Samcedes Episode Analysis: 2.17 Night of Neglect
by Akilah
Mercedes: "You have no idea what it feels like to work your butt off for something and have everyone, including your friends, ignore you," says Mike Chang. He's referring to The Brainiacs , a school organization he, Tina, Artie and Brittany are involved in that is more neglected than Glee club. Even their friends in ND are unaware of the Brainiacs upcoming competition in Detroit. Amongst the totem pole of "loser" school activities, the Brainiacs are lower than glee club. What's interesting here is that this concept even transcends to the "neglected" New Directions which has its own hierarchy of recognition, validation and appreciation of talent. On this totem pole, Rachel Berry would be on the top and Mercedes Jones would be close to the bottom. In this episode, we see Mercedes attempt to climb to the top.
Mr. Schuester and Holly Holliday come up with the idea to have a fundraiser concert to come up with the money New Directions and The Brainiacs need for their respective competitions. The theme is a Night of Neglect and the students are given the assignment to sing songs by neglected artist. "Someone whose brilliance isn't always appreciated," Mr. Schue says. "Someone like me," Rachel says. Rachel is the most recognized and appreciated member of ND, but the girl can't help but think everything is about her. Mercedes gives her the side eye.
Mercedes decides to sing Aretha Franklin. Her friends remind her that Aretha is the queen of soul, she is in no way neglected. But Mercedes clarifies, "I auditioned for this club singing Respect, and shes got none since." Aretha is acknowledged as being extremely talented, its just that the New Directions haven't used her. Perhaps she doesn't fit NDs "image." Mercedes can relate.
"Awesome, Mercedes. Awesome all of you guys. Those songs are great appetizers for my main course. Celine Dion's 'My Heart Will Go On.' Its going to be our finale," Rachel says. Tina says its the biggest song of all time. Rachel says that she herself is "the neglected artist" which in Rachel's mind means she can sing whatever she wants and it would still fit the assignment. You've got to love Rachel and her solipsism. Its so ridiculous that its funny.
"I was kinda hoping to do the closing number," Mercedes says, timidly. Rachel stares at her. Neither girl says a word. They are interrupted by Finn who informs them that Sunshine Corazon (Vocal Adrenaline's lead vocalist) is at McKinley. She wants to help the New Directions with the Night of Neglect fundraiser. The glee club agrees because she can bring her twitter followers who will buy tickets. Rachel isn't too happy about it since that means Sunshine will do the closing number.
"Mercedes you're okay with being bumped to the decidedly less glamorous middle spot, right?" Rachel says. Its both a demand and a challenge. Rachel seems to be fishing for support from Mercedes by having her also refuse Sunshine's participation in the Night of Neglect. But shes also asserting her dominance in New Directions by placing Mercedes below her on the diva totem pole.
The smile drops from Mercedes face. Shes caught off guard. "Sure... I guess." She says timidly. Puck, Quinn, Lauren and Finn look at her in disbelief. They can't believe that Mercedes is taking that level of disrespect. Mercedes doesn't want to rock the boat. She wants the fundraiser to happen so that New Directions get to participate in Nationals, and she also wants to help out her friends on the Brainiacs. "Absolutely," she affirms her acceptance of the middle spot. She looks completely deflated as she says it.
Lauren approaches Mercedes in the library. "Hey, Mercedes. Can I have your shoes. I promise to give you a pair of my dirty flip flops in return," Lauren says. Mercedes refuses. "Really, I'm surprised you didn't just give them to me considering how little you think of yourself." Mercedes looks shocked. Lauren saw right through her diva act. Mercedes really doesn't know her worth. She knows shes good, but she doesn't quite believe that she deserves everything she wants. "You're the most talented singer in glee club. Yet, you're constantly taking the backseat to everyone."
"What am I suppose to do. I'm tired of fighting with Rachel all the time." And this is really the source of Mercedes problem in ND. As long as Rachel continues to take control of the decisions in ND, Mercedes will never have a chance to shine. Mercedes' defeated attitude probably stems from being neglected over and over again. Shes not appreciated and its wearing her down.
"You're always singing about R-E-S-P-E-C-T, but respect isn't something you can ask for, you have to demand it. And you deserve it," Lauren says. And this is an important concept for Mercedes to learn. She can not wait around for others to give her what she wants, she has to take it. Lauren is on the right track, but she gets confused about what Mercedes should "demand." She names divas like JLo and Mariah Carey who are known for making ridiculous demands such as requesting bowls of solid color M&Ms.
"No matter how ridiculous those demands if people will meet them then you know you have it," Lauren says. "Have what," Mercedes asks. "Respect." And that's what Mercedes truly wants. She wants to be acknowledged as the talented young woman that she is and featured in performances. But with the help of Lauren, shes going about it the wrong way.
Rachel has been chosen to be the head of "Talent Relations." Her job is to make the featured performers at Night of Neglect happy. "Stars make demands like babies make messes in their diapers. They can't help it. All a star wants is to just feel appreciated and respected. They just want to feel like they're being heard," Rachel says. It is true. This is one of the reasons why Mercedes is so unhappy with her current status within ND. She feels like she isn't being heard. Earlier in the season we've seen her ideas shot down time and time again by Mr. Schuester and company. Mercedes really doesn't feel appreciated.
But Mercedes is trying to gain the feeling of respect and acknowledgement by playing "diva." She's acting out in ways she would imagine her favorite divas to behave. She makes demands to see if others will meet them. Shes clearly trying to push boundaries to see how much Rachel will do for her. She requests humidifiers and a large bowl of green M&M's in her dressing room. Rachel meets these demands, and even has Puck go out to get Mercedes a Puppy to dry her hands on, as she requested. Rachel has no problem with these antics, mainly because they don't address the real issue at heart.
Lauren says that Mercedes will be doing the closing number. Rachel corrects her. "Actually Sunshine will be doing the closing number because shes bringing in hundreds of people. So I'll go on before Sunshine because well, I'm me," Rachel says. Rachel knows how to get what she wants because she believes she is worthy. This is what distinguishes Rachel from Mercedes.
Mercedes is not happy about it, but instead of fighting Rachel for the closing spot, she makes more demands. "Mercedes wants to be carried in," Lauren says. They name divas who have been "carried in" before like Celion Dion, Cher and Lady Gaga. This move is passive aggressive. Mercedes is not really going after what she truly wants which is to close the benefit. Instead she makes an even bigger demand in order to feel a sense of respect. But it isn't real respect, so it can't really satisfy her.
During the Night of Neglect benefit, the performers are heckled by a group Sue specifically planted in the audience to do just that. Sunshine Corazon has canceled her appearance and everything is going wrong. The members of ND were able to keep some of the hecklers quiet by giving them saltwater taffies. When they run out of Saltwater taffies, Quinn asks how will they be able to stop the hecklers. "By being so good they can't heckle us, and I know just the right person for the job. Where's Mercedes?" Mr. Scheuster says.
Lauren tells ND that Mercedes has left the building. "Miss Jones has not appreciated the way shes been treated and refuses to go on." ND tries to do damage control. Rachel runs into the parking lot and finds Mercedes in her car. Its one of those rainy car scenes that Glee loves to do. These always signify some type of turning point or realization.
Mercedes says that she won't go on because her demands weren't met. "Have you ever read anything about Aretha Franklin. She was a gospel singer," Rachel says. Mercedes rolls her eys. Of course she knows this. "She went to a talent show. Nothing fancy, just a state fair. And the master of ceremonies hands her a tiara and calls her the queen of soul. And that's how she earned her crown. That's how she gained all of her respect. Not by requesting for special pillows, or food. But by doing what she loves best. Singing," Rachel says.
The problem is, Mercedes has done that. She has been singing her heart out and waiting for her moment of recognition to come but it never does. "I just don't get it. Why are you a bigger star than me?" Mercedes asks. "You always get the big solos, the moments in the sun. Why is it never me?"
"I don't know," Rachel says. "You're just as good a singer as I am."
"Yeah and everyone actually likes me," Mercedes says. And here it is. Mercedes biggest problem. The reason she isn't at the top of the diva totem pole in ND. She's too nice. She cares too much about what others think. She doesn't want to hurt anyone's feelings. She'd rather be a team player and get along with everyone than step on someone's toes to make it to the top. She's not willing to fight, not really. She'd rather people like her.
"That's your problem. Because I would rather be a star than be nice. And I'm not saying that its healthy or that its better than being loved. There's nothing that I wouldn't do for a chance to be in the spotlight." And Rachel means it. This is why shes at the top, because she is willing to fight for it. She doesn't care if everyone thinks of her as an entitled spoiled brat. Rachel is a star and she will do what it takes to make what she wants happen for her.
"I just really wanted that closing slot," Mercedes says. "Well, if you want that closing slot then get in there and take it from me," Rachel says. This is the only way Mercedes will get anything. She has to take it. Mercedes takes Rachel's words to heart in episode 3.03 when she fights for the role of Maria and eventually leaves ND to form the TroubleTones. At that point she is willing to fight for what she wants, even if that means hurting her friends feelings.
When Mercedes returns to the benefit she makes one last demand. "I demand that all of you get your butts out there and watch me sing." Mercedes wants them to hear her. She wants them to recognize her talent. She sings "Ain't No Way," by Aretha Franklin:
"Ain't no way for me to love you, if you won't let me/ I know that a woman's duty is to help and love a man, and that's the way it was planned/ It just ain't no way for me to love you, if you won't let me/ Stop trying to be something you're not/ If you need me to love you say you do/ Baby don't you know that I need you/ Ain't no way for me to love you if you won't let me."
The lyrics to this song speak to both of Mercedes season long story arcs; her fight for recognition within ND and her quest to find love. If we look at it from the perspective of wanting to be a featured vocalist in ND, then we see that the lyrics are speaking of loyalty and commitment while not recieving reciprocity. In the song, the narrator is trying hard to please the man she loves but she can't because he won't really let her in his head. He's keeping her out and not really communicating with her to let her know how she can love him properly. Within the Glee narrative, Mercedes has been waiting patiently, trying hard to be what she thinks ND wants her to be in hopes of being recognized and finally "loved" as a featured performer. She's being loyal and a team player, yet she isn't getting reciprocity. She tries to fit in and be what she thinks Mr. Scheuster and the ND leadership want her to be, but it still isn't enough.
If we look at the lyrics from the perspective of Mercedes wanting love and companionship, then we see the song as the first time Mercedes has let her guard down and admits to desiring romantic love. "Ain't no way for me to love you, if you won't let me," She sings. This is a song of frustration. Mercedes is finally ready to be loved but she sees no one who wants to love her. But she has finally said that she wants love and her arms are open here in this song. Her guard is down and shes ready for someone to come in. She just needs someone to hear her song and respond accordingly. But waiting is never fun.
When Mercedes finishes her song she gets a standing ovation. She walks off stage and sees Rachel, "Alright girl, time for the closing number. Go bring the house down," Mercedes says happily. Shes feeling good because she got the recognition that she wanted from her friends. "Are you kidding me. Nobody could follow that. The house has been brought down. That was the closing number," Rachel says. Rachel is not necessarily being generous. She's being honest. If she went on after Mercedes then she would look sub par in comparison. Rachel wouldn't humiliate herself like that. But it was Rachel's decision to not go on, so in a way she did allow Mercedes to have the closing number. Again, Mercedes gets nothing unless Rachel allows it to happen. For now this is good enough for Mercedes. She and Rachel share their usual hug, the one they always share after competing with each other. Its a hug that signifies that everything is right in ND and everything will go back to the way its always been. Its no wonder that when Mercedes is finally fed up with playing second fiddle to Rachel in episode 3.03, she refuses to hug the other girl.
In the end Mercedes, along with the help of Aretha Franklin, secure a patron to fund the Braniac's trip to Detroit. "That song and the weed I smoked immediately prior, it gave me a change of heart," Sandy Ryerson says. "Aretha is my Kryptonite." ND does well when it uses its neglected talent and tries on a different sound for a change.
Sam: Sam is mostly background in this episode. He is extremely quiet, more quiet than usual. When we first see him he's sitting in the choir room between Mercedes and Santana. He's currently dating Santana, but his body is turned away from her, like he's no longer attracted to her and/or unhappy in his relationship. He looks miserable, and its most likely to do with his upcoming homeless storyline. Based on what we know in 2.19, Sam has probably already been kicked out of his home or soon will be. Sam's hair is longer and more unruly than its ever been. Perhaps he hasn't been able to afford a hair cut.
Sam seems more reticent like he's holding back. He no longer appears to be the open and carefree kid he was in the beginning of the season. He doesn't do much talking but he makes a few gestures in the background that reveal his sense of humor. When ND confront Sunshine Corazon in the auditorium and accuse her of being a "horrible spy," Sam is seen making a "tsk, tsk, shame on you" gesture with his fingers. And when Mercedes comes back and decides to sing at the benefit after talking to Rachel she tells ND to watch her perform, you can see Sam snapping his fingers in a sassy way, being all diva like. Its very quick, the camera only shows his arms and hands before the screen changes.
