relationship. She demands that he grant her a wish.

Rory tells Brit that Santana wishes that she join the new Glee Club. Brittany is convinced that she has to do as the “leprechaun” says.

Shuester goes to Burt to convince him to run against Sue in congress. Burt has already decided to run before Shuester’s arrival. Burt says Kurt is his campaign manager but tells Shuester he can supervise.

Puck visits Shelby at home to thank her for helping him get the job. He also “unsabotages” her house and helps soothe a crying Beth with his acoustic chords. Shelby opens up about her problems being a single parent and Puck tells her that he will always be there when she needs him  in a scene that was, probably, inappropriate for a student and teacher – but who cares about that, right?

Finn finds out that Brittany has left the group and he tries to tell her that leprechaun aren’t real and she needs to stay with the New Directions so they can win nationals. In the process he calls her the “I” word (idiot) and Brittany is done with the conversation.

Burt announces his candidacy on the same local news station as Sue’s Corner.

The new all-girl Glee Club (Sugar Motta, Brittany, Santana, Mercedes) needs a name. Shelby comes up with The Troubletones after Santana’s suggested Hot Bitches and Brittany’s Free Beer don’t hit the mark.

Finn apologizes to Brittany and comes to terms with the girls leaving. Rory tells Brittany he’s ready for his “pot of gold”. But she tells him she knows that leprechauns don’t exist.

Kurt is nervous about his father’s campaign because of all the stress Sue is sure to cause him.

After saving Rory from hockey team bullies Finn brings Rory to the New Directions. NEW MEMBER!!!

The episode ends with Puck and Shelby sharing a kiss…that they both seemed to enjoy. DRAMA!!!

The Music

• How cute was Brittany on the cover of Seventeen American Cheerleader?
• “Go back to Mexico!”….because everything about Rory Flanagan just screamed Mexican?
• Speaking of Rory, I could have stared into those Sinatra-esque baby blues all night. Trouty Mouth who?
• Ohio is for lovers…and mullets, apparently.
• Puck’s abs > Puck’s slightly revised hairstyle.

Yes, Will already covered the story portion of our GLEE-rific (ha-ha) evening, but this post-hiatus episode had too many things worth commenting on. I complained after the second episode that I wanted to see a better balance between the music and the story. Just like Brittany and Santana, I got my wish. Sure, we barely heard a peep from Rachel, Finn or Kurt, but that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Bein’ Green – Rory Flanagan

I was well on my way to falling in love with Rory during his first 60 seconds on the screen, but hearing him perform one of the original emo anthems made famous by Mr. Kermit the Frog solidified that. Rory’s melancholy stroll through the school was something previously mastered by the likes of Artie, Finn and Mike. I think the song selection was perfect for showing Rory is an outsider who just wants to belong…a perfect fit for the New Directions. Again I ask, Trouty Mouth who? Solid A rating

Last Friday Night – Blaine and the New Directions

For a brief moment I was livid that Glee was doing a repeat, but I blame that on Rebecca Black’s cameo in the video for this Katy Perry, super corny, incredibly catchy summer hit. I’m forever attached to Blaine’s last Perry cover, but this was still fun to watch. Although I appreciate the life imitating art (or something like that) connection with Kevin McHale, I was supremely disappointed that they made the effort to show a saxophone in the background, yet didn’t make time for a quick Kenny G-style solo that really would have added to this otherwise so-so number. Solid C rating

Waiting for a Girl Like You – Puck

The title of this song works for Puck’s blossoming relationship with Beth, but the lyrics (“It feels so right, so warm and true, I need to know if you feel it too”) subtly foreshadowed the kiss that was coming between him and Shelby. The briefness of this performance takes nothing away from how great it sounded, but it did showcase how underutilized Puck is sometimes. We’re also going to pretend like all of this is romantic and not potentially creepy. Solid B rating

Candyman – The Troubletones (Is that name set in stone? Do we have to stick with that?)

This newborn glee club clearly operates off the same magical budget as the New Directions. The costumes were standard for anytime anyone ever performs this song, but this trio (I REFUSE to consider Sugar Motta part of their vocal stylings) felt new. Not Brittany’s dancing, nor Mercedes singing overshadowed the others. I’d like to see the New Directions end their year with a win, but unless this group dismantles at some point, I think they’re only going to get better. Sure, Rachel is untouchable, but this performance showed who else holds a large portion of the talent. Solid A rating

Take Care of Yourself – Rory Flanagan

Between that smile and that voice, there are going to be a lot of broken hearts for the glee club this year. When Rory hit one of a few high notes during this performance, Kurt’s face completely fell. Blaine and Rachel seemed to fall in love, while Finn just looked smug at having saved the day. Although I want to hear Rory sing everything, every week, the spotlight of this performance fell on Puck and Shelby’s kiss. Solid B rating

Quotes

“(Brittany) is kinda like Rain Man with boobs.” -Finn

“You think that Great Kazoo kid is a leprechaun?” – Santana
“Rory is from Ireland. So that means…he’s like made of magic.” -Brittany

“Leprechauns like fixing shoe buckles because they’re gay.” -Santana (to Rory)