The New Directions of Glee: What I Predict and Hope For After the Valentines Episode

Before I start, I'll put out a spoiler alert. If you haven't seen the Valentines episode of Glee, this will likely give something away. If that bugs you, move on. I'll understand.

I am a certifiable Gleek. I love the show, the music, the quirks, the lot of it. However, there were things that were bugging me so for this season, like the revolving door of guest stars popping in for a Glee opportunity. Chances are we'll see more of that but I really liked that we didn't have to deal with awkwardly placed celebrity props in this episode.

What the Valentines episode did do was look at the relationships, and at time the absense of relationships and made a point to examine what might happen. So here's the couples I see developing.

Artie and Brittany-- I love them. Brittany may be a ditz, but she is sweet and patient with everyone, including Santana which has got to be hard, even if Santana's insults go over her head. In the Valentines episode Artie sang Michael Jackson's PYT,( Pretty Young Thing), to Brittany, and Mike Chang piggy backed by dancing to the performance, since he's more of a dancer than a singer.

Tina and Mike - The Glee club had an assignment to sing a love song, and Tina sang "My Funny Valentine" which fell apart because supposedly Tina was so overcome by emotion. She broke down sobbing, and was the big miss of the episode. The only purpose I can see it serving is if it sets up Mike freaking out because Tina is smothering him, which really hasn't been in her character. She's been very individual. I liked that about her.

Finn and Quinn - After reading the message boards on Fox's Glee page, it looks like a lot of fans don't like the idea of these two getting back together, but I think it could work, at least for a while. Between this episode and the football episode that aired after the Superbowl Finn showed more character than he had in a while. Whether he was with Quinn, Rachel, or Santana he was a bit of a doormat. Quinn has grown up a lot since going through the pregnancy. She's not stuck up and overall she treats people better than she used to, not that she doesn't have her moments. She is Quinn. These two never got the right closure, and they were each others "first loves" so to speak.

Kurt and Blaine

Blaine was crushing on an older guy at the Gap, and when that flopped Kurt called him on what seemed to be something developing between the two of them. But the development is slow, and the two are still just good friends.  They joked about a "When Harry Met Sally" relationship, and Blaine said-- "don't they end up together in the end?" Yeah, they will, but there's a lot in between, and their relationship needs to be based on a true friendship and affection for each other as people, not just because they are the only two guys on the show who openly admit they are into guys.

Puck and Lauren

Both Puck and Lauren have been seen as bad ass comic relief characters. In case anyone isn't picturing Lauren, she's a big girl and she doesn't take crap from anyone. Puck decided he likes her but she told him she needs to be wooed. Puck isn't used to that, and he's stumbling a bit as he tries. His "love song" to Lauren was Queen's "Fat Bottomed Girls" which although it was offensive was probably the best solo Puck has performed yet. I love his voice, but Sweet Caroline was a serious snoozefest. It also shows that just because Lauren is large doesn't mean she doesn't have the right to demand respect in a relationship.

Mercedes and Rachel

Okay, these two are not a couple, but as self-proclaimed divas they can benefit a lot from a closer friendship. Mercedes had a line about the two of them, along with Kurt being better off alone for a while. I could stand to see Rachel single for a while, since she's always been kind of boy crazy, but eventually it would be nice if Mercedes found someone too-- maybe one of the Warblers.

Santana and Sam

The acknowlegement of this possibility didn't happen until the end, when the two waved at each other at the town hangout "Breadstix" while the Warblers  the Paul McCartney classic "Silly Love Songs." Sam is the ultimate nice guy, and Santana is a typical "mean girl" that has begun to realize she's missing something. Yes, Sam and Quinn have been cute, which is nice at first but winds up feeling like you've just run through a sprinkler filled with honey. Very sticky and annoying after a while.

Santana got her comeuppance big time in this episode. Several people in the Glee Club called her on how she puts others down all the time. Rachel told her, "Maybe I am destined to play the lead in the musical version of Willow, but the only job you're ever going to get is on a pole."  Later in a confrontation with Lauren over Puck, Santana got thrown around like a a ragdoll.

Sam was alone on Valentines because he was too nice, and Santana was alone because she's not nice enough. I'm not sure they are a match made in heaven, but there's a lot they could learn.

 

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