How better to complement the garish spectacle that is the Super Bowl than with a Glee that did its best to be more garish, more aggressive, more competitive than the football game itself? The episode titled “The Sue Sylvester Shuffle” pitted the glee club against McKinley High School’s football team… in an effort, as the show proceeded, to bring them together and make peace with each other.
Granted, after the wretched pre-Bowl performance by Christina Aguilera (anyone can flub a lyric, but it takes malign arrogance to sing so floridly), a rerun of Grease II would have seemed like musical magic. This Glee, however, written by Ian Brennan (who’s penned so many of Sue’s zingers) and directed by Brad Falchuk, was at once in-your-face and under-handed, very clever about its very cynicism.
Jane Lynch’s Sue spoke for many of us Glee-jaded viewers early on, when she said she was “bored [with] things I used to think were hilarious.” Thus the opening number that had been circulated for days before the broadcast — the Cheerios shimmying to Katy Perry’s California Gurls” in blue wigs, with blazing-fire batons — turned out to be used here as an example of the kind of by-now-standard Glee production number that was predictable, according to Sue. “You have to find a way to top yourself,” she was told. By implication, of course, so did Glee itself.
Thus, all the recurring bits on the show were hyped up or turned in on each other. Sue, for example, went on a temper tantrum to end all tantrums.
The jerry-rigged plot found the footballers who have been most hostile to the glee club forced to join the show choir to learn lessons in equality and brotherhood. They had to get into costume and perform a mash-up of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ “Heads Will Roll.” Meanwhile, some of the “glee girls” opted they wanted to join the football team. Inspired by a Felix the Cat cartoon, Sue decided she wanted to shoot someone — well, Brittany — out of a cannon the full length of the football field. (The cannon also inspired a nice little joke from Sue about the Black Eyed Peas’ “Boom Boom Pow,” and after the Peas’ poor showing at the Super Bowl, they deserved all the ribbing they got.) Everything in this episode was chaotic and topsy-turvy, but you never had the feeling the silliness was getting away from the producers. It all came together.
Well, most of it did. The boys-and-girls football game was nearly as tedious as a real football game, and the scene with Kurt and his blazer-wearing buddies singing “Bills, Bills, Bills” seemed wedged awkwardly into the show, dragging down the momentum. And the big “Thriller”/”Heads Will Roll” production number looked like something a bunch of hooligans would perform late at night on the deserted Texas football field of Friday Night Lights.
Better was Finn and his fellow football players in zombie make-up singing the Zombies’ “She’s Not There.” Heck, Kurt and his “Bills, Bills, Bills,” as marginal as it was to the plot, had more snap and vigor.
Katie Couric made a nice cameo interviewing both Sue and Will. There was also a clever running-joke — er, running-commercial, about the Glee crew shilling for Chevrolet. Lea Michele’s Rachel singing “See The USA in Your Chevrolet” in the glossy manner in which Dinah Shore used to do it in the 1950s.
“The Sue Sylvester Shuffle” ended with a smooch between Finn and Quinn that will doubtless reverberate in future Glees.
As a Glee apostate, I enjoyed this one, but I also may have been punchy from too many Super Bowl commercials and salty snacks.
What did you think of the post-game Glee?
Twitter: @kentucker
Finn and Quinn ruined this episode.
Lea Michele was on her A-game. Rachel was hilarious.
Lea was GREAT!
I agree about Finn and Quinn. Dianna especially was pretty terrible. I thought she was reading off cue cards at one point her delivery was so bad.
Loved Dianna. Love Finn and Quinn. Best chemistry on the show. Lea Michele as usual should just be used for slapstick comedies. She can’t act. Which is why Finn and Quinn is needed to give Cory some drama to work with.
@Susan
I agree about Finn and Quinn. The two most morally bankrupt characters after Sue deserve each other.
And as for acting, Dianna phoned that performance in. She’s usually bad, but she was flat out terrible in this episode.
And Lea was great. She was hilarious when the scene called for, and charming during her duet with Mark.
Matty. We disagree. There is nothing that says we must agree. So, you keep your opinion and I’ll have mine. Dianna is one of the better dramatic actresses on the show for me. Lea is only sporadically good in slapstick comedy, otherwise, she is so OTT and stage.
