Rachel’s Broadway dreams finally came true! Check out our recap of Glee season 5, episode 17, “Opening Night.”
The moment Rachel Berry has been waiting for has finally arrived: her first opening night on Broadway. But it doesn’t come without a usual conflict. The episode opens with a dream sequence reflecting Rachel’s nervousness which includes bizarre scenarios of her being naked, her teeth falling out, a drummer William Shakespeare and (oh my God!) an appearance from Karofsky! She performs “Lovefool” by The Cardigans with Santana (in a Cheerios uniform), Blaine (in a Dalton uniform), Sam and Tina (in her former punk style).
In the next scene, as Rachel is complaining about all of her negative pre-opening night reviews, we get a pan down on a calendar in the loft. We see that opening night is on the 24, and what appears to be a Thursday. It just so happens that April 24 (which is tomorrow as this recap is written) is a Thursday, and the only 24 of 2014 thus far that lands this late in the week. So there we have it, we finally know where we are in the Glee space-time continuum.
Anyway, Kurt is sick of Rachel reading the comments and blogs about her and takes her phone away from her. “I have no doubt that you’re going to be amazing,” says Kurt reaffirming Rachel’s talent.
Back in Lima, no sign of the New Directions, but Will and Sue will be going to see Rachel’s debut on Broadway. For Sue, she hates New York City, saying on Sue’s Corner “it’s shaped like a dong, and smells like hot pee.” This is accurate. Having not ever been to New York City, Will gives her the ticket Emma would have had had she not, you know, gone and got pregnant. Sue wonders what New York City is going to be like as she shakes a snow globe (so is it April or December?) and transforms into a fantasy sequence of “N.Y.C.” from the musical Annie. Jane sounds amazing, and it’s likely because she was a part of this production on actual Broadway last summer! This marks the second Sue-singing-Annie performance of the series.
Tina shows up to remind Rachel of all the terrible, negative things she can possibly think up. Later, Kurt wakes up and catches Rachel watching YouTube reviews surrounded in newspapers. The others show up again where Rachel is now bed-ridden and mortified and scared. They each try to help her out, but it takes Santana reading her early Barbra Streisand reviews to show her that she shouldn’t be bothered as she awakes from her slumber. Sue shows up to stay with Rachel and Kurt, unannounced of course.
Will stops in to Rachel’s dressing room to wish her good luck. He gets a phone call from Emma, who first tells Rachel to ‘break a leg,’ before then telling Will she’s in labor, because Emma’s adorable and thinks of others first. Will apologizes to Rachel and abruptly heads back to Lima.
Then it’s time. Singers are warming up, the orchestra is tuning, and one long steadicam shot of Rachel in her Funny Girl glory follows her from her dressing room to the opening curtain. It’s one of the more exhilarating scenes given the entire plot of this series had lead to this moment.
The show is in full swing, as Rachel sings “I’m The Greatest Star.” During the song, Sue asks “is this supposed to be good?” to a critic from The New York Times, whose influence will essentially make or break the success of the production. Sue excuses herself to go commit suicide when she locks eyes with Mario, the guy she noticed in front of the theater earlier (played by SNL alum Chris Parnell). They both leave the theater mid performance and meet in the lobby. Sue goes on to an Italian restaurant with Mario where she is clearly falling for him.
During intermission the producer of the show tells Rachel that she was great, but that the important thing now is that she has to do well in Act 2 or “the opening night is closing night.” As if Rachel needed any more pressure on her as it is, now this. She takes the stage and shares “Who Are You Now?” in a fantasy sequence with Sue. The performance includes a split moment of Finn noticing Rachel in the halls of McKinley, which brings Rachel to tears during her performance. It just wouldn’t have been Rachel’s opening night without Finn.
Rachel decides to ditch her opening night cast party as Blaine suggests a “place” in Greenwich Village. Rachel arrives to a gay club when the bartender recognizes her the moment she walks in. Rachel and everyone else “love and celebrate” the moment as they all perform “Pumpin’ Blood” by NONONO.
They get back to the loft around 5:30 in the morning, but Rachel insists that they all stay up and go check out the review of the show when The New York Times comes out at 6am. Sue and Mario appear to Rachel’s disdain, which cues Rachel to go on a tirade about how horrible of a person Sue is.
Sue leaves New York City for Ohio, leaving what may have been the love of her life behind. Rachel and crew get the reviews and she’s done it. The New York Times loves her rendition of Fanny Bryce. During their celebration, they get a call from Will who congratulates Rachel and tells her that he and Emma have had a baby boy. His name is Daniel Finn Schuester. “For the first time in my life I feel completely happy,” says Will. “Same,” says Rachel in return. Is there significance in Will and Emma having a baby the exact same night that Rachel’s dreams came true on Broadway? Stay tuned, because there may be more than meets the eye.
Check out a preview of next week’s episode, “Back-Up Plan” below:
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