Photo credit: Fox
Glee has finally returned from a long winter hiatus, and in just a few short episodes, all of the action will permanently move to New York. But in the meantime, friendships and relationships are being heavily tested in both New York and Lima.
LIMA:
At McKinley, Graduation is fast approaching the last crop of seniors and final original members of the New Directions. Artie, Blaine and Sam are all set to head to New York, but Tina was waitlisted at Brown and is doubtful that she’ll get out of Ohio. In an attempt to cheer his best friend up, Artie performs a rendition of “Whenever I Call You Friend” for her.
However, the gloves come off between the two when they learn they are both up for class Valedictorian. Verbal insults about Tina's past “hag” tendencies with Blaine and Artie’s supposed attempts at being popular by dating “McKinley’s Biggest B**ch” Cheerio are flung, and the competition only heats up when they both also vie for the last solo at Nationals.
Their sing-off of “My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It)” eventually reaches the boiling point however when Tina accidentally pushes Artie out of his wheelchair. The two make up during their “speech-off,” only to find out that they are still tied—so Sue has made them co-salutatorians instead, and promoted the original salutatorian to Valedictorian—Blaine Anderson. Before his friendship with Artie and Tina can suffer though, he poses a compromise. He wants to sing at Graduation, and asks Tina and Artie to sing with him, each with their own solos. They close the episode with a harmonized version of “Breakaway.”
NEW YORK:
In NYC however, things do not resolve so nicely.
Santana has been feeling low about her lack of success in New York, and admits she’s jealous of Rachel’s continued rising star. Rachel offers her the chance to be a model on her big New York Magazine cover, which she does. While watching the shoot, the two duet on “Brave,” giving Santana some courage to go after stardom of her own.
However, Rachel is in for a huge shock when Santana’s confidence inspires her to audition as Rachel’s understudy in Funny Girl—and she nails the audition with a fresh rendition of “Don’t Rain on my Parade,” as well as her connection to Rachel. The two fight about the audition back at the apartment, but things get even tenser when Santana gets the part.
At rehearsal, the director encourages them to put their differences aside because the fact that they both came from the same high school and are finding fame and fortune together in the city is a huge hook that will bring the show immense press coverage. They still can’t put their differences aside however, and threateningly sing “Every Breath You Take” to each other during rehearsal.
Back at the apartment, Rachel demands that Kurt vote for Santana to move out of the apartment, but Kurt refuses to take sides, maintaining that they are all friends. Rachel takes this as a sign of betrayal and moves out herself—hugging Kurt and ripping a photo of herself and Santana to shreds as she walks out the door.
Kurt wasn’t without his own drama this episode, as he became convinced that Starchild is trying to take over the band. As he tries to figure out what Starchild is up to, the two strike up a tentative friendship over guitars, leading to a powerful duet of “I Believe in a Thing Called Love.” However, their friendship is also quickly mended when Starchild assures Kurt that he is not trying to take the band away from him.
Next week sees the drama escalate between Rachel and Santana as the seniors at McKinley not only prep for graduation, but Nationals as well the following week. Also, Emma and Will reveal that they are trying to have a baby.