History Recap / GleeS6E01LoserLikeMe

* CrossesTheLineTwice: Yes, those credits do say "super gay warbler" and "other really gay warbler". Six seasons and we're sure Glee never properly learned what being PC is.

* NeverWorkWithChildrenOrAnimals: In Rachel's case, Never Work With Cats. The cats were the worst part of her show; the cats were spraying all over the set.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: The creators' planned endgame is revealed by Rachel and Will discussing what they imagined happening (Finn coaching the glee club, Rachel returning to Lima successful and telling him "I'm home", FadeToBlack).
** This incidentally was why Melissa Benoist, Jacob Artist, Becca Tobin, Alex Newell, and Blake Jenner were hired, their arcs would tie into Finn's, presumably leading to things coming full circle. All but one departed towards the end of Season 5 as their characters were rendered redundant by Finn's death.

** Rachel singing an Idina Menzel song. It's actually a bit of a mix of both Idina Menzel and Creator/DemiLovato's versions, and they've both been recurring characters.

Rachel's TV show is canceled after a single episode, so she returns to Lima only to find out that her fathers are getting a divorce. When she finds out that Sue has stripped [=McKinley=] of all arts, Rachel convinces the Lima Superintendent to reinstate the Glee Club, but he insists that she lead it. Blaine has also returned to Lima after Kurt severed their engagement and he flunked out of NYADA; he is coaching the Warblers, Will is now coaching rival Vocal Adrenaline, and Sam is the assistant coach for the McKinley football team. Kurt misses Blaine and decides to do his NYADA third-year project in Lima helping Rachel with New Directions, but discovers that Blaine has moved on and is dating Dave Karofsky (Max Adler).

And here it is. The final season of Glee. To say the ''very'' least, it's been one hell of a trip, and one with equal parts joy and jackassery. Glee's last two seasons were greenlit prior to Cory's death; while Season 5 dealt with Finn dying and Rachel getting her dream job, since no more seasons were ordered, Murphy decided to bring things full circle. As such, a lot of this season is not to be taken seriously, let's get that right out of the way. It's written to be funny, to let Rachel and Kurt sing (it has literally become [[CreatorsFavorite the Rachel and Kurt show]]), to give the cast and fans what they want because the writers exhausted even the worst of ideas, and to be funny. After the WTF-fest that was Season 5 episodes 14-20, this was a return to basics. Hell, Creator/{{FOX}}, once it was announced this would be the FinaleSeason, ordered only 13 episodes and decided to air them in the oh so wonder FridayNightDeathSlot, cementing that this would be it.
So, for the last time, let's get it on.

We start the final season at what is presumably the FOX lot, where we see Lee Paulblatt, [[Recap/GleeS5E18TheBackupPlan the exec who approached Rachel with pitch for her own show]], at his personal parking space. We then cut to various magazines and... okay, remember [[Recap/GleeS5E20TheUntitledRachelBerryProject last episode]] where we said Rachel's Humbling would peak here? We see that these magazines have headlines on how Rachel's show is the ''lowest-rated episode in TV history''. So, let's recap, shall we? Quit [=NYADA=], quit ''Funny Girl'', and got a TV show with the aforementioned dubious distinction. So before we even see the lady herself, for the first time in this final season, Rachel, you're an idiot. We cut to said idiot in her trailer, where some publicist is reinforcing the Humbling with the expected bad reviews. Lee enters the trailer, and reveals that he's been terminated for greenlighting the debacle known as "That's So Rachel". After revealing the various acronymed organizations that were offended, Lee confirms the peak of the Humbling of Rachel Berry by hitting the ForegoneConclusion that is Rachel's own axing. This of course cues up Alanis to send Rachel back to Lima while we hit the thankfully once again relevant TitleCard.

After what is revealed to be a six-month TimeSkip, presumably to speed up the in-universe year to match the actual year of 2015, and where she presumably went to Yale and was comforted by Quinn, we find ourselves in Rachel's room, not seen since the end of Season 3. She is broken, shattered, all her dreams gone at her own hands; she has never been this low, not even after [[Recap/GleeS3E18Choke choking]] her initial [=NYADA=]] audition. As she tearfully stares at the Funny Girl playbills still on her wall, we then see Brian Stokes Mitchell return as [=LeRoy=] Berry. You may then notice a lack of Creator/JeffGoldblum, and that's because despite losing everything, Murphy has seen fit to twist the knife ''just'' a bit more. Yep, Hiram flew the coop and presented [=LeRoy=] with the improper divorce papers. And to finally, totally complete the Humbling of Rachel Berry, she's permitted to stay at her old house... until it's sold. As per [=LeRoy=], you have to lose everything before you can find yourself. Cut to the Lima Bean, where Incognito Rachel tries to order, only to run into Barista Figgins; yes, seems that with the pay cut [[Recap/GleeS5E7PuppetMaster Sue gave him]], he's taken a part time job. Thing is, per him, even with that Rachel still has a worse life than him right now. Fortunately, Rachel's not the only one who's returned to Lima in disgrace, as we see Blaine joining her with an apropos background instrumental of TitleDrop. Seems that, as we predicted, all but overwhelming someone into getting engaged is never gonna end well, as we discover that after everyone went their separate ways, Blaine moved back in with Kurt and as we discovered, co-habitation is not a strong suit and that lead to breakup #2. This lead to depression which naturally affected his [=NYADA=] work and thus Madame Tibadeaux gave him the boot. He's back with his parents, one of whom we'll meet later this season, and in one of the many cases of things coming full circle, he's back at Dalton as the Warbler coach. Anyway, Blainechel promise to get through their issues together as we cut to random Little Shop of Horrors because yes. Afterwards, we cut to a V/O full of venom and ultimate triumph backed by "Carmina Burana". Yes, The Triumphant Tracksuit, back in polyester, is fit to gloat as we knew she would, as besides a physical change to a certain [=McKinley=] room, she's imposed her blend of insanity and inanity and shockingly it's worked: Test scores up, body mass indexes down. We soon see her methods: signs of "NO PDA" (thanks Quick) & "NO LOITERING", healthier cafeteria options, mandatory random weigh-ins and body shaming, literal hounds. All this means that [=McKinley=]'s academic reputation is the highest it's ever been, on par with Dalton in fact. Of course, we all know Sue's greatest triumph: Getting rid of New Directions, and we see Sue enter the same room Sam was eying in the last episode. Once a source of joy and music, the former choir room has been mutilated into a sterile computer suite. She also confirms Marley, Jake, Ryder, and Unique were transferred to other schools; you of course notice one name missing, and we'll see her next episode. Sue then reveals that having just a job teaching history finally got to Will, and as she [[Recap/GleeS5E13NewDirections suggested]] last season, he's now in "enemy" territory teaching Vocal Adrenaline. As Sue tells an extra that the arts are officially irrelevant, we pan outside the "Becky Jackson Memorial Computer Lab" to see an aghast Rachel as we go to break.


