Hi Gleeks! Welcome to the first Glee-Cap here on Pop Goes the World.

Glee is back for it’s 6^th and final season! After a lot of episode trimming and time changes, we are finally able to close the chapter on our favorite residents of Lima, Ohio. My thoughts have always been that the best way to close a series is to go back to the beginning. Reflecting back on the first season is always a wonderful way to remind viewers why they watched this show and believed in it in the first place.

We ended season 5 with big things happening to all of the New York inhabitants set to the vocal styling’s of Bastille. Rachel was heading out to California to shoot a new pilot written specifically for her. This gave room for Blaine to move in with Kurt at the loft where they would both continue at NYADA. Mercedes and Brittany went off on tour and Sam headed back to McKinley (in what I thought was a wonderful call back to Finn).

We started season 6 with a two-hour season premiere. Rachel’s big break in Hollywood, “That’s So Rachel” was cancelled after one horrible episode, sparking the first song of the season, Alanis Morisette’s “Uninvited.” It’s a little bit of a darker song to start the season, but it fits the moment as Rachel is driven off of the lot with a little box of her stuff and her signature golden star.

Rachel returning home to Lima after that makes some sense here. While she could have returned to New York, it seems believable that she would want to take some time to regroup and get her life back on track. While at home she learns that her dad’s are divorcing (we will miss you Jeff Goldblum) and her childhood home is on the market. Looks like things aren’t really as she left them.

Blaine is also back in Lima, OH. Turns out that he moved back home after him and Kurt called off their engagement. I was somewhat expecting their breakup but it was still heartbreaking to watch the scene nonetheless. You could tell they really love each other and I know that Kurt will have to come to his senses at some point. While Blaine’s having coffee with Rachel we learn that he will be the new coach for the Warblers, and I think that this will certainly be a fun twist.

Back at McKinley High, Sue Sylvester is at it again. Still rocking her jumpsuits and quippy remarks, and still principal. She is running things exactly how you could imagine. A strict kale diet, public weigh ins and shaming’s, and all around ludacris debauchery. She has eliminated the all of the arts programs and had all of the remaining New Directioner’s kicked out of school. That was upsetting to me because I liked a lot of them, but think one or two may pop back in throughout the season.

We also learned that Will is now coaching the glee club over at Carmel High. So we’ve got Mr. Schuster with Vocal Adrenaline and Blaine over at the Warbler’s. It would make perfect sense for Rachel to take over the New Directions. However, there is no New Directions or glee club to take over anymore.

After some good ole’ advice courtesy of Mr. Schu., Rachel convinces the superintendent that the arts are too important to eliminate from schools and that he has to stand up to Sue Sylvester. Turns out, he agrees. The glee club is back, just as long as Rachel is the one who is in charge. And just like that the season 6 plot begins and I can tell it’s going to be a great ride!

Kurt moves back to Lima too as NYADA has a third year off-campus work study program. This seems a little far-fetched but I don’t even care…it’s Glee and it’s always a little out there. Kurt is also in Lima to win Blaine back. He asks Rachel to set up a meeting with Blaine and when he shows up at the bar we all find out that he’s seeing someone…

Any guesses as to who it is?

Dave Freaking Karofsky! I don’t know about you but I was really shocked by this. I know that they all sort of found peace with Karofsky, but in my eyes he is still the guy that bullied, embarrassed, and threatened Kurt enough to leave school. It seemed a little odd that Blaine would be with him after all of that. I’m interested to see where this little triangle goes. However, Karofsky is pretty funny now.

McKinley High Homecoming serves as a great way to get all of the originals back in town, and that’s how we merge into the second hour of the premiere. Another great way to kick it off…slushies. Rachel gets a nice icee to the face courtesy of Becky. Over at Dalton, Blaine is dealing with how to handle a girl wanting to join the traditionally all boys Warblers. After putting up some hilarious protests about the fact that a girl would be a distraction for them, they all decide to let her perform a song as a try-out.

The new girl is named Jane and she is played by the fabulous Samantha Ware. A couple of things to know about this girl: she has a phenomenal voice, extremely cool hair, and an air about her that is just good fun. However, even though her performance of “Tightrope” was amazing, the Warbler’s just don’t think she will be a good fit. (Douche award goes out to the Warbler who gave her thumbs up on the way out of the meeting…not cool). Blaine promises her he will do whatever it takes to get them to reconsider, even if it costs him is job.

Rachel has called in some reinforcements to help her recruit for the new New Directions. We’ve got Puck, Quinn, Artie, Brittany, Santana, Mercedes, and of course Tina. They’re all back and it looks so good to see them all in the auditorium again! In typical Glee fashion they decide to perform a song in order to get new recruits. I have never found their choices for these numbers to be outstanding, but this was certainly a fun one.

They all decked out in their favourite 80s gear and neon’s and pranced around the halls to “Take on Me.” Drawing inspiration from the original song’s music video they are moving in and out of cartoon sketch form. It was a really cool number. Go check out the original by A-Ha and the Glee version to see for yourself!

Kurt attempts to recruit a new football player named Spencer (Marshall Williams) but unlike in the past, this football player isn’t taking the bait. Even though he is gay, he is nothing like Kurt and has found his place on the team and doesn’t want anything to do with the glee club…for now.

