Airdate: Tuesday, May 24^th at 9/8c on Fox

Rating: ★★★★★★

New Directions dances their way through Central Park.

          Like a good cover of an old favorite, Glee’s final episode of season two hits a high note on every New York movie or musical cliché – from dancing through Times Square to breakfast at Tiffany’s. From the opening shots of Times Square, the episode is all about chasing dreams. “New York” features four original songs and the second highest number of performances (nine) of the season – second only to “Original Song” which had eleven songs, six of which were original. Many viewers are divided on the original material, but there’s no denying original songs are less expensive for the show and mean more music makes it into an episode. Certainly songs like “My Cup,” sung by Brittany (Heather Morris) and Artie (Kevin McHale), are meant to be funny, but Rachel (Lea Michele) and Finn’s (Cory Monteith) duet of “Pretending” is a serious, heartfelt and powerful number.

          “New York” brings season two of Glee full circle in many respects. The first song of season two was a tribute to New York – “Empire State of Mind” – and set the club’s focus for the year. All of the trials and tribulations of the past year have led to many characters’ significant growth over the course of this season.

The Glee Club has come a long way since Season one.

          Finn tells Rachel, “I like the way you dream so big. I don’t know how to do that.” Finn’s romantic work-date proves he has learned how to dream. Rachel’s growth is most evident when she endangers her own dream by helping Sunshine (Charice) get through her number with Vocal Adrenaline. It’s an attempt to make amends for sending Sunshine to a crack house rather than jeopardize Rachel’s own place in the Glee Club earlier in the season. While all of the kids are initially devastated they don’t make it into the finals, by the time they return to Ohio, they are surprisingly philosophical about it.

Brittany (Heather Morris) and Santana (Naya Rivera) perform at Nationals.

          Kurt and Brittany have truly come into their own. Brittany tells Santana (Naya Rivera) she’s glad the Glee Club will be together for another year as they are her family. Santana wonders when Brittany got so smart, and it seems these two are well on their way to becoming a couple. Viewers, including me, have been pushing for “Brittana” for most of the season, and I was happy to see them end the season together. Sam (Chord Overstreet) and Mercedes (Amber Riley) run into Blaine and Kurt at the coffee shop, and their transparent reason for being there doesn’t hide that they seem to have become a couple as well. Even though there were hints of this in “Prom Queen,” this was a pleasant surprise. All of the characters are making plans for their summer holidays, and the audience will no doubt hear all about those summer holidays when McKinley begins a new semester in the Fall.

Puck (Mark Salling), Sam (Chord Overstreet), Mike (Harry Shum Jr), and Artie (Kevin McHale) try to help Finn (Cory Monteith) romance Rachel (Lea Michele)

          The sophomore season of Glee has tackled some tough questions like faith in God (“Grilled Cheesus”), bullying, and sexual orientation. The show continues to excel at blending humor, drama, and song and the city of New York provides a wonderful backdrop for those elements. The mash-up of “I Love New York” and “New York, New York” by the entire club, dancing and singing their way around the city, is a joyous celebration. My boy-band is back as Puck (Mark Salling), Sam, Artie and Mike (Harry Shum Jr) try to help Finn win Rachel by serenading them with “Belle Notte” from Lady and the Tramp – a perfect mix of childhood and romance. The only real Broadway number of the episode is “For Good” from Wicked with Rachel and Kurt, the two biggest divas of the club, performing a wonderful duet on the actual Broadway set. This is a brilliant progression from season one when the two competed against each other, singing “Defying Gravity” from Wicked.

          While the kids are supposed to be writing two original songs, Will (Matthew Morrison) is preparing for his own Broadway premiere. His isolation is mirrored in his solo, Morrison’s own song, “Still Got Tonight.” Will turns his back on his own dream in order to concentrate on making the Glee Club’s dream a reality. His sacrifice seems pointless, however, as his commitment to the Broadway show was never going to interfere with Nationals. His absence does force the kids to come together and rely on each other, another indication of how much they’ve grown in two seasons.

          While Glee is likely to continue for several more seasons, it’s likely next season will be the last for many of these characters at McKinley High. I will be sad to see them graduate, but I can’t wait to see what next year has in store for them.

Tune in to Glee this Fall on Tuesdays, 8/7c on Fox.

All photos ©Fox.