Tonight, it’s the Glee Christmas special! Titled, “Glee Actually”, it’s a tribute to the beloved Christmas movie, Love Actually.
Really good stuff happened tonight! Burt surprised Kurt with a visit to New York and he brought along Blaine! Not only did the 3 have a great holiday together, but Blaine revealed that he’ll be auditioning for NYADA! Kurt and Blaine sang and skated to White Christmas and have pledged to be friends til the end, no matter what happens.
Artie realizes that being in a wheelchair is part of who he is when he has an “It’s a Wonderful Life” fantasy after wishing he’d never been in a wheelchair. Will is still married to Terri and he’s a drunk. Kurt missed so much school because of bullying, that he didn’t graduate. And he never met Blaine. His tormentors are Finn, Puck and Ryder. There is no Glee club. Quinn died in a car crash after texting and driving…need I go on? Rory is back (!!!) playing the Clarence-like angel who guides Artie through his alternate universe, where he sings and dances in an attempt to rally the kids to perform…
Puck brings the two Puckerman families together–after he and lil bro Jake sing a Hannukah song. Definitely goofy. But not nearly as goofy as Beiste pretend-marrying Sam and Brittany, who believe the Mayan Apocalypse is real. So real, they feel it necessary to be totally honest with their friends before the end. Oh. And Puck has decided to move back to Lima to be closer to his newly bonded family. Please bring back the moms! Aisha Tyler, who played Jake’s mom, especially.
Sue is Marley’s mom’s Secret Santa, and when the coach learns that finances are so tight for the little family, that they have to give up Christmas to pay for Marley’s eating disorder therapy, she brings them a tree and presents and enough money to pay the psychologists! It was Nice Sue this week, and maybe after watching the Glee club sing “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” at the end of the episode (I really liked the way the song brought all the stories together) she’ll decide to champion New Directions once again.
Some bad stuff happened too. Burt surprises Kurt in NYC on Christmas in order to tell him in person that he has prostrate cancer. PLEASE GLEE. DO NOT KILL OFF THE GREATEST DAD IN THE WORLD. So far, he’s been treated and the cancer is in remission. But still. Kurt remembers the first Christmas without his mom–when his dad forgot to bring home a tree–and it’s super sad. The lesbian bloggers *eyes roll* are going to be really mad after Bram got so much screen time together tonight. It’s only been a couple of weeks and they’re already married. And obviously with the benefits thereof. It took weeks for Brittana to get a decent kiss, and they barely got to have a private conversation in Season 3. Ryan Murphy has some ‘splainin to do.
The episode was an odd one. The stories had a sense of heightened reality about them–dreamlike fantasies. I expected everyone to wake up in their beds on Christmas morning, marveling at the crazy dreams they had the night before. For once, the plot inconsistencies (there were several) actually served a magical purpose. In the end, the stories were surreal, touching, while managing to advance some plot lines. Of the three Christmas specials, “Glee Actually” was the most consistently satisfying yet.
Dear Journal – Sue
Feliz Navidad – Artie
Blaine and Kurt – White Christmas
Oh Hanukkah – Puck and Jake
Jingle Bell Rock – Sam
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