Sam is the MC of Night of Neglect and introduces each artist.
Samcedes: In this episode we first see Sam and Mercedes sitting next to each other in the choir room. Sam's right knee and foot are pointed in Mercedes direction. It has been said that we point our knees and feet in the direction of the person we are attracted to. I feel that Sam has been attracted to Mercedes at least since episode 2.09, when he bumped his pelvis into her hip during "Dog Days are Over." I think Sam's attraction to Mercedes has been growing over time.
Sam introduces Mercedes before she performs "Ain't No Way." "Now, ladies and gentleman, Ms. Mercedes Jones." He smiles and says her name with such pride, as if he already admires her. Sam introduced everyone, but this was the first time the camera showed his face as he said the performer's name. Then we see him running to his seat so he can watch her sing. Its so cute. After Mercedes performs Sam is the first to stand up and applaud her. He jumps out of his seat and we see him smiling excitedly.
We can look at the lyrics of "Ain't No Way," from a Samcedes p.o.v.
"Ain't no way for me to love you, if you won't let me/ I know that a woman's duty is to help and love a man, and that's the way it was planned/ It just ain't no way for me to love you, if you won't let me/ Stop trying to be something you're not/ If you need me to love you say you do/ Baby don't you know that I need you/ Ain't no way for me to love you if you won't let me."
Mercedes is ready to fall in love and Sam is the right one for her but neither of them knows it yet. Sam needs someone to love him properly, which none of his girlfriends have done thus far. He needs someone to love him right, and Mercedes can do that but she can't unless he allows her to. "Stop trying to be something you're not," Sam has been trying so hard to be popular and be who he thinks other people want him to be, and not really who he is. He can only love Mercedes and Mercedes can only love him when/if he starts being his self. Really, they both have what the other needs, but they don't know it. Mercedes is finally open and ready for love, all we need now is for Sam to "stop being someone" he's not and take notice.
Also, Rachel tells Mercedes that it was the MC at the state fair who crowned Aretha as the Queen of Soul. Mercedes is clearly Aretha in this episode, and who is the MC? Its Sam! Mercedes wins over the audience and closes the benefit after Sam introduces her. Perhaps this is alluding to Sam turning Mercedes into a "queen." Perhaps he will give her confidence and encouragement she never had before.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Samcedes Episode Analysis: 2.16 Original Song
Samcedes Episode Analysis: 2.16 Original Song
by Akilah
Sam: Santana has written a song for Sam titled "Trouty Mouth." The lyrics make fun of his lips. She sings it in front of the glee club in the choir room.
"Guppy Face, Trouty Mouth/ Is that how people's lips look where you come from in the South/ Grouper Mouth, Froggy Lips/ I love suckin' on those salamander lips/ Wanna put a fish hook in those lips so cherry red/ If you tried hard enough you could suck a baby's head"
Sam covers his mouth and even tries to make his lips smaller while listening to the song. His fellow ND members let out small chuckles. He finally explodes. He jumps out of his seat and tells Santana to stop it with the mouth jokes. We can assume that she regularly pokes fun of him, but he reached his breaking point during the song.
When Puck performs "Big Ass Heart," Sam snaps his fingers and sways along. Santana doesn't like it and gives him a look, trying to control his behavior. He shrugs and makes a gesture that says, "what now!" Its quick but its confrontational. He's clearly growing tired of her crap. This relationship is officially making him miserable.
After Mercedes performs "Hell to the No," Santana says she wrote another verse to "Trouty Mouth." We see Sam pick up his notebook and flash the "Hell No," sign he created during Mercedes performance. He's finally starting to speak up for himself.
Mercedes: Mercedes wrote a song called "Hell to the No," and performs it for ND. She sings it with confidence.
"They tried to take away my tots/ I said hell to the no/ Yeah, 'cause I'm the one that calls the shots/ And I say hell to the no/ I'm not trying to diva out/ But this shows gotta stop so shout/ Try to make me change my eats/ But baby that just isn't me/ I'm a whole lot of/ oh, oh, oh, hell to the no/ Take me you can leave me but I won't ever change/ If you don't like the rules don't play my game/ Talk to me to get R-E-S-P-E-C-T, but if I don't, it's all in me."
This is Mercedes' anthem. She's a confident young woman who isn't going to let anyone change her. The song alludes to "Take Me or Leave Me," with its themes. Its a song of self-acceptance and willing everyone else around you to accept you too. Mercedes says if you don't like her than fine, she likes herself anyway. "Its all in me," as she says. Shes strong and independent, but shes also prideful.
Mr. Schue tells her its a great performance, but the song still isn't good enough for regionals. The group sings Rachel's original song instead. Again, Mr. Schuester tells Mercedes that she isn't good enough while Rachel is chosen as MVP again. Perhaps its not that Mercedes isn't good enough, it could be that she just doesn't match Mr. Schuester idea of what ND should be.
Mercedes finds herself in the same exact position at regionals as she was at sectionals. Shes background to Rachel and Finn but fills in on the high notes that no one but she can reach. The New Directions have not progressed at all. Especially not for Mercedes. No wonder she rebels in 3.03. Things were never going to change unless she forced them to.
Samcedes: Sam really likes Mercedes original song. He liked it so much that he decided to participate in it by writing "HELL NO," in his notebook and flashing it while she sang in front of him. I think Sam was really impressed by Mercedes confidence in this performance. Her song was all about being who she is no matter what people think, and Sam admired that. I think he found it incredibly attractive, since he is the opposite. He cares too much about what others think, that's why he allows himself to be so easily manipulated by people.
Sam put up the "HELL NO," sign after Santana said she had another verse of Trouty Mouth. Symbolically, Mercedes had inspired Sam to stand up for himself. He used Mercedes words to protect himself against Santana.
At regionals, Sam and Mercedes both like "Jesus is a Friend," the song performed by Oral Intensity. You see Mercedes smiling and clapping along. Sam closes his eyes and rocks his head side to side as he grooves to it.They are the only member of ND who seem to enjoy the song.
The two dance together in "Loser Like Me," and hop down the steps together as Sam has his arm around Mercedes.
by Akilah
Sam: Santana has written a song for Sam titled "Trouty Mouth." The lyrics make fun of his lips. She sings it in front of the glee club in the choir room.
"Guppy Face, Trouty Mouth/ Is that how people's lips look where you come from in the South/ Grouper Mouth, Froggy Lips/ I love suckin' on those salamander lips/ Wanna put a fish hook in those lips so cherry red/ If you tried hard enough you could suck a baby's head"
Sam covers his mouth and even tries to make his lips smaller while listening to the song. His fellow ND members let out small chuckles. He finally explodes. He jumps out of his seat and tells Santana to stop it with the mouth jokes. We can assume that she regularly pokes fun of him, but he reached his breaking point during the song.
When Puck performs "Big Ass Heart," Sam snaps his fingers and sways along. Santana doesn't like it and gives him a look, trying to control his behavior. He shrugs and makes a gesture that says, "what now!" Its quick but its confrontational. He's clearly growing tired of her crap. This relationship is officially making him miserable.
After Mercedes performs "Hell to the No," Santana says she wrote another verse to "Trouty Mouth." We see Sam pick up his notebook and flash the "Hell No," sign he created during Mercedes performance. He's finally starting to speak up for himself.
Mercedes: Mercedes wrote a song called "Hell to the No," and performs it for ND. She sings it with confidence.
"They tried to take away my tots/ I said hell to the no/ Yeah, 'cause I'm the one that calls the shots/ And I say hell to the no/ I'm not trying to diva out/ But this shows gotta stop so shout/ Try to make me change my eats/ But baby that just isn't me/ I'm a whole lot of/ oh, oh, oh, hell to the no/ Take me you can leave me but I won't ever change/ If you don't like the rules don't play my game/ Talk to me to get R-E-S-P-E-C-T, but if I don't, it's all in me."
This is Mercedes' anthem. She's a confident young woman who isn't going to let anyone change her. The song alludes to "Take Me or Leave Me," with its themes. Its a song of self-acceptance and willing everyone else around you to accept you too. Mercedes says if you don't like her than fine, she likes herself anyway. "Its all in me," as she says. Shes strong and independent, but shes also prideful.
Mr. Schue tells her its a great performance, but the song still isn't good enough for regionals. The group sings Rachel's original song instead. Again, Mr. Schuester tells Mercedes that she isn't good enough while Rachel is chosen as MVP again. Perhaps its not that Mercedes isn't good enough, it could be that she just doesn't match Mr. Schuester idea of what ND should be.
Mercedes finds herself in the same exact position at regionals as she was at sectionals. Shes background to Rachel and Finn but fills in on the high notes that no one but she can reach. The New Directions have not progressed at all. Especially not for Mercedes. No wonder she rebels in 3.03. Things were never going to change unless she forced them to.
Samcedes: Sam really likes Mercedes original song. He liked it so much that he decided to participate in it by writing "HELL NO," in his notebook and flashing it while she sang in front of him. I think Sam was really impressed by Mercedes confidence in this performance. Her song was all about being who she is no matter what people think, and Sam admired that. I think he found it incredibly attractive, since he is the opposite. He cares too much about what others think, that's why he allows himself to be so easily manipulated by people.
Sam put up the "HELL NO," sign after Santana said she had another verse of Trouty Mouth. Symbolically, Mercedes had inspired Sam to stand up for himself. He used Mercedes words to protect himself against Santana.
At regionals, Sam and Mercedes both like "Jesus is a Friend," the song performed by Oral Intensity. You see Mercedes smiling and clapping along. Sam closes his eyes and rocks his head side to side as he grooves to it.They are the only member of ND who seem to enjoy the song.
The two dance together in "Loser Like Me," and hop down the steps together as Sam has his arm around Mercedes.
Samcedes Episode Analysis: 2.15 Sexy
Samcedes Episode Analysis: 2.15 Sexy
by Akilah
Mercedes: She's barely in this one.
After Holly Holiday tries to give a condom demonstration by using a cucumber, Mercedes and Finn think they can get STDs from the vegetable. "I had cucumber on my salad at lunch." Mercedes says. This scene is mostly for laughs, but it also shows how innocent Mercedes is.
When Ms. Holiday visits the choir room Mercedes, embarrassed, shrinks into her seat and says, "Oh, no. Its the salad lady."
Sam: Sam's new girlfriend is cheating on him with her best female friend. Its pretty obvious that Santana is in love with Britney based on the girls performance of "Landslide," but he doesn't seem to notice, maybe because he doesn't care enough.
"Its pretty cool that our girlfriends are such good friends right," Sam says to Artie. "I wish you and I were that close." Its funny because he doesn't get it. Artie even knows something is going on. He gives Sam the side-eye. Again, this is partly due to Sam's inability to "read" certain situations.
When Santana approaches Brittany about starting a real relationship with her, Brittany tells her she can't because she's with Artie. Santana responds, "he's just a stupid boy." This reveals how Santana feels about Sam. He's just a "stupid boy," whom she can use as a beard and sexual object. He's nothing more to her than that. Sam may not be aware of the extent that he's being used, but I doubt he cares. He's also using Santana.
Samcedes: There's really nothing to say here. They both were background this episode, each getting about one or two lines. I can't think of anything.
by Akilah
Mercedes: She's barely in this one.
After Holly Holiday tries to give a condom demonstration by using a cucumber, Mercedes and Finn think they can get STDs from the vegetable. "I had cucumber on my salad at lunch." Mercedes says. This scene is mostly for laughs, but it also shows how innocent Mercedes is.
When Ms. Holiday visits the choir room Mercedes, embarrassed, shrinks into her seat and says, "Oh, no. Its the salad lady."
Sam: Sam's new girlfriend is cheating on him with her best female friend. Its pretty obvious that Santana is in love with Britney based on the girls performance of "Landslide," but he doesn't seem to notice, maybe because he doesn't care enough.
"Its pretty cool that our girlfriends are such good friends right," Sam says to Artie. "I wish you and I were that close." Its funny because he doesn't get it. Artie even knows something is going on. He gives Sam the side-eye. Again, this is partly due to Sam's inability to "read" certain situations.
When Santana approaches Brittany about starting a real relationship with her, Brittany tells her she can't because she's with Artie. Santana responds, "he's just a stupid boy." This reveals how Santana feels about Sam. He's just a "stupid boy," whom she can use as a beard and sexual object. He's nothing more to her than that. Sam may not be aware of the extent that he's being used, but I doubt he cares. He's also using Santana.
Samcedes: There's really nothing to say here. They both were background this episode, each getting about one or two lines. I can't think of anything.