I think Cory and Dianna play off each other well and so I am happy to see Finn and Quinn. Its Glee. Stop getting your knickers in a twist because the story is not going as u like so u start bashing actors.
You have sh*itty taste then, susan.
Actually, I thought that this was one of the better episodes, elevated by Diana, Cory, and Max’s seriously improving ACTING. In particular, Agron has a gorgeous, 50′s acting style that’s very appealing.
@Susan
I’m sorry I can’t understand why you would think one of the show’s best actresses can’t act and why the show’s worst actress has chemistry with anyone? Her pairings are always boring because she’s a terrible actress. You can’t create chemistry with someone who can’t act and reads every line in a monotone voice.
Not a good episode. Add all the hype and it was an epic fail. How about a Kurt America the Beautiful Mash-up.
@Susan
You have to be kidding me. Dianna, while a lovely girl, is an incredibly horrible actress.
you guys are missing the whole point the show was trying to make that Ken just pointed out for you! You are just proving the show right by bashing it like this…well done Glee!
you guys are missing the whole point the show was trying to make that Ken just pointed out for you! You are just proving the show right by bashing it like this…nicely done Glee!
I did not watch.
Please, both Rachel and Diane are two of the best young actresses working on TV today. They have different styles, different articulations. But both ALWAYS play the truth in a scene.
You know what I find funny. Most of the comments above are either pro-Rachel or pro-Quinn. Why can’t people like both?
Henry – I agree – it’s almost like the Betty or Veronica sides in Archie comics.
Susan you are totally missing the point of Rachel she is suppose to be over the top. Sorry Lea acts circle around Dianna. She can only do bitchy
Dianna is the best actress on this show (besides Jane Lynch). She can be sweet, nasty, or heartbreaking, and I always hang on every word Quinn says.
Agreed on all accounts. I absolutely loved Rachel in this episode! Go “kick some ass” girl! LOL
I LOVED when Puck asked Rachel “You ready for this?” and Rachel ripped her mouthpiece out and screamed, “Let’s kick some ass!!!” The girls playing football was sooooo cute and funny!
I thought the girls playing was over the top…guess what a big shock … they won at the end!!!! really mindless.
that was my favorite bit
The Quinn and Finn kiss really shocked me. I didn’t expect that at all. The episode was GREAT though.
The kiss was the only bad part of the episode for me, If Quinn loved Fin so much then why did she sleep with his best friend.
She felt fat that day and Puck gave her a beer and complimented her.
@tickles
Still, they spent most of season one creating a spark between her and Puck and they spent most of season two creating a relationship around her and Sam. The consesus of season one was that she didn’t really love Finn but he was safe. Now they’ve kind of re-wrote history by making it seem like he was the love of her life or something.
Ummm, Quinn is SUPPOSED to be a teenage girl whose affections change depending on the weather. Finn “leadered-up” and she found that attractive. I didn’t get the vibe that she had rediscovered the love of her life, just that she liked the fact that Finn finally grew a pair.
Of course I agree. But I thought the episode was really trash. The 1/2 time show poor. What a let down. Sue was beyond ridiculous. and the let’s play football, lets not play, lets play, no , yes, NO!
@Kris-She’s a teenage girl, she doesn’t know who she loves. Puck is the dangerous one and Finn is the safe one. But the writers have built an arc where we see Quinn slowly realizing that she likes the safe guy.
So, doesn’t that kiss mean that Quinn has cheated on yet another boyfriend? Especially since the promo for Tuesday’s episode implies there’s going to be a Finn/Quinn/Sam triangle? If Finn kisses Quinn when she’s still dating Sam, wouldn’t that be as bad as Puck and Rachel making out?
@Anne
So to you a kiss is cheating?
Quinn said (something like) “Now I remeber why I lovED you” – past tense. Or does the kiss bring it all into the present for you?
Quinn has called Finn a moron and stupid which if he takes Quinn back he will be proving her right. I like Dianna but she has some line that are true clunkier epsecially if comedic.
Finn was great, back to his finest form until the kiss at the end. Granted it was Quinn who kissed him, but still. This couple doesn’t make sense any more.
agreed. I don’t watch regularly anymore but if memory serves, Finn and Quinn broke up b/c she lied to him about her PREGNANCY and he and Rachel broke up because she kissed Puck while they were on a break. Ummm… kind of no comparison, imo. Then again, he is an idiot.
