Glee - Season 4 Episode 1 - The New Rachel - Video Recap

Glee Season 4 is FINALLY here! In typical Gleek fashion, we pick up right when school starts up again. Catch up on everyone at McKinley (and in New York!) as I recap the season premiere: "The New Rachel!"

The episode opens in NYADA as Rachel experiences the hell of her first dance class with Cassandra July. She might be super bitchy, but I definitely get the sense that she is going to give Rachel a nudge in the right direction. After dubbing Rachel "David Schwimmer" and calling Ohio "a giant turd that Michigan just can't pinch off", Cassandra makes it clear that "Rachel sucks." Ouch. We also get treated to a nice Jacob Israel blog that brings us up to speed on quite a few things, including:

- Artie has been seen "sitting" with Cheerios at the lunch table
- Sam can do a pretty accurate Taylor Lautner impersonation
- Tina has an assistant who brings her organic food… and she broke up with Mike.
- Blaine, Brittany, Tina, and Artie all think they're "The New Rachel"

Back in Rachel's dorm, she ogles over a picture of Finn while her roommate makes love. Awkward! She goes to take a late-night shower only to find a super smelly new man stepping out of the shower: Brody, a junior. He's even singing in shower like Finn! He's no Finn, but he'll do for a few episodes.

Back in McKinley, Sue has had her baby and it's beautiful, of course. Kitty is the new head bimbo of the Cheerios, so obviously running errands for Sue is just part of the package. In the Glee club, Mr. Schue welcomes Unique with open arms, and he warns the others that he IS the new Rachel. An epicly fun version of "Call Me Maybe" ensues with Tina, Brittany, Blaine, and Unique competing to be "Rachel" with Artie judging. How heartwarming to know their spirit of competition is still running strong.

Kurt is working at the Lima Bean, and it doesn't seem like things are going too well. Lots of shouting! At McKinley, the people freak out when Unique wears her makeup to the lunch table. They also rudely make fun of the overweight lunch lady: even innocent Artie makes a quip. Rude much! Our introduction to Marley is brief, but the story with her mom as the lunch lady is touching! She even sews a little "J Crew" logo onto her shirt!

Back at NYADA, Cassandra's TA tells her he can't work with her because he got a stint on Broadway. Obviously upset, she pours herself some sort of liquor blend. Rachel accuses Cassandra of having liquor on her breath, but she assures the class she can dance circles around them all. She puts on a rousing version of "Americano"/"Dance Again" which might be the best musical number of the episode.

At McKinley, Glee auditions are going… unusual. The second best is Jake (Puck's half-brother, as we learn later in the episode), but when he's stopped mid-song he throws a bit of a hissy fit. His "Never Say Never" is quite good, though, to be honest.  At the same time, Rachel sings a rousing version of "New York State of Mind" in her singing class. Coupled with Marley's audition to the Glee club, their voices compliment each other perfectly. I love this show!

Mr. Schuester puts up a list of the people who made it into the Glee club… just Marley! Yay, she's adorable! Jake is noticeably upset that he didn't make it, and rips down the posting immediately. Artie breaks the [awesome] news that Blaine has been voted the new Rachel, but there's barely any time to celebrate as Schue introduces Marley to the others… officially! She chats with her mother in another scene, though she is quite upset that everyone has been making fun of her mom. Blaine tells Kurt that he needs to leave for New York, which is kind of odd. He says "You can't be here anymore" which I can't see one boyfriend saying to another boyfriend… ever. Either way, one of my favorite songs is given justice by Darren Criss's vocal chords… again. "It's Time" by Imagine Dragons is just… perfect.

Another day at the lunch table, Marley freaks out when everyone is making fun of her mom. I mean really? More than once? Unnecessary. She unceremoniously tells them that the lunch lady is her mom, then storms away.

Brody helps make Rachel feel more at home at New York by telling her to make new memories. He takes a picture with her on Rachel's iPhone, which is pretty cute although it's obvious this guy wants more than friendship. At least she has someone there to make Cassandra's quips a little less… stingy.

The hands-down best moment of the episode comes from Kurt and his dad, who assures Kurt that he is going to fit right in and feel at home in New York. It's hard not to get teary-eyed when his dad bids him farewell, especially as his dad almost bursts into tears himself.

The entire Glee club comes to apologize to Marley for being total asshats, which they obviously were. Kitty and the "popular guys" totally ruin the sweet moment by covering Marley and Unique with slushies. Schue tries to talk to Jake about his audition and says he knows that the glee club helped Puckerman, so he's hopefully it will help Jake. Jake shrugs it off and leaves… ugh this kid needs a slap.

They close out the show with an emotional performance of "Chasing Pavements" by Adele, with Marley on lead vocals. Her voice has a sweet tenderness to it that I could definitely get used to. Another emotional suckerpunch comes in the form of Rachel calling Kurt in tears and saying she's "not okay". If you're a Glee fan and you don't get even partially upset/excited during this scene, then you have no soul. Kurt tells her on the phone that she should maybe find a new roommate… and it turns out he's right behind her! Cutest. Reunion. Ever.

What did you think of the season premiere of Glee? I could have used a Klaine goodbye or something, but I can't say I'm not excited to see another Britney tribute next episode. Her songbook is so extensive, I can't wait to see what they'll do.

Some of the best quotes of the night:

"In case you are wondering, which you are, I'm straight." -Brody
"I thought gay people were all successful overachievers." -Kitty
"You can't really scissor on webcam." -Brittany
"You should be dancing at like Black Swan levels of psychosis by now!" -Cassandra
"You can always come back… but you won't." -Burt Hummell