Glee - Episode 3.06 - Mash-Up - Review

Tonight's all new Glee brought back one of its staple's from the first season, the mash-up. This time though it was different, instead of putting boys against the girls, it was about a much more literally Mash-Up, Shelby's all girl group The Trouble-tones and Mr. Schue's slowly diminishing New Directions.

The literal Mash-Up was also applied to Sue Sylvester and her ruthless campaign to beat Burt Hummel, and stopping at no means to do so. He's married to a donkey and has a baboon heart apparently. Honestly this was much to cartoonish even for Sue, its easy to laugh when she makes ridiculous assumptions and says things like 'I'm lactating with joy' but this was just weird and completely unrealistic.

The other mash-up, the student presidential campaign, pitting a still sour Kurt against Rachel, a confused Brittany and a hockey jock (As a Canadian I take offense to the mullet, but I get the humor).

The good, Rachel and Shelby have a moment together, blink and you'll miss the mother/daughter connection, but nonetheless it was a great moment. Rachel is getting ready to send out her Resume and letters to NYADA and just needs one more letter of recommendation, and who better than a National Show Choir Champion Coach. Rachel comes in with the letter already written and just needs to Shelby to sign it. There is still some hesitance for Rachel when it comes to Shelby's role in her life. But Shelby accepts and signs the letter, even telling Rachel that with a Resume like hers other candidates are barely going to have a chance of getting in over her.

It's a sweet moment of Shelby telling Rachel that she is proud of her, and not taking credit for it. It's been Rachel's drive that has got her where she is and that credit should be acknowledged as her own. Rachel sensing this then ask Shelby, to write the letter herself, her own words. It was a great moment and anytime I get to see two Broadway stars like Lea and Idina in one scene I am very happy.

The Student Election, Rachel has a very honest moment with Kurt, she expresses that she misses him and hates fighting, unfortunately Kurt is still hurt and refuses her apology. During the election after Kurt makes his speech to get rid of Dodge Ball for good, because it is just another form of Bullying, Rachel gets up to give her speech. I for one hate that writers always make Rachel out to be some bad guy, she is selfish and wants things to much, but this isn't new. And being that she really is a good friend, she stands down and pledges to vote for Kurt.

The Dodge Ball, this whole thing started with Santana and her incredibly rude fat jokes to Finn. And honestly, she is incredibly harsh, I mean to a cringeworthy state. Finn wanting to make the best of it challenges the Trouble-tones to a game of Dodgeball, that ends with Rory getting a bloody nose. Here's the truth Santana is mean, to a crushing fault.

It's been an hour since the episode aired and already Tumblr is a flutter with Finn-hate, (Yea I. Tumble?) And I have to admit I am surprised by it. Should Finn have said what he said to Santana in the middle of the hallway? NO. But was he wrong, or out of line? No. He did not raise his voice or yell, he sadly states she's a coward. If anything he cares about Santana, even though she tears him apart at every moment. If this proves anything, Finn is more of leader now then he has ever been. I LOVE Santana's story line, her angry about who she is and what she feels for Brittany is incredible heart breaking but so beautifully acted by Naya it's unbelievable.

Her last scene alone, when she runs out of Sue's office crying, "I haven't even told my parents yet" was so hard to watch, both because she was outed when she wasn't ready and because she admitted easily that she was gay.

The Bad:

The Puck/Shelby story line needs to end...now! I don't like it, its awkward and its illegal. Puck is clearly attracted to her, and he would be, she's hot, he's hot. The issue is Shelby she can barely resist him. I don't like where this is heading at all.

And then there's Quinn, if there was ever a story line I didn't want to see, it's this. Maybe watching One Tree Hill for 9 years has turned me off crazy people, but this is just bad. Dianna can do pretty much anything, and she sells it, but the story line is all bad, nothing good can come from this. The only thing that should come from this is Quinn and Puck ruining (next episodes shows a wonderful moment). Puck does do something right this episode, he tells Shelby all about crazy Quinn and her crazy baby stealing plan. Shelby is obviously upset and refuses Quinn to join her club or see Beth. I approve, until Quinn can lose the crazy, she needs a time out.

I'm not even going to get into Sue's campaign, I literally have no interest in anything she is saying, it ridiculous.

The Musical Performances.

Hot for Teacher-Puck: *shakes head* what was this? This whole thing was uncomfortable and awkward until they were all in the choir room jamming away. Anyone else get a load of Mr. Monthieth on those drums? Boy is banging'(see what I did there?) Oddly enough it had relevance to Puck, but that's about it.

You and I/You and I-Shelby and Will: Standing Ovation, this was perfect, perfect! I loved every second of it, they sounded fantastic together, it was a great teaching moment, and what I would give to have been in that room during that performance. A's across the board.

Hit Me With Your Best Shot/One Way or Another- Santana and Finn: I liked the premise of this, the dodgeball game was fun to watch. Crazy Quinn was extra pithy and watching Rachel try and protect her nose, is what makes Lea a true comic. Essentially the song was just insults tossed back and forth, it worked and it was fun.

You Make My Dreams/I. Can't Go for That-New Directions: A. Hall and Oats mash up, its unfortunate because the performance was really cute, with the boys dressed as Hall and Oats and the girls as...whatever they were. With the Trouble-tones Mash Up released on Thursday and instantly became a viral video, this mash up doesn't even compare and falls incredible short of being good. It was good though, it was right on the story line, but you can't beat Adele, just won't happen.

Rumor Has It/Someone Like You- Trouble-tones: Let's be honest this was probably the BEST mash up ever done on Glee, easily. Even if Adele wasn't as famous as she is, and her album wasn't absolute gold that it is, this was still killer in comparison to everything else. Naya's voice and performance alone is enough to floor you. It's rare that we actually get to hear Naya belt, she's done a lot more of the jazzy stuff and ballads which suit her voice perfectly, but I am down to hear her belt more, a lot more. Perfect performance is perfect.

Lastly, how can we forget the slap, now that's a bitch slap, Quinn take note. This scene was jarring, to see the panic on Santana's face when she thinks Finn is trying to out her is so heartbreaking. But the hard part isn't that she's afraid of being outed, it's that people are going to pity her, and that's the one thing Santana wants none of.

Overall 3.5/5. The music was great, it really suited the episode.
Scene of the night: Santana slapping Finn, her panic was enough to insight just how terrified she is.
Runner up: Rachel's tearful and humiliating attempt at breaking bread with Kurt during dodgeball. I'm a sucker for Rachel/Lea she is gold.

Least Favorite Scene: Sue's campaign, that's all, I don't like it.

Favorite Musical Performance: You and I and Adele Mash up, easily the best of the series and just all around vocally perfect.

You don't even have to guess my least favorite, Hot For Teacher...PASS.

No new episode next week