Glee recap (1.12): "Once Upon A Mattress"

I was actually a little shell shocked after this week's episode. I needed a minute to pull myself together. And no, I actually did not cry this week, but it was very emotionally draining. There was some fantastic acting, and I thought it was another well-written episode — though definitely not the best.

We start off with two bits of important information. One is that Ken has scheduled his and Emma's wedding for the same day as the Glee Sectionals, and the other is that it is officially yearbook photo time at McKinley High.

Sue sashays in with two black eyes from her yearly plastic surgery touchup for the yearbook. (Emma: "Sue! Did someone finally punch you?") Sue had her eyes done this year. "While they were in there, I had them go ahead and yank out those tear ducts. Wasn't using 'em." She delights in informing Will that Glee Club will not be getting a photo in the yearbook due to budgetary constrictions and, ostensibly, to save the kids from further humiliation at the hands of their fellow students. Will is crushed...

...the Glee kids, not so much. Kurt has done some research and discovered that every year, not only does the Glee Club photo get defaced, but the unlucky Glee kids themselves go on to horrible fates. Like Patches, the homeless guy who sleeps in front of the post office. "He barks at my mom," Brittany adds helpfully.

Will works out a deal with Figgins to pay for a quarter page of ad space for the Glee Club. While the other kids may not want to be in the photo, Rachel desperately does. Even though she's in several other clubs — everything from the Renaissance Club to the Black Student Union — Glee is the one that means the most to her. Meanwhile, Quinn really misses being a Cheerio, especially having the uniform, which made her feel as if she belonged. She decided to get back on the team and in the photo no matter what.

Terri tells Will he can't buy the photo space, but he does it anyway. The trouble is there's only room for two people in the picture. Um. Huh? Why? Couldn't they just have a smaller group picture? Have these people never heard of sizing a photo? That part made zero sense to me and didn't really seem to move the story forward in any real way. Shot number one!

Anyway, they decide to elect two team captains to be in the picture. Except nobody but Rachel wants to represent Glee Club, so she gets everyone's vote...including her own.