Síofra’s Weekly Gleecap S4 Ep21 - Wonder-ful

So I started emailing detailed Gleecaps to my friend Jenna throughout season 3 the morning after they aired in the US. She usually didn’t get a chance to see the episodes for a few days until they aired on European TV (we’re deprived of Glee in Ireland, so while she waited I, like a crazy person, would wake up at 3am just to watch it!). About 3 of my Gleecaps in, she told me that they were the highlight of her Wednesdays and she looked forward to them every week. She also told me, on more than one occasion, I should be posting my Gleecaps here for more people to read. I never got around to it then, but I made a promise that I would for all of season 4.

Okay, so I’m a little embarrassed to admit that even though I knew this was going to be the Stevie Wonder tribute episode, I only copped on to why the episode was entitled “Wonder-ful” less than 24 hours ago! Well, having the flu and a chest infection does make you drowsy and a bit dozy!

So even though Rachel knew she was getting called back for Fanny Bryce approximately 2-3 weeks ago, she feels the need to tell Mr. Schue over the phone that he’s the first person to hear about it… what?! His delight at the news is only heightened when she tells him that it was “Don’t Stop Believing” that won her the call back, and that in some small way, he was part of this amazing journey Rachel is embarking upon.

Later that morning, he makes the exciting announcement to the Glee club and in honour Rachel’s wonderful news, he dubs this week “Wonder-ful week” AKA Stevie Wonder week. Cue the excited hoops and hollers of the group. But while Mr. Schue & Co. think the news is fabulous, NYADA’s most infamous lecturer, Cassie July (who has been informed of the development through Rachel’s former gay sycophants), is not so jovial. In order for NYADA students to pursue outside auditions, they need a lecturer to sign them off and crushing Rachel’s dreams is kinda what Cassie’s been about this whole time. Could this be the ultimate take down opportunity?

When we last heard from Burt Hummel, he had just told Kurt that he had been diagnosed with the early stages of prostate cancer. This week, the doctor’s appointment which will confirm or deny if cancer is still present after extensive treatment, is looming. Kurt has decided to make the trip home to be with Burt during this difficult time, but next to all the light coloured socks and shirts he’s packing (light colored for a good outcome), he’s also bringing home some new unwanted habits. Over the last number of months Kurt has developed a series of obsessive compulsive tendencies which see him laying everything out in specific orders and tapping his nose 4 times at both 14 and 28 minutes past the hour; all actions he feel will help towards a positive outcome when his Dad takes a seat in the doctor’s office.

Kurt’s return to Lima parallels nicely with the return of two other McKinley graduates in the form of Mike Chang and Mercedes Jones who are both here to help whip these kids into shape before Regionals in a weeks time. Weren’t Mr. Schue and Finn supposed to be doing that… all year? And who died and made Mercedes the vocal coaching queen of Ohio?! Oh that’s right, this record deal she keeps piping on about. Apparently, Mercedes has been working on an album with her producers for the last year and the time is just about right for it to be released to the masses. But there’s a problem (and a moral to be learned, jeez thanks Glee). Her producers love her voice and praise her vocal abilities on a daily basis, but they want her to show a little skin on her album cover to get that baby sold; something she’s not comfortable with doing. And so the turmoil begins. Will she or won’t she? I don’t really give a shit. Give the girl a proper storyline if you are going to include her Glee!

Kitty (of all people) has noticed that Artie has been looking and sounding pretty depressed lately and she wants to know why. Turns out our boy Artie has got himself accepted into the Brooklyn Film Academy. Just the place a young film maker would want to be you’d think but the look on Artie’s face says otherwise. However, Artie refuses to admit why this seems like the end of world instead of the beginning. But Kitty being Kitty, has a little trick up her sleeve in the form of a congratulatory performance of ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered’, to drag the truth out of him. By publicly outing his good news, she forces him to admit that the reason he doesn’t want to go is because of his Mum. She’s been there for him all through his life and for him to just walk out on her (pardon the pun), seems cruel. Quel dommage!

My Klaine babies are back in the Lima Bean, having coffee together (plus Mike and Mercedes unfortunately) like they should be. And Blaine thinks Kurt looks cute… “dirty cute” (oh sweet Lord someone fan me!). Tweets and news about progression in marriage equality have been coming through on his phone and Blaine is excited about the fact that he might be in NYC to see it all happen. Getting ideas are we Blaine? But while sitting down and listening to Mercedes prattle on about her “album”, Blaine notices Kurt’s odd new behaviour. Instead of just taking a sweetener packet and dumping it in his coffee, he takes a long time to line up and stack all the packets four sachets high and in a row. Odd. When Mercedes finally stops talking about herself, she takes the time to ask a question of Kurt and Blaine we all want to know; “So what’s going on between you two because it was pretty boy on boy heavy at the wedding?” Blaine immediately jumps in, taking Kurt’s cue from last they met by telling her “We’re not together but it’s cool”, before taking a stolen glance at Kurt. Mike then takes the opportunity to delve a little deeper into the Tina “Vapo-rape” incident before Kurt angrily shuts down the conversation. Mercedes takes his outburst as anxiety and reassures him about his Dad’s test results, but if I know Kurt, that little outburst was a little more loaded than first perceived.

