There is exactly one face in this picture. This is the only face that matters.
A few months after the end of New Directions, life in New York City poses challenges for the McKinley graduates, both newly transplanted and already established: Rachel is a leading lady on Broadway with all that entails, Kurt is now rooming with fiancé Blaine and must put up with couch-surfing Sam, and film school student Artie has trouble getting places in his wheelchair. Mercedes also comes to New York looking to record a new album.
Next Time: Glee makes another effort to do a "message" episode. End result? A makeup, breakup, and makeup in about ten minutes, a main character makes a very bone headed decision, gets a well-deserved telling off, then the person who tells that character off gets a brick upside the head. Because god help us.
Songs
- "Downtown" by Petula Clark, performed by Rachel, Kurt, Sam, Blaine, and Artie
- "You Make Me Feel So Young" by Frank Sinatra, performed by Kurt and Blaine
- "Best Day of My Life" by American Authors, performed by Sam and Blaine
- "Rockstar" by A Great Big World, performed by Kurt and Elliott
- "Glitter Rock Vampire", original, performed by Blaine and Elliott
- "Don't Sleep in the Subway" by Petula Clark, performed by Rachel and Artie
- "People" from Funny Girl performed by you know who
Tropes
- Bug War: Of the mild, domestic, nasty-parasite type. It still counts, though, as the nuisance is a metaphor for the annoyance Kurt is feeling living with a needy Blaine.
- The Cameo: Lea Michele's dad, Marc Sarfati, appears as a New Yorker, because he's a New Yorker.
- Flash Mob: Sam and Blaine start one. So do Rachel and Artie on the subway. You'd think New Yorkers were all commuting dance troupes.
- Important Haircut: Sam cuts off his "bronytail" and promptly lands a job.
- It's All About Me: Rachel tries to cheer Artie up, while requesting hot tea with lemon from Blaine.
- Post-Script Season: As mentioned, within a season no less.
- Roommate Com: The series was turning into this, including the requisite gay and bandmember characters.
- Shout-Out: To Midnight Cowboy. "I'm rollin' here!"
- Also to Silkwood. Kurt and Blaine take "Silkwood showers" as they try to battle their bed bug infestation.
- The Bus Came Back: And dropped off poor Amber Riley. Just when she thought she was out...
- Time Skip: Takes place an undisclosed amount of time after the end of the major part of Season 5.
