"NEW YORK"

After two long hilarious and wonderful years, the New Directions have finally made it to Nationals! This season’s finale takes place (where else) in New York City! The show choir is definitely up to their knees in drama and big questions. Will Rachel and Finn get back together? Will Mr. Schuster go to Broadway or stay with the glee club? WHERE’S WALDO? And, the question on everybody’s mind: Who will win big at Nationals??? Well, unfortunately there was a tight time slot, so we never found out where Waldo was, but all of the other questions were answered in “New York” which premiered May 24 on FOX. All good things must come to an end, but I’m glad this season of Glee went out with a bang!

Rachel Berry looks out at the busy streets of Manhattan. Marquis for famous Broadway shows surround her. This is her future. This is her life. She and the glee club have finally made it to the Big Apple. As the group sits on the TKTS staircase, eating lunch in Time Square (exactly what I was doing the day before they began shooting), the group discusses their excitement for the big event. Finn suggests that they try to complete their original songs for which they are planning to perform at the upcoming competition, but the gang is really excited to be in NYC, and want to see the sights. As the New Directions are checking into their hotel, Finn approaches Rachel on her questionable relationship with Jessie St. Stupid Head. She says that he has been trying to talk to her, but she insists that she will not let boy drama spoil her trip. While Will leaves the kids in the hotel to work on their songs, he heads over to the theater where he is scheduled to perform in “CrossRhodes: The April Rhodes Story.” Back at the hotel, the glee club has gotten nowhere with the songwriting. Quinn suggests that they should go out to get some inspiration. The other agree, and they head out to the streets of Manhattan and sing Madonna’s “I Love New York” which was filmed in various popular sight-seeing areas such as Time’s Square, Central Park and Lincoln Center. In the boy’s room at the hotel, the other guys persuade Finn to ask Rachel out on “one of those big awful dates you see in those unwatchable romantic comedies that you grow a vagina if you watch all the way through” (classic Puck dialogue). Meanwhile, back at “CrossRhodes,” Will enters the stage. He looks out on the large audience, contemplating on what decision to make. Morrison performs his own song, “Still Got Tonight,” which impresses one of the producers, who says that Will is one of the greatest performers he’s ever seen. Meanwhile, Finn has invited Rachel on a date, and they meet up in Central Park. Finn claims that the date is strictly professional (that’s a bunch of happy horse s***), and is just a ‘work date.’ The First stop is Sardi’s Restaurant ‘The Birthplace of the Tony Award.’ When Finn tries to tell Rachel his true feelings, Rachel notices a familiar face in the restaurant: Patti LuPone, the Broadway legend. She instantly becomes a nervous reck and starts freaking out. She conquers her fear and approaches Ms. LuPone. She tells her that she is her idol and that they are in a show choir competition. She wishes them luck, and tells Rachel to never give up. When Patti exits, Rachel sits back down, completely star struck. As Rachel and Finn leave the restaurant, Rachel tells him how great the night has been and the only thing left would be a group of singers serenading them (and, whaddaya know? Sam, Puck, Artie and Mike Chang just happen to be there at that exact moment to perform “Bella Notte” from “The Lady and the Tramp). Finn tries to kiss Rachel, but she refuses and storms away (Epic Finn-Fail). The next morning, Kurt wakes up Rachel and they sneak out to have “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” As “Moon River” plays, the two stand outside the famous jewelry shop with coffee and a bagel (seem familiar?). Rachel reveals her plans to come to New York after graduating high school, as is Kurt. She also seems conflicted on whether to choose love or Broadway. Seeing that she is torn between two halves, he takes her to the Gershwin Theater (where their favorite show “Wicked” is performed). They break into the theater, and perform “For Good” from the show on the actual stage (didn’t Lea Michelle look exactly like Idina Menzel during this song? It was kind of creepy. I just wished they put Kurt in Glinda’s bubble and had him flying around the stage! Haha). When they finish the song Rachel realizes that she doesn’t have to choose, because Broadway is her true love. Meanwhile, at the hotel, Quinn exposes her pain from the breakup. She questions Brittany and Santana why Tina and Rachel and Lauren have love and she doesn’t. The two try to cheer her up by taking her to get a haircut (are haircuts really that exciting for girls?). While in the lobby, Will is approached by Dustin Goolsby (the coach of Vocal Adrenaline) who wishes him good luck in his Broadway debut. The two have a conversation, and Goolsby reveals his hatred for his students. Will tries to explain why he loves his kids so much, but Goolsby just wishes him good luck again and leaves, unmoved by Will’s emotions. In the hotel rooms, the kids tell Will that they found out about his Broadway debut, and they encourage him to go for it. Will tells them that he has decided to stay with them, and they all share in a group hug. At the competition, the group is very confident. A show choir impressively performs Usher’s “Yeah!” making the glee club a little nervous. Speaking of nervous, while in the bathroom, Rachel finds Sunshine Corazon puking from the stress of the competition. Rachel frames her of sticking her finger down her throat, and the furious Sunshine asks her why she hates her so much. She announces that she will be going back to her home country because of Vocal Adrenaline, but before Sunshine can leave, Rachel tells her that she was just jealous of her talent, and she encourages her to go back on stage. Vocal Adrenaline then performs “As Long As You’re There” led by Sunshine. It is a tough act to follow, but the New Directions take the stage. Backstage, Finn asks Rachel why she won’t take him back, and she says that her one true love is the stage. Jessie arrives just in time to see the Rachel and Finn perform an original song, “Pretending.” You can see that throughout the entire song, Finn is trying to impress Rachel, when nothing works, Finn and Rachel kiss to close off the number. Jessie and Will are shocked, as is most of the audience, but the show must go on. The entire club then performs another original song, “Light Up the World.” The club gets a standing ovation from the audience, and things seem promising for the group. Jessie breaks the group’s excitement when he calls the kiss unprofessional and that it might ruin their chances. The top ten teams are posted and Will goes up to see what they’ve placed. “Portland Scale Blazers, Vocal Adrenaline, The Waffletoots, Singaz Wit Attitude, Jefferson City Airplane, Twelve Steps, Vocal Chordz, Soundsplosion, Teenage Scream and Vocal Extreme”…no New Directions. The shocking blow forces some to tears, but most are just in a state of shock. While Kurt and Blaine discuss the trip at a coffee shop, Sam and Mercedes enter. It is revealed to us that they are dating, but they decide to keep it a secret (I knew it!). Back at McKinley High, Santana is still mad at their loss, but Brittany tries to explain to her that they lost together, as a family, and that everything they go through, they get through it together. Meanwhile, Rachel finds Finn hiding in the library. He feels terrible and he blames himself for their loss at Nationals. Rachel convinces him that they’ll always have another shot at Nationals, and that she loves him very much. The two kiss, and it looks like ‘Finnchel’ is back together. Then, the glee club all comes together for their final meeting of the year. Will announces “Do you want to see what twelfth place looks like?” And, with that, he holds up a miniscule trophy as the glee club cheers with pride.

It was definitely an awesome way to end the season. Seeing the glee club in New York was definitely an exciting sight to behold. It definitely shows that anything can happen if you try your best. It was definitely inspiring Well done, guys! GREAT SEASON!

RATING:****

WHERE TO WATCH:

http://www.hulu.com/watch/243572/glee-new-york#s-p1-so-i0

http://www.hulu.com/watch/243572/glee-new-york#s-p1-so-i0