RECAP: A 'Bad' Episode Of 'Glee' Gets Quinn Into Yale

Glee was on a promising track during the first half of its third season, going for a back-to-its-roots approach with a greater variety of story-driven musical numbers, as opposed to the other way around. So when word started to spread that the show would be paying tribute to the late Michael Jackson, it was fair to be either really, really excited (because who doesn't love Jackson's music?) or really, really worried (oh God, they've gone and done it now).

Overall, the MJ theme worked because of the rich variety of Jackson's repertoire: up-off-your-feet dance numbers, doleful ballads, vocal arrangements well-suited for duets. But lest you forget it, Tuesday's episode was also a post-cliffhanger follow-up, a "Will she or won't she?" on the question of how Rachel (Lea Michele) would answer Finn's (Cory Monteith) marriage proposal. If the Jackson songs were unexpectedly satisfying, then the marriage plot was infuriatingly dissatisfying, given the conventional way the writers framed Rachel's choice (love vs. career) and teased out her decision-making way past the point of anyone actually caring.

The most laughable turn of events consisted of a tormented Rachel running to a now-polished Quinn, in search of advice as to whether or not she should marry Finn — ostensibly because she knows Quinn will give her the straight truth. (Um, in what universe is your boyfriend's ex-girlfriend a trusted source of unbiased advice about whether or not you should marry him?!?) But as their conversation unfolds, we see what this exchange is really about. Quinn, her cheerleading captain and punk rock days behind her, has been accepted early decision into Yale. (Not Ohio State. Not NYU. YALE!) She offers some weak explanation about how wowed Yale was by her unwed teenaged mother sob story, and tells Rachel that marrying Finn is probably the worst thing she could do for her future. Surprise, surprise but, hey, she has a point. (Maybe she is smart enough to go to Yale ….)

Well, Rachel's still not sure. There's all this back-and-forth about who to trust, what to do, blah blah blah, accompanied by copious tears, as it turns out that Kurt has been accepted as a finalist into his NYC performing arts school of dreams, NYADA. Thank heavens for Mike O'Malley, who plays Kurt's dad. He really hits the nail on the head when he says that all the bullies and naysayers will "never be able to take this away" from Kurt. Thanks, Dad.

In the end, as you might expect (we're not even going to call this a spoiler), Rachel gets her finalist letter to NYADA after desperately agreeing to marry Finn, upending a whole episode's worth of plot development, which by the way felt super long for just one hour, despite the Jackson numbers and the deliciously evil antics of head Warbler / power-bottom Sebastian. (Rck salt in the slushy, thrown in Blaine's face?!? Ouch. But also: fierce.)

Here's a quick breakdown of the Jackson songs covered, in case you're wondering: "Wanna Be Startin' Something," "Bad," "Scream," "Never Can Say Goodbye," "Human Nature," "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" and — the song that was destined to be a Glee finale one of these days — "Black Or White."

And that's what you missed on Glee.

Watch the teaser here:

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