It can safely be said that last night’s Glee was one of the best, if not the best, episode of the season so far. Twitter was bursting with Gleeks everywhere commenting on the touching, yet always comical, writing (“I want to be very clear. I still have the use of my penis.” not only cracked us up, but also answered a question every one of us had been wondering). Though far from being the show’s strongest musical episode (great numbers, but only three—and considering the amount of plot covered last night, I’m surprised they had time for those), no one can argue that the songs were special.Artie’s “Dancing with Myself” was like an aria. This character, who’s been a been rolling around in the background, finally got a solo where he told us what it’s like to be him. Who knew Billy Idol could be deep? And Kurt singing “Defying Gravity” added layers to the song that even Elphaba herself couldn’t peel. “I’m through accepting limits, ‘cuz someone said they’re so” rang truer—at least for me—coming from the gay boy than from the green girl.
However, last night’s most moving performance was the rousing “Proud Mary” (which I was very happy to see featured Mercedes, Artie and Tina on lead vocals; not Rachel or Finn). Seeing all the gleeks in wheelchairs, shirts buttoned to the neck, not only said you don’t have to accept limits, it told every kid watching who feels alone, an outcast or different that they’re not the only one dancing with themselves, and you can dance (and have fun) together. You just need to find the people worth dancing with.
I think it’s easier to create moments where your audience can feel sympathetic or emotional for a character by connecting to their struggle or challenges. But it’s infinitely harder, and more touching, to achieve a moment where those struggles and challenges can be genuinely transcended in a way that doesn’t feel trite. Where one can be inspired to feel that their differences don’t define them. And that one may actually, someday, defy gravity.
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