Recap / Glee S 1 E 11 Hairography

Summary

New Directions meets their Sectionals competition – Jane Addams Girls Choir for girls recently released from juvenile detention, and the Haverbrook Deaf Choir. Sue gives the New Directions' set list for Sectionals to the competing clubs in order to damage the glee club's chance of progressing to Regionals. Quinn reconsiders having her baby adopted, giving Puck a chance to prove that he would be a good father. They successfully baby-sit for Terri's triplet nephews together, but Quinn later learns that Puck spent the evening sexting Santana, and recommits to the idea of adoption. Kurt gives Rachel a bad makeover, trying to sabotage her attempts at attracting Finn.

Next Time: The inevitable revelation of Terri's pregnancy, leading to a Out-of-Character Moment and Will almost costing everyone everything.

Songs appearing in the episode

• "Bootylicious" performed by the Jane Addams Choir
• "Don't Make Me Over" performed by Mercedes
• "You're the One that I Want" performed by Rachel and Finn
• "Papa Don't Preach" performed by Quinn
• "Hair/Crazy In Love" performed by New Directions
• "Imagine" performed by the Haverford Choir and New Directions
• "True Colors" performed by New Directions

Tropes appearing in the episode

• Actor-Inspired Element: Heather Morris had to teach the rest of the cast "hairography" like in the episode. Brittany's explanation that "You just move your head around, like you're spazzing and stuff. It's like cool epilepsy" is how Heather explained the concept to the show's writers, who decided it was brilliant and added it in.
• Babysitting Episode: Quinn takes up Kendra's offer of babysitting in order to test Puck's potential as a father. In true Glee fashion, they put the kids to sleep using a song.
• Be a Whore to Get Your Man: When Rachel asks Kurt (who has a crush on Finn) how she should dress to attract him, Kurt tells her that Finn likes promiscuous-looking women (knowing that Finn likes the opposite). Kurt provides the page quote for the article:
  Kurt: "In Grease, what did Sandy do to get Danny Zuko? She had to ditch the poodle skirt and slap on a catsuit. In short, she had to dress like a 'ho'."
• Continuity Nod: When Rachel and Finn are together in Rachel's bedroom, Rachel (who's dressed like Sandy) gets him to sing "You're The One That I Want", which they sang in the very first episode. The episode even uses the same audio track that was used in said episode.
• The Cover Changes the Meaning: Possibly inadvertently, but Rachel sings the words wrong.
  "I need a man but my heart is set on you."
• Distracted by the Sexy: Finn can barely speak when Rachel walks into school in her Little Black Dress.
• Digging Yourself Deeper: When Quinn confronts Puck about him claiming to like Quinn but sexting other girls:
  Quinn: "So you expect to raise a baby with me and text dirty messages to every other girl at this school if I don't 'give it up' to you every day?"
  Puck: "No!"
  Puck: "Just the hot girls!"
  Puck: "Look, I'm gonna be a good dad, but I'm not gonna stop being me to do it."

...Yeah, that's really reassuring, Puckerman. So reassuring that it makes Quinn go back on her decision to keep the baby, because she knows that a baby needs a good father, and she knows Mr. Shue will be, while neither Puck nor Finn will.

• Dumb Blonde: Brittany's "hairography" demonstration.
  You just move your head around, like you're spazzing and stuff. It's like cool epilepsy.
• Grease Monkey: Terri buys Will a fixer-upper car to tinker on. When he comes in covered in grease, Kendra tells Will he looks like a sexy version of the trope.
• Gone Horribly Right: Panicking because Quinn has gone back on their deal and wants to keep her baby, Kendra offers her a babysitting job since she needs the money. She figures that one night with her Enfant Terrible triplets would convince her that she doesn't actually want to keep the child after all. However, Quinn and Puck actually do exceptionally well at taking care of them, leaving Kendra and Terri in Stunned Silence when they return to see all three of them bathed and peacefully sleeping in bed, with Quinn and Puck having even more confidence in their ability to raise a baby. Turns out Kendra's kids aren't actually the problem here; but their neglectful, uncaring parents. Who would've guessed?
• Shaking the Rump: The Jane Addams Choir's performance contains a ridiculous amount of twerking.
• Unnecessary Makeover: In-universe. While Rachel's fashion sense is eclectic, Kurt talks Rachel into a Grease-style makeover, taking it up to eleven. Finn, who prefers women with minimal makeup, tells her she looks like a "sad clown hooker."