I liked a lot about this episode but the last scene left me cold. Finn and Quinn have zero chemistry. A kiss like that should have left you feeling something, but all I could think about was how much I miss Finn with Rachel, who, unlike Quinn, put herself in harm’s way to help both Glee and the football team win.
Allie, you said exactly what I was thinking. I thought the way they broke up Finn & Rachel was ridiculous. I understand him being upset about Puck & Rachel’s make out session, but 1)she immediately told him about it so that she wouldn’t be a liar like Quinn and 2)He did sleep with Santana while claiming to be in love with Rachel. And now Finn seems poised to forgive Quinn? Um hello, she got pregnant by your best friend and lied about it for months while berating you every second for not providing for “your baby”. Rachel kissed someone while you were fighting. So not the same.
That being said, and with the exception of Quinn, I loved the females in this episode. Loved Rachel & Puck’s song and Lauren is really growing on me. I think she should be on the football team for real!
Agreed – they are totally setting this up for a Quinn Finn reunion which is irritating. Rachel stood by Finn season 1 when Quinn was berating him (true she wanted him for herself) but she was a friend to him when others weren’t. Then they get together and its all good until Santana announces their dalliance so she gets mad kisses Puck but owns up to it – we’ll never forgive her for that Finn but sure take back your old girlfriend (who has a boyfriend and that would make Finn no better than Puck in season 1 if they do hook up) cuz lying about someone else’s baby being yours and cheating on you is way more forgivable than kissing someone else and owning up to it right away. Especially since Rachel owned up to it because she felt bad and realized she loved Finn too much to do something more. Let’s not even mention how he lets everyone bully Rachel and never really defends her or stands up for her.
I cannot agree more with what so many people have been saying about Quinn and Finn kissing at the end being a big disappointment. I was just thinking how much I enjoy the show, but how I hope they don’t ruin it by having a lot of flip flopping in relationships. I was ticked off with the Emma storyline. I was ticked off with Finn and Rachel breaking up. Now they have Finn kissing Quinn?? I feel like Glee tries to play it to close to real life where break ups and divorces are a given fact of life. Am I the only one who wishes they’d have at least one “happy” couple for us all to live vicariously through? Honestly, now I cannot cheer for Will and Emma because that’d just be cheering for her to divorce dentist-guy.
Hopefully no one watched this crap.
Really Ken. first you say how good it was and then all your following comments actually siad the opposite. You are a nut and the show was weak and a big disapointment.
@Jackson
Agreed on every account. They were certainly the worst part of the episode and Dianna was especially awful. I prefered it when she was a background character. I have no idea how Ryan went from “we’re not going to break up Finn/Rachel at all this season, they’ve been through enough” to “we’re going to break them up AND have Finn move on from her really fast” the guy made a complete fool (and liar) out of himself.
I have to say– it kind of felt like the featuring of Finn/Quinn felt like a ploy to win over middle america. Finn all of a sudden didn’t care about other people’s perceptions ignoring this season’s whole character arc. Quinn’s Glee vs cheerleading conflict suddenly comes to the forefront. It was like, “it’s the superbowl, let’s feature the all american boy and the all american girl.” Such pandering.
I have to say that as a Finchel fan the Finn Quinn pairing is absolutely a train wreck. But when they were together Finn lost himself Now single he has leadership capabilities and he is going to take advantage of his new fame for all its worth and he will soon find out that Quinn is using him for all the same things. And that her true feelings are insincere no real love just using him. I couldn’t help from noticing how Quinn stares into space without blinking. It bugs me alot. She can really deliver a line very well though.Finn will find out in the next few episodes that she is really shallow toward him. Sam will see that also and this feud that seems to culminate between Sam and Finn Quinn will use to the max. She is becoming the manipulative girl she was last year. Sorry Quinn fans. That’s the way I see it. Finn will be crushed again and as time goes by he will really have a wanting for Rachel. She will set her sights on more than Finn. Hopefully she will learn you don’t need a man to be happy. This will have their respective character developments they desperately needed. Since they were quite dull pair this year. Glad to see Santana get some of that too. The subsequent episodes hopefully show how Finn will grow into a level headed guy not needing either Quinn or Rachel and IMO never Santana. I truely hope the writers will stop writing Rachel getting Puck to make Finn jealous. That just makes her desperate.
