Starring: Dianna Agron, Chris Colfer, Jessalyn Gilsig, Jane Lynch, Jayma Mays, Kevin McHale, Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Matthew Morrison, Amber Riley, Mark Salling, Jenna Ushkowitz
When the Glee Club is left out of the yearbook because of budget cuts, everyone seems to be relieved that they won’t have to suffer the ridicule of years past. Everyone except Rachel, that is, who wants her legacy cemented in print. Meanwhile, Quinn makes it her mission to be in the Cheerios yearbook photo, and Will and Terri’s relationship is shaken to its core.
The lie is over! Will finally knows the truth: Terri is not pregnant and wants to take Quinn’s baby as her own. I’ve said before the pregnancy storyline is the weakest plot in the series and thankfully the story seems to be coming to a close. Glee has struggled in previous episodes establishing an even balance between the dramatic scenes with the irreverent humor laced with musical interludes, and while last week was the most disappointing of the season, this week is by far best of the season. Plus more Emma and Sue make for an excellent and compelling episode of Glee.
While rummaging through their drawers searching for his tie, Will discovers Terri’s dummy tummy in her bra drawer and immediately has Terri figured out. Not wasting time, he confronts Terri in the kitchen giving us the most dramatic moment in the show. We saw a different side of Will who was completely devastated, and rightly so, by the lie, and after lifting up her Terri’s shirt to find yet another dummy tummy, Will explodes.
The scene turns dark, and fast. Will was not letting Terri get away with anymore lies and asked all the right questions anyone would in that situation. It was a great back and forth scene between the two. “How could you do this to us? I don’t understand.” Terri argues that Will changed when joining the Glee club, thinking he was better, but he countered with “I should be allowed to feel good about myself.” To which she says “this marriage only works because you don’t feel good about yourself.”
Finally, Will can see Terri’s true colors. It’s as if the writers are aware that the pregnancy story was a big mistake and are looking to correct the situation by allowing Will to vent out all of our frustrations on Terri, and the whole story itself. Despite Terri’s desperate pleas, Will storms out heartbroken.
After spending a night in the school, Will speaks with Emma. Surprisingly, Emma doesn’t throw Terri under the bus but actually sympathizes with her. I thought it was an interesting take because while she could have used this as an opportunity to slam his wife, she can only express that she understands why Terri did what she did. “You’re a lot to lose Will.” Despite her strong feelings for Will, her friendship with him comes first.
But another issue is also addressed in Emma’s office: boundaries. Emma is marrying Ken on the day of Sectionals, which causes Will to wonder if Ken purposely arranged it for that day. When Will brings it up to Emma, she quickly defends Ken in her Emma like ways proclaiming that despite his 74 flaws and bad hygiene, he’s good with kids and full of compassion. Not exactly professing her love for the guy, but letting Will know in a somewhat firm tone that she made her decision between the two.
Meanwhile, its picture day at MicKinnly High School and every club is getting their photo taken, except for Glee. Every year the Glee club pictures are defaced in the yearbook, and none of the current members want their pictures taken for that exact reason. All except Rachel of course, and after Will secures a page in the yearbook, Rachel, as captain, must select a co-captain to take the picture with. She convinces, or manipulates, Finn into joining. But the Glee club hits another road block: Sue Sylvester.
The Glee club was used in a recent commercial for Mattress Land, and to show their appreciation, the members were given free mattresses. Not good. Finishing her Sue’s Corner segment, Sue saw the commercial airing and wasted no time in removing the club from Sectionals. Principal Figgins state that any club receiving payment is grounds for automatic disqualification, but Will being Will, takes the blame and volunteers that he be disqualified and the not the Glee members.
Quinn had a great moment as she went toe to toe with former mentor Sue. Quinn is one of those characters that just get better with each episode and this week is no exception. She blackmails (yes, blackmails) Sue into reinstating her as head Cheerio and giving up one of the six pages given to the cheerleaders in the yearbook for the Glee club. How? Well, she reminds Sue that the payment the Glee club received is no different than the gifts Sue gives to her cheerleaders, and she follows up by threatening to tell Principal Figgins. Impressed, Sue obliges, “You're like a young Sue Sylvester. Now get out of my office, if you can manage to squeeze through the door without your water breaking all over my new carpet.” There should honestly be a book of Sue quips; they just get better and better.
Mattress is the best episode of the season simply because the story is going somewhere. Last week’s episode felt unnecessary, and more like a filler episode than anything. The performance between Finn and Rachel as well as the commercial dance number was entertaining and fun to watch. Hopefully the next episode holds up.
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MATTRESS - Glee Season 1 Episode 12