Samcedes Episode Analysis: 2.14 Blame It On The Alcohol
Samcedes Episode Analysis: 2.14 Blame it on The Alcohol
by Akilah
Sam and Mercedes are background for the remainder of the 2nd arc of season 2, 2.14 - 2.16. Their respective story lines will reemerge in the 3rd arc, starting with episode 2.17
Mercedes: Mercedes decides to attend Rachel Berry's party because Santana and Brittany have decided to attend, which was only based on the assumption that alcohol will be served. At the party we see Mercedes playing beer pong, taking shots and dancing with friends while holding two red solo cups full of alcohol in her hands. Finn describes her and Tina as "happy girl drunks," and we see both girls sitting on the couch laughing.
Mercedes, like the rest of ND, gets a hangover the next day.
Sam: The first time we see Sam in the episode, he's making out on the couch with Santana at Rachel's party. Its clear that his relationship with Santana is predominately sexual. We see Sam slapping Santana's ass to the beat of Blaine and Rachel's duet. He's gotten much farther with Santana than he ever got with Quinn. He's able to explore his sexual side in this relationship, after being sexually repressed with Quinn.
Sam kisses Brittany during spin the bottle and Santana becomes possessive. It's not clear who shes really jealous of, Brittany or Sam.
Samcedes: After the group performs "Blame It on the Alcohol" Mr. Schuester has a talk with the club. Sam and Mercedes both give him a thumbs up at the same time. They are the only members of ND to do so.
Before performing "Tic Toc," Samcedes completes each others sentences. "We haven't had enough rehearsal," Sam says. "Or any at all," Mercedes completes.
Sam and Mercedes dance next to eachother for part of "Tic Toc."
by Akilah
Sam and Mercedes are background for the remainder of the 2nd arc of season 2, 2.14 - 2.16. Their respective story lines will reemerge in the 3rd arc, starting with episode 2.17
Mercedes: Mercedes decides to attend Rachel Berry's party because Santana and Brittany have decided to attend, which was only based on the assumption that alcohol will be served. At the party we see Mercedes playing beer pong, taking shots and dancing with friends while holding two red solo cups full of alcohol in her hands. Finn describes her and Tina as "happy girl drunks," and we see both girls sitting on the couch laughing.
Mercedes, like the rest of ND, gets a hangover the next day.
Sam: The first time we see Sam in the episode, he's making out on the couch with Santana at Rachel's party. Its clear that his relationship with Santana is predominately sexual. We see Sam slapping Santana's ass to the beat of Blaine and Rachel's duet. He's gotten much farther with Santana than he ever got with Quinn. He's able to explore his sexual side in this relationship, after being sexually repressed with Quinn.
Sam kisses Brittany during spin the bottle and Santana becomes possessive. It's not clear who shes really jealous of, Brittany or Sam.
Samcedes: After the group performs "Blame It on the Alcohol" Mr. Schuester has a talk with the club. Sam and Mercedes both give him a thumbs up at the same time. They are the only members of ND to do so.
Before performing "Tic Toc," Samcedes completes each others sentences. "We haven't had enough rehearsal," Sam says. "Or any at all," Mercedes completes.
Sam and Mercedes dance next to eachother for part of "Tic Toc."
Samcedes Episode Analysis: 2.13 Comeback (Part 2)
Samcedes Episode Analysis: 2.13 Comeback (Part 2)
By Akilah
Mercedes: While Sam was trying on a new persona, Mercedes was standing firm in who she is. In this episode we see Mercedes distinguish herself from her classmates as someone who refuses to conform to other people's expectations. She sings a song of self-acceptance and expresses her desire for someone to take her as she is.
Sue Sylvester is bored so she decides to destroy the glee club by having its members turn against each other. She goes for the obvious conflict, Mercedes versus Rachel. Sue asks both girls what it means to be a diva.
"Being a diva is all about attitude, something I know you're not short on," Mercedes tells Sue. "Its all about sassy fingers and shaking that weave and generally taking no nonsense from nobody." This is Mercedes philosophy. This is the face she shows the world. This is what she aspires to be. She's already a diva, but she doesn't quite fall in line with everything she said, at least not yet. Specifically the "taking no nonsense from nobody," part. Mercedes may not accept straight out disrespect, but she does allow the ND leadership to walk all over her sometimes. We'll see this in episode 2.17. But shes a work in progress.
Sue tells her that Rachel said she's not that talented. Sue has also told Rachel the same thing. Its lies, but its enough for both girls to fall for it. "Just when I thought we were friends," Mercedes tells Rachel. The frenemies are at it once again. There has been a "regression" in the Rachel/Mercedes relationship.
Mercedes sees Sam, as well as most of the other ND boys, walk into the choir room dressed as Justin Beiber. "Who bought tickets to crazy town." Mercedes says as she rolls her eyes and throws her head back. She hates inauthenticity. She's the only girl in ND, besides Lauren, who didn't dress like Rachel Berry via Britney. Mercedes is her own person and always will be.
Mercedes and Rachel sing "Take Me or Leave Me," these are Mercedes lyrics:
"Take me for what I am, who I was meant to be/ Take me baby or leave me/ A tiger in a cage can never see the sun, this diva needs her stage/ Baby lets have fun/ You are the one I choose, folks will kill to fill your shoes/ You'll love the limelight too, baby/ So be mine and don't waste my time/ No way can I be what I'm not/ Take me baby or leave me."
This song is about accepting who you are and telling your partner that they must accept you, flaws and all, or they can leave. Mercedes is who she is and will not change for anyone. She is authentic and hates inauthenticity. She is single, but from the song we learn the ground rules that Mercedes has already laid out for any future relationship. She knows her worth, and knows that anyone she chooses to be with is fortunate. She will not tolerate repression or someone trying to change who she is.
At the end of the song, Rachel and Mercedes hug. They are friends again. Mercedes talks about not taking crap, but shes very quick to make-up and pretend that all is well within ND. This hug is a contrast to episode 3.03, when Mercedes and Rachel compete for the role of Maria and Rachel wants to placate Mercedes with a hug. Mercedes refuses that time, finally no longer willing to accept second best. But this is still episode 2.13 and Mercedes isn't there yet. We will see Mercedes take steps toward becoming the diva she aspires to be in episode 2.17.
Samcedes: Sam goes from one repressive relationship predicated on popularity to another relationship that's even more repressive and is based solely on popularity and sex. Mercedes sings a song about being who she is and only accepting a relationship with someone who will accept her for all that she is. Sam desperately needs to listen to the lyrics of this song and learn a thing or two.
Mercedes says that being a diva is about attitude and taking no nonsense from nobody. Sam could learn from that as well. He's taken plenty of "nonsense" and disrespect from the girls he's been involved with as well as from Finn.
Mercedes could also learn from Sam. He proudly sings "Somebody to Love," and means it. He's vulnerable and wears his heart on his sleeve. Love is a good thing to Sam and he can teach Mercedes that opening herself up to that isn't so bad after all.
By Akilah
Mercedes: While Sam was trying on a new persona, Mercedes was standing firm in who she is. In this episode we see Mercedes distinguish herself from her classmates as someone who refuses to conform to other people's expectations. She sings a song of self-acceptance and expresses her desire for someone to take her as she is.
Sue Sylvester is bored so she decides to destroy the glee club by having its members turn against each other. She goes for the obvious conflict, Mercedes versus Rachel. Sue asks both girls what it means to be a diva.
"Being a diva is all about attitude, something I know you're not short on," Mercedes tells Sue. "Its all about sassy fingers and shaking that weave and generally taking no nonsense from nobody." This is Mercedes philosophy. This is the face she shows the world. This is what she aspires to be. She's already a diva, but she doesn't quite fall in line with everything she said, at least not yet. Specifically the "taking no nonsense from nobody," part. Mercedes may not accept straight out disrespect, but she does allow the ND leadership to walk all over her sometimes. We'll see this in episode 2.17. But shes a work in progress.
Sue tells her that Rachel said she's not that talented. Sue has also told Rachel the same thing. Its lies, but its enough for both girls to fall for it. "Just when I thought we were friends," Mercedes tells Rachel. The frenemies are at it once again. There has been a "regression" in the Rachel/Mercedes relationship.
Mercedes sees Sam, as well as most of the other ND boys, walk into the choir room dressed as Justin Beiber. "Who bought tickets to crazy town." Mercedes says as she rolls her eyes and throws her head back. She hates inauthenticity. She's the only girl in ND, besides Lauren, who didn't dress like Rachel Berry via Britney. Mercedes is her own person and always will be.
Mercedes and Rachel sing "Take Me or Leave Me," these are Mercedes lyrics:
"Take me for what I am, who I was meant to be/ Take me baby or leave me/ A tiger in a cage can never see the sun, this diva needs her stage/ Baby lets have fun/ You are the one I choose, folks will kill to fill your shoes/ You'll love the limelight too, baby/ So be mine and don't waste my time/ No way can I be what I'm not/ Take me baby or leave me."
This song is about accepting who you are and telling your partner that they must accept you, flaws and all, or they can leave. Mercedes is who she is and will not change for anyone. She is authentic and hates inauthenticity. She is single, but from the song we learn the ground rules that Mercedes has already laid out for any future relationship. She knows her worth, and knows that anyone she chooses to be with is fortunate. She will not tolerate repression or someone trying to change who she is.
At the end of the song, Rachel and Mercedes hug. They are friends again. Mercedes talks about not taking crap, but shes very quick to make-up and pretend that all is well within ND. This hug is a contrast to episode 3.03, when Mercedes and Rachel compete for the role of Maria and Rachel wants to placate Mercedes with a hug. Mercedes refuses that time, finally no longer willing to accept second best. But this is still episode 2.13 and Mercedes isn't there yet. We will see Mercedes take steps toward becoming the diva she aspires to be in episode 2.17.
Samcedes: Sam goes from one repressive relationship predicated on popularity to another relationship that's even more repressive and is based solely on popularity and sex. Mercedes sings a song about being who she is and only accepting a relationship with someone who will accept her for all that she is. Sam desperately needs to listen to the lyrics of this song and learn a thing or two.
Mercedes says that being a diva is about attitude and taking no nonsense from nobody. Sam could learn from that as well. He's taken plenty of "nonsense" and disrespect from the girls he's been involved with as well as from Finn.
Mercedes could also learn from Sam. He proudly sings "Somebody to Love," and means it. He's vulnerable and wears his heart on his sleeve. Love is a good thing to Sam and he can teach Mercedes that opening herself up to that isn't so bad after all.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Samcedes Episode Analysis: 2.13 Comeback (Part 1)
Samcedes Episodes Analysis: 2.13 Comeback (Part 1)
by Akilah
Sam: Mr. Scheuster writes "Regressar," on the board in the beginning of the episode. He says that it means to "come back." In this episode Sam tries to make a "comeback" into Quinn's heart. But what Mr. Schuester fails to point out is that "regressar" also means to regress. Sam's attempt to maintain Quinn's interests leads him to regress and undermine some of the character growth he has achieved thus far. This regression will put him into a new relationship that is an even more cynical version of the relationship he has with Quinn. But as the old adage goes, sometimes we take one step forward and two steps back. Let's look at Sam in 2.13.
Sam sees Quinn in the hallway and greets her with a kiss on the cheek. "I want to confirm our date on Friday at Color Me Mine," he says. Quinn stares at him in disbelief, "Wait, you were serious about that," she says. "It's painting coasters time," Sam says. Quinn looks at him like shes seeing him for the first time. Its as if she doesn't even know him or why shes dating him.
"So, we good for Friday?" Sam says. Quinn gives a reluctant "yeah." "I think so, I mean, I don't think I have anything else to do." Showing that she's not really interested in spending time with Sam. He's not enough to hold her attention any longer. She walks away with a fictitious smile, masking her disinterest in him.
Sam has a voice over and says "things have been weird ever since Quinn got Mono. People keep telling me that she must have kissed Finn, but I believe her when she told me what really happened." We then see Quinn and Sam sitting at the piano side by side, neither one looking at the other. Sam looks angry and is staring straight ahead. Quinn is looking out into the distance as she tells him her version of events. "I didn't kiss Finn, Sam. I saved his life." We see the story Quinn has fabricated. Finn is at his kissing booth and chokes on a gumball. Quinn comes to the rescue and sucks the ball out of his mouth.
"I totally almost choked on a gumball once," Sam says. Its sad to see how sincere he is. He desperately wants to believe her. He chooses to see the best in Quinn. We see Quinn's reaction and at first she looks guilty, like she knows she shouldn't be playing games with someone so earnest. Especially someone who really cares about her and sees the best in her. But then she laughs. She clearly thinks Sam is a joke.
"I just get the feeling that I'm losing her. I can't let that happen." We see Quinn greet Finn and she looks genuinely interested and happy to see him. Its a contrast to the way she greeted Sam earlier in the episode. Sam watches the whole thing, but he still isn't ready to admit what's happening. "Quinn's the best thing that happened to me since I got to this school." Sam doesn't say that Quinn is the best thing that ever happened to him because she isn't. He frames his relationship with her within the frame of "this school." The whole romance has been predicated on fulfilling certain social roles within Mckinely. Without the school, they have no frame and no relationship. Quinn has already given up her role as head cheerleader so Sam, as her popular football player boyfriend, has to give up his role as her leading man.