But Rachel sucks sm. You act like Quinn in satan. lol Rachel total emasculates Finn. So, really, he’s better off without either one of them.
Lea is awful. ENOUGH of Rachel already—she stinks!
She is the best one on the show. She was great last night. The rest are just there to see how it is done.
I totally agree Flip. I hate Rachel and Lea overacts to the 9th degree.
Second all of that Jackson
This was Super Boring, and I normally love Glee. The jokes fell flat, the plot was slow.
Quinn got pregnant with Puck while cheating on Finn. Maybe she’ll get pregnant with Finn while cheating on Sam? Hmmm
This show continues its downhill spiral. The producers (Espically the clearly out of control egomanic Ryan) need to get off their preachy treadmill and start writing about human beings rather than caricature. It’s the same crap over and over and over: jocks hate glee, glee is misunderstood, being a teenager sucks, big song. It’s only halfway through the second season and its TIRED.
I really liked it. I think that “Bills, Bills, Bills” was the best performance of the episode. And Lauren is fast becoming the funniest member of the glee club (move over, Brittany). I couldn’t care less about the Finn and Quinn thing, though.
I like Lauren too. I would have thought the football team would have recruited her already.
Seriously love Lauren!
Agreed. Bills, Bills, Bills was random but by far the best song of the night.
Bills, Bills, Bills was awesome, if for no other reason than how random it was as a song choice in general. And my love for Brittany continues, striding alongside my new love for Lauren. Comedy, for me at least, is Glee’s strongest factor. I really dislike all of the dramatic plots and elements. Like, strongly. But they do know how to write a good joke.
I think it wasn’t random considering Tufts does the soundtrack and that is one of their songs they do.
It was one of the better shows of the season. We actually got some story and character development for a change (albeit, predictable character development). Glad I watched.
I can’t agree more. I love this show, but it has been getting annoying to watch it when it seems like there is no real plot to an episode. This one was like a breath of fresh air.
I totally agree. I haven’t made it through an entire episode all season because there is nothing to watch but people walking around yapping about nothing. These characters used to have goals, dreams, things to do other than stand around and talk about how misunderstood they are.
I don’t know, I actually think that nothing the characters did was new. It was all rehashing of old behaviors: Max hates gays, the football team hates Glee, Sue tries to get the Glee club in trouble. I swear to God, if they do one more plot line where the story is “We need all of our members to do one thing together and if they don’t the Glee club is over!/People are quitting the club, recruit them back!”, I think I’m going to shoot myself. I also didn’t really enjoy how over-the-top it was, at points it didn’t even seem like the same show. And it was really, really predictable.
oh but the romance between Finn and Quinn is new and exciting! (nit!)
I completely agree. I, personally, have seen Dianna Agron in several other performances and think she’s a wonderful actress who delivered her lines well. The Finn/Quinn pairing was unexpected, but admittedly a refreshing change. Them being together again will add a new dynamic. I also thought that adding the football players was a nice touch, and I thought they breathed life into all of their songs. Really enjoyed this episode.
Not enough Kurt or Emma but pretty good compared to the rest of the season.
For real? It feels like this whole season has been about Kurt LOL!
I found the lack of Kurt a nice respite from his dominance over this entire season.
Agree completely.
Rebecca,
Kurt and Emma are the worst on the show. I would love both of them to leave the show. Have the Darren actor take over where Kurt is and let him explain how it is to be gay. I can’t stand bug eyed Emma and the very weak Kurt.
If Kurt is so bad, why did he win a Golden Globe for his performance??? I think you might have misjudged him.
Uh, Gaby, the Golden Globes aren’t exactly the pinnacle of artistic achievement. Remember how they nominated “The Tourist” before it was critically panned?
Kurt being weak is what it makes it interesting.. because there is room for growth. Blaine has already grown and therefore this character is more plain…
I just wonder when Kurt will notice that Blaine gets all the solos. At least at Mckinley everyone got a chance to shine.
I actually wanted Terri back this episode. Too OTT.
