'Glee' Season 3, Episode 2 Recap: Three Directors & a Little Baby

['Glee' - 'I Am Unicorn']

OK, judging by some of your comments from the premiere recap, I get the feeling that no one really believes in 'Glee' anymore, and I totally get it. Season 2 was too uneven and had way too many over-the-top quest stars and musical numbers and not enough plot.

Yet, I was hopeful for Season 3 because, believe it or not, I actually care about these kids.

I want to see Rachel make it to Broadway and Kurt follow his dreams to New York -- and I really want to see Brittany graduate high school (what grade is she in exactly?!).

As much as I applauded 'Glee''s Season 3 premiere for getting back to its basics, this week's 'I Am Unicorn' felt a little flat, like Ryan Murphy was building up to something, only to have it be revealed in episode 3. And I'm okay with that because I like the direction this season is going.

It seems that Murphy is sticking to his word this season and cutting the number of performances to focus on the characters. All three -- yes, only three -- musical numbers were Broadway standards and none of them were overly showy (surprising, right?).

Instead, the focus was back on the kids, and that's when 'Glee' is at its best.

We come to find out that Kurt is a unicorn, according to his volunteer campaign manager Brittany. You see, a unicorn is someone "who knows they are magical and is not afraid to show it." Except Kurt is afraid to show it, and not even Brittany's wonderful wisdom can help him.

Meanwhile, with West Side Story coming to McKinley High, it's time to find a director -- or multiple directors. After failing to lead the New Directions to victory at Nationals, Will decides that it's time to focus on glee, and not Tony and Maria's drama. Instead, he enlists the help of Coach Bieste (obvious choice, right?) and Emma to direct, but that's not all! Artie, who supposedly has a passion for directing, rounds out this trio of directors.

Will's next order of business? The booty camp. We all know that Finn isn't the best dancer -- and neither is Mercedes, but she seems to think she can get by with her voice alone (oh, wait, she can). Then there's Kurt, who only has one "signature" move (it's a mix between a shimmy and jazz hands). So Will, with some help from Mike Chang, is on a mission to help his uncoordinated gleeks find their rhythm.

Now that the musical is taken care of and booty camp is underway, Will can finally concentrate on glee. Except, now he has a little competition from former show choir director rival -- and Rachel's birth mother -- Shelby Corcoran (Idina Menzel). This time around, Shelby's working at McKinley, starting up a rival show choir of her own. Dun dun dun!

Meanwhile, Kurt is vying for the role of Tony in the school musical, but so is his boyfriend Blaine. And just when it looks like Klaine are going to have their first official fight, Blaine promises Kurt that he won't audition for Tony. Instead, he's perfectly fine with the role of Bernardo. (Awwww.)



So Kurt auditions for Tony, singing a Barbra Streisand classic, "I'm the Greatest Star." And it's a little over the top to play a former gang leader. Ultimately, Bieste wants a Tony that "excites her lady parts," (ew) and Kurt's not it. So Kurt decides to prove how much of a man he truly is by donning a deeper voice and feather hat to act out a scene from 'Romeo & Juliet' with his BFF Rachel. But things turn sour when Rachel -- and the directors -- end up laughing in Kurt's face. They just couldn't take his machismo seriously.

Thinking that he'll never have a career on Broadway because he can't play the manly roles, Kurt goes to his father for some advice. Burt! How we've missed your fatherly wisdom. After Burt tells Kurt he's gay (well, duh), Kurt is finally able to embrace his inner unicorn, but it's too late, because Brittany has an awakening of her own. Brittany is also a unicorn, so she decides that she wants to be class president. That a girl, Brittany! Shatter those glass ceilings.

Meanwhile ... at the end of Season 1, we knew Quinn and Puck had given up their daughter for adoption, but Season 2 seemed to glaze right over that little plot whole. Now, in Season 3, with the reappearance of Shelby and baby Beth, Quinn finally sees what's she's missing. At first she tries to play it cool. She's not going to change her skanky attitude for anyone.

On a mission from Sue, Quinn confronts Will about how glee club ruined her life, but in an unexpected move, Will let's Quinn have it -- as he should have. It's about time someone told Quinn what we were all thinking.

"I have two words for you (unfortunately, it's not GLITTER BOMB) -- grow up." Oh, snap.

Meanwhile, Shelby shares a subtle yet poignant performance of "Somewhere" with Rachel, one that doesn't need flashing lights or choreography (take note, Gwyneth Paltrow).

It's another beautiful moment between mother and daughter, followed by an even cuter moment between biological father and daughter when Puck sees Beth for the first time. He wants to be in Beth's life, and he wants Quinn there with him -- but she needs to fix a few things first, like her hair, clothes, nose ring and that "ironic tattoo of Ryan Seacrest."

That's where Shelby comes in. After showing Quinn a picture of Beth and Puck -- a.k.a. the family she could have had (risky move, Ms. Corcoran) -- Quinn sheds a few tears and it finally looks like Quinn's hard exterior has finally cracked. She joins Mr. Schue's booty camp, sans pink hair and black eyeliner. And just when you think nice Quinn is back, psycho Quinn tells Puck, "We have to get her back, we're going to get full custody." Oh, the drama.

And finally, we have Blaine! I could try to put his performance of "Something's Coming" into words, but all I can really say is that this might just be the best he's ever sounded, and it sure looked like he excited Coach Bieste's lady parts. But there's a problem: he's not reading for the part of Tony ... or is he?

'Glee' Season 3 airs Tuesdays, 8PM ET on Fox.