Sam knows that Quinn no longer has interest in him as he is, so he decides to become someone else. He picks a new role to play and this time its Justin Beiber. Sam performs "Baby," in the choir room. He says its an anthem and "sums up our generation." Really, "Baby" is Sam's anthem about Quinn. He sings acoustically with the guitar.
"I know you love me, I know you care/ Just shout whenever and I'll be there/ You want my love, you want my heart, and we will never ever be apart."
At this verse, Quinn looks disinterested. She rolls her eyes at Sam. Perhaps because these lyrics are not reflective of how she really feels about him. Her facial expressions read "no," as she looks at him. Sam then drops the guitar and the beat picks up.
"Are we an item, girl quit playing/ We're just friends, what are you saying/ Say there's another and look right in my eyes/ My first love broke my heart for the first time/ And I was like baby, no."
Quinn responds positively at this point. We can interpret this positive response as representative of the relevancy of the lyrics in this verse. This verse is much more reflective of what is actually going on in the Sam/Quinn relationship than the verse before, when Quinn responded negatively.
"For you I would have done whatever, and I just can't believe we ain't together/ I wanna play it cool but I'm losing you/ And I'll buy you anything, I'll buy you any ring/ Please stay, baby fix me/ And just shake me down until you wake me from this bad dream/ I'm going down, down, down/ I can't believe my first love won't be around/ I thought you'd always be mine, I'm gone."
The song sums up the Quinn/Sam relationship quite well. It is their theme song. Quinn was Sam's "first love" (or the closest thing he had to love at this point) who broke his heart "for the first time." He knows that he's "losing her" but isn't quite ready to believe it yet.
Finn and Sam have a confrontation in the locker room. Finn says that "Justin Bieber sucks," and is for 12 year olds. Sam tells him that he shouldn't be "picking up on other guys girlfriends." Finn takes a jab at Sam, "I didn't kiss your girlfriend. She saved my life." Sam is definitely being made a fool of and everyone knows it.
Finn sits next to Quinn in the choir room and assumes that she'll go out with him on Friday. Quinn tells him that she hasn't decided what shes doing yet. Apparently the two have talked about going out before. She was planning to go behind Sam's back again. But now that Sam has taken on this new persona, she has renewed interest in him.
Sam and some of the new members of the Justin Bieber Experience sing "Someone To Love," These are Sam's lyrics:
"For you I'd run a thousand miles, just to get where you are/ I just need somebody to love/ I don't need too much/ I don't need nothing else/ I promise girl I swear, I just need somebody to love."
Sam is someone who needs love and loves being in love. Love is an essential part of his existence. Sam is not someone who wants to be alone. He is proud to say out loud that he needs love. He's pretty much the opposite of our favorite diva, in this regard.
After watching the performance Quinn tells Finn that she can't do Friday. She then tells Sam that she'll be there for their date at Color Me Mine. Santana then approaches him. "So, how's everything going between you and Quinn," Santana asks. "Fine," Sam replies. Santana, always blunt, always able to "read" people and situations says, "No they're not."
Later, Quinn tells Finn that she chooses Sam. "Because of the Justin Bieber Experience?" Finn knows Quinn. She tells him that Sam is an artist, then flirtatiously whispers in his ear, "It really turns me on." If Quinn was ready to move on from Finn then she wouldn't still be flirting with him. Quinn is a girl who wants to maintain power. She doesn't want to let go of Sam and she doesn't want to let go of Finn either. Quinn wants to win, and by having both boys, she feels she can't lose.
At the library Sam shows Santana his James Earl Jones impressions. She gives him a backhanded compliment then tells him that his impressions reveal that he's actually a dork. She hit Sam at the jugular. He knows that he's a dork but tries so hard to hide it. He looks quite sad about Santana's statements, which is just what she wants.
"Which is where I come in. I hereby offer my services as a mistress." Sam tells her that he's dating Quinn. "News just in. She cheated on you." Sam denies it. "Look, I know you're dumber than a bag of wet hair," again, Santana harps on Sam's insecurities. She's very effective in her manipulation of him. She knows that she can get him to do what she want by focusing on the things he feels bad about.
"You know in your heart that she's lying. That gumball story was insane. You're choosing to believe it so you can still be with her." Santana may be a manipulative bitch, but shes honest when she wants to be and can read people like a book. Sam desperately needs to learn how to "read" people in order to become aware of their ulterior motives. This is one valuable thing that Santana will teach him in their miserable and fraudulent relationship.
Santana sweetens the deal, she offers sex and the chance "to show that pastry bag Finn that he can't mess with Sam Evans [...] because you have some buzz at this school." Santana KO's with a one-two punch. She hit on two things that drive Sam, his quest for popularity and the ability to beat Finn at something. But remember, when Sam lets those two things motivate him, he usually ends up in trouble. "Think about it," Santana says.
At the end of the episode Quinn asks Sam if she could borrow one of his shirts for their date. "We're not going to Color Me Mine, and I'm not your boyfriend," Sam says. Quinn is shocked, "Why." Sam turns to her and looks her in the face, "Because you can't look me in the eye right now and tell me that you didn't make out with Finn." Say what you will about Santana, but shes good for something. "I... I want to be with you Sam," Quinn says.
"Forget it okay. No harm no foul." Sam gives up Quinn pretty easily once he's willing to see the truth. He then speaks Navi but remembers that Santana told him not to speak it anymore. Again, Sam is choosing to be with a girl who wants to repress him, and he's going along with it in the name of popularity. This is a "regression" of his character.
Sam walks away from Quinn and the girl is left standing alone in the hall. She tried so hard to win, but ended up losing anyway. Its quite sad for Quinn more than it is for Sam. Having Sam in her life was never really about Sam, it was always about Quinn having control and winning her game. But she lost, again.
"I thought you'd always be mine. I'm gone," plays in the background. The Quinn/Sam union has officially ended.
by Akilah
Sam: Mr. Scheuster writes "Regressar," on the board in the beginning of the episode. He says that it means to "come back." In this episode Sam tries to make a "comeback" into Quinn's heart. But what Mr. Schuester fails to point out is that "regressar" also means to regress. Sam's attempt to maintain Quinn's interests leads him to regress and undermine some of the character growth he has achieved thus far. This regression will put him into a new relationship that is an even more cynical version of the relationship he has with Quinn. But as the old adage goes, sometimes we take one step forward and two steps back. Let's look at Sam in 2.13.
Sam sees Quinn in the hallway and greets her with a kiss on the cheek. "I want to confirm our date on Friday at Color Me Mine," he says. Quinn stares at him in disbelief, "Wait, you were serious about that," she says. "It's painting coasters time," Sam says. Quinn looks at him like shes seeing him for the first time. Its as if she doesn't even know him or why shes dating him.
"So, we good for Friday?" Sam says. Quinn gives a reluctant "yeah." "I think so, I mean, I don't think I have anything else to do." Showing that she's not really interested in spending time with Sam. He's not enough to hold her attention any longer. She walks away with a fictitious smile, masking her disinterest in him.
Sam has a voice over and says "things have been weird ever since Quinn got Mono. People keep telling me that she must have kissed Finn, but I believe her when she told me what really happened." We then see Quinn and Sam sitting at the piano side by side, neither one looking at the other. Sam looks angry and is staring straight ahead. Quinn is looking out into the distance as she tells him her version of events. "I didn't kiss Finn, Sam. I saved his life." We see the story Quinn has fabricated. Finn is at his kissing booth and chokes on a gumball. Quinn comes to the rescue and sucks the ball out of his mouth.
"I totally almost choked on a gumball once," Sam says. Its sad to see how sincere he is. He desperately wants to believe her. He chooses to see the best in Quinn. We see Quinn's reaction and at first she looks guilty, like she knows she shouldn't be playing games with someone so earnest. Especially someone who really cares about her and sees the best in her. But then she laughs. She clearly thinks Sam is a joke.
"I just get the feeling that I'm losing her. I can't let that happen." We see Quinn greet Finn and she looks genuinely interested and happy to see him. Its a contrast to the way she greeted Sam earlier in the episode. Sam watches the whole thing, but he still isn't ready to admit what's happening. "Quinn's the best thing that happened to me since I got to this school." Sam doesn't say that Quinn is the best thing that ever happened to him because she isn't. He frames his relationship with her within the frame of "this school." The whole romance has been predicated on fulfilling certain social roles within Mckinely. Without the school, they have no frame and no relationship. Quinn has already given up her role as head cheerleader so Sam, as her popular football player boyfriend, has to give up his role as her leading man.
Sam knows that Quinn no longer has interest in him as he is, so he decides to become someone else. He picks a new role to play and this time its Justin Beiber. Sam performs "Baby," in the choir room. He says its an anthem and "sums up our generation." Really, "Baby" is Sam's anthem about Quinn. He sings acoustically with the guitar.
"I know you love me, I know you care/ Just shout whenever and I'll be there/ You want my love, you want my heart, and we will never ever be apart."
At this verse, Quinn looks disinterested. She rolls her eyes at Sam. Perhaps because these lyrics are not reflective of how she really feels about him. Her facial expressions read "no," as she looks at him. Sam then drops the guitar and the beat picks up.
"Are we an item, girl quit playing/ We're just friends, what are you saying/ Say there's another and look right in my eyes/ My first love broke my heart for the first time/ And I was like baby, no."
Quinn responds positively at this point. We can interpret this positive response as representative of the relevancy of the lyrics in this verse. This verse is much more reflective of what is actually going on in the Sam/Quinn relationship than the verse before, when Quinn responded negatively.
"For you I would have done whatever, and I just can't believe we ain't together/ I wanna play it cool but I'm losing you/ And I'll buy you anything, I'll buy you any ring/ Please stay, baby fix me/ And just shake me down until you wake me from this bad dream/ I'm going down, down, down/ I can't believe my first love won't be around/ I thought you'd always be mine, I'm gone."
The song sums up the Quinn/Sam relationship quite well. It is their theme song. Quinn was Sam's "first love" (or the closest thing he had to love at this point) who broke his heart "for the first time." He knows that he's "losing her" but isn't quite ready to believe it yet.
Finn and Sam have a confrontation in the locker room. Finn says that "Justin Bieber sucks," and is for 12 year olds. Sam tells him that he shouldn't be "picking up on other guys girlfriends." Finn takes a jab at Sam, "I didn't kiss your girlfriend. She saved my life." Sam is definitely being made a fool of and everyone knows it.
Finn sits next to Quinn in the choir room and assumes that she'll go out with him on Friday. Quinn tells him that she hasn't decided what shes doing yet. Apparently the two have talked about going out before. She was planning to go behind Sam's back again. But now that Sam has taken on this new persona, she has renewed interest in him.
Sam and some of the new members of the Justin Bieber Experience sing "Someone To Love," These are Sam's lyrics:
"For you I'd run a thousand miles, just to get where you are/ I just need somebody to love/ I don't need too much/ I don't need nothing else/ I promise girl I swear, I just need somebody to love."
Sam is someone who needs love and loves being in love. Love is an essential part of his existence. Sam is not someone who wants to be alone. He is proud to say out loud that he needs love. He's pretty much the opposite of our favorite diva, in this regard.
After watching the performance Quinn tells Finn that she can't do Friday. She then tells Sam that she'll be there for their date at Color Me Mine. Santana then approaches him. "So, how's everything going between you and Quinn," Santana asks. "Fine," Sam replies. Santana, always blunt, always able to "read" people and situations says, "No they're not."
Later, Quinn tells Finn that she chooses Sam. "Because of the Justin Bieber Experience?" Finn knows Quinn. She tells him that Sam is an artist, then flirtatiously whispers in his ear, "It really turns me on." If Quinn was ready to move on from Finn then she wouldn't still be flirting with him. Quinn is a girl who wants to maintain power. She doesn't want to let go of Sam and she doesn't want to let go of Finn either. Quinn wants to win, and by having both boys, she feels she can't lose.
At the library Sam shows Santana his James Earl Jones impressions. She gives him a backhanded compliment then tells him that his impressions reveal that he's actually a dork. She hit Sam at the jugular. He knows that he's a dork but tries so hard to hide it. He looks quite sad about Santana's statements, which is just what she wants.
"Which is where I come in. I hereby offer my services as a mistress." Sam tells her that he's dating Quinn. "News just in. She cheated on you." Sam denies it. "Look, I know you're dumber than a bag of wet hair," again, Santana harps on Sam's insecurities. She's very effective in her manipulation of him. She knows that she can get him to do what she want by focusing on the things he feels bad about.
"You know in your heart that she's lying. That gumball story was insane. You're choosing to believe it so you can still be with her." Santana may be a manipulative bitch, but shes honest when she wants to be and can read people like a book. Sam desperately needs to learn how to "read" people in order to become aware of their ulterior motives. This is one valuable thing that Santana will teach him in their miserable and fraudulent relationship.