We return in New York (sigh), where we find our resident Mr. Hummel. Kurt's in his third year of [=NYADA=] (and of course the last time we see that set), which lets us calculate the new time-skip. We're guessing that Quinn and Mike have graduated college by now (holy shit) because of their advanced placement and Kurt starting school later, with everyone else from their class not actually in college and the class below [[WackyFratboyHijinx drunk or high or something]]. [=NYADA=] juniors apparently get a work placement, and instead of going on Broadway, Kurt has decided to intern at a retirement home directing a self-penned stage adaptation of ''The Real Housewives''. Yes. He's also decided to try speed dating. Oh dear. After that exercise in insanity, in which a fellow speed dater correctly says Kurt's not over Blaine, we cut to Dalton, not seen since last season, where we find Blainchel, neck deep in some Sheeran, complete with the first time a non-guest star extra has a duet, one Myko Olivier as Skylar. We'll see him later in the season as we see Rachel loosen up for the first time this episode. From there, we cut to the [=McKinley=] football field, where we thankfully hear the dulcet tones of one Shannon Beiste; seems she was retained due to being the closest thing Sue has to a friend. We then pan over to reveal the waterboy... and it appears either by his own choice or more likely, because Sue captured him, she has her own big mouthed billy bass as a trophy. Yep, one Samuel Evans is on the take, this of course because in order to make their lives better in 12 episodes Ryan Murphy has to make them crap to start with. Though Sam appears to take things in stride, the simple boy. As he tells a Titan to get his own water, another tells that same Titan to stop being a "homo". As Rachel walks up and hears that, this cues a PC rampage that, we're sorry, but the writers of Glee have no right to give anyone. However, in a slight subversion of what we would expect at this point, waterboy Trouts says it's okay because the guy who said it is totally gay. The guy who said it, one Spencer Porter (Marshall Williams), claims that thanks to recent positive representation of LGBT+ figures in popular media (and by this he means ''Series/{{Glee}}'') he's able to openly be himself, and he's a postmodern gay JerkJock, essentially a cross between Dave Karofsky and the dearly departed Finn. He will of course serve a purpose this season, one to be revealed later. He gets the parting shot by telling Rachel her show sucked. As he leaves, we notice that the Titans are more competent than usual, Sue having beefed up the team by means of statewide recruiting, clearly hoping to get [=McKinley=] more non-arts trophies. Rachel tries bringing up the arts but Trouty Mouth says to take it up with Sue. Okay, since we all know how this will play out, we're gonna say "Samchel, you're a pair of idiots" now so we don't have to later. Cut to Sue's new "secretary", someone clearly used to striped sunlight, sending Rachel into the ring of fire. Rachel tries to confront Sue about basically doing what she has been for years, saying that the arts need to come back, but there's a reason why we said she's an idiot and it's twofold: Sue says her show sucked - even managing to suck more than Sue thought possible for a product of Will's glee club and that Rachel was the face of the arts at [=McKinley=], but nobody wants her or it now. As we figured, good points all around.

After the break, we're back in NY at yet ''another'' random cafe, where we see Kurt waiting for a "hot date". This is revealed to be a flashback, as Blaine arrives and basically this is the argument that led to their second split, as Kurt realizes that again, being pressured into getting engaged is never a solid foundation to marriage. Kurt officially calls it off, then snaps back to the present with a random person in front of him, apparently a result of the speed dating from earlier. Welp, we had to put Kurt at the bottom so he could work ''his'' way to a HappilyEverAfter. Tear in the eye, he hauls ass as we cut to Casa de Schuester, where we find Will and young Daniel [[DeadGuyJunior Finn]], Emma offscreen for now. He lays out the differences between VA and ND, namely how the old tricks won't work. With a slight CallBack to [[Recap/GleeS1E3Acafellas episode three]], namely a transition involving BreakingTheFourthWall, we cut to Carmel and Vocal Adrenaline, some Van Halen to back them. As they perform, we see Rachel arrive, amazed at how exactly like they always have been they are. Afterwards, the two embrace as Will tells her he liked her show, BlatantLies so Blatant even Rachel calls him on it. He does try a peptalk saying there's always a second chance, like him in the rival camp. When Rachel tries to call him out on it, he says he has no more fight left, saying he's complacent due to five times the pay. They take a seat on stage, where, in a moment that crystalizes her overall mood, Rachel rejects the "something special" notion from the [[Recap/GleeS1E1Pilot pilot]], saying she's past that. Will tries a different tack, saying that finding a purpose can do a lot more than finding pity. If she can channel her energies into something good, she can take her mind off her issues and possibly erase them completely. Rachel's still not convinced as we go to break.

We return to find Rachel at Will's place in the center of a "Berryvention", as [=LeRoy=], Sam, Blaine and Will sit her down and make her relive her failure. Yes, they cue up the only airing of "That's So Rachel" and as you'd expect, it's atrocious. A pastiche of Glee's more dubious elements, we see Rachel with actors playing up the stereotypes of the characters, while having nods to past episodes, such as a [[Recap/GleeS3E1ThePurplePianoProject purple piano]]. Plus Carrot Top as "Blartie". Because FacePalm. Although apparently the worst thing is that all of the singing was cut, and fans of Glee are divided on whether that would save or doom the show. In any event, the point of this exercise was for Rachel to define herself by how she recovers. As such, having a purpose, and knowing to go over Sue's head, we cut to the office of Superintendant Robert Harris. Rachel asks him to restart New Directions; when he says there's no budget, Rachel offers to pay for it herself, using the money she got from the show. Clearly still rattled from Sue asking him out, he agrees and, in another case of full circle, Rachel is now Will, specifically because Harris tells her she can restart ND if ''she'' runs it. Cut back to Rachel's place where she finds a Hummel on her bed, balling the eyes out.

