Glee - Season 3 Episode 22 - Goodbye - Finale Recap

Season 3 of Glee comes to an emotionally scarring end in one of the best episodes to date. Graduation is finally here, along with a shocking last act turn that left me sobbing.

When the opening moments make you tear up, you know you’re in for something special. Mr. Schue catches the kids performing "Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat". Yes, the same song from the Pilot in season one. They’re celebrating their victory at Nationals, and then Schuester has to ruin their moment by picking the week’s theme: saying goodbye. He then proceeds into a cute acoustic version of “Forever Young.” Why does every music number from this episode bring me to tears?

Kurt’s inner monologue tells us how far he has come (lusting after Rachel), and plus he’s making an impression on other gay youths at Lima. Aww! A touching moment with Burt in the school auditorium leads into a weirdly touching lip-synch/dance routine of “Single Ladies”… and a flashback! The relationship that Kurt has with his dad is one of the show’s most powerful components. And then it’s back to some seriously epic conversation: Kurt pictures his life like The Notebook, but with Blaine along by his side the entire time. They are too cute! Even Kurt’s goodbye song ("I’ll Remember”) is rather touching. His last song in the choir room? Perhaps. Rachel, Finn, and Kurt also make a pact to open each of their college letters together. Why on earth would anyone consider this to be a good idea? That’s just a recipe for disaster.

A music producer caught the video that Sam posted of Mercedes singing Disco Inferno and he wants to sign her as a backup singer with an indie label. Well, guess she’s off to California. Mike Chang got a scholarship in Chicago, which makes Santana question why she is headed to Kentucky. She and Brittany have lunch with Santana’s mom, who is totally okay with her sexual orientation. I sense an epic confrontation with her abuela and her momma next season… Santana wants to go to New York, but her mom wants her to still persue college. Then Brittany kinda just drops a bomb out of nowhere: she is not graduating. Especially not with her 0.0 GPA. That’s a bummer.

Then Finn energetically starts off a performance for the underclassmen in the choir room: “You Get What you Give”. Another poignant performance that is tinged with sadness for some reason. I can’t deal with this episode, seriously! This is one of the last choir performances before they graduate. NOOOOO! Finn and Rachel have a moment picking out chairs for their wedding. Finn is (internally) confident about his audition at the Actors Studio, and we get to see a brief cameo from James Lipton. Finn's confidence is officially back!

Finally FINALLY… Mr. Schuester tells Finn about what he pulled in the Pilot episode. You know, planting the weed in his locker so that he would join the glee club. One of the best moments of the episode if you ask me, especially since Finn thinks that only makes Schuester that much cooler. Rock on, Will. Finn voices his frustration with his mom about how he didn’t do enough to clear his father’s name. “Everything seems like it’s falling in place… everything but him.”

The underclassmen dedicate their performance to the amazingness that is Finn Hudson. Well, Artie specifically. Team Finn Hudson for the win! “In my Life” is actually quite good. Blaine’s puppy dog eyes at Kurt was all kinds of epic. Puck is totally not feeling the performance though, and kind of just sulks when everyone gets up. Someone needs a hug… Quinn is happy with how things have turned out for her. She has really grown so much since her bitchy cheerleader days in season one! She gives Rachel a MetroNorth pass so that they can still see each other while Rachel is in New York. Quinn is also helping out Puck with his studying, mainly by giving him a much-needed smooch. I love Quick! Finally reunited at last, as they should be.

Puck gets his confidence back after the awesomeness of the Quick kiss, and heads back out to conquer the test. Roz plots with Sue to take down the principal. Then the first teary-eyed goodbye of the episode: Quinn attempts to give back her cheerleading uniform, and Sue urges her to keep it. She goes on and on about how proud she is of Quinn and how amazed she has been at her development. That hug just broke my heart in two!

Puck also gets his grade back: he passed! A C- (or a Puckerman A+)! We are then treated to a very fun musical graduation montage (“Glory Days”) with all the families and some cute Finn-on-drums action. You can never go wrong with Finn on the drums. Then the moment we have been waiting for all season: the opening of the college letters. Finn and Kurt both don’t make it in, but Rachel earns her acceptance at NYADA. NO!

Rachel decides to defer her NYADA acceptance so they can all work toward getting accepted and can all travel to New York together. Santana gets a big wad of cash from her mom, who tells her that she doesn’t mind if she follows her dreams to New York with it. Finn picks up Rachel for what you think at first is her wedding, up until Finn pulls up at the train station at least. He wants her to go to New York, and that’s that. They are over. Finn and Rachel are over. He is going away to the army, somewhere where she cannot follow.

During the closing montage, I was sobbing uncontrollably as the whole Glee club sees her off on the train. Even Mr. Schuester. Finn runs after the train as she leaves. Rachel ends up in New York, through a very depressing song (“Roots before Branches”)… how can you do this to me, Glee? Finchel cannot be over. I still have hope!

So what is next season going to bring? In what capacity will each of these characters still be in the show? Kurt and Blaine seem to be okay, and I’m holding out hope for Rachel and Finn. Finn in the army? Quinn in New Haven? Mercedes in California? Finchel cannot be over. No no no! What was your favorite part of the finale?

Some of the best quotes of the night:
-“In this room, it doesn’t matter if you’re gay or straight. What matters is that we’re friends.” - Kurt
-“You’re nothing like me, you’re better.” -Sue
-“What did you think was gonna happen to me? I had a 0.0 grade point average?” -Brittany
-“I really hope you’re about to rap.” - Quinn
-“If we’re meant to be together, then we’re going to be together” - Finn