Santana sweetens the deal, she offers sex and the chance "to show that pastry bag Finn that he can't mess with Sam Evans [...] because you have some buzz at this school." Santana KO's with a one-two punch. She hit on two things that drive Sam, his quest for popularity and the ability to beat Finn at something. But remember, when Sam lets those two things motivate him, he usually ends up in trouble. "Think about it," Santana says.
At the end of the episode Quinn asks Sam if she could borrow one of his shirts for their date. "We're not going to Color Me Mine, and I'm not your boyfriend," Sam says. Quinn is shocked, "Why." Sam turns to her and looks her in the face, "Because you can't look me in the eye right now and tell me that you didn't make out with Finn." Say what you will about Santana, but shes good for something. "I... I want to be with you Sam," Quinn says.
"Forget it okay. No harm no foul." Sam gives up Quinn pretty easily once he's willing to see the truth. He then speaks Navi but remembers that Santana told him not to speak it anymore. Again, Sam is choosing to be with a girl who wants to repress him, and he's going along with it in the name of popularity. This is a "regression" of his character.
Sam walks away from Quinn and the girl is left standing alone in the hall. She tried so hard to win, but ended up losing anyway. Its quite sad for Quinn more than it is for Sam. Having Sam in her life was never really about Sam, it was always about Quinn having control and winning her game. But she lost, again.
"I thought you'd always be mine. I'm gone," plays in the background. The Quinn/Sam union has officially ended.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Samcedes Episode Analysis: 2.12 Silly Little Love Songs
Samcedes Episode Analysis: 2.12 Silly Love Songs
by Akilah
Mercedes: "Guys, I want you to pick a partner and you're going to sing to them what you think is the world's greatest love song," Mr. Schue says, giving out that weeks assignment. Mercedes rolls her eyes and throws her head back in exasperation. She has no interest in this assignment. Mainly because shes single and it probably makes her feel alienated within the glee club, who all are in and out of love triangles with each other. Especially now that Kurt is gone, Mercedes feels more left out and lonelier than ever and Mr. Schue's assignment is not helping. But Mercedes also has no interests in the assignment because she probably thinks love songs are "silly." The assignment to her seems trite and pointless. Shes not in love with anyone, so love songs don't have very much significance to her. Mercedes may not like being single, but shes not exactly open to love, or love songs, either.
Finn tells the glee club that he's going to set up a kissing booth for charity so he can raise funds for the glee club. Mercedes makes a face, obviously insulted that she and the rest of the glee club are Finn's "charity." She then reads him, "Don't even act like you want to help this glee club out, you just want to kiss a bunch of girls." Exasperated, she waves her hand and then finger combs her hair in diva like fashion. Santana chimes in, "I've kissed him, and can I just say, not worth a buck." Mercedes is the only one who laughs at Santana's remark. We see that these girls have a certain connection. They understand each other in a way that no one else in ND does. They have both called Finn (the ND leader) out on his crap.
Santana and Mercedes aren't exactly friends yet, though. Santana takes her joke too far and the rest of ND give her a taste of her own medicine, calling her a bitch, and repeating some of the mean things she said to and about other people. Mercedes watches it unfold in amusement. She doesn't participate. She quitely enjoys watching the show, as she undoubtedly watches the usual ND drama, including the love triangles, cheating and scandals that plague the glee club. Mercedes takes all of it in and probably feels above it all, as well as left out.
Mercedes is at a slumber party with Rachel and Kurt. The three of them sit on the bed. Mercedes is at one end, Kurt is at the other. Rachel sits between them. This is visually symbolizing the distance that has grown between Kurt and Mercedes. Kurt and Mercedes have lost a certain amount of communication with eachother, but Rachel is able to bridge this gap. Kurt is able to communicate with Rachel in a way that he doesn't with Mercedes. We see that in episode 2.09 when he came to Rachel to help him choose a solo, and then later the two had a private conversation at the Regionals competition. Mercedes is able to express things to Rachel that she doesn't with Kurt. We see that in upcoming episodes, 2.17 and 2.20. Rachel bridges the gap in communication between the two. This is the closes Kurt and Mercedes will come to being alone for the rest of the season, and it involves Rachel Berry.
Kurt discusses his situation with Blaine and realizes that the two aren't acutally dating. "Don't worry, we've all been there. I know I have, with you," Mercedes reminds him of the time she thought the two of them were dating in season one. Here, we see Mercedes slowly letting her guard down, opening up about love and romantic feelings. She is showing some vulnerability. Rachel then goes on a tirade about her and Finn. Mercedes reminds her that they are there to talk about Kurt. "You two are so boy crazy, look at me. I don't have a date for Valentines day and I could give a rip," Mercedes says with her best diva face. Mercedes has opened up a bit, but now she returns to her defense mechanism of deflection. She uses that statement to show that she doesn't care about being single on Valentines day, but really, she feels a bit rejected.
"Look at our idols [...] they all became stars while they were single. They took all the pain and loneliness and they put it into their music. People can relate to it. Everyone feels lonely at times." Here, Mercedes finally admits to feeling lonely and being in "pain." What's interesting is that while she says this, her back is facing Kurt and Rachel. She's looking away from them and out into space. They can not see her face, so there is no need for her diva mask. When she speaks, her face is open and you can see the longing in her eyes as she stares off into the distance. Mercedes may not be ready to admit that she wants someone in her life, but admitting that she does in fact feel loneliness and pain is a step in the right direction. In episode 2.07 she couldn't even admit that much to herself.
"Sometimes you have to choose between love and talent." This statement appears to be foreshadowing for all three of them. Perhaps they will all have to make that choice by the end of season 3. It will be interesting to see what happens with these three characters and their respective love interests. "As far as I'm concerned, we all need to fly solo for awhile," Mercedes as well as Rachel and Kurt embrace their single status with the hopes of finding love someday soon.
There is a song playing in the background of this scene. Its called "Tell Him." Lets look at the lyrics.
"I know something about love/ You've got to want it bad/ If that guys got into your blood, go out and get him/ If you want him to become the very part of you/ That makes you want to breathe/ Here's the thing you've got to do/ Tell him that you're never gonna leave him/ Tell him that you're always going to love him/ Tell him, Tell him, Tell him right now."
"Tell Him," is about expressing your feelings in order to get what you want when it comes to romance. What's interesting about this song is that Mercedes doesn't find love until she is willing to say that she wants it. She admits her desire for love and romance in episode 2.20, when she tells Rachel exactly what she wants, and she ends up getting it.
Mercedes and Rachel sit next to eachother in most of the choir room scenes, signifying their new alliance. They are both single divas and friends with Kurt. It may not be a very deep friendship, but its one that works for both of them for now. Rachel decides to sing a love song to herself, "Firework," and Mercedes joins her at the end. The two of them hold hands and sing aloud before the other girls of ND join them.
"Do you ever feel already buried deep/ Six feet under screams but no one seems to hear a thing/ Do you know that there's still a chance for you/ 'cause there's a spark in you that you've just got to ignite the light and let it shine/ just own the night like the 4th of July/ come one let your colors burst/ make them go oh, oh, oh/ you're gonna leave them falling down."
These are the lyrics that are televised. Rachel is singing the song to herself but also to her single friends Kurt and Mercedes. Mercedes feels ignored (buried deep) and no that one notices her (six feet under screams... no one seems to hear a thing). But the song tells her that she will have to embrace who she is (spark in you that you've just got to ignite) and run with it. When she does that she will be impossible to ignore. Really, all the power is within Mercedes already. She has love inside of her, she just has to be willing to show it and embrace it. When this happens, someone will notice and start "falling" for her.
Later, Mercedes joins Rachel, Tina and Mike at a Valentines day concert the Warblers are hosting at Breadstix. During the peformance, Kurt comes over and hugs both Mercedes and Rachel. All three are "single with hope," as Kurt put it. And the hope part is important. Mercedes now has "hope" that she will find someone. It was more than she had in the first arc of season 2.
The song that the Warbler's perform is "Silly Love Songs."
"You'd think that people would have had enough of silly love songs/ But I look around me and I see that isn't so/ Some people want to fill the world with silly love songs/ And what's wrong with that/ I'd like to know, cause here I go again/ I love you/ Love doesn't come in a minute/ Sometimes it doesn't come at all/ I only know that when I'm in it/ It isn't silly, no love isn't silly at all."
Love songs seemed silly to Mercedes in the beginning of the episode, but by the end, she has embraced both Rachel's and Blaine's love songs. Just like the songs, Mercedes is taking one step closer to embracing love.
by Akilah
Mercedes: "Guys, I want you to pick a partner and you're going to sing to them what you think is the world's greatest love song," Mr. Schue says, giving out that weeks assignment. Mercedes rolls her eyes and throws her head back in exasperation. She has no interest in this assignment. Mainly because shes single and it probably makes her feel alienated within the glee club, who all are in and out of love triangles with each other. Especially now that Kurt is gone, Mercedes feels more left out and lonelier than ever and Mr. Schue's assignment is not helping. But Mercedes also has no interests in the assignment because she probably thinks love songs are "silly." The assignment to her seems trite and pointless. Shes not in love with anyone, so love songs don't have very much significance to her. Mercedes may not like being single, but shes not exactly open to love, or love songs, either.
Finn tells the glee club that he's going to set up a kissing booth for charity so he can raise funds for the glee club. Mercedes makes a face, obviously insulted that she and the rest of the glee club are Finn's "charity." She then reads him, "Don't even act like you want to help this glee club out, you just want to kiss a bunch of girls." Exasperated, she waves her hand and then finger combs her hair in diva like fashion. Santana chimes in, "I've kissed him, and can I just say, not worth a buck." Mercedes is the only one who laughs at Santana's remark. We see that these girls have a certain connection. They understand each other in a way that no one else in ND does. They have both called Finn (the ND leader) out on his crap.
Santana and Mercedes aren't exactly friends yet, though. Santana takes her joke too far and the rest of ND give her a taste of her own medicine, calling her a bitch, and repeating some of the mean things she said to and about other people. Mercedes watches it unfold in amusement. She doesn't participate. She quitely enjoys watching the show, as she undoubtedly watches the usual ND drama, including the love triangles, cheating and scandals that plague the glee club. Mercedes takes all of it in and probably feels above it all, as well as left out.
Mercedes is at a slumber party with Rachel and Kurt. The three of them sit on the bed. Mercedes is at one end, Kurt is at the other. Rachel sits between them. This is visually symbolizing the distance that has grown between Kurt and Mercedes. Kurt and Mercedes have lost a certain amount of communication with eachother, but Rachel is able to bridge this gap. Kurt is able to communicate with Rachel in a way that he doesn't with Mercedes. We see that in episode 2.09 when he came to Rachel to help him choose a solo, and then later the two had a private conversation at the Regionals competition. Mercedes is able to express things to Rachel that she doesn't with Kurt. We see that in upcoming episodes, 2.17 and 2.20. Rachel bridges the gap in communication between the two. This is the closes Kurt and Mercedes will come to being alone for the rest of the season, and it involves Rachel Berry.
Kurt discusses his situation with Blaine and realizes that the two aren't acutally dating. "Don't worry, we've all been there. I know I have, with you," Mercedes reminds him of the time she thought the two of them were dating in season one. Here, we see Mercedes slowly letting her guard down, opening up about love and romantic feelings. She is showing some vulnerability. Rachel then goes on a tirade about her and Finn. Mercedes reminds her that they are there to talk about Kurt. "You two are so boy crazy, look at me. I don't have a date for Valentines day and I could give a rip," Mercedes says with her best diva face. Mercedes has opened up a bit, but now she returns to her defense mechanism of deflection. She uses that statement to show that she doesn't care about being single on Valentines day, but really, she feels a bit rejected.
"Look at our idols [...] they all became stars while they were single. They took all the pain and loneliness and they put it into their music. People can relate to it. Everyone feels lonely at times." Here, Mercedes finally admits to feeling lonely and being in "pain." What's interesting is that while she says this, her back is facing Kurt and Rachel. She's looking away from them and out into space. They can not see her face, so there is no need for her diva mask. When she speaks, her face is open and you can see the longing in her eyes as she stares off into the distance. Mercedes may not be ready to admit that she wants someone in her life, but admitting that she does in fact feel loneliness and pain is a step in the right direction. In episode 2.07 she couldn't even admit that much to herself.
"Sometimes you have to choose between love and talent." This statement appears to be foreshadowing for all three of them. Perhaps they will all have to make that choice by the end of season 3. It will be interesting to see what happens with these three characters and their respective love interests. "As far as I'm concerned, we all need to fly solo for awhile," Mercedes as well as Rachel and Kurt embrace their single status with the hopes of finding love someday soon.
There is a song playing in the background of this scene. Its called "Tell Him." Lets look at the lyrics.