After the break, we find out that Kurt went to meet the glee kids where they said they'd meet at the end of the previous episode, no matter where they ended up, for a reunion in New York. As you'd surmised, nobody showed up. He got rained on, and suddenly, yes suddenly given ''all'' the context, realized that Blaine was the love of his life. He says he got therapy, and upon learning Blaine's in a "good place", figures there's a chance. Um Kurt? Yeah there's a chance, but there's also an obstacle, one we'll see later. In the meantime, we cut back to [=McKinley=] for a welcome sight, as the sterile computer lab is being converted back into the beloved choir room. Of course, the Tracksuit Tyrant is heretofore displeased, railing on the pair for tearing out the computer lab for a glee club with no kids. Good point. She offers the standard threats as we cut to Scandals, the gay bar from ''[[Recap/GleeS3E5TheFirstTime The First Time]]'', where we find Kurt, who then finds Blaine. Okay, see, even the non-gleeks out there (and at this point, there were many) realized that this seems too cut and dry, breaking up and reuniting within two episodes. Therefore, as mentioned, Murphy needed an obstacle, and as such, Blaine reveals he's found someone. Someone Kurt knows. A brief V/O fears [[Creator/GrantGustin Sebastian]] [[Series/TheFlash2014 Smythe]]; however as at this point he's in a one month break between [[Recap/TheFlash2014S1E9TheManInTheYellowSuit fighting his Reverse]] and [[Recap/TheFlash2014S1E10RevengeOfTheRogues fighting a couple of Rogues]], he's not it. The remaining Gleeks then realize it's the one person that, despite the amicability between the two in his [[Recap/GleeS3E14OnMyWay last appearance]], would still be the ''last'' person Kurt would expect to see his ex dating. Yes folks, not counting his [[Recap/GleeS5E17OpeningNight dream cameo]] last season, after a three-year absence... A WILD [[Creator/MaxAdler DAVE KAROFSKY]] APPEARS! Kurt is dumbfounded as we go to break.

We return to Blaine telling Kurt that he knows it's weird. Kurt disagrees, but the V/O tells the truth. We then get how Blainofsky met; a "Country Bear Night" Blaine attended due to boredom, but became hypnotized by Dave's Electric Slide. Blaine vented about Kurt and there you go. We get the pet name of "[[WesternAnimation/YogiBear Yogi and Boo-boo]]", then Blaine calls for amicability. Kurt agrees, the V/O is horrified, and then Kurt heads for the commode to weep, crying on the floor as if he's Rachel or Quinn or Santana. We'd feel for him, but much like his departed stepbrother, he made the call to end things, so despite his hopes, he should've known this was a possibility.

Cut to Rachel for the first home stretch of the final season, moving into the choir room office. Will arrives, invoking the resident angel in the endzone. It is a touching moment, as the two of them discuss how they imagined Finn taking over ND, this actually being the original plan for the GrandFinale. Rachel claims it's temporary, and as we'll see, it's slightly longer than she thought. Will then brings her the "Help the Kids" sign that he ignored for five seasons, then reminds her that for Sectionals, it's him vs. her vs. Blaine. As he leaves, we end with the first and only Creator/{{Disney}} song the show ever managed to get permission to do: the SignatureSong from ''{{WesternAnimation/Frozen|2013}}''. It's only right since that film simply cast some of the glee co-stars and it was Rachel's mom's song. It of course also represents Rachel's determination to put aside her self-doubt and try and get her confidence back. As such, in another CallBack to the pilot, she pins up a New Directions sign-up sheet, adding a gold star. Only this time, instead of getting a Big Quench, she ends the episode with "the cold never bothered me anyway". This is a subtle VisualPun, so kudos to glee.

And thus, we set the template for the final season: Redemption. Being broken and learning how to put yourself back together. However, as we are so very much aware, there were others along for the {{Music/Journey}}. Therefore...

* BreadEggsMilkSquick: Apparently, Rachel’s show offended many special interest groups like UNICEF, the ADL, NAACP, PETA, and [[PaedoHunt NAMBLA]].

* DownerBeginning: tearing them down to build them back up at its most obvious, because the creators love Creator/LeaMichele, Creator/DarrenCriss, and Chord Overstreet way too much, and way more than the rest of the cast, to be awful to them.

* NeverWorkWithChildrenOrAnimals: In Rachel’s case, Never Work With Cats. The cats were the worst part of her show; the cats were spraying all over the set.

We start the final season at what is presumably the FOX lot, where we see Lee Paulblatt, [[Recap/GleeS5E18TheBackupPlan the exec who approached Rachel with pitch for her own show]], at his personal parking space. We then cut to various magazines and... okay, remember [[Recap/GleeS5E20TheUntitledRachelBerryProject last episode]] where we said Rachel's Humbling would peak here? We see that these magazines have headlines on how Rachel's show is the ''lowest-rated episode in TV history''. So, let's recap, shall we? Quit [=NYADA=], quit ''Theatre/FunnyGirl'', and got a TV show with the aforementioned dubious distinction. So before we even see the lady herself, for the first time in this final season, Rachel, you're an idiot. We cut to said idiot in her trailer, where some publicist is reinforcing the Humbling with the expected bad reviews. Lee enters the trailer, and reveals that he's been terminated for greenlighting the debacle known as "That's So Rachel". After revealing the various acronymed organizations that were offended, Lee confirms the peak of the Humbling of Rachel Berry by hitting the ForegoneConclusion that is Rachel's own axing. This of course cues up Alanis to send Rachel back to Lima while we hit the thankfully once again relevant TitleCard.

After what is revealed to be a six-month TimeSkip, presumably to speed up the in-universe year to match the actual year of 2015, and where she presumably went to Yale and was comforted by Dear Lucille, we find ourselves in Rachel's room, not seen since the end of Season 3. She is broken, shattered, all her dreams gone at her own hands; she has never been this low, not even after [[Recap/GleeS3E18Choke choking]] her initial [=NYADA=]] audition. As she tearfully stares at the Funny Girl playbills still on her wall, we then see Brian Stokes Mitchell return as [=LeRoy=] Berry. You may then notice a lack of Creator/JeffGoldblum, and that's because despite losing everything, Murphy has seen fit to twist the knife ''just'' a bit more. Yep, Hiram flew the coop and presented [=LeRoy=] with the improper divorce papers. And to finally, totally complete the Humbling of Rachel Berry, she's permitted to stay at her old house... until it's sold. As per [=LeRoy=], you have to lose everything before you can find yourself. Cut to the Lima Bean, where Incognito Rachel tries to order, only to run into Barista Figgins; yes, seems that with the pay cut [[Recap/GleeS5E7PuppetMaster Sue gave him]], he's taken a part time job. Thing is, per him, even with that Rachel still has a worse life than him right now. Fortunately, Rachel's not the only one who's returned to Lima in disgrace, as we see Blaine joining her with an apropos background instrumental of TitleDrop. Seems that, as we predicted, all but overwhelming someone into getting engaged is never gonna end well, as we discover that after everyone went their seperate ways, Blaine moved back in with Kurt and as we discovered, co-habitation is not a strong suit and that lead to breakup #2. This lead to depression which naturally affected his [=NYADA=] work and thus Madame Tibadeaux gave him the boot. He's back with his parents, one of whom we'll meet later this season, and in one of the many cases of things coming full circle, he's back at Dalton as the Warbler coach. Anyway, Blainechel promise to get through their issues together as we cut to random Little Shop of Horrors because yes. Afterwards, we cut to a V/O full of venom and ultimate triumph backed by "Carmina Burana". Yes, The Triumphant Tracksuit, back in polyester, is fit to gloat as we knew she would, as besides a physical change to a certain [=McKinley=] room, she's imposed her blend of insanity and inanity and shockingly it's worked: Test scores up, body mass indexes down. We soon see her methods: signs of "NO PDA" (thanks Quick) & "NO LOITERING", healthier cafeteria options, mandatory random weigh-ins and body shaming, literal hounds. All this means that [=McKinley=]'s academic reputation is the highest it's ever been, on par with Dalton in fact. Of course, we all know Sue's greatest triumph: Getting rid of New Directions, and we see Sue enter the same room Sam was eying in the last episode. Once a source of joy and music, the former choir room has been mutilated into a sterile computer suite. She also confirms Marley, Jake, Ryder, and Unique were transferred to other schools; you of course notice one name missing, and we'll see her next episode. Sue then reveals that having just a job teaching history finally got to Will, and as she [[Recap/GleeS5E13NewDirections suggested]] last season, he's now in "enemy" territory teaching Vocal Adrenaline. As Sue tells an extra that the arts are officially irrelevant, we pan outside the "Becky Jackson Memorial Computer Lab" to see an aghast Rachel as we go to break.


