'Glee' Recap: 'Nationals'

Mercedes has a fever in the hotel room in Chicago for Nationals. She probably has food poisoning. In order to prepare for the “Hunger Games of show choir competitions,” Will and Sue decide to add Tina and Quinn to the “Edge of Glory” number, sung by the Troubletones members. Meanwhile, Sue will pump Mercedes with steroids and vitamin B12 to see if she gets any better.

The guys of the club get into a huge fight when Sam is angry that Puck is studying for his Geography test instead of practicing. In reality, they’ve all been practicing for hours. Will asks them to take a break, but they decide to keep going. They all want this more than anything. Santana takes over, demanding that everyone gives everything they’ve got. They all bust their butts preparing for tomorrow, since they have to perform in the first slot.

Outside the auditorium, Jessie St. James approaches Rachel. He tries to psyche her out by speculating that Carmen will never show up and Rachel counters that he’s only being mean because he’s nervous. He admits to being scared that he won’t be able to get Vocal Adrenaline back to number one, but she talks him up by saying that his “Bohemian Rhapsody” (from season 1) was the benchmark show choir performance of the last ten years.

In the dressing room, Finn shows Rachel a Chicago glass cup keepsake, which he hopes they will use in their Jewish wedding ceremony. He also reveals that he bet Rick “the Stick” Nelson $500 that the glee club will win Nationals (using the money that they saved for their honeymoon). Rachel worries when she hears this news, but Finn is 100 percent sure that they’re going to win this time.

The judges are announced: Lindsay Lohan, Perez Hilton, and (fictional character) city councilman Martin Thong. Mercedes is healthy enough to get through the performance. New Directions opens with “The Edge of Glory” (Lady Gaga), with Santana and Mercedes (who is healthy enough to perform) singing lead, supported by Tina, Quinn, and Sugar. Rachel belts out “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now” (Celine Dion), as Carmen, who looks pleased, makes her way into the audience. The whole club moves into “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” (Meat Loaf).

Kurt and Mercedes go backstage to see how Wayne is doing when it’s almost time for Vocal Adrenaline to go on. He is freaking out and can’t handle the pressure of going on as Unique, the “poster child for any kid that’s different.” After being encouraged by Kurt and Mercedes, he decides that he might transfer to McKinley next year.

Wayne hits the stage as Unique and Vocal Adrenaline sings “Starships” by Nicki Minaj, wooing everyone with their usual acrobatic dancing. They wrap up with “Pinball Wizard” by the Who.

Jessie finds Carmen in the hallway. She recognizes him from an audition two years ago, but he approaches her to talk about Rachel. He wants her to know that Rachel is the most talented person he has ever known and that she would make a great addition to NYADA.

New Directions are declared the winners, the moment they have been waiting for for the past three years. When they roll their trophy into school, everyone throws fake slushie confetti at them and celebrates. They hug, kiss, have a cake, and are on the front page of the Lima, Ohio newspaper. Rick pays Finn $1,000 for their bet and Sue presents Figgins with the $10,000 prize money, rubbing it in Roz’s face.

Figgins calls Rachel and Finn into his office and ask them for a special favor. He wants New Directions to sing at the Teacher of the Year Award Ceremony, where it’s announced that Will has won. Rachel and Finn give speeches about how he changed their lives by teaching them that nothing is more important than their dreams. The kids sing “We Are the Champions” by Queen.

Songs in this episode:
"The Edge of Glory" (Lady Gaga) Santana, Mercedes, Quinn, Tina, and Sugar
"It's All Coming Back to Me Now" (Celine Dion) Rachel
"Paradise by the Dashboard Light" (Meat Loaf) New Directions
"Starships" (Nicki Minaj) Unique and Vocal Adrenaline
"Pinball Wizard" (The Who) Unique and Vocal Adrenaline
"Starlight Express" (Starlight Express) The Portland Scale Blazers (the third competing group)
"Tongue Tied" (Grouplove) New Directions
"We Are the Champions" (Queen) New Directions