"I know something about love/ You've got to want it bad/ If that guys got into your blood, go out and get him/ If you want him to become the very part of you/ That makes you want to breathe/ Here's the thing you've got to do/ Tell him that you're never gonna leave him/ Tell him that you're always going to love him/ Tell him, Tell him, Tell him right now."
"Tell Him," is about expressing your feelings in order to get what you want when it comes to romance. What's interesting about this song is that Mercedes doesn't find love until she is willing to say that she wants it. She admits her desire for love and romance in episode 2.20, when she tells Rachel exactly what she wants, and she ends up getting it.
Mercedes and Rachel sit next to eachother in most of the choir room scenes, signifying their new alliance. They are both single divas and friends with Kurt. It may not be a very deep friendship, but its one that works for both of them for now. Rachel decides to sing a love song to herself, "Firework," and Mercedes joins her at the end. The two of them hold hands and sing aloud before the other girls of ND join them.
"Do you ever feel already buried deep/ Six feet under screams but no one seems to hear a thing/ Do you know that there's still a chance for you/ 'cause there's a spark in you that you've just got to ignite the light and let it shine/ just own the night like the 4th of July/ come one let your colors burst/ make them go oh, oh, oh/ you're gonna leave them falling down."
These are the lyrics that are televised. Rachel is singing the song to herself but also to her single friends Kurt and Mercedes. Mercedes feels ignored (buried deep) and no that one notices her (six feet under screams... no one seems to hear a thing). But the song tells her that she will have to embrace who she is (spark in you that you've just got to ignite) and run with it. When she does that she will be impossible to ignore. Really, all the power is within Mercedes already. She has love inside of her, she just has to be willing to show it and embrace it. When this happens, someone will notice and start "falling" for her.
Later, Mercedes joins Rachel, Tina and Mike at a Valentines day concert the Warblers are hosting at Breadstix. During the peformance, Kurt comes over and hugs both Mercedes and Rachel. All three are "single with hope," as Kurt put it. And the hope part is important. Mercedes now has "hope" that she will find someone. It was more than she had in the first arc of season 2.
The song that the Warbler's perform is "Silly Love Songs."
"You'd think that people would have had enough of silly love songs/ But I look around me and I see that isn't so/ Some people want to fill the world with silly love songs/ And what's wrong with that/ I'd like to know, cause here I go again/ I love you/ Love doesn't come in a minute/ Sometimes it doesn't come at all/ I only know that when I'm in it/ It isn't silly, no love isn't silly at all."
Love songs seemed silly to Mercedes in the beginning of the episode, but by the end, she has embraced both Rachel's and Blaine's love songs. Just like the songs, Mercedes is taking one step closer to embracing love.
Sam: Finn decides that he wants to win Quinn back from Sam. “Game on,” he says. This is another game for Finn, an Sam is going to be playing along whether he wants to or not.
“You're boyfriend's boy,” Finn says to Quinn at his kissing booth. He's not completely wrong. Sam is not a man yet and still has a lot of growing up to do. Sam sees the two of them talking and becomes suspicious. He questions Quinn, who denies it. She tells him that she is looking for a classic love song to sing to him for that weeks assignment. Its interesting that she doesn't already have one in mind. If she loved him then she wouldn't have to look so hard.
“Everyone thinks I'm dumb,” Sam says. Quinn hesitates, “Not... everyone.” Quinn clearly thinks he is. Its evident by her hesitation. Also evident by her belief that she can keep him from discovering that she kissed Finn. Finn also thinks Sam is dumb; he tells Quinn that Sam “will believe anything you tell him.” What we learn here is that Sam is insecure about his intelligence. This insecurity most likely stems from the fact that he is dyslexic and has a learning disability. Sam isn't really dumb, but he can't always see people's ulterior motives. He can't “read” them, due to the symbolic relationship dyslexia he suffers within the narrative. Unable to “read” people, Sam takes them at face value. But he is growing and learning, and he's starting to understand that Quinn isn't all that shes cracked up to be.
Quinn is no longer a Cheerio. She wears street clothes instead of her cheer leading uniform, meaning she can no longer play the role of “head cheerleader.” Her true self is starting to be revealed, and Sam is finally able to see her for the first time. “You play it cool, but you're ambitious. You like being the queen bee and you think that being with the star quarterback is going to put you up there, whether you're wearing a Cheerios uniform or not.” He reads her pretty well, but he fails to realize that its more than that. That Quinn actually has feelings for Finn that she never had for Sam. “I'm pretty but I ain't dumb,” Sam says, revealing that he knows more than he lets on. Perhaps he's been willfully ignorant, to a certain extent, within his relationship with Quinn.
Sam wants Quinn to kiss Finn in front of him and she agrees. Sam wants her to do so because he still needs things spelled out for him. He thinks if he sees it first hand then he will know the answer. The two kiss, they share a small peck, but its their facial expressions after that give it away. Sam only focuses on the kiss an misses the chemistry and look of lust the two share after separating. “Satisfied,” Quinn asks. “Yup,” Sam replies. They walk off but Quinn turns and runs back to Finn. She uses the excuse of leaving her purse. Sam scratches his head in confusion. He doesn't realize that his girlfriend just made a date to cheat on him with Finn.
When Finn and Quinn meet, Quinn tells Finn that she “thinks” she loves Sam. Finn tells her that if she did she wouldn't be there with him. Quinn does not love Sam and never has.
Santana, the opposite of Sam, can read people like a book. She takes it upon herself to spell it out for Sam. Explaining in the choir room that Mono is passed through kissing, especially when “tongue” is involved. Both Finn and Quinn have mono symptoms. “It was only a peck,” Sam says. He still doesn't quite get it, but Santana will be there to explain it all to him in the next episode.
At the end, Sam is left alone at the Warblers concert. He is the only single guy in the audience. Puck has Lauren, Artie has Britney, Mike has Tina. There are three single girls, Santana, Rachel and Mercedes, all lined up in a row, sitting next to each other. There is a wall between Santana that separates her from Rachel and Santana, visually suggesting her isolation, at least Rachel and Mercedes have each other. Santana looks around and sees Sam sitting alone. Quinn may not have much use to Sam in her life any longer, but Santana does.
Samcedes: In Rachel's song “Firework,” we get this verse:
Maybe your reason why all the doors are closed
So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road
Like a lightning bolt, your heart will glow
And when it's time, you'll know
So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road
Like a lightning bolt, your heart will glow
And when it's time, you'll know
Really, this song could be about both Sam and Mercedes. Mercedes is alone and feels isolated, “doors are closed” in her life when it comes to love. Sam is in a relationship that's leading to a closing door. But its because they have yet to find “the perfect road,” that leads them to each other. And when they do cross paths, an “when it's time,” they'll both “know” that they were what they have been looking for all along.
But more importantly in this episode, we see guarded Mercedes starting to open up a bit, and we see completely open Sam starting to become a bit more guarded and suspicious. These two are like opposites. They aren't on the same “road” yet, but they're getting there.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Samcedes Episode Analysis: 2.11 The Sue Sylvester Shuffle
Samcedes Episode Analysis: 2.11 The Sue Sylvester Shuffle
by Akilah
Mercedes: Mercedes gets coffee with Rachel, Kurt and Blaine at the Lima Bean. She's no longer Kurt and Blaine's third wheel. Kurt has also made friends with Rachel, who adds a fourth to their party. This seems to be a much more comfortable setting for Mercedes, its a contrast from the Breadstix scene in 2.07, where she was clearly the odd man out when having dinner with Kurt and Blaine. This also appears to be the start of a friendship between Mercedes and Rachel. It may very well be a friendship of convience; they're both friends with Kurt and they're both single. But it is a friendship nontheless, and we will see more of it in upcoming episodes.
Mercedes and Rachel are distraught about the fighting between the football team and the glee club. They both feel bad for the boys on the football team who will most likely be unable to play in their championship game. They tell Kurt and Blaine that all the football players who are not in New Directions have quit. This has created a low morale in ND.
Blaine, who happens to be a football fan, tells them that they only need nine players on a team in order to play. Mercedes and Rachel exchange glances, they have the same idea. They later present their idea to New Directions, "We want to join the team. All of us glee girls. We want to join the football team, and we want to play in the championship." The boys are reluctant at first but when they realize that the girls are serious and have put some thought into it, they are grateful. Coach Bieste decides to let the girls play.
Mercedes, Rachel, Tina and Lauren are a contrast to Quinn, Santana and Britney who decided to quit glee club in order to stay with the Cheerios. Mercedes and the other ND girls, excluding the "unholy trinity," displayed loyalty to ND. They also sacrificed their safety by playing football, in order to help their fellow glee club members who were bummed about not being able to play in the championship game. These four ladies are courageous and loyal, and it does not go unnoticed by the football team. The boys thank them and they all exchange "high fives."
Sam: Finn's jersey number is 5, Sam's is 6. He is literally the next in line after Finn. Finn has been competing with Sam throughout the first arc of season 2. Sam, who has finally stepped out of Finn's shadow, is no longer interested in competing with Finn for the role of QB. Finn, who still wants to compete with Sam, has finally found a playing field that gives him an advantage over Sam, and that's Quinn Fabrey.
Finn confronts Quinn when she chooses the Cheerios over glee club. "You don't have to be a Cheerio to be cool," he tells her. "You are so naive," Quinn replies, "this whole school is about labels." Here, Quinn reveals her primary motivation that has determined most of her actions in the first arc of the season. She has been playing a role, adherring to the rules that determine "labels" and popularity at the school. "I didn't realize you were so freaking weak," Finn says when he sees that she is not interested in being loyal to the glee club. Finn can read Quinn in ways that Sam cannot. Sam only knows Quinn as the role she chooses to play.
"What did you say," Sam asks, "why are you yelling at my girlfriend?" Sam is ready to fight Finn. This is the second fight Sam has attempted in the episode. The first was after Artie was slushied by the football team. Sam was prepared to fight in order to protect and defend his friend. Again, Sam stands by his moral code of honor, integrity and loyalty. Finn may be correct in his assesment of Quinn, but Sam will not tolerate anyone disrespecting his girlfriend. It goes against his honor code.
Sam tells Finn, "Maybe its time for a change at the top [...] You had your feet in both worlds for over a year and never been able to bring them together. Maybe someone else could." Sam shoves Finn and Finn shoves back. Coach Bieste and Mr. Schue pull the two boys apart. We see that Sam may no longer be interested in being QB just for popularity, but that he is interested in being a leader. Sam wants to bring peace amongst the football team and the glee club. He wants ND to be respected in the school. And he doesn't want his friends to be bullied. Sam is a natural leader. He wants to lead with intentions of selflessness, while Finn wants to lead mainly for selfish reasons.
Sam may want peace, but he's also willing to fight if he feels it necessary. Earlier in the episode Artie was slushied by the non-glee football players. Sam and the rest of the glee boys decided to confront their team mates who attacked him. When the other football players walked into the choir room, Sam was the first to respond. "Put up your fist because you and I are gonna do some dancing." Sam is ready to retaliate in Artie's honor. It is similar to the way he attacked Karofsky, the only glee clubber to actually do so. Sam is a fighter, but he fights for the good of others and the things he believes in.
Sam was held back in that particular instance by Finn, who put his arm up to block Sam. "I've got this," Finn says. Sam knocks the other boy's arm away. He is realizing that Finn is not as much of a friend as he originally thought. He distrust Finn. Sam is beginnig to read and see the people around him for they truly are. As long as Sam is in Finn's shadow, Finn will "block" him from reaching his full potential.
Later during the championship game, Finn passes the role of QB over to Sam. Sam is surprised but he takes on the role. Finn needs him to hold his place while he attempts to persuade the cheerios to come back to glee. Finn has now given up his competition with Sam as far as leadership and QB is concerned. He has found something else he is more interested in, Quinn.
At the end of the episode, Quinn tells Finn that she remembers why she "loved him," and then kisses him. This is significant because Quinn never said she loved Sam, but that she has probably been in love with Finn this whole time. Since Quinn has shed her cheerios uniform, she is now exposed and bare. She has given up her role of popular head cheerleader. In this mode, her true wants and desires are revealed, and what she really wants and has probably wanted this whole time, is Finn. And just like in the championship game, Sam has just been holding Finn's place until the other boy was available again.
Samcedes: When Rachel, Mercedes and Tina stand up to present their plan of playing in the football game, Sam looks in Mercedes direction and you can see his eyes going up and down, as if he's scoping one of the girls out. I'm assuming it was Mercedes.
After Coach Bieste tells the girls they can play, the boys get up and give them high gives. Sam gets up and stands directly in front of Mercedes and they high five each other.