We return in New York (sigh), where we find our resident Mr. Hummel. Kurt's in his third year of [=NYADA=] (and of course the last time we see that set), which lets us calculate the new time-skip. We're guessing that Quinn and Mike have graduated college by now (holy shit) because of their advanced placement and Kurt starting school later, with everyone else from their class not actually in college and the class below [[WackyFratboyHijinx drunk or high or something]]. [=NYADA=] juniors apparently get a work placement, and instead of going on Broadway, Kurt has decided to intern at a retirement home directing a self-penned stage adaptation of ''The Real Housewives''. Yes. He's also decided to try speed dating. Oh dear. After that exercise in insanity, in which a fellow speed dater correctly says Kurt's not over Blaine, we cut to Dalton, not seen since last season, where we find Blainchel, neck deep in some Sheeran, complete with the first time a non-guest star extra has a duet, one Myko Olivier as Skylar. We'll see him later in the season as we see Rachel loosen up for the first time this episode. From there, we cut to the [=McKinley=] football field, where we thankfully hear the dulcet tones of one Shannon Beiste; seems she was retained due to being the closest thing Sue has to a friend. We then pan over to reveal the waterboy... and it appears either by his own choice or more likely, because Sue captured him, she has her own big mouthed billy bass as a trophy. Yep, one Samuel Evans is on the take, this of course because in order to make their lives better in 12 episodes Ryan Murphy has to make them crap to start with. Though Sam appears to take things in stride, the simple boy. As he tells a Titan to get his own water, another tells that same Titan to stop being a "homo". As Rachel walks up and hears that, this cues a PC rampage that, we're sorry, but the writers of Glee have no right to give anyone. However, in a slight subversion of what we would expect at this point, waterboy Trouts says it's okay because the guy who said it is totally gay. The guy who said it, one Spencer Porter (Marshall Williams), claims that thanks to recent positive representation of LGBT+ figures in popular media (and by this he means ''Series/{{Glee}}'') he's able to openly be himself, and he's a postmodern gay JerkJock, essentially a cross between Dave Karofsky and the dearly departed Finnegan. He will of course serve a purpose this season, one to be revealed later. He gets the parting shot by telling Rachel her show sucked. As he leaves, we notice that the Titans are more competent than usual, Sue having beefed up the team by means of statewide recruiting, clearly hoping to get [=McKinley=] more non-arts trophies. Rachel tries bringing up the arts but Trouty Mouth says to take it up with Sue. Okay, since we all know how this will play out, we're gonna say "Samchel, you're a pair of idiots" now so we don't have to later. Cut to Sue's new "secretary", someone clearly used to striped sunlight, sending Rachel into the ring of fire. Rachel tries to confront Sue about basically doing what she has been for years, saying that the arts need to come back, but there's a reason why we said she's an idiot and it's twofold: Sue says her show sucked - even managing to suck more than Sue thought possible for a product of Will's glee club and that Rachel was the face of the arts at [=McKinley=], but nobody wants her or it now. As we figured, good points all around.

Cut to Rachel for the first home stretch of the final season, moving into the choir room office. Will arrives, invoking the resident angel in the endzone. It is a touching moment, as the two of them discuss how they imagined Finn taking over ND, this actually being the original plan for the GrandFinale. Rachel claims it's temporary, and as we'll see, it's slightly longer than she thought. Will then brings her the "Help the Kids" sign that he ignored for five seasons, then reminds her that for Sectionals, it's him vs. her vs. Blaine. As he leaves, we end with the first and only Creator/{{Disney}} song the show ever managed to get permission to do: the SignatureSong from ''Disney/{{Frozen}}''. It's only right since that film simply cast some of the glee co-stars and it was Rachel's mom's song. It of course also represents Rachel's determination to put aside her self-doubt and try and get her confidence back. As such, in another CallBack to the pilot, she pins up a New Directions sign-up sheet, adding a gold star. Only this time, instead of getting a Big Quench, she ends the episode with "the cold never bothered me anyway". This is a subtle VisualPun, so kudos to glee.

And here it is. The final season of Glee. To say the ''very'' least, it's been one hell of a trip, and one with equal parts joy and jackassery. Glee's last two seasons were greenlit prior to Cory's death; while Season 5 dealt with Finn dying and Rachel getting her dream job, since no more seasons were ordered, Murphy decided to bring things full circle. As such, a lot of this season is not to be taken seriously, let's get that right out of the way. It's written to be funny, to let Rachel and Blaine sing (it has literally become [[CreatorsFavorite the Rachel and Blaine show]]), to give the cast and fans what they want because the writers exhausted even the worst of ideas, and to be funny. After the WTF-fest that was Season 5 episodes 14-20, this was a return to basics. Hell, Creator/{{FOX}}, once it was announced this would be the FinaleSeason, ordered only 13 episodes and decided to air them in the oh so wonder FridayNightDeathSlot, cementing that this would be it.

