GLEE Episode 12 - Mattress

What's going down?

As we kick off the whole school is busy pampering themselves in preparation for yearbook photos for the Thunderclap - even Ken is trying to diet. It also turns out that his and Emma's wedding has had to be rescheduled because they wouldn't let her bring her own food to Hawaii. Problem with the new date? It's the same day as sectionals, meaning Emma can't go.

"Did someone finally punch you?" Emma asks Sue as she walks in looking a little worse for wear. Every year when the yearbook pictures come round she "elects to have a little work done", she tells them. As she shows off her new eyelift, she states she asked her doctors to go and yank right out her tear ducts. There's not much point having them when they never get used. Sue's also put her Cheerios on a diet, so they'll be looking great too. Unfortunately the Glee kids won't be as she's convinced Figgins not to give them a photo.

While Will is less than impressed at Figgins's decision, Kurt and the others, however, are more than happy. Pulling out all the previous Thunderclaps we can see the Glee club photo is often subjected to vandalism, with its members having nervous breakdowns after the yearbook comes out. Despite their protests Schue goes to argue with Figgins. They reach a compromise; the club can have a quarter of a page but they have to pay the $325 fee and will only be allowed to feature two members; Figgins advises to have Santana and Finn.

Unsurprisingly, Rachel is more than psyched to be in the yearbook. "Make fun of me you all you want, but school pictures mean everything to me," she tells us. She also sees them as "great practice for getting photographed by the paparazzi." In order to get as much practice as possible she goes on a mission to join every club she can.

Despite the fact that she's been kicked off the squad, Quinn is determined to be in the Cheerios photo. She wants her children to be able to look back through her yearbooks and see the real her. While she may not look like the head cheerleader on the outside, she's still the same inside.

While asking Terri for fashion advice, Will admits that he wants to pay $325 so the club can have a yearbook photo. Mrs Schue isn't happy. "Why don't you just take the food out of the refrigerator and give that to the kids?" she tells him. After putting her foot down Will goes right ahead and writes the cheque anyway. Now they just need to decide which two are going to be in the photo.

Rachel wins the vote unanimously to be in the photo; but they still need one more person. Will confides in Emma that the kids are still embarrassed to be in Glee but she reassures him that the photo won't matter if they win at sectionals. He also brings up the subject of her wedding, adding that he feels Ken has scheduled it on the same day on purpose. Despite the fact that as of yesterday Ken has 74 flaws, Emma is still determined to marry him, telling Will that she's "done" with anything that may have happened in the past to make Ken jealous.

Unable to find another member willing to pose in the photo, Will turns to Rachel and asks her to find him a co-captain. Mercedes, Artie and Brittany all reject her offer and in desperation she turns to Finn. At first he too declines but after a rousing speech from Rachel where she insists that he is a natural leader he accepts. In order to help him smile properly for the photos she brings him in for extra rehearsals. The pair yet again gets close as they sing "Smile" by Lily Allen.

In the locker room Finn's teammates pin him down and proceed to write and draw all over his face, telling him it's just practice for the glee yearbook photo. They offer him the choice of the Hitler moustache or buck teeth. Humiliated, he fails to show up at the photo shoot leaving Rachel by herself. Without Finn she's finding it hard to keep it together and can barely break a smile. After a quick pep talk she composes herself and is ready for her close-up. However she's cut off after only a few snaps as the photographer has to get to a casting for a commercial he's directing. Cue the Rachel Berry charm as she manages to land the Glee club the job.

The club is more than happy to be in a local commercial, with the prospect of becoming celebrities and thus boosting their popularity within school. What are they going to be selling? Mattresses. "We here at Mattress Land believe that mattresses aren't just for sleeping and fornicating anymore. We believe that buying a mattress should be fun," they're told. Rachel isn't happy with the script and suggests that the club perform. She gets her way as we see the group hopping around on beds as they sing "Jump" by Van Halen.

Will finally finds out that Terri isn't really pregnant when he comes across her fake bump while going through their drawers for his pocket square. He completely loses it and demands Terri to pick up her shirt, revealing another fake bump. She blames the whole charade on the Glee club, saying that ever since he started it she can feel him pulling away. She claims their marriage only works because he doesn't feel good about himself. Storming out he tells her, "You've made yourself a stranger to me now. Are you happy? Are you satisfied?" He's even more disgusted when he finds out she was going to take Quinn's baby.

Schue decides to go and sleep at school, which is easy considering there's just been a delivery of mattresses as payment for the commercial. Sue yet again spoils things. After seeing it on TV she tells both Will and Figgins that it immediately disqualifies them from sectionals as they aren't allowed to do paid work. Will protests that they can simply give the mattresses back but Sue declares they can't because there happens to be a soiled one in his office. Thus everything about his marriage and the fake pregnancy is revealed. With Figgins unable to bend the rules he tells them that Glee club is now over for good. Uh oh.

Cut to Sue's diary: "Dear journal, I finally got Will Schuester and that glee club out of my hair. This is a day that will live in infamy." Quinn interrupts her moment of victory as she enters in her Cheerios uniform. "It's like looking at a porno star in a nun's habit," she's told and despite it still fitting Sue still denies her a place on the photo. She then blackmails Sue, saying she'll reveal that the Cheerios have been getting free gifts all along unless she's allowed back on the squad and the Glee club is given a full page in the yearbook. With her hands tied Sue tells her ex-head cheerleader, "You know, Q, I've forgotten just how ruthless you are. You're like a young Sue Sylvester." As she leaves Quinn rejects her place on the squad saying she'd rather be in Glee, where she's wanted and accepted.

While confiding in Emma about his impending marriage break-up Will is taken aback when she mentions divorce. He's still unsure about what to do and it seems as if the guidance councillor doesn't have the answer either. She accepts that Terri is a complete psycho but says she can see "her intentions were good," as Will is "a lot to lose."

We later see Schue sacrifice himself as director of the Glee club in order for it remain. He says that he should be the one disqualified as it was he who "accepted" the mattress when he slept on it. Now the club is on their own with just a short space of time before sectionals. Finn protests that they "can't do it without him" but Schue encourages them to go out there and give it their best shot. He only asks that when they take their yearbook photo they're smiling with pride, despite that he can't be in it with them. As the episode closes we see the club get ready for the photo shoot while singing "Smile" by Charlie Chaplin.

11 o' clock number

The creative team have yet again come up with the goods as "Jump" was one of the most fun and completely camp numbers yet. I would recommend watching the number again and again as there's so many hilarious moments from the cast you wouldn't be able to see them all at once. It was nice to get another Rachel/Finn number and I'm sure there was a slightly British accent on Lea Michele's part creeping through as she sang. It's basically a set rule now that Glee makes me cry every week and they saved it right till the very end with "Smile" - gorgeous vocals set to a montage of the club without Will brought a tear to my eye.

Quote of the week

This week's Sue's Corner: "All I want is just one day a year where I'm not visually assaulted by uglies and fatties. Seriously Ohio, these retinas need a day off."

Final thoughts

With Sectionals just around the corner can the club really win without Mr Schue? With one baby drama revealed will Finn find out that he isn't really the father of Quinn's baby? Is Emma still going to go through with the wedding to Ken now that there's a possibility that Will is single? I'm hoping that some of these loose ends will all be tied up next week.

 

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