Glee “Extraordinary Merry Christmas” Review

I honestly have no idea what to say about “Extraordinary Merry Christmas,” except, I think maybe I hit my head against the shower frame harder than I realized this morning. Glee is always a little nuts…heck, it exists in its own alternate reality…but this year’s holiday episode felt extra insane. Dare I say, extraordinarily insane. But then, like it usually does, the ending delivered a moral message from which we can all benefit. And isn’t that what Glee is all about?

This isn’t to say that I didn’t enjoy the Christmas music. Glee rarely gets the music wrong. They just sometimes forget that the songs need to be tied together by a coherent plot with a beginning, middle and end.

But unless you count the semi-annual “Sue’s heart grows three sizes” plot, this week’s story was all about helping the less fortunate around the holidays, in spite of the crippling economic state of the union. I really thought, given Rachel’s grating demands for expensive earrings, that we would also be treated to the bi-annual “Finn and Rachel break up because Rachel gets too cray-cray” plot, but it seems like the writers might suspect that we’re on to them in that regard.

Instead, we got another round of Artie the Uber-Director. This time he was asked to direct the Glee kids in a public television Christmas special. For this, he drew inspiration from two train wrecks of holiday cheer: Star Wars and Judy Garland. Did it work? Well, this might be my almost-concussion talking, but it didn’t not work. Not totally, anyway.

Kurt and Blaine are always adorable, but I thought it was a little strange to see two characters who are so proud and out with their sexuality pretend to be bachelor roommates for the benefit of the western Ohio audience. It was nice to see Rachel and Mercedes singing together, instead of duking it out for diva status. And add ribbon dancing to the list of skills Sue demands of her Cheerios.

I never had a doubt in my mind that the Glee kids would come to their senses and make it to the homeless shelter in time for the big group number. “Feed the World” is a great song, but it wouldn’t be my first choice to sing to a group of hungry children. It just seems a little…strange to ask them if they know it’s Christmas time at all. Yeah. I think they’re probably aware.

Glee really needs to decide whether Sue is a villain or a good guy with a nasty temper. She flip flops back and forth so much that you never know what you’re going to get from episode to episode. That was funny for awhile, but now it’s getting a little old.

I want to see something new in 2012. Fresh stories, creative plot twists, character growth. I’ve been a good fan, Glee. I’m still here, aren’t I?

What did you think of the episode? Let me know below!