Glee - Jagged Little Tapestry - Review - "Mashups Are Worth It: Review and Fav Song Poll"

Glee, “Jagged Little Tapestry,” was written by Brad Falchuk and was directed by Paul McCrane. The episode title is a mashup of the two albums that are the mashup lesson for the New Directions – Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill and Carole King’s Tapestry. While the songs are good, they don’t have the same impact as the songs from the first two episodes did for me this season, and once again, there are really no dance sequences. However, while some feel that the storyline comes out of nowhere, there is no denying that Dot-Marie Jones (Coach Beiste) delivers a powerful performance that makes this a must watch episode.

The opening scene has Kurt (Chris Colfer) running into Blaine (Darren Criss) and Dave (Max Adler) at the sheet music store. I have to say that I feel badly for Karofsky/Adler as Blaine throws as many wistful looks at Kurt as Kurt does to Blaine – clearly neither one of them is over the other. This can only end badly for Dave, and while Adler is game, I’m just not feeling any chemistry between Blaine and Dave.

I’m also not a big fan of how Kurt is handling the break up by lashing out at everyone else or moping around. Did we really need montage of Kurt and Blaine during two songs? He almost ruins Santana’s (Naya Rivera) proposal, and he goes from being all about educating the New Directions to cutting them down for not trying hard enough. However, I did really like Brittany (Heather Morris) actually giving Kurt some great advice – move on with your life. Don’t be the guy left holding poop in your hand!

The Santana and Brittany moments are really satisfying. The scene with the two lying in bed is sweet, but of course, the highlight is Santana’s proposal. It was nice to see more than one side to Santana as we see her sweet loving side, but we also get her wicked tongue when she goes after Kurt for criticizing her proposal. It’s always funnier when the person actually deserves the tongue lashing!

The episode has two really interesting storylines that deal with acceptance. One has to do with Becky (Lauren Potter) and the other with Beiste. Becky has a new boyfriend, Darell (Justin Prentice), whom she’s been lying to about having been in every afterschool club, including Glee. Everyone is immediately suspicious of Darrell and his intentions because he doesn’t have Downs Syndrome. It brings up a great issue when all of Becky’s friends suddenly question his motives.

I loved the scene in Sue’s (Jane Lynch) office when she, Roz (NeNe Leakes), Tina (Jenna Ushkowitz), and Quinn (Dianna Agron) all gang up on Darrell – who remains unflappable. Becky has clearly shown that she’s head over heels for him, and he really does come across as perfect in this scene. They want to know what he does with Becky. He tells them they do what anyone does when they hang out together. But he knows what they really want to know is whether he’s sleeping with Becky, and he’s not. He also makes it clear that he’s researched Down’s Syndrome. It also becomes very clear that it’s Becky’s friends that are stigmatizing her, not him. He likes her because he finds her funny, and he just likes her for her.

I thought this episode actually contained some of Potter’s very best work. I loved the scene in which she explains to Tina, Santana, Brittany, and Quinn how much Darrell means to her and they tell her that everyone lies at the beginning of a relationship because you want the person to like you, but that eventually, you have to take the chance that he really likes you for you. Potter is also outstanding in the final scene at Breadsticks. It’s nice to see her not simply being sharp-tongued Becky. I loved her telling him that she lied and that she has Downs and that she wasn’t in any of the clubs. And his response is also perfect: that she doesn’t have to impress him because he already likes her, but they do have to have each other’s backs.

Finally, the show tackles the issue of gender dysphoria. We see that Beiste is extremely short tempered and learn that she has been taking sick days and is taking medication. Spencer (Marshall Williams) alerts Sue about Beiste’s behavior under cover of saying that he’s concerned about her, but it’s pretty clear that he has his own agenda. He wants to play quarterback and thinks he has a better chance of getting to under Sam (Chord Overstreet) as coach. Spencer underestimates Sue, however.

Caught off guard, Beiste initially lies and tells Sue that she has cancer, but when called to Sue’s office with Sam present, she can’t continue the lie. I thought she did a very good job in explaining her gender dysphoria, and to me it fit with Beiste’s previous characterization. She doesn’t shy away from the fact that even after she undergoes gender reassignment, she will still prefer men. Jones is simply fantastic in this scene. Sue, once again, surprises us and is 100% supportive, telling Beiste that Sam can step in to coach until she’s ready to come back and her job will be waiting for her.

The entire episode is really about mashups in a sense. As Kurt and Rachel point out at the end of the episode, mashups aren’t always pretty but they’re worth the risk. Beiste is having a kind of mashup with her gender. Becky’s relationship is a kind of mashup as she has Downs and Darrell doesn’t. Kurt and Rachel are a kind of mashup of directors – one wants to push education while one is all about competition. The final song is a mashup of their teaching styles – I want to be your friend and I want you to learn. And the final song is a mashup of the New Directions – old and new – with the new members lined up facing the alumni members.

What did you think of the episode? Were you surprised by Beiste’s revelation (even if you'd been spoiled it was coming)? Do you think Darrell is too good to be true? Were you happy to see Santana and Brittany get engaged? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below and don’t forget to vote for your favorite song in the poll!

About the Author - Lisa Macklem

I do interviews and write articles for the site in addition to reviewing a number of shows, including Supernatural, Arrow, Agents of Shield, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, Forever, Defiance, Bitten, Glee, and a few others! Highlights of this past year include covering San Diego Comic Con as press and a set visit to Bitten. When I'm not writing about television shows, I'm often writing about entertainment and media law in my capacity as a legal scholar. I also work in theatre when the opportunity arises. I'm an avid runner and rider, currently training in dressage.