We start the final season at what is presumably the FOX lot, where we see Lee Paulblatt, [[Recap/GleeS5E18TheBackupPlan the exec who approached Rachel with pitch for her own show]], at his personal parking space. We then cut to various magazines and... okay, remember [[Recap/GleeS5E20TheUntitledRachelBerryProject last episode]] where we said Rachel's Humbling would peak here? We see that these magazines have headlines on how Rachel's show is the ''lowest-rated episode in TV history''. So, let's recap, shall we? Quit [=NYADA=], quit ''Theater/FunnyGirl'', and got a TV show with the aforementioned dubious distinction. So before we even see the lady herself, for the first time in this final season, Rachel, you're an idiot. We cut to said idiot in her trailer, where some publicist is reinforcing the Humbling with the expected bad reviews. Lee enters the trailer, and reveals that he's been terminated for greenlighting the debacle known as "That's So Rachel". After revealing the various acronymed organizations that were offended, Lee confirms the peak of the Humbling of Rachel Berry by hitting the ForegoneConclusion that is Rachel's own axing. This of course cues up Alanis to send Rachel back to Lima while we hit the thankfully once again relevant TitleCard.

And here it is. The final season of Glee. To say the ''very'' least, it's been one hell of a trip, and one with equal parts joy and jackassery. Glee's last two seasons were greenlit prior to Cory's death; while Season 5 dealt with Finn dying and Rachel getting her dream job, since no more seasons were ordered, Murphy decided to bring things full circle. As such, a lot of this season is not to be taken seriously, let's get that right out of the way. It's written to be funny, to let Rachel and Blaine sing (it has literally become [[CreatorsFavorite the Rachel and Blaine show]]), to give the cast and fans what they want because the writers exhausted even the worst of ideas, and to be funny. After the WTF-fest that was Season 5 episodes 14-20, this was a return to basics. Hell, {{Network/FOX}}, once it was announced this would be the FinaleSeason, ordered only 13 episodes and decided to air them in the oh so wonder FridayNightDeathSlot, cementing that this would be it.

We return in New York (sigh), where we find our resident Mr. Hummel. Kurt's in his third year of [=NYADA=] (and of course the last time we see that set), which lets us calculate the new time-skip. We're guessing that Quinn and Mike have graduated college by now (holy shit) because of their advanced placement and Kurt starting school later, with everyone else from their class not actually in college and the class below [[WackyFratboyHijinx drunk or high or something]]. [=NYADA=] juniors apparently get a work placement, and instead of going on Broadway, Kurt has decided to intern at a retirement home directing a self-penned stage adaptation of ''The Real Housewives''. Yes. He's also decided to try speed dating. Oh dear. After that exercise in insanity, in which a fellow speed dater correctly says Kurt's not over Blaine, we cut to Dalton, not seen since last season, where we find Blainchel, neck deep in some Sheeran, complete with the first time a non-guest star extra has a duet, one Myko Olivier as Skylar. We'll see him later in the season as we see Rachel loosen up for the first time this episode. From there, we cut to the [=McKinley=] football field, where we thankfully hear the dulcet tones of one Shannon Beiste; seems she was retained due to being the closest thing Sue has to a friend. We then pan over to reveal the waterboy... and it appears either by his own choice or more likely, because Sue captured him, she has her own big mouthed billy bass as a trophy. Yep, one Samuel Evans is on the take, this of course because in order to make their lives better in 12 episodes Ryan Murphy has to make them crap to start with. Though Sam appears to take things in stride, the simple boy. As he tells a Titan to get his own water, another tells that same Titan to stop being a "homo". As Rachel walks up and hears that, this cues a PC rampage . However, in a slight subversion of what we would expect at this point, waterboy Trouts says it's okay because the guy who said it is totally gay. The guy who said it, one Spencer Porter (Marshall Williams), claims that thanks to recent positive representation of LGBT+ figures in popular media (and by this he means ''Series/{{Glee}}'') he's able to openly be himself, and he's a postmodern gay JerkJock, essentially a cross between Dave Karofsky and the dearly departed Finnegan. He will of course serve a purpose this season, one to be revealed later. He gets the parting shot by telling Rachel her show sucked. As he leaves, we notice that the Titans are more competent than usual, Sue having beefed up the team by means of statewide recruiting, clearly hoping to get [=McKinley=] more non-arts trophies. Rachel tries bringing up the arts but Trouty Mouth says to take it up with Sue. Okay, since we all know how this will play out, we're gonna say "Samchel, you're a pair of idiots" now so we don't have to later. Cut to Sue's new "secretary", someone clearly used to striped sunlight, sending Rachel into the ring of fire. Rachel tries to confront Sue about basically doing what she has been for years, saying that the arts need to come back, but there's a reason why we said she's an idiot and it's twofold: Sue says her show sucked - even managing to suck more than Sue thought possible for a product of Will's glee club and that Rachel was the face of the arts at [=McKinley=], but nobody wants her or it now. As we figured, good points all around.

* {{Hypocrite}}: Although Rachel extols the virtues of ''all'' the Arts, she ''really'' only means the glee club.

We return in New York (sigh), where we find our resident Mr. Hummel. Kurt's in his third year of [=NYADA=] (and of course the last time we see that set), which lets us calculate the new time-skip. We're guessing that Quinn and Mike have graduated college by now (holy shit) because of their advanced placement and Kurt starting school later, with everyone else from their class not actually in college and the class below [[WackyFratboyHijinx drunk or high or something]]. [=NYADA=] juniors apparently get a work placement, and instead of going on Broadway, Kurt has decided to intern at a retirement home directing a self-penned stage adaptation of ''The Real Housewives''. Yes. He's also decided to try speed dating. Oh dear. After that exercise in insanity, in which a fellow speed dater correctly says Kurt's not over Blaine, we cut to Dalton, not seen since last season, where we find Blainchel, neck deep in some Sheeran, complete with the first time a non-guest star extra has a duet, one Myko Olivier as Skylar. We'll see him later in the season as we see Rachel loosen up for the first time this episode. From there, we cut to the [=McKinley=] football field, where we thankfully hear the dulcet tones of one Shannon Beiste; seems she was retained due to being the closest thing Sue has to a friend. We then pan over to reveal the waterboy... and it appears either by his own choice or more likely, because Sue captured him, she has her own big mouthed billy bass as a trophy. Yep, one Samuel Evans is on the take, this of course because in order to make their lives better in 12 episodes Ryan Murphy has to make them crap to start with. Though Sam appears to take things in stride, the simple boy. As he tells a Titan to get his own water, another tells that same Titan to stop being a "homo". As Rachel walks up and hears that, this cues a PC rampage that, we're sorry, but the writers of Glee have no right to give anyone. However, in a slight subversion of what we would expect at this point, waterboy Trouts says it's okay because the guy who said it is totally gay. The guy who said it, one Spencer Porter (Marshall Williams), claims that thanks to recent positive representation of LGBT+ figures in popular media (and by this he means ''Series/{{Glee}}'') he's able to openly be himself, and he's a postmodern gay JerkJock, essentially a cross between Dave Karofsky and the dearly departed Finnegan. He will of course serve a purpose this season, one to be revealed later. He gets the parting shot by telling Rachel her show sucked. As he leaves, we notice that the Titans are more competent than usual, Sue having beefed up the team by means of statewide recruiting, clearly hoping to get [=McKinley=] more non-arts trophies. Rachel tries bringing up the arts but Trouty Mouth says to take it up with Sue. Okay, since we all know how this will play out, we're gonna say "Samchel, you're a pair of idiots" now so we don't have to later. Cut to Sue's new "secretary", someone clearly used to striped sunlight, sending Rachel into the ring of fire. Rachel tries to confront Sue about basically doing what she has been for years, saying that the arts need to come back, but there's a reason why we said she's an idiot and it's twofold: Sue says her show sucked - even managing to suck more than Sue thought possible for a product of Will's glee club and that Rachel was the face of the arts at [=McKinley=], but nobody wants her or it now. As we figured, good points all around.

