‘Glee’ Recap: The New Directions Return to Share Their ‘Love, Love, Love’
'Glee' made its triumphant Season Five return to FOX tonight (Sept. 26) for part one of a two-part Beatles tribute in the episode 'Love, Love, Love.' And with a super group likes the Beatles as the inspiration, you know it's going to be one powerful episode.
The episode opens with Rachel (Lea Michele) arriving in the theatre where they're putting on the revival of 'Funny Girl' to do a callback to see if her acting can match her singing. As she goes to get her coat she hears the director and the leading man mention that she's a tad young and an amateur to boot and they would rather go with a big name. You know, like Claire Danes.
A disappointed Rachel walks through New York, recreating her iconic date with ex-boyfriend Finn (Cory Monteith) alone while singing a somber 'Yesterday' and reminiscing about her days with the New Directions.
According to Mr. Schuester (Matthew Morrison), the groups' first assignment is dedicated to the early years of the Beatles and is meant to evoke feelings of togetherness. Everyone is pretty stoked about the two week singing and dancing homework except for Kitty (Becca Tobin).
To thank her for giving him the courage to tell his mom he's going to the Brooklyn Film Academy, Artie takes Kitty to the fair where they ride the bumper cars and sing 'Drive My Car' with the other glee club members. A fellow Cheerio, Bree (Erinn Westbrook) tries to blackmail Kitty with this information by Instagramming photos of Artie and Kitty snuggled up at the fair, at which point Kitty tells Artie they should date but in secret.
Meanwhile, in New York, Santana (Naya Rivera) has gotten Rachel a job as a waitress at a diner where the staff sings and dances. Because of course they do. To cheer herself up, Rachel tells herself it's like an acting gig.
At McKinley High, Blaine (Darren Criss) talks to Kurt (Chris Colfer) about their relationship. After Blaine promises never to cheat on Kurt ever again, Kurt agrees that they should give their relationship another shot. To cement their new found status, the two put on a song and dance number complete with marching band to 'Got to Get You Into My Life.' At the end of the song the reunited couple share an adorable kiss.
Coach Sylvester (Jane Lynch) has returned to McKinley High as the acting school principal after planting damning evidence in Principal Figgins' (Iqbal Theba) office to secure his relocation. With Figgins demoted to janitor, Sue has big plans to become the permanent Principal.
While all this is happening, Artie and Kitty sneak around in various wings of the school, keeping their relationship a secret while singing 'You've Got to Hide Your Love Away.'
In the choir room, Blaine tells the group he's planning to ask Kurt to marry him and he needs their help to propose. Backed by an overenthusiastic Sam (Chord Overstreet), Blaine says he wants help from the New Directions various rivals like Vocal Adrenaline and the Warblers as well. When the others are upset by this, Blaine explains he wants to make a social statement about enemies uniting over a common cause, specifically gay marriage.
While Blaine sings 'Help,' the members of the New Directions sneaks around to ask for assistance from the various other high school glee clubs they've faced off against in the prior four seasons. Everyone readily agrees to help.
Meanwhile, Tina (Jenna Ushkowitz) is concerned about Artie's secret affair with Kitty, but Artie asks her to stay out of his personal life.
The director and leading man who insulted Rachel's talent in the episode opener show up at the diner and Rachel approaches their table, informing them that she is not a waitress but a star. When the director boldly tells her he's still not sure, Rachel says she'll just have to show him and Ms. Berry (with the help of Santana) perform 'A Hard Day's Night' with the rest of the waitstaff. After their song and dance is met with raucous applause, Rachel drags Santana home saying they have something special to do.
Roz (NeNe Leakes) and Mr. Schuester are worriedly sitting in Sue's office for a meeting and are concerned their firing is imminent considering their past with the temporary Principal. Enter Sue who says in order to keep her post she needs to be a winner. In order to secure their jobs, she needs Will to win Nationals and Roz to keep the Cheerios on top or they will both be fired.
In the choir room, Tina decides to stick up for Artie (like the Beatles would for one another) and announces to the group that Artie and Kitty are in fact dating. Kitty then surprises everyone by confirming that yes, they are an item and she only asked him to hide what they had because she wanted to be sure she liked him enough to risk both her social status and her own heart. She apologizes to him and they make up with a kiss.
Blaine talks to the guys about how he's worried about Tina, having recently found her sitting in the Too Young to Be Bitter Club room by herself morosely eating chocolate, not to mention her Artie and Kitty related outburst.
In the hallway, Janitor Figgins is accosted by Sue who tells him her nefarious plan to replace his secretary with Becky (Lauren Potter) who she will refer to as her Beckretary. To show him who's boss she then pours a bucket of rotting meat (which he had served on Taco Tuesdays to students) on his newly cleaned floor and walks off in triumphant slow motion.
To cheer Tina up, the guys invite her into the auditorium in a mod-outfit where she finds Blaine, Sam, Ryder (Blake Jenner) and Jake (Jacob Artist) dressed like the Beatles. They sing 'I Saw Her Standing There' to some screaming New Directioners and offer themselves as her date to the school dance. Tina chooses Sam and thanks them for cheering her up.
Kurt's dad Burt Hummel (Mike O'Malle) is driving Kurt to the "airport" when Kurt admits he knows he's being taken to a surprise proposal. Despite the enormity of the situation, Kurt is torn between loving Blaine with all his heart and knowing they're too young. In response, Mr. Hummel tells Kurt about how he got married young to Kurt's mom but he would have traded anything to have more time with her than he did. He then tells Kurt that no one can tell him what to say to Blaine, but to be a man and make his own decision.
When Kurt steps out of the car a flash mob erupts from out of the Warbler's building with everyone singing 'All You Need is Love.' Rachel, Santana and Mercedes (Amber Riley) have made the trip (hence that surprise comment) for the proposal and lead Kurt from room to room where the various glee groups are performing while roses fall from some unseen place above them. Kurt arrives at the bottom of the staircase where he and Blaine first met and Blaine gives a heartfelt speech. There's a lot of crying and a teary-eyed Kurt finally knows the answer to Blaine's marriage proposal. SPOILERS! It's a resounding yes.
Get ready to feel your feelings and don't forget to tune in next week, same 'Glee' time, same 'Glee' channel for the beginning of Demi Lovato's six-episode arc.