What we see in this episode is that both Sam and Mercedes are loyal friends. Mercedes helped come up with the idea of playing on the football team so that her glee club friends could have their championship game. It was selfless. Sam was also loyal and selfless when he tried to defend Artie by fighting one of the football players, despite having been badly beat by Karofsky before.
by Akilah
Mercedes: Mercedes gets coffee with Rachel, Kurt and Blaine at the Lima Bean. She's no longer Kurt and Blaine's third wheel. Kurt has also made friends with Rachel, who adds a fourth to their party. This seems to be a much more comfortable setting for Mercedes, its a contrast from the Breadstix scene in 2.07, where she was clearly the odd man out when having dinner with Kurt and Blaine. This also appears to be the start of a friendship between Mercedes and Rachel. It may very well be a friendship of convience; they're both friends with Kurt and they're both single. But it is a friendship nontheless, and we will see more of it in upcoming episodes.
Mercedes and Rachel are distraught about the fighting between the football team and the glee club. They both feel bad for the boys on the football team who will most likely be unable to play in their championship game. They tell Kurt and Blaine that all the football players who are not in New Directions have quit. This has created a low morale in ND.
Blaine, who happens to be a football fan, tells them that they only need nine players on a team in order to play. Mercedes and Rachel exchange glances, they have the same idea. They later present their idea to New Directions, "We want to join the team. All of us glee girls. We want to join the football team, and we want to play in the championship." The boys are reluctant at first but when they realize that the girls are serious and have put some thought into it, they are grateful. Coach Bieste decides to let the girls play.
Mercedes, Rachel, Tina and Lauren are a contrast to Quinn, Santana and Britney who decided to quit glee club in order to stay with the Cheerios. Mercedes and the other ND girls, excluding the "unholy trinity," displayed loyalty to ND. They also sacrificed their safety by playing football, in order to help their fellow glee club members who were bummed about not being able to play in the championship game. These four ladies are courageous and loyal, and it does not go unnoticed by the football team. The boys thank them and they all exchange "high fives."
Sam: Finn's jersey number is 5, Sam's is 6. He is literally the next in line after Finn. Finn has been competing with Sam throughout the first arc of season 2. Sam, who has finally stepped out of Finn's shadow, is no longer interested in competing with Finn for the role of QB. Finn, who still wants to compete with Sam, has finally found a playing field that gives him an advantage over Sam, and that's Quinn Fabrey.
Finn confronts Quinn when she chooses the Cheerios over glee club. "You don't have to be a Cheerio to be cool," he tells her. "You are so naive," Quinn replies, "this whole school is about labels." Here, Quinn reveals her primary motivation that has determined most of her actions in the first arc of the season. She has been playing a role, adherring to the rules that determine "labels" and popularity at the school. "I didn't realize you were so freaking weak," Finn says when he sees that she is not interested in being loyal to the glee club. Finn can read Quinn in ways that Sam cannot. Sam only knows Quinn as the role she chooses to play.
"What did you say," Sam asks, "why are you yelling at my girlfriend?" Sam is ready to fight Finn. This is the second fight Sam has attempted in the episode. The first was after Artie was slushied by the football team. Sam was prepared to fight in order to protect and defend his friend. Again, Sam stands by his moral code of honor, integrity and loyalty. Finn may be correct in his assesment of Quinn, but Sam will not tolerate anyone disrespecting his girlfriend. It goes against his honor code.
Sam tells Finn, "Maybe its time for a change at the top [...] You had your feet in both worlds for over a year and never been able to bring them together. Maybe someone else could." Sam shoves Finn and Finn shoves back. Coach Bieste and Mr. Schue pull the two boys apart. We see that Sam may no longer be interested in being QB just for popularity, but that he is interested in being a leader. Sam wants to bring peace amongst the football team and the glee club. He wants ND to be respected in the school. And he doesn't want his friends to be bullied. Sam is a natural leader. He wants to lead with intentions of selflessness, while Finn wants to lead mainly for selfish reasons.
Sam may want peace, but he's also willing to fight if he feels it necessary. Earlier in the episode Artie was slushied by the non-glee football players. Sam and the rest of the glee boys decided to confront their team mates who attacked him. When the other football players walked into the choir room, Sam was the first to respond. "Put up your fist because you and I are gonna do some dancing." Sam is ready to retaliate in Artie's honor. It is similar to the way he attacked Karofsky, the only glee clubber to actually do so. Sam is a fighter, but he fights for the good of others and the things he believes in.
Sam was held back in that particular instance by Finn, who put his arm up to block Sam. "I've got this," Finn says. Sam knocks the other boy's arm away. He is realizing that Finn is not as much of a friend as he originally thought. He distrust Finn. Sam is beginnig to read and see the people around him for they truly are. As long as Sam is in Finn's shadow, Finn will "block" him from reaching his full potential.
Later during the championship game, Finn passes the role of QB over to Sam. Sam is surprised but he takes on the role. Finn needs him to hold his place while he attempts to persuade the cheerios to come back to glee. Finn has now given up his competition with Sam as far as leadership and QB is concerned. He has found something else he is more interested in, Quinn.
At the end of the episode, Quinn tells Finn that she remembers why she "loved him," and then kisses him. This is significant because Quinn never said she loved Sam, but that she has probably been in love with Finn this whole time. Since Quinn has shed her cheerios uniform, she is now exposed and bare. She has given up her role of popular head cheerleader. In this mode, her true wants and desires are revealed, and what she really wants and has probably wanted this whole time, is Finn. And just like in the championship game, Sam has just been holding Finn's place until the other boy was available again.
Samcedes: When Rachel, Mercedes and Tina stand up to present their plan of playing in the football game, Sam looks in Mercedes direction and you can see his eyes going up and down, as if he's scoping one of the girls out. I'm assuming it was Mercedes.
After Coach Bieste tells the girls they can play, the boys get up and give them high gives. Sam gets up and stands directly in front of Mercedes and they high five each other.
What we see in this episode is that both Sam and Mercedes are loyal friends. Mercedes helped come up with the idea of playing on the football team so that her glee club friends could have their championship game. It was selfless. Sam was also loyal and selfless when he tried to defend Artie by fighting one of the football players, despite having been badly beat by Karofsky before.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Samcedes Episode Analysis: 2.10 A Very Glee Christmas
Samcedes Episode Analysis: 2.10 A Very Glee Christmas
Sam: Sam has lead the New Directions to victory at sectionals as a lead vocalist. He has earned the respect of his fellow team mates on the football team and in the glee club when he defended Kurt by standing up to Karofsky. He's the "epitome of a leader," Mike says. And he has finally won Quinn Fabray, getting her to become his girlfriend. These victories has lead to a new found confidence in Sam. He is much more relaxed and no longer trying so hard to win the favor of others. Sam's core characteristics are more evident, and we can see him interacting with members of ND other than Quinn and Finn.
Artie tells the glee club that Britney still believes in Santa. "Remember when you were a kid and how excited you would get when thinking about Santa Claus [...] why wouldn't you want to keep someone's world magical for a little while longer," Artie says, and the group decides to help Britney preserve this magic. They organize a trip to see Santa Claus at the mall. It doesn't work out as planned since Britney asks Santa something impossible, she wants Artie to walk. The club is in need of damage control. If they don't do something then Britney will lose her faith in Santa Claus and the magic will disappear. Sam, a natural leader, steps up to the plate.
The football players in ND, excluding Finn (who is too busy wrapped up in his own drama with Rachel), are in the locker room. They have asked Coach Bieste to play Santa. She is reluctant at first but Sam convinces her. "Remember when you were a kid, the way you felt when you came downstairs on Christmas morning, seeing that Santa has come," Sam says. He has gotten to the heart of the matter. Sam has a natural gift of compassion, a characteristic that comes out when he stops trying so damn hard to win popularity. He doesn't realize yet that he's able to win people over just by talking to them and getting to the core of who they are. But this is a start.
"Look, we rented this suit and all you have to do is put it on," Sam tells Coach Bieste. Here we see him taking charge of the situation, playing the role of quarterback. Everything is already laid out for Coach Bieste, she just has to follow the play. "Tell her the elves are working on it. Elves have some chord blood for stem cell research, but these advances are a few years away," Sam says. This is the explanation he created for Bieste to explain to Britney why Artie won't be able to walk on Christmas. Here, Sam is not only being a leader and calling the plays, but he also shows how active his imagination is. The elves researching stem cells story seems like something out of some fantastical science fiction novel. Sam is showing his dorky side; his love for fantasy (comic books, Avatar, etc) and his interest in science (he mentions that he loves Astronomy in 2.04). Sam is really allowing his true self to come through, something he has been repressing in his pursuit of popularity.
When Coach Bieste agrees to play Santa, Sam shouts "yes," and does a fist pump. He's excited that Britney's belief in Santa will be preserved. Again, this shows Sam's compassion and ability to step outside of his self to help someone else. Sam was victorious as QB in this situation. Its not a coincidence that Finn was no where around in this scene. Sam is at his best when he steps out of Finn's shadow.
There are a few things in the episode that can be interpreted as foreshadowing for Sam's upcoming arc later in the second season. The Glee club wants to make donations to a shelter so that the homeless kids who live there will have gifts for Christmas. Little do they know that a homeless kid will be amongst them soon. In episode 2.19, it is revealed that Sam and his family have lost their home and are living in a one room motel. Also, when Artie shows the glee club his re-walker, Sam asks, "How the hell could you afford that thing." Perhaps he is already aware of his family's financial troubles since the cost of the machine is at the forefront of his mind, instead of being in awe of the sight of Artie walking as the rest of his club mates are.
Mercedes: Mercedes is the first member of ND to sit on Santa's lap. She's not too happy about it but does it anyway, rolling her eyes as she walks over to Santa. She gives Santa her Christmas wish. She wants a pony and a doll that laughs and cries. This request reveals her innocence. Mercedes may be a strong and confident young woman, but she is still a child in many ways. Also, her request for a doll alludes back to "River Deep Mountain High," the song she sang for her duets competition (2.04). "When I was a little girl I had a rag doll, the only doll I've ever owned/ Now I love you just the way I loved that rag doll, only now my love has grown." Mercedes is not quite ready to let go of her "doll," and embrace mature love. She still wants love and affection, as evidence by her requests for the doll in the first place, but she is not yet open to the risks and realities that come with a "grown" love. She'll get there eventually.
Samcedes: When Artie reveals that Britney still believes in Santa, Mercedes is the first to respond. "You can't be serious," she says. As soon as she says this, Sam steps in. "Look, last week Britney believed in a magic comb. This is starting to become a pattern," he says. Sam and Mercedes are on the same page again. Mercedes speaks and Sam elaborates. We saw this happen before in 3.04, when they responded to Rachel and Finn's duet. This is starting to become a "pattern" in deed.
When ND are at the mall, about to sit on Santa's lap, they gather around. Sam keeps looking at Mercedes. She isn't speaking but his eyes continue to point in her direction. When Artie tells Mercedes to "get up there," and sit on Santa's lap, Sam looks at her and smirks. Perhaps it wouldn't be unusual if he wasn't the only one looking at her, besides Artie who was talking to her. And his smirk is almost flirty, one corner of his mouth arches and his eyes brighten. Its as if he sees something in Mercedes that he finds interesting. This supports my theory that Sam was starting to become attracted to Mercedes, perhaps on a subconscious level, since 3.09.
The glee club performs a carol for the staff at WMHS. During this performance, Sam and Mercedes are standing next to each other. As usual, they look great together.
Sam: Sam has lead the New Directions to victory at sectionals as a lead vocalist. He has earned the respect of his fellow team mates on the football team and in the glee club when he defended Kurt by standing up to Karofsky. He's the "epitome of a leader," Mike says. And he has finally won Quinn Fabray, getting her to become his girlfriend. These victories has lead to a new found confidence in Sam. He is much more relaxed and no longer trying so hard to win the favor of others. Sam's core characteristics are more evident, and we can see him interacting with members of ND other than Quinn and Finn.
Artie tells the glee club that Britney still believes in Santa. "Remember when you were a kid and how excited you would get when thinking about Santa Claus [...] why wouldn't you want to keep someone's world magical for a little while longer," Artie says, and the group decides to help Britney preserve this magic. They organize a trip to see Santa Claus at the mall. It doesn't work out as planned since Britney asks Santa something impossible, she wants Artie to walk. The club is in need of damage control. If they don't do something then Britney will lose her faith in Santa Claus and the magic will disappear. Sam, a natural leader, steps up to the plate.
The football players in ND, excluding Finn (who is too busy wrapped up in his own drama with Rachel), are in the locker room. They have asked Coach Bieste to play Santa. She is reluctant at first but Sam convinces her. "Remember when you were a kid, the way you felt when you came downstairs on Christmas morning, seeing that Santa has come," Sam says. He has gotten to the heart of the matter. Sam has a natural gift of compassion, a characteristic that comes out when he stops trying so damn hard to win popularity. He doesn't realize yet that he's able to win people over just by talking to them and getting to the core of who they are. But this is a start.