Back in school, Mercedes and Mike take it upon themselves to boost Jake’s already large ego by telling him that he and his crey-crey dancing skills could be New Directions secret weapon when it comes to Regionals. I thought it was singing competition? Oh, and Mercedes also wants him and Mike to be her head dancers in her new music video for that album that’s supposed to be happening.

The dreaded moment has arrived and Kurt paces the office of Burt’s doctor as Burt and Carole sit huddled together on the couch. The length of time it’s taking the doctor to see them and the dark blue colour of Burt’s shirt (“dark blue is close to black and we all know what black means”), are all adding to Kurt’s anxiety about the impending results. But after a 45 minute wait, the doctor finally sees them and immediately cuts to the chase. The treatment has worked and Burt is cured! Well, the medical profession prefer to say “in remission”, but still, everyone’s favourite Dad is healthy as a horse once more! To celebrate, Kurt dedicates a “second chances” song to Burt in the choir room and with the help of his former New Directions both old and new, busts out “You Are The Sunshine Of My Life”. And the whole time Blaine is sitting there like “That is my future husband and my future father-in-law *beams*”.

Back In NYC, Cassie let’s Rachel know her thoughts and plans for Rachel’s upcoming audition. While she intends to let her do the audition, she also intends to attend the audition herself accompanied by Barbara Streisand and her husband (“close personal friends”) and together they will all watch as Rachel chokes during her first big audition. Oh and she also moved up one of Rachel’s major exams to tomorrow morning… at 6am. Ouch!

Kitty takes her interest in Artie’s college/mother issue a bit too far when she actually goes to see his mother and tells her that Artie doesn’t want to accept his place because of her. God Kitty, don’t hold back! When Artie wheels in on their little tete-a-tete, she makes a hasty exit leaving them to talk. His mum is horrified he wouldn’t follow his dreams just to please her and basically demands that he wheels himself out immediately and head to New York to fulfill his destiny. That is until Artie admits he only used her as an excuse. In truth, he’s scared to make the big leap. All his life he’s had her to help him and without her, he’s a bit lost. They say mother knows best and in Artie’s case that couldn’t be more true. His Mum admits to not knowing how to cope with his chair in the beginning and any help she gave him was after his suggestion. Artie adapted his own life when he was put in the chair and she has every confidence he will adapt to life in NYC just as well. Awwwww!

At 6am sharp, Rachel steps into the classroom expecting the worst Cassie can throw at her. She finds not only Cassie waiting for her but her entire class holding banners and signs wishing her good luck at her audition; a tradition upheld for those attending their first Broadway audition apparently. Who saw that coming?! It seems even Cassie is now subscribing to Team Rachel.

Mercedes has decided to screw her producers (no not like that!) and go out on her own. By producing and selling her own music she hopes to fake it until she makes it. This, of course, ends up being a lesson for the rest of the group to take note of. Stay true to yourself and bla bla bla.



More importantly, Blaine has something he needs to ask Burt. Well, he has something to give him first and that’s a little rainbow pin for him to wear on his lapel to show his support for marriage equality. And that little action takes him swiftly to his next point of order. Burt is caught completely off guard when Blaine announces “I wanted to formally ask for your permission to ask Kurt to marry me”………………is this what Heaven feel like? Did my baby just ask Kurt’s Dad for permission to marry him?! Is that an actual real thing that’s happening right now?!!!! YES IT IS!!!!

“Are you kidding or are you nuts?” comes the flabbergasted response. Unfazed, Blaine continues with his plea by acknowledging the fact that he badly hurt Kurt but that he also knows “that if I wanna get him back I have to do something bold”. (Well, marriage is slightly bold!) But while it means a lot to Burt to have Blaine love Kurt as much as he does, memories of Finn and Rachel’s brush with matrimony are all too fresh in his mind. “But you don’t understand what it feels like to be finally able to legally get married” Blaine pleads, suddenly aware this conversation isn’t going the way he had envisioned. “And you don’t really get what it is to be married” comes Burt’s sensible reply. Blaine is clearly beginning to get frustrated and upset at this point, so Burt takes him to one side and asks him if he thinks he and Kurt are meant to be (“Yes”) and if he and Kurt have a true love (“Yes!”). “Then stop worrying”. That response seems to silence Blaine as he contemplates the words of the older man in front of him. Burt stands to leave, placing a hand on Blaine’s sunken shoulders as he does “It’s gonna be okay”. Blaine rolls his eyes and blurts back “How do you know that though?” (Oh babes! :S) “When two people love each like you two do, everything works out”.

The next day, Blaine pulls Kurt to the side of the McKinley corridor. Is he about to go against Burt’s advice? “This gonna take a lot of courage considering our um… complicated history” Blaine begins his obviously rehearsed speech. “So I’m just gonna say it”. (Oh shit he is! Be still my Klainer heart!) “Go ahead, you look kinda cute when you get nervous” Kurt replies, all happy-go-lucky. (Kind of cute? He’s friggin’ gorgeous all the time Kurt!) Blaine raises an eyebrow and in that moment looses his nerve, asking Kurt to stick around and attend Regionals instead. “OH!” says Kurt, obviously surprised (Why? What were YOU expecting Kurt?!) After some deflated shuffling from Blaine and a pleasant agreement from Kurt, the pair walk arm in arm down the corridor. “You have to know I would have said yes!” Ummm, but to what question Kurt?

The wonder-ful week and penultimate episode ends in a sunshine-y group performance of “For Once In My Life”.

And that’s what you missed on Glee!