GLEE RECAP: Season 3, Episode 2 - I Am Unicorn

What's going down?

With Schue's new found hunger for New Directions to take Nationals, he's going to be seriously putting the club through its paces. He implements a mandatory after-school dance class, a Booty Camp, for those members who need a bit more practice, Finn top of the list, of coursE. Mercedes, who relies just on her voice, and Kurt, who has one move (jazz hands), are also chosen. He's decided to step down as director of the musical to focus his attentions on Glee and has roped in Emma and Coach Bieste, who believe it or not has done a bit of amateur theatre in her time, as his replacements and gives Artie a chance to be a student director. Apparently he has a passion for directing. That's a new one to me as well.

Shelby Corcoran, played by Idina Menzel, makes a return this week. Turns out that Sugar, the completely tone-deaf girl from last week's episode, has got her dad to make a hefty donation to the school in order for Shelby to start a rival Glee club, with his precious daughter as the star of the show. Her return to Lima and as a part-time teacher at the school could be the start of some serious drama (she's Rachel's birth mother, and adopted Puck and Quinn's daughter Beth), and Schue is worried about what it may do to the kids but Shelby is adamant that she wants to try and make amends.

Whilst Rachel is in the midst of her West Side Story auditions prep, Shelby goes to talk to her. Rachel doesn't want to know though and tells her, "I almost had to go to therapy because of you." Shelby tries to focus on the audition and when Rachel admits that she's too scared to sing the famous 'Somewhere' from the show, Shelby encourages her; "You will never become a star or get the lead if you play it safe." As with all Shelby and Rachel scenes it has to end with some belting and this one is no different. The two perform the song, with mother giving daughter all the confidence that Rachel needs in order to nail her audition, which of course she does.

In the meantime, Brittany has decided to be Kurt's campaign manager for senior president. Why? Because she's decided that he is "the biggest unicorn of them all". Yes, I'm confused too. Apparently a person whom she describes as a 'unicorn' is someone who knows they're magical and isn't afraid to show it. Obviously, she didn't describe it quite so simply. However, poor Kurt isn't too happy with the direction that she wants to take it. Whilst he wants something a bit classy, Brittany's idea is a little too camp and flamboyant for his liking, involving some rather fantastic goodie bags and a poster of a unicorn riding Kurt. He isn't convinced and tells that he wants to go with something a bit more conservative. He gets a shock, though, when Brittany reveals that she too is embracing her inner unicorn and has decided to run for class president.

Elsewhere, Sue persuades Quinn to help her with her campaign. She plans to produce a video showcasing how the arts have ruined Quinn's life. (I don't think it was the singing that got you pregnant, Quinn.) She storms into Schue's office and tells him what Glee did to her, forcing her to become a 'skank', all while Sue films it. Schue can't believe what he's hearing and argues back saying that the club has always been there to look out for her. "You stride into my office and tell me it's my fault? I have something to say to you. Grow up." Harsh words but true ones.

Shelby has offered Puck and Quinn the chance to be a part of Beth's life but one of the conditions is that Quinn cleans up her act. Puck turns up uninvited at Shelby's apartment and asks to see his biological daughter. Shelby reluctantly agrees but says that in future any visits need to be on her terms. Having seen Beth, Puck goes to Quinn and encourages her to get it together, telling her that her daughter looks like her. Puck is taken aback though when a few days later Quinn reveals that she's determined to get sole custody of her daughter, having dyed her hair back to blonde and re-joined the Glee club.

While we all love Kurt for what he is, Emma, Bieste and Artie aren't convinced that he's man enough to play Tony, despite how great his audition was. He performs the "seminal and semi-autobiographical", 'I'm The Greatest Star' from 'Funny Girl' after getting permission from "the lady herself", one Rachel Berry, to perform a Streisand song. With scaffolding especially built by his dad and a closing bit with sword tricks, it's an impressive performance, but just not Tony. Bieste says she wants someone who "excites her lady parts". He becomes crestfallen when he overhears the directors talking about his lack of suitability for the part and as a final attempt to convince the directors, he ropes Rachel in to perform a scene from Romeo and Juliet, in full Shakespeare dress. It doesn't go to plan, though, as everyone ends up in stitches: everyone apart from Kurt.

Unfortunately for him, it looks as if the part of Tony may be slipping through his fingers, after Blaine gives an enigmatic performance of 'Something's Coming'. Despite the fact that he's auditioning for all the parts apart from the one his boyfriend wants, in order to give Kurt the best chance, the directors ask him if he'd be willing to read for the lead. We end as we see Kurt lurking in The Shadows, as he seems to realise that he might just not have it in him to be a romantic lead.

11 o'clock number

Tonight's episode only gave us three musical offerings tonight but I'm hard pushed to pick a favourite. 'Somewhere' gave us a stunning vocal performance from Rachel and Shelby, but it wasn't anything that we haven't heard before. Blaine proved himself to be a near-perfect Tony (wouldn't we love to see Darren Criss tackle the part on, say, Broadway?) and Kurt gave a performance to rival his 'Kurt's Turn' in Season One, with his show-stopping number.

That's how Sue Cs it

[To Emma]: "Are you still at freakishbonyginger@gmail?"

Tonight's Verdict

After tonight's episode it looks as if Ryan Murphy is sticking to his word about this season's focus on character development, as there were fewer songs. There's going to be some major drama in the next few episodes as it's looking likely that Blaine is going to take the role of Tony instead of Kurt. Just how is Quinn going to go about getting custody of Beth and how much longer is Shelby going to be sticking around for?