Episode 317

Last night's Glee was definitely the "game-changer" it was hyped up to be. What's fantastic about this show is that it can turn what on any other show would be the sappy volume up to full blast and yet it never becomes cheesy. The whole show -- though dealing with a rather realistic situation -- seems to be steeped in an aura of fantasy. It might have something to do with the fact that the characters just break out into choreographed and well-lit song without anyone around them blinking an eye (don't we all wish that's what life was really like?). But no matter what the reason, there is some sort of glowing bubble surrounding Glee, and this bubble allows the show to do whatever it pleases without any protest from fans.

So when Sue reveals that she, like other normal people, has normal-people things to deal with, we are moved instead of groaning and mumbling about how "Sue would never be like that." Sue can be like whatever she wants to be like, just like Artie can sing an early 80s song while wheel-dancing through the hallways and all we can do is tap our foot to the beat.

Other than this Sue-has-a-heart moment (the second one this season), the other standout of the evening was the Kurt v. Rachel audition storyline. Everyone will be raving -- justly -- about Kurt's emotional rendition of Defying Gravity (definitely worth a viewing or 10), but what truly makes that moment all the more moving -- especially in hindsight if you watch to the end of the episode -- is a surprising post-scene performance by Mike O'Malley. Who knew that the king of the Agro Crag and inspiring host of Get the Picture could put on an inspiring performance (and yes, I'm considering everything he's done since his time on Nick)? Actually, his character, along with his acting, was a surprise from the very beginning -- I don't think anyone was expecting a supportive dad out of this guy. But once again, on Glee, anything's possible.