Glee Episode 1.4 — Preggers
FOX's Hit Glee Continues to Balance Laughs and Drama
On Monday, September 21, FOX Television extended their order for Glee from 13 episodes to a full season of 22. In its fourth outing, entitled “Preggers”, the show continued to defy labels, mixing quirky comedy with just enough realism to prevent the story from going too far over the top. At the same time, the underlying theme of the show — a divergent group of misfits coming together — was underscored as the divergent storylines became more and more intertwined.
Terri Fakes Her Pregnancy, While Quinn’s Is Real
The episode’s title, “Preggers”, took on a dual meaning, as it was revealed that Quinn Fabray, head cheerleader and leader of the McKinley High Chastity Club, was pregnant. Sadly, Quinn finds it all too easy to convince her less-than-intelligent boyfriend, quarterback Finn Hudson, that the pregnancy is a result of making out in a hot tub, even though they never had intercourse. In fact, the real father is Finn’s best friend, Puck, who got Quinn drunk and took her virginity.
Not knowing what to do, Finn turns to his teacher and vocal coach, Will Schuester. Mr. Schue relates the sad story to his wife, Terri, heartbroken that he can’t do more to help the kids. To Terri, however, this is great news; she has been faking since finding out she was having only a “hysterical” pregnancy. She sets out to talk Quinn into giving her the baby, convinced that Will already has one foot out the door and is only staying for their “baby.”
Sue Continues to Sabotage the Glee Club
Fresh off her appearance on a local news channel, in which she lauds the idea of caning students as punishment, scary cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester develops a new plan to disrupt the glee club and regain her funding and status. Having found a embarrassing video of the principal, she blackmails him into rehiring former glee teacher Sandy Ryerson. Sue then instructs Sandy to cause the defection of glee club star Rachel.
Winning Rachel away with the lead in a school production of “Cabaret” turns out to be simple; already upset that Finn is denying his feelings for her, she feels further betrayed when Mr. Schue gives the lead in “West Side Story” to Tina. Mr. Schue does his best to convince Rachel to stay and learn to share the spotlight, but won’t back down on his decision, even when Tina offers to give up the part to keep Rachel around. Feeling she has lost everything, Rachel promises Sandy that she will perform for him exclusively.
Kurt “Auditions” for the Football Team
After his father catches him wearing a spangled unitard and rehearsing Beyonce’s dance moves for “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)”, Kurt is desperate. He tries to salvage the situation by claiming that one of his backup dancers, a cheerleader, is his girlfriend. Trying to help, she chimes in that Kurt has joined the football team as kicker. (“That’s the smallest one on the team, right?”) Suspicious, Kurt’s dad reminds him to get him a ticket for the game.
Kurt, who has never interacted with the team before unless they were throwing him into a dumpster, asks Finn to help him get a tryout. At first, Finn thinks Kurt is asking him out, but when Kurt explains, he agrees to help. Finn is embarrassed and worried when Kurt actually plays Beyonce again to warm up for his kick, but the perfect field goal earns him a spot on the team, giving Finn an idea.
Even more desperate to get a scholarship now that he will be a father, Finn finds the library for the first time and does some research about how the football team can use dance to loosen up and learn to work together. With Kurt’s help, they teach the team a few dance moves. But on the field, faced with losing again, the team refuses to perform. Finally, Puck gives in and convinces the other players, and the opposing team is so stunned to see the McKinley players prancing around to “Single Ladies” that they stand in stunned amazement as Finn throws to Puck for a touchdown, tying up the score. Kurt then executes a perfect extra-point kick, winning the first game ever for the team.
At home, Kurt is so touched at his father’s pride that he finally gets up the nerve to admit he is gay. Kurt’s father stuns him by acknowledging that he’s been aware of his son’s sexual identity since Kurt was three years old and wanted a pair of “sensible pumps” for Christmas — and he loves Kurt regardless. The next day, it turns out that Kurt’s performance on the field has had another unexpected effect — three more football players join the glee club. But is Puck doing so because he wants to perform, or because he wants to keep an eye on a pregnant Quinn?
Click here for a recap of the next episode of Glee, “The Rhodes Not Taken”.
Chris Colfer/Kurt
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