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Recap / Glee S 2 E 18 Born This Way

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As Nationals approaches, Rachel's nose injury causes her to consider nose reconstruction. This brings the rest of the group's insecurities to surface, and Will decides to take things into his own hands and makes it an assignment to sing about loving yourself for your insecurities and flaws. However, Quinn doesn't agree. She's hiding something and Lauren's determined to find out what. Meanwhile, Santana hatches a plan to get Brittany back that also involves getting Kurt to come back to McKinley, but the only person standing in the way is Karofsky.

Next Time: Another tribute episode, where we separate the truth from the Rumours and take another trip down the back Rhodes.

Songs performed:

  • "I Feel Pretty/Unpretty", from West Side Story and by TLC, performed by Quinn and Rachel
  • "I've Gotta Be Me" from Golden Rainbow, performed by Finn and Mike
  • "Somewhere Only We Know" by Keane, performed by Blaine and the Warblers
  • "As If We Never Said Goodbye" from Sunset Boulevard, performed by Kurt
  • "Barbra Streisand" by Duck Sauce, performed by a Flashmob
  • "Born This Way" by Lady Gaga, performed by the Glee club

Tropes Present:

  • Aesop Amnesia: Remember way back in "Acafellas" when Rachel tells Dakota Stanley (right after firing him) that she doesn't need a nose job because Barbra Streisand didn't need one?
  • Blonde, Brunette, Redhead: The trio of girls who decide to root for Lauren, then Quinn.
  • The Beard: Santana and Karofsky for each other.
  • Digging Yourself Deeper: After Santana confronts Karofsky about checking out Sam's ass.
    Santana: You really need to be more careful with your leering.
    Karofsky: I was just checking out what kind of jeans he was wearing.
    Santana: Like that's any less gay.
  • Embarrassing First Name: Lucy for Quinn.
  • Embarrassing Nickname: "Lucy Caboosey".
  • Flashmob: Unlike the sequence in Dream On, this one wasn't All Just a Dream. The glee club hosts it for Rachel to "Barbra Streisand."
  • Foreshadowing: We'll find out in the third season that being a ginger, and Emma's "ginger supremacist" parents contributing to her anxiety disorder, are part of what led to her OCD.
  • Formerly Fat: Surprisingly, Quinn Fabray.
  • Freaky Is Cool: The whole point of the episode.
  • Freudian Slip: Santana after realizing the perfect plan to get elected prom queen.
    Santana: I've gotta gay. Go. I've gotta go.
  • He's Back!: Kurt. In a top hat, no less.
  • Hoist by Her Own Petard: Guess exposing Quinn's former self to the school only ended up getting her more votes, huh, Lauren?
  • "I Am" Song: "I've Gotta Be Me," sort of.
  • No Yay: The In-Universe reaction to Santana and Karofsky hooking up. Tina says she might throw up. Puck nearly does.
  • Offhand Backhand: Done by Finn to Rachel courtesy of his terrible dancing.
  • Shout-Out:
    • The nurse drawing the lines on Rachel's face for plastic surgery, backed by a pop song? Very Nip/Tuck.
    • Kurt calling Santana a "Latina Eve Harrington".
  • Ship Tease: While they've had moments before and after this episode, this is one of the more blatant examples of Rachel and Quinn having UST.
  • That Man Is Dead: Quinn hates her Lucy Caboosey self.
  • Took a Level in Jerkass: Will. Also Zizes when she spreads pics of "Lucy Caboosey" around as part of her campaign. And Puck for helping her, despite his complicated relationship with Quinn. To a much lesser extent, Mike for agreeing with Santana when she was attacking Tina, although that is rectified in the end.
  • Trailers Always Spoil: See the trailer for "Born This Way?" Sorry if it spoiled Kurt coming back to McKinley for you.

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