Glee season 5, episode 15, “Bash,” was an emotionally heavy one that features a couple different plots that will weigh on your heart.
The show opens with a candlelight vigil with Rachel, Blaine, Kurt and Sam singing “You Are Not Alone” from the classic Sondheim musical Into The Woods honoring someone who was apparently involved in a hate crime, who is actually Rachel’s neighbor. In this moment, Kurt seems particularly affected by the moment.
Rachel attempts to negotiate with the producer of Funny Girl so that she can perform at her winter critique. He finally gives in and let’s her take the day to perform at NYADA.
At the Mercedes compound, Sam’s eating cereal out of a large mixing bowl while watching TV – because it’s Sam. Mercedes isn’t impressed. We flash to Blaine and Sam reading Star Wars fan fiction. Sam and Mercedes reminisce about their previous relationship. “I just want to watch the lesbian show about weed and go back to bed,” says Mercedes a moment before she jumps on Sam to make out with him.
At Monday night potluck, the entire crew is hanging out catching up on life with Roseanne-opening-credits-style camera work when Artie notices that Sam and Mercedes are playing footsie. Mercedes claims restless leg syndrome and Rachel smirks. Later, Samcedes take a walk at Brooklyn Bridge Park, one of the more picturesque spots in New York City, where Sam tries to convince Mercedes that they belong together. “Excuse me. Excuse me. You can’t just throw things into the river,” says a local New Yorker sitting nearby.
It was also in this moment, that we figured out what time of year this show is set. “It’s 2014, and that coat is sending a message that it’s okay to skin animals alive, or electrocute them,” says Sam just before Mercedes throws her coat over the railing and into the river. Mercedes goes on to sing a gorgeous rendition of “You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman” while riding Jane’s Carousel.
Mercedes is meeting up with a couple of her friends she has made in NYC to talk about the situation with Sam. They are clearly against it saying that she has moved to New York City, and she shouldn’t worry about someone she kind of dated in Ohio. Suddenly Sam shows up, does his best Chris Tucker impression but sadly for Sam, they aren’t impressed.
Later, Rachel sings “Broadway Baby” for her winter critique. It’s a great performance but Carmen Tibideaux isn’t impressed, saying that they are both flunked for doing a duet which wasn’t the assignment. She then stops herself and says since it was a good performance they may redo the assignment at a later date. That would be all good except Rachel had to beg to get the time off from Funny Girl to perform for Carmen anyway. “It’s either this week, or you fail,” says Carmen. “Is it just about the spotlight?” asks Carmen to Rachel. “You’re wrong and I’m going to prove it to you,” says Rachel after Carmen claims that she’s not ready. “Think long and hard about what you say next,” says Carmen. Rachel says that she has been thinking about it and that she is quitting NYADA to work on her Funny Girl show full time.
Outside of Mercedes’ compound, she and her friends are hanging out again saying that Sam is really nice. However, they tell Mercedes that she’s black and he’s white and that it’s a bad career move to date him. Mercedes walks inside and tells Sam that they can’t be together. Sam has a real conversation about interracial relationships, and he’s not happy with the way Mercedes is acting. “The real world has rules,” says Mercedes before asking Sam to move out.
Rachel meets with Kurt for dinner where he’s upset that she quit. Rachel isn’t interested in hearing Kurt’s perspective – she’s convinced that her role in Funny Girl is the opportunity of a lifetime and school and friends shouldn’t stand in her way. Rachel freaks out and insults Kurt before storming off. Kurt leaves and notices a man getting beat up in an alley. Kurt intervenes and stands up for both the victim and himself before being overpowered by the assailants. The scene ends with Kurt laying in the middle of an alley as the two men drive off.
Sam is back at the loft talking to Blaine about the breakup (is that what we’re calling it?) when Blaine gets a call. They then each call each other before meeting in the hospital to see Kurt who received a hairline fracture above his eye among other things. Everyone is gathered around a very visible bruised and battered Kurt who is sleeping due to the morphine. Blaine sings “Not While I’m Around” from Sweeney Todd, first by Kurt’s bedside, but then again at his solo NYADA performance. Blaine crawls into Kurt’s hospital bed and lays next to him. Check out the full, beautiful performance:
Sam meets Mercedes at her recording studio where she tells Sam that she has been thinking a lot about their conversation. Mercedes comes around and realizes that it’s ridiculous to say that she can’t date Sam because he’s white. She sings “Colorblind,” an original song by Amber Riley for Glee.
Burt Hummel shows up to Kurt’s hospital bed very angry and upset that Kurt decided to confront the guys in the alley, saying that Kurt could have called the cops rather than get involved. Kurt, who’s still recovering and speaking slowly, responds to his father’s comments with the attitude that he can’t just stand by and let these actions take place. Burt is overcome with emotion realizing that Kurt was hurt in New York City, a place known for its acceptance and a place he assumed Kurt would be safe. “I’m not upset about it actually. I’m kind of hoping for a scar. Is that weird?” The scene ends with Kurt declaring that he knows who he is: Burt’s son. We’ve come quite a long way since season 1.
Afterwards, Blaine meets Kurt who put two flowers on the memorial site of their neighbor, who woke up from his hate-crime induced coma and is going to be okay.
Rachel and Kurt talk about Rachel’s current situation with NYADA. She says that no matter what, they’re best friends. Mercedes and Sam make their announcement that they’re officially together at their annual Monday night pot luck. They toast to Kurt for his upcoming NYADA performance, as we transition to that exact moment. He goes on to sing “I’m Still Here” with bruises and cuts on his face. By the look on Carmen’s face, he clearly nailed it.
In a promo for next week’s episode, “Tested,” it looks like Artie might be running into a bit of a situation!