Rollin' On The River

Glee returned tonight (after a far too long three week hiatus) and it certainly didn't disappoint. While the show is well known for its musical savvy and wickedly sharp wit, tonight's hour aimed right for our heart strings. Glee flexed its emotional muscle, proving it has the ability to be genuinely sweet without being excessively sappy.

The episode, entitled "Wheels", focused on the gang's continued preparation for sectionals, with Rachel and Kurt vying for the lead in the club's upcoming "Defying Gravity" number. Will is confronted with the challenge of trying to raise money for a special bus to the competition which accommodates Artie and his wheelchair, and the Gleesters suggest Artie simply ride with his dad to save money. In an attempt to teach everyone a lesson about understanding and togetherness, Will has everyone spend three hours a day in a wheelchair. To continue the theme of diversity and acceptance, Sue is ordered to fill Quinn's vacancy on the Cheerios by having open tryouts where anyone is permitted to attend.

Even if you missed tonight's episode, you can tell by the recap that Glee definitely had the potential of being dangerously cheesy. However, the writers made it work by staying smart and retaining Glee's characteristically razor sharp edge. There were some truly touching moments here, and showcasing the show's soft side only makes it that much more satisfying as a whole.

Kurt's exchanges with his father were tender, but the real punch came with the shocking revelation that Sue has a sister with special needs and that she visits her in the hospital on a regular basis! Even though I love Sue's evil side, her character became a little more realistic (and more effective) with this tiny glimpse of compassion. All that, plus a finale featuring a kick ass performance of "Proud Mary" and I'd say "Wheels" was a pretty damn good episode. Encore!!

And the final verdict on "Defying Gravity"? Personally, I would have loved to hear Rachel knock it out of the park on her own (cause she was definitely headed for a grand slam), but it worked slightly better than I had expected. In the context of the show the song carried some weight, but I wasn't blown away. I still think they could have done wonders with that number, and "Proud Mary" definitely eclipsed it in the fabulousity department.