Glee TV Guide: Comments on Mattress

Because of some family commitments, I wasn’t able to watch last week’s “Hairography” until yesterday. I thought it was one of the most complete episodes of the season, combining the depth Glee has shown glimpses of, hilarious moments and great music. This week’s “Mattress” was another sign of a show growing.

I like how the writers didn’t take too much on in tonight’s episode. Rather than moving frantically between subplots and attempting to make sure characters had equal face time (a problem I think Glee runs into from time to time) they instead kept it simple. In this case, the simplicity was entertaining, emotional and maybe the best episode yet.

It’s yearbook picture time at McKinley High and that means only one thing: The Glee kids are prepping to get their group photo defaced. Except this year there simply isn’t money in the budget. Tonight’s handling of the yearbook photo page accentuated the major difference between Rachel and Quinn. Rachel acts while Quinn demands. Rachel, whose sole goal in life is constant activity (evidenced by her record-setting yearbook appearances), seeks to fix the Thunderclap problem as a means to a somewhat selfish end. She wants to save Glee Club AND jumpstart her career. When she scores them all a roll in the mattress commercial (will highlight on this later) it appears Glee Club has finally arrived on the social scene. But the whole thing backfires as the mattress commercial violates the students’ amateur status and threatens to disqualify them from sectionals.

Meanwhile Quinn, quietly demands. With very little fanfare and just the right amount of Sue Sylvester-ish cynicism, Quinn negotiates (extorts) a yearbook photo for the whole club. Quinn’s dedication to the club is noble in its subtle sincerity. Needing no recognition or support other than what the club has already provided her with her unplanned pregnancy, Quinn is the true hero of the club. I have been somewhat critical of Dianna Agron as an actress, but tonight she was great by doing very little.

While Glee Club struggles with their yearbook pictures, the true story of this episode was Will’s discovery of Terri’s fake pregnancy. The scene of Will and Terri in the kitchen was a testament of what Glee can be. A gut-wrenching few minutes that tumbled through a variety of emotions. It started with bewilderment (finding the fake baby pad), moved to anger (smacking the towel out of her hand), lead to grief (crying for the baby he never really had) and eventually sent Will out the door. Thank God. I hate Terri. I hate her character, never understood why Will was with her, waited for him to find out her lie and just pray he doesn’t find his way back to her. The show is better off without her presence. Period.

I don’t know if this revelation will ultimately put Emma and Will together for good. I don’t even know if it’s the best thing for the show. Their relationship has begun to take on a Jim and Pam type-thing that seems inevitable but could still prove surprising and Glee. Glee deals so much with relationships, but has very few to hang its hat on. All of them are dysfunctional. Putting together two warm and caring characters as foils to the rest of the high school angst and superficiality could prove positive for Glee as a whole.

I thought “Mattress” was one of the season’s best. The musical numbers were equal parts simple and entertaining. The characters came off more human than simply as caricatures and the story took a turn in a very specific direction. In past episodes the serious aspects of the show came off hollow and forced. Not tonight. I like how far Glee has come, and feel these last episodes have set a precedent going forward. It’s a good time to be a Gleek.

A couple of highlights - The “Jump” sequence in the mattress warehouse was one the best, big production, numbers of the season. It just seemed like everyone was having a great time (and I hate Van Halen).

- Always nice to take Sue Sylvester down a notch or two. Sue is at her funniest when she’s most vulnerable.

- When Kurt doesn’t want to be part of GayLesBall, you know Rachel’s new club doesn’t stand a chance.

- Will sleeping on the Glee Club-earned mattresses was one of those little bits of obvious symbolism that I love in television shows
like Glee.

- Is anyone else hoping they post Ken’s 74 flaws online somewhere?

- Did you know that mattresses weren’t just for sleeping and fornicating anymore?

SOURCE: Glee Reaction - Mattress