"If there's one thing I've learned from Finn dying it's that shame is a wasted emotion," Kurt (Chris Colfer) eloquently asserted mid-way through last night's unfortunately unavoidable and unabashedly emotional address of the passing of prominent Glee cast member Cory Monteith, who portrayed star quarterback Finn Hudson on the series for its entire run until this year - and, unashamed was Glee in its tribute to the fallen young star. And, unforgettable, as well.
Measure Your Life In Love "525,600 / How do you measure a year in the life?" wrote Jonathan Larson in his Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical game-changer RENT. So sang the remaining members of McKinley High's Glee club on last nights Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan-penned GLEE, as well, directed by Falchuk and appropriately titled "The Quarterback" in Monteith and Finn's memory. While some may quibble that the tear-drenched depths to which the episode descended may have been almost too much to take for those less prone to the emotionally grotesque - real life is full of big feelings, after all, too - but, as with most things, on Glee all is writ large. Plus, it's an impossible circumstance, yet the creators, cast and crew handled the episode with the utmost care, attention and love. It was the ideal elegiac expression a gleek could have hoped for in this situation, giving due diligence to one of the most important and integral figures in the Glee firmament.Yes, it is easier to accept that there was no way for Glee to Go On without outwardly and even exorbitantly examining the departure of one of its most elemental figures, now or ever. Glee was partially built on the strong shoulders of Finn Hudson and last night we were witness to his final touchdown on the most theatrical pop culture mainstay of the new millennium - and it was done grandly, tastefully and always appropriately.
Farewell, Finn. As Mr. Schue said, "He was our quarterback," and he always will be.As for what's next? Well, as Finn himself was quoted as saying - and as his McKinley High memorial plaque now reads: "The show must go... all over the place or something." That's our Finn.
Of note, don't miss BroadwayWorld's exclusive world premiere of the Glee cast performing RENT's "Seasons Of Love" from earlier this week, available here.Videos