Theatricality - Season 1, Ep 20
Mr. Schuester encourages the Glee Club to express themselves using the music of Lady Gaga; Rachael has a life-changing encounter; and Tina embraces her inner Goth.
Will and Tina sit in Principal Figgins' office; he tells them that Tina's "Goth" look (which he associates with vampires… which he believes are real) is part of a growing epidemic at McKinley, and she needs to find another style of dress. Will defends his student: the way high-school kids dress helps them express who they are. Figgins is adamant: if Tina doesn't change how she dresses, she will be suspended. Finn's mother surprises him: they are moving in with Burt and Kurt; while the prospect thrills Kurt, Finn is less than enthusiastic. Kurt thinks his apprehension is due to how their room is decorated. He promises to put together a palette that expresses who Finn is, and who Kurt wants him to be. In the choir room the kids brainstorm about what Tina's new look should be ("biker chick," "cowgirl," "happy-meal, no onions"); she maintains that she knows who she is, but she's not allowed to show it. Rachel storms in with the news that after doing some digging into Vocal Adrenaline, she's learned that they are preparing a Lady Gaga number for Regionals; the "full-out theatricality" is the easiest way to beat them. Will suggests they kill two birds with one stone: they can help Tina find a new look, and find a competitive number for Regionals. Their assignment for the week: "Gaga." Rachel, Mercedes, and Quinn sneak into the Carmel High auditorium, and spy on Vocal Adrenaline's rehearsal. While coaching her students on the essence of theatricality, Shelby performs Barbara Streisand's "Funny Girl." Rachel listens intently, and is drawn towards the stage; she approaches Shelby and introduces herself as Rachel Berry; adding, "I'm your daughter."
Shelby and Rachel sit in the empty auditorium, and have a heart-to-heart; despite their shared love of theatricality, it is clearly an uncomfortable situation for both divas. Shelby seems rattled by the speed of their sudden reconciliation; she thinks their reunion was a mistake. Rachel is crestfallen. Finn tells Will that he (and the other guys… except for Kurt) doesn't want to do Lady Gaga; Will agrees to let the guys come up with an alternative. Puck approaches Quinn, and suggests a "Rockstar name" for their daughter: Jackie Daniels. Quinn thinks it (and he) is ridiculous. She dismisses him, and says one of the reasons she's giving up the baby is so she doesn't have to "do this" with him. Kurt and Tina walk the halls in full Lady Gaga-esque attire; it doesn't take long for football players Karofsky and Azimio to express their displeasure at the pair dressing "all freaky" and "rubbing it in everybody's faces." At Glee rehearsal the girls show off their Gaga-wear. Mercedes and Quinn spill the news about Rachel; who arrives later, dressed in her poorly constructed costume (her fathers don't sew). She says she is still processing the news about Shelby. The girls (and Kurt) perform Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance."
Karofsky and Azimio corner Finn in the bathroom; they continue to display their lack of acceptance for anything out of the norm. They tell Finn that moving in with "that little Kurt kid" has given him a bad case of "the gays." Rachel returns to Carmel High School; she shows Shelby her pathetic Gaga costume, and asks for help; she really needs a mom right now. Rachel returns to McKinley in her new and much-improved costume; she proudly brags that her Mom made it. Will presents "the boys," who dressed and made up like Kiss perform the band's "Shout It Out Loud." Later, Kurt is again accosted by the jocks; that night he asks Finn to intervene on his behalf. Finn (his frustration growing) tries to explain that they live in Ohio (as opposed to New York or San Francisco or "some other city where they eat vegetables that aren't fried"), and Kurt needs to try and blend in better. Kurt tries to help Finn remove his Kiss makeup; Finn slaps his hand away.
Will talks to Shelby about Rachel; he expresses his concern about how the recent revelation may adversely affect his "fragile, overemotional" student. He wonders if Shelby is as committed to this reunion as Rachel is. Shelby confesses she initiated their reunion because she really wanted a daughter, but in retrospect, she really wanted her "baby" back; Rachel is an adult, and doesn't need her anymore. Will encourages Shelby to tell Rachel the truth. Kurt shows Finn their redecorated room, which has been done over in a lavish Moroccan style. Finn wonders if Kurt is insane ("I can't live here… I'm a dude"). Kurt doesn't know what all the fuss is about, but Finn accuses him of playing dumb; he says he knows Kurt still has visions of them being together. Finn's frustration reaches its apex; he begins to yell about the décor, referring to it as "faggy." Burt walks in on the rant, and confronts Finn; he defends his son against the hateful language, and says he thought Finn was different. Burt says his family comes first, and he can't tolerate that "poison" in his home; while it very well may cost him his relationship with Carole, he tells Finn he can't live there anymore. Finn walks out, ashamed at his behavior; Kurt begins to cry.
The next day in class, Finn tries to apologize to Kurt; Kurt doesn't want to hear it. Puck gets in front of the class, and tells Quinn about what it was like growing up with a father who was too busy being "Rock-n-Roll" to be there for his kid; he doesn't want the same thing to happen to their child. He admits "Jackie Daniels" is a bad name for a baby girl, but says he has a better idea; he and the guys sing the Kiss anthem "Beth." Puck says that before giving their baby up for adoption, Quinn should name her "Beth." He asks if he can be there when she's born, so he can meet her; through tears, Quinn nods "yes."
Shelby visits Rachel at school. Shelby says she wanted to be able to share mother/daughter growing-up experiences with Rachel, but sees now that it is too late; it would all be too confusing. Rachel agrees; she says it is awful, but she just doesn't feel the way a daughter should about her mother. They agree to "be grateful for one another… from afar… for a while"; they sing a slow duet version of Lady Gaga's "Poker Face." In the choir room the kids (still dressed in their Gaga/Kiss attire) wonder what the lesson for the week was. Tina walks in dressed once again in her Goth clothes and makeup; she says the lesson was to not be someone you're not, and to be "a little theatrical." Apparently she confronted Principal Figgins in the hallway dressed in full vampire attire, including fangs and used his irrational belief in the undead to convince him it was in his best interest to let her dress however she pleased... or else. Artie notices that both Kurt and Finn are missing. In the hallway Karofsky and Azimio have Kurt cornered, and prepare to issue a beat-down; they are stopped by Finn, who (dressed in a red rubber dress and glitter eye-shadow) comes to the rescue. The rest of the Glee kids appear behind Finn to offer backup; the jocks back down but promise that next time they'll bring some friends too.
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