On Glee this week, Christmas came to McKinley High and not a lot happened. This was another of those theme episodes that sacrificed plot for the songs. We got some Rachel & Finn drama as she tried to force him to forgive her but he ultimately, officially ended their relationship, which I’m sure a lot of Glee fans are happy about (but that lingering look at the end certainly says it may not really be over for good).
For as much as I was feeling disappointed with the first part of the episode, the Christmas spirit really took over with Brittany’s belief in the existence of Santa. I really liked how the kids pulled together to make sure she didn’t lose that childlike innocence by taking her to a department store so that they could all tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas. Brittany’s wish for Artie to walk was heartbreaking, and the guys getting Coach Beiste to play Santa to try to let her down easy was a nice gesture but backfired as Brittany lost her Christmas spirit when she was told her wish was outside of Santa’s gift-giving capabilities.
I was really, really hating Sue this week as she rigged Secret Santa, but you could say my heart grew three sizes once Sue put on the green makeup, got Becky in a Rein-dog outfit and pulled off a spot on re-creation of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, as she slithered (or rather was pushed by Becky) past the tree while stealing ornaments and presents and destroying whatever else she didn’t want. When Brittany came into the choir room channeling Cindy Lou Who, it was the icing on the cake.
By the end of the episode, I was bawling like a baby as Santa really did come through for Brittany, and Sue’s heart also grew three times that day, as the glee club did a special performance of “Welcome Christmas” to raise money for children in need. It may not have been a perfect episode through and through, but the music was terrific and they really did manage to show us what Christmas should be about. For a mid-season finale, I think the folks at Glee gave us a very nice present indeed. Happy Holidays, everyone and thanks for reading and commenting! See you next year.
“I told my parents that I only want one thing for Christmas this year … stop friend requesting me on Facebook.” – Artie
“Can I be honest? I don’t understand the difference between an elf and a slave.” – Brittany to a department store elf
“I want Channing Tatum to stop being in stuff.” – Mike’s Christmas wish
“You’ve gotten really tan.” – Brittany
“That’s because at the North Pole there’s a hole in the ozone layer.” – African-American Santa
“You’re a regular Agatha Christie, except even more sexless.” – Sue responding to Emma’s accusation that Sue rigged the Secret Santa
“Becky, go into the glove box of my Le Car and bring me my tear gas. Then get me Gloria Allred.” – Sue, as Will attempts to take back her Secret Santa gifts
Clacked by Chuck Duncan 
on Dec 07, 2010 @ 23:32 EST5EDT
Hey, Chuck… I had much the same reaction as you to the episode. The first third was cheesy Christmas tunes, and a minimalist plot. Only when the Grinch story was cloned did it start to get interesting, though of course, we knew the ending. Brittany’s innocence was played out well. I love Coach Beiste and how she is getting a larger role in the storylines!
*POST AUTHOR*
Yeah, I was worried Coach would just be used as a joke but she’s become a character with some real heart, especially after this week’s episode. Dot-Marie Jones is awesome!
I agree! I’m also curious to see the new Glee singer develop a bit more – haven’t heard her voice yet.
I actually thought this episode had a nice story going for it. Sure parts of it were used just for songs, but that’s what Glee has become. I mean look at how ridiculous Rachel singing to Finn (well trying to sing to him), the school has a snow machine set up and two dozen trees just so a brat can sign to her ex? The show has gotten insanely over the top, but I try to ignore it.
What I can’t ignore is how many times will Sue act like a jackass just to become nice at the end to become a jackass again next episode? It worked great in this Christmas episode but I’m already getting sick of it.
*POST AUTHOR*
I didn’t mean to imply it had a bad story, just the first part of the show seemed like it was going to be vignettes strung together with music. But once they got into the Brittany and Sue parts of the story, it grabbed me. I guess I’m just over Rachel and Finn at this point. I just hope the second half of the season doesn’t focus on her attempts to get him back. I’d like to see some episodes devoted to each of the kids and their lives outside of McKinley. We’ve seen Finn’s and Kurt’s home lives, separately and together, but I don’t think we’ve ever seen any of the others outside of school. A little more character development would be nice!
I’ve already made a comment about the school’s amazing theater department, so that’s one element of the show that requires just accepting and letting it go at that.
As for Sue, as much as I like the character and Jane Lynch, she is becoming (like Ed O’Neill said recently) too one-note. She’s turning into the Coyote to Will’s Road Runner and you know how those cartoons were always going to end. I think they made a huge mistake by having her resign as principal and then transferring Kurt to Dalton. Sue could have really developed if Kurt stayed and she could have become his protector either as principal or just roaming the hallways as Sue seems to do. As it stands now, the bullying episodes they were so proud of tackling is going nowhere because the answer was to run away. Dave’s actions have not resulted in any consequences and that’s a worse message to send. Yes, the show is about the glee club and their amazing talents but if the show is going to survive, they really have to start working on story and character development before it all becomes one-note. I like when the show can be funny and dramatic and have me laughing one moment and crying my eyes out the next like they did at the end of this episode. They just need to focus more on characters and have the music an organic part of the story.
I completely agree with everything you said.
I’m sick of Kurt and Rachael. However the answer was clearly not to run away like Kurt did, that was completely pointless. It would have been nice to see Sue go after the bullies in the school. She hates Glee Club, but she loves the children, and I think that would have really have grown her character.
Oh well, now I just watch it to listen to the music and wait for Raising Hope to come on.
I don’t know that I understand why people keep saying the show has gotten insanely over the top.
It’s always been insanely over the top in my opinion :)
I really loved Kurt and Blaine’s song. It had just the right touch and if I used iTunes, I would buy that song.
Or Amazon.
Or, I think they released the songs from this episode in a EP.
They released a Christmas CD with 12 songs on it a few weeks ago.
*POST AUTHOR*
At the end of the post are links to purchase items from Amazon including the Glee Christmas CD. Your purchase helps keep CliqueClack running! You can even buy Kurt & Blaine’s song as a single MP3 from that link!