Hell-O Gleeeeee!!

Welcome back, Glee! We’ve missed you! With so much hype and anticipation leading up to the second part of the famed Glee Season 1, the lead-off episode “Hell-O” left us with a lot to sing about. Although the 45 second recap of the Part 1could have taken over an hour, the show did a lot to prepare the audience for the amazing Part 2.

They lead off with main characters Finn and Rachel together, a relationship Finn barely realizes he’s a part of. Nonetheless, they become the power couple of the Glee club while Quinn and Puck are forced to fight things out on the side. Mr. Shue thought this would be a new beginning but his disaster called life keeps following him around like a dark rain cloud. Sue and Emma are both eager to get to Will. Back from Boca, Sue intends on a Cheerios challenge to destroy Glee Club while Emma and Will plan their first date. When things don’t go so well in that department, Will and Emma find themselves going in different directions; Will embraces his single life while Emma tries to define hers.

All of this drama centers on the recent fame of the Glee Club finally winning sectionals in Part 1. They come back ready to rule the school but end up with more slushy facials than last season. Their new quest: Regionals and McKinley’s biggest competition: Vocal Adrenaline. After the not-so-sudden F-rachel breakup, naive Rachel falls head over heels with Adrenaline senior star, Jesse St. James (Spring Awakening’s Jonathon Groff), and a duet of Lionel Ritchie’s “Hello” seals the deal. In an attempt to regain a balanced rivalry, Will meets up with Adrenaline coach Shelby Corcoran (Wicked/Rent’s Idina Menzel) and informs them of the star-crossed lovers in their two groups. Shelby has an effect on Will and liberates him into bachelorhood. The Glee Club, however, is not so easily swept away giving Rachel an ultimatum to drop Jesse or be replaced.

The most hilarious scene, however, is still in plot-worthy question. Director Brad Falchuk is always throwing in hilarious side stories that may or may not show up as leading story lines. In this instance, Finn accepts a date from cheerleader Brittany and cheerleader Santana. Unaware that the two are acting under the Sue’s scheming, Finn sits twirling his spaghetti across from gossiping Brittany and Santana. After sending back their clean plates---Brittany claims there was a mouse in hers---, Santana and Brittany gossip about Glee Club and Finn and share interesting insights. (Brittany, “Did you know dolphins are just gay sharks?”)

Season 2 led off with a lot of expectation. Who would get together? Would the group succeed and win or fail as miserably as most of the group’s social lives? The promise of more music was definitely upheld in this first episode “Hell-O” but the incessant Hello theme was a little much. From the All American Rejects “Gives you Hell” to the Doors “Hello, I love you”, we definitely got the message.

Although amazing in writing and character design, the episode would never exceed our expectations because of the hype built up over the four-month break. The promise of guest stars and dance-offs and the secret plots lines left us all wondering what we would see in the first episode and made us a little disappointed when we didn’t get everything right away. Still, we have to give creators Ian Brennan, Brad Falchuk, and Ryan Murphy some credit. The potential for Part 2 is undeniable and we can’t wait to be blown away.