"Glee's" been gone for weeks and I really, really wanted to love this episode.
So much for my desires.
The "Night of Neglect" episode was perfectly named because it seemed to neglect a strong storyline. Mercedes went all diva, Britney, Mike, Artie and Tina felt neglected as academic decathlon members and Will's ex-wife Terri was back on the scene – sort of.
Turns out Mercedes is beyond sick of playing second fiddle to Rachel and started making demands via her new "manager" Lauren. Said demands included a bunch of humidifiers, the need to be carried around and a fluffy puppy to dry her hands on. Please, "Glee" gods, don't make Mercedes unlikeable like you did Rachel earlier.
Back on-again couple Finn and Quinn enlist Rachel's help to reign Mercedes in and I guess everyone is now, for the most part, supposed to be cool with Finn rejecting Rachel for his ex. Count me out of the newfound civility, as I am still rooting for Finn and Rachel to once again make beautiful music together.
Speaking of a couple we want to see back together, Emma is once again free as her hubby (played by hunky John Stamos) wants an annulment since they never consummated the marriage. Of course, that meant Holly had to break up with Will and kick rocks. What?!!? Just like that Gwyneth Paltrow is gone? Me no likey.
Before she left, Paltrow wowed us with two memorable moments. One, she sang Adele's "Turning Tables" at a benefit meant to raise cash for the glee club's trip to finals. The theme of the evening was neglected and underrated singers, and I for one was thrilled that Adele got some "Glee" love.
Secondly, Paltrow poked fun at the hateration often directed her way. In a chat directed at some of the students who were heckling our beloved show choir during the benefit she said, "I get it, we live in a culture of insults. I mean, we are constantly bombarded with these images of people who are richer than us, and happier than us and have more interesting sex than us" to which our favorite Cheerio Becky responded "Preach!"
Well played, Gwynnie. Well played.
Also among the best moments of the show was seeing Kurt and Blaine roaming the halls of McKinley High (note to the show's writers: we need more of that); the return of Sunshine Corazon to sing Celine Dion's "All By Myself," and Mercedes' amazing performance of the Aretha Franklin tune "Ain't No Way."
But all of those moments were fleeting and only contributed to the uneven feel of the show. Not even Sue's recruitment of Vocal Adrenaline coach Dustin, Sandy the former show choir director ( I howled when Sue asked "Sandy, how do you manage to sneak into a building without setting off all of the fire alarms?") and Will's ex-wife as "The League of Doom" could give me much joy.
Here's hoping that next week's Lady Gaga episode is more fabulous.