GLEE: Season 3, Episode 3, Asian F

What's going down?

You might be wondering where the title 'Asian F' comes from and we soon come to learn the term's meaning, as Mike receives an A- or an 'Asian F' on his latest Chemistry test. His dad, dismayed, pulls him into Figgins' office to discuss the problem.  He blames Glee club for his fail in grades. However, Mike manages to convince his Dad to let him stay in the club, if he gets a chemistry tutor. It looks as if, despite all his practising with Tina to improve his singing, he might not audition for West Side Story.

When it comes to the tutoring he skives off in favour of practising his dance moves. Turns out his mum has been casually walking the halls of McKinley, as you do, and happens upon her son in his element. She tells him she won't tell his father that he's missed his tutor and reveals that she gave up on her dreams as a child; she too wanted to be a dancer. There's a tender moment as Mike teaches his Mum some ballroom as they dance around the studio together. With this newfound confidence he absolutely nails his audition for Riff. Not only are we treated to some smooth moves but Mike Chang's first solo does not disappoint. Who knew that there was a voice in there all along?

Mercedes' boyfriend Marcus feels that she needs to show the world the true diva inside herself, telling her that she needs more belief in her talent. "You say you're Beyoncé, but on the inside you're Effie White." She takes his advice seriously during her callback for the part of Maria, performing 'Spotlight' by Jennifer Hudson, who, as it happens, won an Oscar for playing Effie in the film version of Dreamgirls. The directors are blown away and Emma later tells Schue that she doesn't know where this new Mercedes has come from. "I wanted you guys to see me the way I see myself now, as a leading lady."  Looking a little worried there, Miss Berry?

Kurt is convinced that he's got the campaign for senior class president all wrapped up. Brittany's his only competition and no one's going to vote for her, right? Well, it looks as if he could be wrong. As he's having a mini-celebration with Rachel about his chances, Brittany and Santana walk past and tell him they're going to make sure it's not such an easy ride. "Boys have made a mess in this school and there's only one way to clean it up." She then bursts into a rendition of 'Run The World' by Beyoncé, leading a flash mob of females into the gym. Even Rachel gets up to join in, whilst poor Kurt is left watching from the bleachers. Looks as if we know who's got the female vote all tied up.

The club isn't too happy with Mercedes: she's been late, unenthusiastic and acting like a total diva. Claiming illness, she walks out of rehearsal but not before Schue threatens her - if she leaves now then she can never come back. In one of my most favourite Glee Broadway numbers, Mercedes gets to live out her inner Effie White, as the club re-enact 'It's All Over' from Dreamgirls, with some excellent cameos from Kurt and Santana. After much soul-searching she leaves and goes to Shelby declaring that her new Glee club has found its star. Santana leaving last week, Mercedes leaving this week, will the club ever be able to keep its numbers up?

The directors are finding it oh so difficult to choose their Maria, so in order to make a final decision they decide to host another Mercedes/Rachel 'diva off'. Their song of choice? Out Here On My Own, from the movie version of Fame. "Screw West Side Story," Puck says. "This is Clash of the Titans."

Despite both girls pulling out all the stops, on yet another belting ballad (seriously, something a little different, please), the directors go for the easy option and tell the girls that they've double-cast the role. In typical Rachel style, she accepts saying that she will be taking evening performances and Mercedes can be lumped with the matinees. However, Mercedes isn't so happy at the arrangement, asking why everyone is so afraid of hurting Rachel's feelings. As she did in Glee club, she walks out on the production, meaning that Rachel gets the role all for herself. Looks like that's one less person Rachel can count on as a friend, and she loses another one in Kurt as she makes the rather haphazard decision to run against him and Brittany for senior class president. The panic that she may not get the role and therefore has less to put on her NYADA application means she goes to Coach Bieste as a last-minute entry. Even Finn is less than impressed at this decision.

Schue is upset about the fact that Emma hasn't introduced him to her parents yet and on Coach Bieste's advice decides to take matters into his own hands. When he meets them he immediately sees why Emma wanted to hide them. They happen to be a pair of ginger supremacists, terrified that their beloved hair colour will eventually become extinct. They also treat Emma's OCD with disdain, causing Will to have an angry outburst. The evening does, however, bring the couple a lot closer together. As Emma prays to God for the strength to get through her OCD, Schue's prayer turns into a rendition of 'Fix You' by Coldplay, as you do. We are then treated to a montage of everyone's reactions to the cast list of West Side Story. Rachel is Maria and Blaine, as predicted, is Tony, with Kurt big enough to give him his blessing. Mike clinches Riff and Santana is going to play Anita.

11 o'clock number

My favourite number tonight was Mercedes' rendition of Jennifer Hudson's 'Spotlight'- it easy to see why the directors went wild. This is closely followed by a Glee first; a Mike Chang solo, hopefully more of them to come. 'Run The World' was your typical Brittany performance with some killer dance moves and much gyrating. Whilst Rachel and Mercedes gave stunning performances in 'Out Here On My Own' it wasn't anything that we haven't seen from them before.

Quote of the week

Beiste on choosing between Rachel and Mercedes: "This is one of the hardest decisions of my life. And that includes when I had to sell one of my prize donkeys to pay my gas bill."

Overall

We've returned to the much played scenario of Rachel managing to upset people left, right and centre. I wonder how she's going to get out of that onE. Mercedes' defection to Shelby's Glee club can surely only be a bad thing for her? She might be the star of the show now but with Sugar to back her up, I can't think she'd be going very far. On another note, I would like to see some more exciting song choices, there's been a lot of playing it safe lately.

 

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