‘Glee’ Recap: ‘Funeral’ – Season 2, Episode 21

'Glee' tackles a sore subject in tonight's 'Funeral' episode, when McKinley High says goodbye to someone close to one of their own. PopCrush has your recap.

Will decides to hire on a new show choir consultant, Jesse St. James, to help New Directions prep for next week's Nationals competition, but because his alma mater is Vocal Adrenaline, the glee club isn't exactly keen on the idea. Jesse introduces a V.A.-style idea: to hold auditions to find the New Directions star performer, who will act as the lead vocalist for the competition.

Within the first few minutes of the 'Funeral' episode, when Sue lets Becky go from the Cheerios team and Will grates her for it, we discover that Sue's sister, Jean, has passed away. Kurt and Finn come to her office to offer their condolences, and though the scene is supposed to be pretty grim, Sue unknowingly has viewers laughing when she takes stabs at the glee club brothers from other mothers. But the boys rise above and convince Sue to let them help and plan the funeral service -- hence, 'Funeral.'

Naturally, the evil cheerleading coach is having a hard time coping with the loss, and though Will offers a hand, she tells him, "Oh, William, I wouldn't dare lean on you. There's so much grease in your hair I'd probably slide right off."

Following Jesse's lead, a select few glee clubbers take to the stage to try out for the star position. Santana waltzes up first to take a stab at Amy Winehouse's 'Back to Black' -- light dance moves included -- but Jesse doesn't think she really captures the emotion. Up next in the auditorium, Kurt delivers 'Some People' from the musical 'Gypsy,' but again, Jesse's consultation is less than positive, stressing that he shouldn't be doing a song meant for a woman.

Mercedes lends her big pipes to Otis Redding's classic 'Try a Little Tenderness' -- and our jaws drop when St. James knocks it down, saying she doesn't really want it bad enough. Say what? Don't be fooled, though, because she blows the roof off of the place. When it's Rachel's turn to belt it, her former flame asks if she is picturing anyone when she performs the closing number from her favorite movie, 'Funny Girl' -- Barbra Streisand's 'My Man' -- and yes, she sees flashes of Finn as she spins the words.

When Kurt and Finn come to the nursing home to clear out Jean's stuff for Sue, she tells them just to dump it all in the trash. In a weak moment, she reveals that she allowed the glee club to help so that there would at least be people at the service. To her surprise, but not ours, she enters the funeral home to a packed house: residents of Jean's nursing home, their families and, of course, our loving glee club. Because Sue tells Kurt and Finn that ‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’ was her sister's favorite movie, they perform an ensemble of 'Pure Imagination' in order "to capture and express the joy of her life, rather than the sadness of her death." They even bring in candy and a chocolate fountain, and put together a slideshow of pics of Sue and her sister enjoying happier times, which really brings out the good in her.

In the emotional funeral scene we got a peek at Sue's heart, confirming that yes, she does have one. We're especially touched when Will reads what Sue has written to say because she can't get the words out, and the glee coach and cheerleader bond, which is a nice moment for gleeks, even if it's not under the best circumstances. Could this be a turning point for the grinch of McKinley High? She seems to think so. Sue has a change of heart and allows Becky back on the Cheerios, and makes her captain of the team for the following year, and even tells Will she won't pick on the glee club again, because she's not been a good friend to him like he has to her.

Quinn, who has been the highlight of the last few episodes, only makes one true appearance in tonight's 'Funeral' episode -- and it's in a scene where Finn breaks it off because Rachel is his real love. She puts her foot down and insists that no, they're not breaking up, and reveals that she has something up her sleeve for the group's trip to New York.

When it comes time to pick a glee club frontman/woman, Will says it feels like he's telling one of his kids that they're his favorite, and doesn't go through with the idea. He throws a curveball and reveals that the kids will go back to basics and perform original songs by the entire glee club. Bring on Nationals!

Oh, did we mention that Finn sees Jesse kiss Rachel and that Will is headed to Broadway after all -- but just for the summer?

Season 2, episode 21 of 'Glee' is sad and deals directly with death of people and relationships, but at least the music kept things lively. There's only one more episode of 'Glee' remaining in Season 2 … will New Directions' hard work pay off? Tune in next week for the 'New York' episode, or head to PopCrush after for a recap.

Watch the 'Glee' Season 2 Finale Promo