Intelligence is a super power. Well, that's what Santana says.
Romantic tension builds between Marley and two of the glee club's males, Jake and Ryder. Kitty and Marley develop a 'friendship' as Marley continues to ail. Blaine checks in on Sebastian and the Warblers when the glee club gets its Nationals trophy stolen and is given a tempting offer—to rejoin the Warblers. Meanwhile, Ryder is tested to discover the reason why he is failing all his tests, only to find out he is dyslexic.
Next Time: Sectionals 2012 and the Thanksgiving Episode, where we're thankful for some welcome returns, some Unresolved Sexual Tension, and not so thankful for the frightful culmination of Kitty Wilde's Gaslighting.
Songs:
- "My Dark Side" by Kelly Clarkson, performed by Blaine and the Warblers
- "Superman" by The Clique (R.E.M. version), performed by Jake and Ryder
- "Holding Out For A Hero" by Bonnie Tyler, performed by Marley and Kitty with Brittany and New Directions
- "Heroes" by David Bowie, performed by Sam and Blaine
- "Some Nights" by fun., performed by New Directions
Tropes:
- Actor Allusion: Melissa Benoist would later play Supergirl very much like she plays Woman Fierce (read: nervously at first). Blaine also initially mistakes Sebastian for a big super villain, but Sebastian says he's one of the heroes now - two years after this, Grant Gustin would become The Flash.
- Bowdlerisation: Puck saying "don't be a dick" was taken out of the UK version.
- Call-Back: Is given one when Brittany later says that Joe looks like a spider monkey - his hero name being "Tarantula Head".
- Comically Missing the Point: Blaine says to Finn that they need a team that will gel - Finn says that he's right and is a big part of that... because he has a lot of gel.
- Dynamic Akimbo: Blaine and Marley pull this pose, Marley also getting her hair blown around to look like she's flying.
- Foreshadowing: Brittany calling her hero alter ego the Human Brain foreshadows events towards the end of the season.
- Have I Mentioned I Am Heterosexual Today?: Hunter introducing himself as the new captain of the Warblers and not even remotely bi-curious.
- Non-Uniform Uniform: The full S4/5 New Directions fully forms this episode, with Kitty and Ryder joining, and so they bring out the red t-shirts and jeans.
- Shout-Out: It features many superhero ones, especially lots to Batman.
- Special Edition Title: The Title Card is a Glee-signal.
- Suspiciously Similar Substitute/Bland-Name Product: Nightbird is Nightwing, Dr Y is Professor X, The Mega Studs are both Superman, Woman Fierce is Wonder Woman (but also uses Supergirl's pose), and Femme/Fatal Fatale is Catwoman.
- The Cameo: Mark Salling as Noah Puckerman.