We start the final season at what is presumably the FOX lot, where we see Lee Paulblatt, [[Recap/GleeS5E18TheBackupPlan the exec who approached Rachel with pitch for her own show]], at his personal parking space. We then cut to various magazines and... okay, remember [[Recap/GleeS5E20TheUntitledRachelBerryProject last episode]] where we said Rachel's Humbling would peak here? We see that these magazines have headlines on how Rachel's show is the ''lowest-rated episode in TV history''. So, let's recap, shall we? Quit [=NYADA=], quit 'Theater/FunnyGirl'', and got a TV show with the aforementioned dubious distinction. So before we even see the lady herself, for the first time in this final season, Rachel, you're an idiot. We cut to said idiot in her trailer, where some publicist is reinforcing the Humbling with the expected bad reviews. Lee enters the trailer, and reveals that he's been terminated for greenlighting the debacle known as "That's So Rachel". After revealing the various acronymed organizations that were offended, Lee confirms the peak of the Humbling of Rachel Berry by hitting the ForegoneConclusion that is Rachel's own axing. This of course cues up Alanis to send Rachel back to Lima while we hit the thankfully once again relevant TitleCard.

After what is revealed to be a six-month TimeSkip, presumably to speed up the in-universe year to match the actual year of 2015, and where she presumably went to Yale and was comforted by Dear Lucille, we find ourselves in Rachel's room, not seen since the end of Season 3. She is broken, shattered, all her dreams gone at her own hands; she has never been this low, not even after [[Recap/GleeS3E18Choke choking]] her initial [=NYADA=]] audition. As she tearfully stares at the Funny Girl playbills still on her wall, we then see Brian Stokes Mitchell return as [=LeRoy=] Berry. You may then notice a lack of Creator/JeffGoldblum, and that's because despite losing everything, Murphy has seen fit to twist the knife ''just'' a bit more. Yep, Hiram flew the coop and presented [=LeRoy=] with the improper divorce papers. And to finally, totally complete the Humbling of Rachel Berry, she's permitted to stay at her old house... until it's sold. As per [=LeRoy=], you have to lose everything before you can find yourself. That sets the template for this final season: being broken and then rebuilding yourself. Cut to the Lima Bean, where Incognito Rachel tries to order, only to run into Barista Figgins; yes, seems that with the pay cut [[Recap/GleeS5E7PuppetMaster Sue gave him]], he's taken a part time job. Thing is, per him, even with that Rachel still has a worse life than him right now. Fortunately, Rachel's not the only one who's returned to Lima in disgrace, as we see Blaine joining her with an apropos background instrumental of TitleDrop. Seems that, as we predicted, all but overwhelming someone into getting engaged is never gonna end well, as we discover that after everyone went their seperate ways, Blaine moved back in with Kurt and as we discovered, co-habitation is not a strong suit and that lead to breakup #2. This lead to depression which naturally affected his [=NYADA=] work and thus Madame Tibadeaux gave him the boot. He's back with his parents, one of whom we'll meet later this season, and in one of the many cases of things coming full circle, he's back at Dalton as the Warbler coach. Anyway, Blainechel promise to get through their issues together as we cut to random Little Shop of Horrors because yes. Afterwards, we cut to a V/O full of venom and ultimate triumph backed by "Carmina Burana". Yes, The Triumphant Tracksuit, back in polyester, is fit to gloat as we knew she would, as besides a physical change to a certain [=McKinley=] room, she's imposed her blend of insanity and inanity and shockingly it's worked: Test scores up, body mass indexes down. We soon see her methods: signs of "NO PDA" (thanks Quick) & "NO LOITERING", healthier cafeteria options, mandatory random weigh-ins and body shaming, literal hounds. All this means that [=McKinley=]'s academic reputation is the highest it's ever been, on par with Dalton in fact. Of course, we all know Sue's greatest triumph: Getting rid of New Directions, and we see Sue enter the same room Sam was eying in the last episode. Once a source of joy and music, the former choir room has been mutilated into a sterile computer suite. She also confirms Marley, Jake, Ryder, and Unique were transferred to other schools; you of course notice one name missing, and we'll see her next episode. Sue then reveals that having just a job teaching history finally got to Will, and as she [[Recap/GleeS5E13NewDirections suggested]] last season, he's now in "enemy" territory teaching Vocal Adrenaline. As Sue tells an extra that the arts are officially irrelevant, we pan outside the "Becky Jackson Memorial Computer Lab" to see an aghast Rachel as we go to break.

So, a lot of this final season is not to be taken seriously, let's get that right out of the way. It's written to be funny, to let Rachel and Blaine sing (it has literally become [[CreatorsFavorite the Rachel and Blaine show]]), to give the cast and fans what they want because the writers exhausted even the worst of ideas, and to be funny. After the WTF-fest that was Season 5 episodes 14-20, this was a return to basics, and a way to bring things full circle.

In this episode, Rachel takes Quinn's place as the resident punching bag. After the final seven episodes of Season 5 had her at the absolute peak of selfishness, you knew it had to come crashing down, and it crashed, burned, and the ashes were swept away. Her show (remember, the one she skipped a "Funny Girl" performance to do?) has flopped, her dads are getting divorced and selling her childhood home, she's out of NYADA, out of "Funny Girl", and she's too scared to go back to Broadway as her rep was trashed beyond belief. Well, we didn't say it was going to be quite as bad as what Quinn got. Fortunately, Rachel's soulmate does appear in the next episode, presumably Lucy took Rachel to their bathroom for "comfort".

