Glee-Cap: New Directions Puts the 'Fun' in 'Funk'

Can you believe it? The curtain is almost ready to come down on the first season of Glee! As New Directions prepares for its all-important showdown with Vocal Adrenaline, everyone at McKinley High finds themselves down on their luck and stuck in a “Funk.” The newly divorced Mr. Schuester has the bright idea to make the kids face their fears by assigning a song from the Funk genre. Meanwhile, swaggering Sue Sylvester feels the heat from Mr. Shue and issues a challenge to the Glee kids. Let's review the episode's biggest moments.

The Outlaw Jesse James:
After many hints that our beloved Jonathan Groff’s character could turn out to be a villain, Jesse goes completely rogue by transferring back to Carmel High and rejoining the ranks of Vocal Adrenaline. The group shows up at McKinley with a threatening dance routine to “Another One Bites the Dust” and even pulls a sneak attack on Rachel by bombarding her with eggs. (Too bad they didn't hurl Slurpees, since she’s immune to those by now.) Rachel notes that giving her heart to Jesse resulted in being “crushed like the stage floor at a performance of Stomp.” It pains us to see the former Spring Awakening pair hating each other!

Love Finds Sue Sylvester:
Inspired by the master instigator herself, Mr. Schuester decides to rile Sue up by tricking the Cheerio coach to falling for her arch-enemy. Surprisingly (!) it works, and suddenly the curly locks Sue so often attacks evoke “sexy, non-murdering feelings.” She hilariously tells her diary “true love always springs from true hate…in the past I fantasized about waking up with Will’s head on the pillow next to me, except now I picture it attached to the rest of his body.” When Mr. Schuester apologizes for his deception, we get a glimpse of Sue’s home for the first time, which (no surprise here) is aligned with trophy cases and track suits. Depositing the Cheerios' latest mondo trophy in the glee club's practice room, she warns that she'll make the room hers if they don't bring home their own trophy.

The Mothership Has Landed:
The now very noticeably pregnant Quinn looks to her baby bump for her “funk” inspiration, inviting in a crew of fellow moms-to-be to form a group she calls The Unwed Mothership Connection. The girls display some impressive moves in the James Brown classic "It's a Man's World." Later, Mercedes connects to Quinn’s outcast feelings and even invites her to move in with her family. Hopefully we’ll get some insight into this odd couple’s home life (a la Kurt and Finn) in the future.

The Funky Bunch:
For their funk number, Finn and Puck—with a little help from Mercedes—put aside their differences to rock out to Marky Mark’s “Good Vibrations.” Sometimes Glee’s rap numbers are a little embarrassing, but this time the guys look like they're having fun, letting loose and not taking themselves too seriously. Could there be a future for Pucky Puck and Finny Finn? The always egotistical Puck even manages to resist Marky’s trademark of performing shirtless!

You’ve Gotta Have Heart:
In a response to Vocal Adrenaline’s scare tactics, the New Direction team invites their rivals back to perform the one rush Adrenaline can never capture…funk music. Their joyful rendition of “Give Up the Funk” proves that all the fancy dance moves in the world won’t necessarily top enthusiasm, heart and a love for your work. All in all, it's the perfect lead-in to next week's finale.