Meanwhile, back in the choir room, the gang hears a swoon worthy voice over the air vents. They begin to follow the voice, and it actually doesn’t lead them to the locker rooms for once. They find the voice coming from the adorable Roderick (Noah Guthrie) in the library. At first, he assumes they are there to beat him up but after singing his praises they convince him to try out for the Glee club. And let me just say that this kid has an amazing voice! He kills “Mustang Sally” making me a huge fan of him and his story. I cannot wait to hear him sing some more stuff. He has a unique sound that has yet to be heard on this show.

When Kurt and Roderick join Rachel for their first club meeting, she lets them know that they actually have a second member now…Jane. She transferred over from Dalton to a club and school that actually want her. This is news to Blaine who storms in a fit of rage, accusing Rachel of stealing Jane and Kurt of being jealous of his relationship with Karofsky.

I wish that Blaine could have seen what actually happened but he is clearly in a sensitive place. I was hoping the three clubs would be chummy rivals a little bit longer than they were, but unfortunately Blaine is now on the war path. It. Is. On.

Santana comes in with her two recruits that she picked up with Quinn and Brtitany at Cheerios practice. They had performed “Problem” and ran into Kitty who seems to be the only survivor of the transfer scandal that took place. They are able to recruit the “incest twins,” Madison and Mason (Laura Drefuss and Billy Lewis, Jr.). We didn’t get to hear them sing as of yet, but one has to assume they will be good.

So, now we have four members in Rachel’s New Directions, and will probably have five once Spencer joins on behalf of Sue. She, of course, wants him to infiltrate the club and take them down from the inside. Let’s not forget that Glee also started with a core group of five.

The whole gang closes out the episode with a fun performance of “Home.” It was the perfect choice for not only homecoming, but also the overall theme of this season. Glee is it’s strongest when in Lima and it’s about time we found our way back.

“Uninvited” by Alanis Morisette: 

Ah, Rachel’s swan song to her Hollywood days. She sings this on her way off the production lot. Like I said before, it certainly was a little bit of a darker opening than I would have envisioned but I kind of liked it. In order to find herself she has to lose herself and she is clearly lost in this song.

“Suddenly Seymour” from Little Shop of Horrors:

This was a fun one. I have never seen Little Shop of Horrors much to my mother’s chagrin but hear wonderful things about it. This song certainly made me want to watch it. I love any duet with Darren and Lea and they totally killed this one. I wish people broke out into musical numbers at my coffee shop every once in a while.

“Sing” by Ed Sheeran:

I love me some Ed Sheeran. The Warbler’s are extremely talented and anytime they perform it’s great. It’s always a good time to see Blaine back in his blazer. Now that I love “The Flash” on The CW (everyone should watch that show by the way and then read Vanessa’s recaps!), I totally miss Grant Gustin’s Sebastian.

“Dance the Night Away” by Van Halen:

This was a performance by Vocal Adrenaline under the coaching styles of Mr. Schu. (as if the classic rock band wasn’t clue enough). It was a good performance, but the only time I have ever been really interested in VA is when they had the superb star power that is Jonathan Groff. It was meh.

“Let It Go” from Frozen 

I totally FREAKED OUT when I saw that Lea Michele was going to perform this song. I always knew it would be a great choice for her, mainly because I think she is a mini Idina. She killed it, in her own way. It’s really hard to compare anything to the original, but I loved this version and it fit so well. I did get a little emotional listening to it both from a perspective of Rachel and all the hardships she has had to face but also for Lea Michele, who herself has had to overcome a lot in the recent years.

“Take On Me” by A-ha  

I spoke of this one earlier. It was a fun performance but I’m not sure it was the best choice for a recruitment song. Do kids these days know A-Ha? They probably should have picked Jason DeRulo or something. It was still a great performance with some really cool special effects.

“Tightrope” by Janelle Monáe 

I spoke of this one earlier as well. This was Jane’s audition song, which she killed. I love the little moves she was making with her feet. She has a great presence and it’s safe to say that after Glee, this girl is going places. I can’t wait to listen to some of her other stuff this season.

“Problem” by Ariana Grande :

This was the number that I mentioned with the Cheerios featuring Santana, Quinn, and Brittany. I actually liked this one. I am not a huge fan of the song, but there is something about these three performing together that I have always enjoyed. Plus, the choreography was good and it was really fun to see Kitty. I hope she rejoins the club soon!

“Mustang Sally” by Wilson Picket  

Oh Roderick. I am totally on board with you and your hipster glasses and serenading voice. While it was a different song choice, he certainly made it work. It seems to me that he can sing anything.

“Home” by Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros 

This was a great song to end the premiere with. It allowed for all of the originals to sing while also mixing in the new and potential members as well. The “incest twins” seem to have good voices, but I need to hear more of Spencer singing. His short verse didn’t win me over just yet.

It feels really good to be home in Lima.

I hope that you guys liked this recap. I don’t know if I will stick with this format moving forward but wanted to give it a try.

Do you like the new kids? What are your hopes for how this season should go?

See you next week!