Glee Season 3 Episode 18 – Choke – Recap, Photos, Video

It was a world of trouble for a trio of characters this week on Glee. The title of the episode “Choke” could apply to all three. Rachel, who “choked” when she auditioned for NYADA, forgetting the words to her go-to song, “Rain On My Parade”. Coach Beiste, who was literally choked—punched actually— by her new husband Cooter. And Puck who, despite a last minute attempt, with help from his “bros”, choked on the geography test he needed to pass in order to graduate.

It was the apex of the storyline that began in the very first episode. Rachel and Kurt finally auditioned for a spot at NYADA., the famed New York City dramatic arts school. In this instance, Rachel decides to play it safe, singing a tune she was probably rehearsing in Shelby Corcoran womb and killed at regionals two years ago–“Don’t Rain on My Parade”. When she finds out that Kurt plans to ditch his planned audition song, “Music of The Night” from Phantom, after coming to the (correct) conclusion that it was a safe and boring choice, I felt shades of Season 1 Rachel as she talked him out of it–manipulating Kurt into believing that he was sabotaging himself. I couldn’t help thinking she was afraid that Kurt’s risk would pay off and she’d look pale by comparison.

Also shades of Season 1—the way the episode opened with Rachel walking down the hall pep talking herself in voice over, reminding herself that she’s a STAR, pumping furiously on a stair master as she looked to the Broadway themed photo montage adorning her bedroom wall for inspiration. It was an adorable nod to the first time we met Rachel back in the pilot.

I think a couple of things made Rachel choke. The first was finding out that the teacher overseeing her audition was the knowledge that she’d be auditioning in front of the famous Broadway actress and opera star, Carmen Tibideaux–played perfectly by Whoopi Goldberg. The second was Kurt’s last minute ditch of his safe audition. He literally changes his mind as he stands in front of the imposing Professor Tibideaux after realizing the played-out “Music of the Night” would be a mistake. Kurt goes with his gut, bursting into a joyous performance of “The Boy Next Door” from “Boy from Oz”. When his risk pays off, impressing the professor, Rachel takes the stage, doubting her own song choice..

I suspect that Rachel realized that even if she had performed perfectly, the professor may not have been moved by what was probably the billionth version of ‘Parade” by a Barbra wannabee she’s seen in her career. Kurt realized that at this most important moment in his young life, bold moves were necessary. And by now, Kurt knows that when he tries to conform—like singing “Little Pink Houses” or playing Romeo or Tony, he fails. He only flies high when he totally lets his awesome freak flag fly. And boy did he– kicking up a storm in his gold lame pants, finishing off the number with an IMPOSSIBLY high note. Broadway Kurt is absolutely one of my favorite things EVER. AND OH MY GOSH KLAINERS. Blaine was too freaking adorable watching and cheering on his guy from the sidelines. He’s such a good boyfriend (So is Finn, who presented Rachel with a bouquet of good luck flowers before she hit the stage).

Puck doesn’t care if he graduates high school. As he faces flunking out, he picks up his guitar to sing Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out” in the choir room, the scene morphing into a fantasy performance on a football field surrounded by a bevy of goth cheerleaders. He figures he’ll get by–until his alcoholic deadbeat dad comes around looking for a handout. Dad is a high school dropout and suddenly Puck sees his future standing right in front of him and it doesn’t look pretty. When his attempt to seduce his middle aged teacher doesn’t work, he decides to cram for her exam—a geography class that he needs to pass in order to graduate. Finn was already planning an intervention when Puck came to his senses. Hilarious: Just as Finn attempts to rally the dudes in the locker room, Mike interrupts Blaine’s boxing session to ask for some hair tips. “Feel free to use a little sweat or a splash of water to reactivate the gel…” Blaine stokes his gleaming dome, “It’s a whole new do, my friend!” The bros—Mike, Joe, Rory, Blaine, Finn, Artie and Sam help him study, breaking into a punk version of the “Rain in Spain.” Feeling sufficiently crammed, Puck takes the test and feels confident.

The third storyline, I have mixed feelings about. Coach Roz (Atlanta housewife, Ne Ne Leakes) catches Santana and the girls joking around about a black eye Beiste is sporting. Santana figures it’s a job related injury, but makes one of her typical over-the-line cracks about Bieste’s husband slugging her. All the girls laugh. Roz is not amused and enlists her frenemy, Sue Sylvester, to help her set the girls straight. Here’s where I had trouble. The girls are all gathered in the choir room where Sue and Roz begin lecturing them about domestic violence. The dialog reads as if it were lifted out of a shelter hand book. Barely masked PSAs do NOT make for good drama, people–unless you’ve got Dot Marie Jones at the center—her sensitive and heartbreaking portrayal lifting the drama above the clunky exposition. Big ole Beiste could probably crush Cooter with her bare hands, but sometimes having the upper hand is psychological. He got drunk and hit her, because she didn’t do the dishes. She’s hesitant to leave him, because she’s afraid no one will ever love her. This is a scenario that’s all too true for many battered women out there.

Sue and Roz create an assignment for the girls—perform a song that’s all about female empowerment. They come back with “Cell Block Tango” from Chicago, which is, of course, ridiculous because it’s all about these crazy jailbird women who kill their husbands for no good reason–basically domestic violence perpetrated by women. Sue and Roz call them out on the “cray cray”. After Beiste becomes upset and leaves the performance before it’s over, she comes clean to a shocked Sue and Roz. Sue offers to allow Beiste to stay with her. Get out of there NOW, she begs her. Beiste agrees. But the next day, Sue wonders why Beiste never arrived at her house. It turns out she moved in with her sister instead. And she decides to confess her dark secret to the girls, hoping that her experience teaches them a lesson about how violence can be lurking in even the most innocent places. This scene was intense, with Beiste breaking down into tears before she thanks the girls for helping to save her life. I think it’s Emmy time for Dot Marie Jones.

Rachel blows her NYADA audition. Kurt is likely in, and she is not. She breaks down at her locker with Kurt (Aw, when he put his arms around her and told her he loved her) Rachel’s last scene is an absolutely heart wrenching performance of Kelly Clarkson’s “Cry”. Oh my gosh, I could feel Rachel’s despair and heartbreak right through the TV screen. Didn’t you die a little bit when, after her audition failed, she was begging Professor Tibideaux for a second chance? (When it’s time to choose an episode for Emmy consideration, this is the one Lea should submit. She was fantastic.)

Puck is super confident about his test, thanking his friends for helping him graduate, but when he gets his test back, it’s got a big red F on the top. If he doesn’t pass, he doesn’t graduate.

And finally Beiste–I was not expecting this at all—the girls as a thank you, sing a gorgeous acoustic version of “Shake it Out”. During the performance there is a montage, and you see Bieste with a suitcase, not sure where she is going. In the last shot, she’s sitting at a kitchen table and the camera pans up. There’s Cooter thanking her for a second chance. She does not tell the girls. Shocking that she went back to her abuser, but again, all too common in the real world.

This trio of stories, woven around a common theme, aren’t tied up in a neat little bow by the end of the episode. I suspect there will be happy endings for everyone, but for once, Glee at least forces their characters to climb a few hurdles before getting there.

Next week? PROM PEOPLE PROM!

Listen to Full Songs from Choke

Rachel Prepares for her NYADA Audition

http://youtu.be/XB3YtfV4eWE

Schools Out – Puck

http://youtu.be/9ayD3hqpHII

Puck Meets his Dead Beat Dead

http://youtu.be/Z6dzIf_1Pz8

Cell Block Tango

http://youtu.be/m96ArxcyBr0

Shake It Out

http://youtu.be/fkOiIsEpehc