While I was a little disappointed by the Thriller number and annoyed by the Quinn/Finn storyline that wasn’t really built up to at all, I enjoyed the episode. I liked the Warblers’ rendition of “Bills, Bills, Bills,” and it had some great entertainment value. It may not be as great as season one, but it still beats most of what’s on TV these days.
This show is turning into something beyond tragic. The writing is sub par and they are relying way too much on the music instead of a flippin’ STORY LINE!
And, um, can Mercedes do anything besides act sassy?
yes. it was such a random episode. sue’s story line was way over the top. the songs were really random. really like a country song was gonna convince the football team to join glee? yes mr. schue, you did have to explain that that was a Zombie’s song. and is bills bills bills really gonna be one of the regional songs?
Okay, because I’m getting tired of people misinterpreting the performance of Need You Now, yes, they did need to perform something that wasn’t a show tune in an attempt to prove to the footballers that show tunes weren’t all they did, however it was made completely clear that Rachel and Puck had been working on that number beforehand and this was merely the opportunity to perform, not what they had come up with it for in the first place.
This may be considered the “jump the shark” episode. Really, how many times must Sue’s personality do complete flip-flops from relatively decent human being to silent movie mustache-twirling villain?
What high school would allow the firework in bras, let alone the somersaulting BMXers? From there, even the air cannon wasn’t a completely stupid leap.
How does a team play both offense & defense for 30 minutes with only 9 players, 3 of whom drop to the ground on scrimmage to a “superior team” and only be down 20 points?
And Puck’s speech to get the football players to join? Hunh? “C’mon guys, play!” “No” “Aww, c’mon.” “Well, yeah, when you put it that way, sure.”
There used to be a core of reality to this show. Some genuine human emotions. That episode was just a really bad cartoon.
This show’s treatment of Mercedes is infuriating. What a complete waste of a character with so much potential!
The only thing I’ve learned about Mercedes is that she is constantly hungry and she wants a man.
She also goes to church.
And she’s black, which means she’s hip and sassy.
LOVED it!! And now, let’s hear from the predictable diatribes from the Glee-haters! Count on them to have absolutely nothing positive to say.
No kidding. Though I love how every post about Glee on EW gets like, 400+ comments. Love it or hate, it gets TONS of attention! Any publicity is good publicity! ; )
True story. It’s like the haters who are constantly complaining about all the Glee coverage at EW don’t realize they are actually part of the reason Glee gets so much attention. It’s all about the #’s people. No complaints here. I loved the episode. Thought the Thriller/Heads Will Roll performance was a bit of a let down. It was just too choppy.
I agree – I think it was actually one of the best episodes of the season. I hope Karofsky has a breakthrough soon. His reaction to Schuester’s positive remarks made me smile.
It’s interesting how they are starting to make Karofsky a character we can almost sympathize with. Looking forward to how they develop this.
Aw Jeremy. I knew I could count on you to make sure that anyone who watched with an open mind would be labled. You should try it sometime.
As opposed to, say, YOU, who no doubt watched with a completely open and objective mind, right?
Jeremy–some of us were die-hard Glee lovers who are disgusted by the ridiculous, redundant, over the top spectacle it’s become…not haters. We’re entitled to our opinion too.
Agree with Kim here. I loved season one of Glee. I watch season two, and I hope that it will get better. While season two is decent, it’s nowhere near what season one was. That from a non-hater.
Agree completely. They did a great job with this episode.
Hey, that’s the greatets! So with ll this brain power AWHFY?
“I don’t want to die yet. At least not until One Tree Hill gets canceled.” Ah, Brittany, how we love thee.
And loved the realization the Sue/Katie Couric wasn’t a dream sequence but really happening with the Glee club getting the Cheerios budget.
And a serious note, the build-up of the closeted player was very nicely handled.
That was a great line. But overall, the show has drifted so far into dramatic territory that I’m shocked to laugh at all these days. How can “Glee” even pretend to be a comedy anymore?
Sue’s raccoon hormones line made me laugh.
Loved it, and I’m sure MJ would have liked what they did with Thriller too.
this episode was just okay…i really wish mercedes would get a story line and i hope sam makes good on his threat to take over glee club because i’m tired of finn and rachel.
ps does anyone remember last year when quinn and mercedes were friends? and quinn was actually living with mercedes? i don’t think the writers do.