Anywho, Rachel returns to Lima, humbled like never before, to resurrect New Directions after being [=AWOL=] for nine months. Sue sent all the glee kids bar Kitty away and the school is actually doing really well academically now that Will isn't teaching there and Sue's being a MagnificentBitch, on par with Dalton as a matter of fact. At her house, Rachel looks over her bedroom and then discovers that her dads are divorcing. We never see Hiram again. [=LeRoy=] says that Rachel can stay at home as long as she needs, except they put it up for sale. We never see him again, either. She goes to the Lima Bean, where Figgins is now working, and he says that even with that Rachel still has a worse life than him right now (wow, it's as if everyone cares about her but didn't Quinn!). Blaine's also in there drinking coffee like always, and tells Rachel that he and Kurt broke up again because it sucked after she left them. He got kicked out of [=NYADA=] and now coaches the Warblers. Yes, those credits do say "super gay warbler" and "other really gay warbler", and we're not sure if Glee will ever learn what being PC is.

Sue's now permanent principal, the choir room has become a computer suite.

Kurt's in his third year of [=NYADA=], which lets us calculate the new time-skip. We're guessing that Quinn and Mike have graduated college by now (holy shit) because of their advanced placement and Kurt starting school later, with everyone else from their class not actually in college and the class below [[WackyFratboyHijinx drunk or high or something]]. [=NYADA=] juniors apparently get a work placement, and instead of going on Broadway, Kurt has decided to move back to Lima to help Rachel with the glee club.

Sam is now the [=McKinley=] football team water boy, because in order to make their lives better in 12 episodes Ryan Murphy has to make them crap to start with. Rachel watches as one kid calls another a homo and goes on a PC rampage that the writers of Glee have no right to give anyone. Sam says it's okay because the guy who said it, Spencer, is totally gay. Spencer claims that thanks to recent positive representation of LGBT+ figures in popular media (and by this he means ''Series/{{Glee}}'') he's able to openly be himself, and he's a postmodern gay JerkJock. He says that her show sucked.

Rachel wants to confront Sue about basically doing what she has been for years, and Sue says that her show sucked - even managing to suck more than Sue thought possible for a product of Will's glee club. Rachel says that the arts need to come back. Sue argues that Rachel was the face of the arts at [=McKinley=], but nobody wants her or it now. Good point.

Flashback to Klaine having relationship trouble. Welp, we had to put Kurt at the bottom so he could work ''his'' way to a HappilyEverAfter.

Will dances for Danny (his son, Daniel [[DeadGuyJunior Finn]]) and takes this time talking to his kid to fill in for the audience what coaching Vocal Adrenaline is like. Cut to Vocal Adrenaline performing, and Rachel appearing here, too, amazed at how exactly like they always have been they are. Will spots her and tells her that her show doesn't suck (Clint thinks it did) and Rachel feels sorry for herself. What's left of her friends and family watch her show in Will's apartment, forcing her to endure the suckiness. Apparently the worst thing is that all of the singing was cut, and fans of Glee are divided on whether that would save or doom the show.

They motivate Rachel to define herself by how she recovers, and she goes off to Superintendent Harris to ask for the arts back at [=McKinley=]. He says he'll force Sue to make it happen if Rachel funds it ''and'' runs it. She agrees, and now she's Will in the Pilot.

This is when Kurt appears in Lima, and by Lima we mean ''Rachel's bed''. He's crying because he went to meet the glee kids where they said they'd meet, no matter where they ended up, for a reunion in New York. Nobody showed up. He got rained on, and realized that Blaine was the love of his life. Rachel asks Kurt to help run the glee club with her. Cut to Sue being angered at the pair tearing out the computer lab for a glee club with no kids. Good point.

Kurt meets up with Blaine, but then A WILD DAVE KAROFSKY APPEARS after a three year absence! When Blaine said he was dating somebody that Kurt knew, he thought it would be the [[Creator/GrantGustin meerkat]], but now he's really confused. Blaine thinks this isn't weird at all. It is, and even Karofsky agrees. Blainofsky kiss. Kurt's face says NoYay. The couple call each other "Yogi and Boo-boo", and Kurt runs and hides in the bathroom, crying on the floor as if he's Rachel or Quinn or Santana.

Rachel moves into the choir room office, Will brings her the "Help the Kids" sign that he ignored for five seasons. They discuss how they imagined Finn taking over the glee club in a touching moment, this actually being the original plan for the GrandFinale.

Will then says that he'll be competing against her and Blaine, and to prepare. Rachel launches into the first and only Creator/{{Disney}} song the show ever managed to get permission to do: ''Disney/{{Frozen}}'''s "Let It Go". It's only right since that film simply cast some of the glee co-stars and it was Rachel's mom's song. During it, she pins up a New Directions sign-up sheet, adding a gold star to it like in the Pilot. Only this time, instead of getting slushied when she turns, she sings "the cold never bothered me anyway". This is a subtle VisualPun, so kudos to glee.

** This incidentally was why Melissa Benoist, Jacob Artist, Becca Tobin, Alex Newell, and Blake Jenner were hired, their arcs would tie into Finn's, presumably leading to things coming full circle. All but Tobin departed towards the end of Season 5 as their characters were rendered redundant by Finn's death.

[[caption-width-right:350:Blame everyone else, and then go home.]]

Flashback to Klaine having relationship trouble. Later this episode, Blaine announces that he's dating Karofsky, which isn't weird at all. It is, and even Karofsky agrees. Welp, we had to put Kurt at the bottom so he could work ''his'' way to a HappilyEverAfter.

Kurt meets up with Blaine, but then A WILD DAVE KAROFSKY APPEARS after a three year absence! When Blaine said he was dating somebody that Kurt knew, he thought it would be the meerkat, but now he's really confused. Blainofsky kiss. Kurt's face says NoYay. The couple call each other "Yogi and Boo-boo", and Kurt runs and hides in the bathroom, crying on the floor as if he's Rachel or Quinn or Santana.

* ShowWithinAShow: "That's So Rachel", which sucked.

Will then says that he'll be competing against her and Blaine, and to prepare. Rachel launches into the first and only Creator/{{Disney}} song the show ever managed to get permission to do: ''WesternAnimation/{{Frozen}}'''s "Let It Go". It's only right since that film simply cast some of the glee co-stars and it was Rachel's mom's song. During it, she pins up a New Directions sign-up sheet, adding a gold star to it like in the Pilot. Only this time, instead of getting slushied when she turns, she sings "the cold never bothered me anyway". This is a subtle VisualPun, so kudos to glee.