Word. I think about that every time I see them NOT interacting at all. It actually made me like Quinn.
It’s really weird how they completely ignored that storyline. And how there’s no mention of Quinn’s baby. You gave it up for adoption but there should be some feelings right? And what about pregnancy weight-gain and post baby weight loss? They could have shown her struggling and dieting to get back into her cheerios uniform. Sue is not funny anymore. Actually Glee is not funny anymore. Everything seems forced or lame and new plot “twists” are haphazardly thrown like so much after thought. The writers really need o start another strike cos clearly they’ve been sitting on their asses. This ep was better but the ahow jumped the shark after season one.
I absolutely agree that RMurphy seems to have forgotten that there are other characters in this ensemble cast beyond the leads and his obvious pet, Kurt… It’s ridiculous that they have completely forgotten the nice sisterhood/friendship that Mercedes and Quinn developed last year, and we haven’t gotten ANYTHING decent for her in regards to a storyline…
Thank you amber. I’ve been saying that for WEEKS. And then my other favorite issue was when Sam’s shoulder was destroyed and he didn’t wear a sling for weeks! I’m a fan of the show, but I can’t stand when everyone makes me out to be a ‘hater’ because I’m annoyed at all the plot holes!
Terrible. Horrible. Godawful. I’ve seen every episode so I’ve seen the highs and lows and I thought this was rock bottom.
Please Mike, go watch Criminal Minds and LET the door hit you square in the A$$ on your way out!
toodaloo!
And I thought that it was one of the best – easily.
I agree with Mike. What a disappointment. The half time show was like a middle school after school club.
I agree with Mike. I’m shocked that regular viewers could find it enjoyable.
iT MAY NOT BE THE BEST THEY HAVE DONE BUT IT IS THE BEST THIS SEASON TO ME. i AGREE THERE SEEMED TO BE ALOT OF CHOPPY EDITTING ON THE THRILLER SEQUENCE. bUT IT WAS SUNG VERY WELL. LOVED NEED YOU NOW. LOVE PUCK AND RACHEL’S VOCALS. THE CALIFORNIA GURLS BIT WAS OK. HOPED THE GIRLS WOULD HAVE SUNG IT BUT THEY DIDN’T. ALL IN ALL IT WAS THE BEST EPISODE THIS SEASON I THINK. LOVED HOW THE FOOTBALL AND GLEE TEAMS GOT TOGETHER. GRANTED KAROFSKY WAS LET OFF LITTLE TO EASY SINCE THE BULLYING WAS SO VIOLENT TOWARD KURT. FINN GOES FRIENDLY WITH HIM IS TOO SOON. I HOPE FINN FIGURES OUT WHY KAROFSKY HAS NO GIRLFRIEND.
You’re crediting this show for having a level of self-awareness that it neither has nor cares about having.
I think that this episode is not going to change anyone’s opinion about Glee. If you loved it before you can look over the huge holes in the plot (what football team is playing beyond Christmas especially in Ohio?). And if you hated it then you can use this episode to point out why you hate it
For the record, the state championships in Ohio are played Thanksgiving weekend. But we’re also a bunch of homophobes and hate anything creative.
@Elizabeth
HAHAHAHA as a resident of Ohio I can say that that is exactly what we are all like. Ryan Murphy must have done a lot of research to make Glee as realistic as possible. I mean, I don’t know a single high school in Ohio that didn’t have BMX bikers, firework bras, and cruel faculty members. And seriously, in what school in Ohio, no, America, are jocks involved in the arts (*barf*).
Actually, Ohio State Championship games are the first week in December. Thanksgiving weekend are the Semi-Finals.
It was great and I’m just glad it’s back!
Totally agree.
Good show! Anyone know the name of the song that was sang as a duet to try to impress the football players? I know its country ,any help,plz?
Need you now, by Lady Antebellum.
Yeah, have to say that was my favorite performance of the night. Puck & Rachel’s voices blend really well.
I completely agree. Puckleberry made that episode. Quinn is a useless character who doesn’t deserve as much attention as she recieves. Plus shes just a bitch.
I was disappointed in that number because it was a carbon copy of the original.