In this episode, Rachel takes Quinn's place as the resident punching bag. After the final seven episodes of Season 5 had her at the absolute peak of selfishness, you knew it's come crashing down, and it crashed, burned, and the ashes were swept away. Her show (remember, the one she skipped a "Funny Girl" performance to do?) has flopped, her dads are getting divorced and selling her childhood home, she's out of NYADA, out of "Funny Girl", and she's too scared to go back to Broadway as her rep was trashed beyond relief. Well, we didn't say it was going to be as bad as what Quinn got. Fortunately, Rachel's soulmate does appear in the next episode, presumably, Lucy took Rachel to their bathroom for "comfort".

Anywho, Rachel returns to Lima, humbled like never before, to resurrect New Directions after being [=AWOL=] for nine months. Sue sent all the glee kids bar Kitty away and the school is actually doing really well academically now that Will isn't teaching there and Sue's being a MagnificentBitch, on par with Dalton as a matter of fact. At her house, Rachel looks over her bedroom and then discovers that her dads are divorcing. We never see Hiram again. Leroy says that Rachel can stay at home as long as she needs, except they put it up for sale. We never see him again, either. She goes to the Lima Bean, where Figgins is now working, and he says that even with that Rachel still has a worse life than him right now. Blaine's in there drinking coffee like always, and tells Rachel that he and Kurt broke up again because it sucked after she left them. He got kicked out of [=NYADA=] and now coaches the Warblers. Yes, those credits do say "super gay warbler" and "other really gay warbler", and we're not sure if Glee will ever learn what being PC is.

Kurt's in his third year of [=NYADA=], which lets us calculate the new time-skip. We're guessing that Quinn and Mike have graduated college by now (holy shit) because of their advanced placement and Kurt starting school later, with everyone else from their class not actually in college and the class below drunk or high or something. [=NYADA=] juniors apparently get a work placement, and instead of going on Broadway, Kurt has decided to move back to Lima to help Rachel with the glee club.

Sam is now the [=McKinley=] football team water boy, because in order to make their lives better in 12 episodes Ryan Murphy has to make them crap to start with. Rachel watches as one kid calls another a homo and goes on a PC rampage that the writers of Glee have no right to give anyone. Sam says it's okay because the guy who said it, Spencer, is totally gay. Spencer claims that recent positive representation of LGBT+ figures in popular media (and by this he means ''Series/{{Glee}}'') he's able to openly be himself, and he's a postmodern gay JerkJock. He says that her show sucked.

Flashback to Klaine having relationship trouble. Later this episode, Blaine announces that he's dating Karofsky, which isn't weird at all. It is, and even Karofsky agrees. Welp, we had to put Kurt at the bottom so he could work ''his'' way to a Happily Ever After.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: The creators' planned endgame is revealed by Rachel and Will discussing what they imagined happening (Finn coaching the glee club, Rachel returning to Lima successful and telling him "I'm home", FadeToBlack). ** This incidentally was why Melissa Benoist, Jacob Artist, Becca Tobin, Alex Newell, and Blake Jenner were hired, their arcs would tie into Finn's, presumably leading to things coming full circle. All but Tobin departed towards the end of Season 5 as their characters were rendered redundant by Finn's death.

So, a lot of this season is not to be taken seriously, let's get that right out of the way. It's written to be funny, to let Rachel and Blaine sing (it has literally become [[CreatorsFavorite the Rachel and Blaine show]]), to give the cast and fans what they want because the writers exhausted even the worst of ideas, and to be funny.

In this episode, Rachel takes Quinn's place as the resident punching bag. Her show has flopped, her dads are getting divorced and selling her childhood home, and she's too scared to go back to Broadway. Well, we didn't say it was going to be as bad as what Quinn got.

She returns to Lima to resurrect the glee club after being [=AWOL=] for nine months. Sue sent all the glee kids bar Kitty away and the school is actually doing really well academically now that Will isn't teaching there and Sue's being a MagnificentBitch. At her house, Rachel looks over her bedroom and then discovers that her dads are divorcing. We never see Hiram again. Leroy says that Rachel can stay at home as long as she needs, except they put it up for sale. We never see him again, either. She goes to the Lima Bean, where Figgins is now working, and he says that even with that Rachel still has a worse life than him right now. Blaine's in there drinking coffee like always, and tells Rachel that he and Kurt broke up because it sucked after she left them. He got kicked out of [=NYADA=] and now coaches the Warblers. Yes, those credits do say "super gay warbler" and "other really gay warbler", and we're not sure if Glee will ever learn what being PC is.

Sue's now principal, the choir room has become a computer suite.

Flashback to Klaine having relationship trouble. Later this episode, Blaine announces that he's dating Karofsky, which isn't weird at all. It is, and even Karofsky agrees.

This is when Kurt appears in Lima, and by Lima we mean ''Rachel's bed''. He's crying because he went to meet the glee kids where they said they'd meet, no matter where they ended up, for a reunion in New York. Nobody showed up. He got rained on, and realised that Blaine was the love of his life. Rachel asks Kurt to help run the glee club with her. Cut to Sue being angered at the pair tearing out the computer lab for a glee club with no kids. Good point.

Kurt meets up with Blaine, but then a wild Dave Karofsky appears! When Blaine said he was dating somebody that Kurt knew, he thought it would be the meerkat, but now he's really confused. Blainofsky kiss. Kurt's face says NoYay. The couple call each other "Yogi and Boo-boo", and Kurt runs and hides in the bathroom, crying on the floor as if he's Rachel or Quinn or Santana.

Rachel moves into the choir room office, Will brings her the "Help the Kids" sign that he ignored for five seasons. They discuss how they imagined Finn taking over the glee club in a touching moment which is the creators and Creator/LeaMichele saying what the original plan they wanted was.

** Rachel singing an Idina Menzel song. It's actually a bit of a mix of both Idina Menzel and Creator/DemiLovato's versions, and they're both been recurring characters.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: The creators' planned endgame is revealed by Rachel and Will discussing what they imagined happening (Finn coaching the glee club, Rachel returning to Lima successful and telling him "I'm home", FadeToBlack).
* WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief: Employed for the entire season, fans possibly giving up on realism and watching it for the funny and the music and the characters getting what the actors want for them.

Will then says that he'll be competing against her and Blaine, and to prepare. Rachel launches into the first and only Creator/{{Disney}} song the show ever managed to get permission to do: ''WesternAnimation/{{Frozen}}'''s "Let It Go". It's only right since that film simply cast some of the glee co-stars and it was Rachel's mom's song. During it, she pins up a New Directions sign-up sheet, adding a gold star to it like in the Pilot. Only this time, instead of getting slushied when she turns, she sings "the cold never bothered me anyway". This is subtle, so kudos to glee.

* DownerOpening: tearing them down to build them back up at its most obvious, because the creators love Creator/LeaMichele, Creator/DarrenCriss, and Chord Overstreet way too much, and way more than the rest of the cast, to be awful to them.