"Look, we rented this suit and all you have to do is put it on," Sam tells Coach Bieste. Here we see him taking charge of the situation, playing the role of quarterback. Everything is already laid out for Coach Bieste, she just has to follow the play. "Tell her the elves are working on it. Elves have some chord blood for stem cell research, but these advances are a few years away," Sam says. This is the explanation he created for Bieste to explain to Britney why Artie won't be able to walk on Christmas. Here, Sam is not only being a leader and calling the plays, but he also shows how active his imagination is. The elves researching stem cells story seems like something out of some fantastical science fiction novel. Sam is showing his dorky side; his love for fantasy (comic books, Avatar, etc) and his interest in science (he mentions that he loves Astronomy in 2.04). Sam is really allowing his true self to come through, something he has been repressing in his pursuit of popularity.
When Coach Bieste agrees to play Santa, Sam shouts "yes," and does a fist pump. He's excited that Britney's belief in Santa will be preserved. Again, this shows Sam's compassion and ability to step outside of his self to help someone else. Sam was victorious as QB in this situation. Its not a coincidence that Finn was no where around in this scene. Sam is at his best when he steps out of Finn's shadow.
There are a few things in the episode that can be interpreted as foreshadowing for Sam's upcoming arc later in the second season. The Glee club wants to make donations to a shelter so that the homeless kids who live there will have gifts for Christmas. Little do they know that a homeless kid will be amongst them soon. In episode 2.19, it is revealed that Sam and his family have lost their home and are living in a one room motel. Also, when Artie shows the glee club his re-walker, Sam asks, "How the hell could you afford that thing." Perhaps he is already aware of his family's financial troubles since the cost of the machine is at the forefront of his mind, instead of being in awe of the sight of Artie walking as the rest of his club mates are.
Mercedes: Mercedes is the first member of ND to sit on Santa's lap. She's not too happy about it but does it anyway, rolling her eyes as she walks over to Santa. She gives Santa her Christmas wish. She wants a pony and a doll that laughs and cries. This request reveals her innocence. Mercedes may be a strong and confident young woman, but she is still a child in many ways. Also, her request for a doll alludes back to "River Deep Mountain High," the song she sang for her duets competition (2.04). "When I was a little girl I had a rag doll, the only doll I've ever owned/ Now I love you just the way I loved that rag doll, only now my love has grown." Mercedes is not quite ready to let go of her "doll," and embrace mature love. She still wants love and affection, as evidence by her requests for the doll in the first place, but she is not yet open to the risks and realities that come with a "grown" love. She'll get there eventually.
Samcedes: When Artie reveals that Britney still believes in Santa, Mercedes is the first to respond. "You can't be serious," she says. As soon as she says this, Sam steps in. "Look, last week Britney believed in a magic comb. This is starting to become a pattern," he says. Sam and Mercedes are on the same page again. Mercedes speaks and Sam elaborates. We saw this happen before in 3.04, when they responded to Rachel and Finn's duet. This is starting to become a "pattern" in deed.
When ND are at the mall, about to sit on Santa's lap, they gather around. Sam keeps looking at Mercedes. She isn't speaking but his eyes continue to point in her direction. When Artie tells Mercedes to "get up there," and sit on Santa's lap, Sam looks at her and smirks. Perhaps it wouldn't be unusual if he wasn't the only one looking at her, besides Artie who was talking to her. And his smirk is almost flirty, one corner of his mouth arches and his eyes brighten. Its as if he sees something in Mercedes that he finds interesting. This supports my theory that Sam was starting to become attracted to Mercedes, perhaps on a subconscious level, since 3.09.
The glee club performs a carol for the staff at WMHS. During this performance, Sam and Mercedes are standing next to each other. As usual, they look great together.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Samcedes Episode Analysis: 2.09 Special Education (Part 2)
Sancmedes Episode Analysis: 2.09 Special Education (Part 2)
by Akilah
Sam: Mr. Schue announces that Sam and Quinn will be featured in a duet for the sectionals competition. Rachel and Finn are not happy about this. Finn says, "You don't take the star quarterback out before the game." Finn is still trying to compete with Sam but Sam is over it. He doesn't respond to Finn's comments. When Rachel insults him and Quinn by calling them "Ken and Barbie," he doesn't seem to mind. He just smiles as Quinn responds to Rachel's rudeness.
Sam is very relaxed through this interaction. He doesn't feed into Finn because he's over it. He's through with competing with him. In the previous episode (2.08), Sam discovered that he could earn respect from his peers and impress girls by being true to his self. By confronting Karofsky Sam tapped into his best qualities, his moral integrity, honor and his selflessness. He was the opposite of selfish Finn who wouldn't even try to protect his soon to be step-brother. Sam distinguished his self from Finn and became a leader in the eyes of his team mates and friends. He didn't need to be QB for that. That's why when Finn brings that back up, Sam doesn't even respond. He's over competing with Finn, but Finn isn't really over competing with him yet.
For the competition, Sam and Quinn sing "I Had The Time of My Life." Let's look at the lyrics:
Sam: Now I've had the time of my life/ No I never felt this way before/Yes I swear, its the truth/ And I owe it all to you.
Quinn: I've had the time of my life/ And I owe it all to you.
Notice this song speaks about having the "time of my life" in the past tense. It doesn't say, I'm having the time of my life, it says "I've had" the time of my life. Meaning that the experience is over. Sam and Quinn had a fun time being together, but this song is the end of the beginning and the beginning of the end of their relationship. The past tense in the song is foreshadowing that the relationship is about to be over.
Sam sings, "I never felt this way before. Yes I swear its the truth." Quinn does not have that line. She just sings, "I've had the time of my life, and I owe it all to you." Sam is geniunely feeling things he never felt before. He's an earnest guy and has been nothing but honest and truthful with Quinn. She on the other hand can't honestly say she's experiencing emotions she never felt before with Sam, because she isn't. Sam has less life experience and is much more naive than Quinn. Quinn may very well be Sam's first real girlfriend, but Quinn has had relationships before and has actually been in love more than once. The infatuation she feels for Sam is nothing new to her, but his infatuation with her is more than likely a new experience for him.
Sam: I've been waiting for so long now I've finally found someone to stand by me
Quinn: We saw the writing on the wall as we felt this magical fantasy.
Sam is a hopeless romantic and has probably always wanted to be in love and fall in love. He's someone who loves love and has no problem with letting people know that. He found Quinn and he finally got the ideal girlfriend he dreamed of. She may not be what's best for him, but his idea of love is quite shallow at this point (based on his idea that the QB and head cheerleader must be together and get married one day). Quinn fits his image perfectly.
Quinn on the other hand knows very well that its a "magical fantasy." She knows that the relationship isn't based on anything real. Its predicated on popularity, fulfilling social roles at the school, and playing out her "fantasy" re-do of her sophmore year. She can read "the writing on the wall," and knows that its not anything meaningful, or something that can be maintained for long. But Quinn is enjoying the ride while it last.
Both: This could be love.
"This could be love," the song never says that they love each other, because they don't. Sam tells Quinn that he "thinks" he loves her in the previous episode (2.08). Quinn tells Finn that she "thinks" she loves Sam in episode 2.11. They never get beyond thinking that they are in love because they don't actually feel it. The farthest they ever get is "this could be love," and "I think I'm in love." This song is the pinnacle of their relationship. They will get no higher than this. Everything goes downhill between these two from here on out.
So, "I've Had the time of My life," is a goodbye to the Quinn and Sam relationship, as it won't and can't be maintained for much longer. This storyline is complete as we end the first arc of season 2. Sam's other arc, his "dog days" involving competing with Finn and trying to find a place at McKinley, is over as well. He now has a new sense of identity and a new social group at the school that appreciates him (glee club). But he does have much worse "dog days" to come in the second and third arc of the season.
Samcedes: At the sectionals competition, Sam and Mercedes sit next to eachother in the audience as they watch the Hipsters and Warblers perform. Mercedes is to Sam's right and Quinn is to Sam's left. I may be pulling at strings but I'm going to take the liberty to intrepret this as foreshadowing. Mercedes is to Sam's right, so she is the "right" one for him, while Quinn is to his left, meaning she will be "left" by him. Its a stretch, but come on, its fun.
As New Directions wait back stage to perform, Quinn tells Sam that she's nervous and possibly experiencing post-traumatic stress because the last time she performed in a competition she went into labor (Sam is in way over his head with this girl). She implies that she may not be able to perform. "FYI, I'm totally available to fill in," Mercedes says, interrupting Sam and Quinn's conversation. She's "avaliable" to duet with Sam. We can interpret this as foreshadowing that Mercedes will take Quinn's place, "fill in," as Sam's girlfriend. Also, it can be seen as foreshadowing for the duet that Sam and Mercedes eventually get 3.10.
During Sam and Quinn's duet, Mercedes gets to sing. She hits the high notes that Quinn can't. We can interpret this as Mercedes being able to take a "duet" with Sam to higher places then Quinn. Mercedes will present a "higher and deeper" love (River Deep Mountain High, 2.04), than the one Quinn has with Sam (Lucky 2.04). The camera even focuses on Mercedes a few times. Mercedes gets the final note, singing higher and above everyone else. We can interpret this as Mercedes stepping into Sam and Quinn's "duet," placing herself into a romantic situation with Sam.
When Sam and Quinn's duet is over ND perform Valerie. Who is Mercedes dance partner? Its Sam. And as usual, they look good together. So Sam goes from dueting with Quinn to dancing with Mercedes. We can interpret this as Mercedes will in fact replace Quinn as Sam's romantic partner.
Now, lets look at the final song of the episode from a Samcedes perspective. Mercedes is singing a duet with Tina, "The Dog Days are Over." We know that it represents Mercedes because shes going through her "dog days" and is closed off from love. But it represents Sam too. The song foreshadows the "dog days" he's yet to endure, and how he will find love and happiness when he least expects it as well. These two are each other's happiness that "hits" them "like a train on a track." They find each other when they least expect it, and they relieve each other of the "dog days." And when Mercedes is singing this song, who comes over and knocks into her? Its Sam! Perhaps foreshadowing that he's the happiness that "hits her like a train."
Sam pushes his pelvis into Mercedes hip at the end of the "Dog Days are Over," performance. Its actually pretty weird and quite jarring. Thats not something people usually do. I interpret this as Sam was sub-conciosuly developing an attraction for Mercedes. That's why his pelvis does something he didn't tell it to do.
by Akilah
Sam: Mr. Schue announces that Sam and Quinn will be featured in a duet for the sectionals competition. Rachel and Finn are not happy about this. Finn says, "You don't take the star quarterback out before the game." Finn is still trying to compete with Sam but Sam is over it. He doesn't respond to Finn's comments. When Rachel insults him and Quinn by calling them "Ken and Barbie," he doesn't seem to mind. He just smiles as Quinn responds to Rachel's rudeness.
Sam is very relaxed through this interaction. He doesn't feed into Finn because he's over it. He's through with competing with him. In the previous episode (2.08), Sam discovered that he could earn respect from his peers and impress girls by being true to his self. By confronting Karofsky Sam tapped into his best qualities, his moral integrity, honor and his selflessness. He was the opposite of selfish Finn who wouldn't even try to protect his soon to be step-brother. Sam distinguished his self from Finn and became a leader in the eyes of his team mates and friends. He didn't need to be QB for that. That's why when Finn brings that back up, Sam doesn't even respond. He's over competing with Finn, but Finn isn't really over competing with him yet.
For the competition, Sam and Quinn sing "I Had The Time of My Life." Let's look at the lyrics:
Sam: Now I've had the time of my life/ No I never felt this way before/Yes I swear, its the truth/ And I owe it all to you.
Quinn: I've had the time of my life/ And I owe it all to you.
Notice this song speaks about having the "time of my life" in the past tense. It doesn't say, I'm having the time of my life, it says "I've had" the time of my life. Meaning that the experience is over. Sam and Quinn had a fun time being together, but this song is the end of the beginning and the beginning of the end of their relationship. The past tense in the song is foreshadowing that the relationship is about to be over.
Sam sings, "I never felt this way before. Yes I swear its the truth." Quinn does not have that line. She just sings, "I've had the time of my life, and I owe it all to you." Sam is geniunely feeling things he never felt before. He's an earnest guy and has been nothing but honest and truthful with Quinn. She on the other hand can't honestly say she's experiencing emotions she never felt before with Sam, because she isn't. Sam has less life experience and is much more naive than Quinn. Quinn may very well be Sam's first real girlfriend, but Quinn has had relationships before and has actually been in love more than once. The infatuation she feels for Sam is nothing new to her, but his infatuation with her is more than likely a new experience for him.
Sam: I've been waiting for so long now I've finally found someone to stand by me
Quinn: We saw the writing on the wall as we felt this magical fantasy.
Sam is a hopeless romantic and has probably always wanted to be in love and fall in love. He's someone who loves love and has no problem with letting people know that. He found Quinn and he finally got the ideal girlfriend he dreamed of. She may not be what's best for him, but his idea of love is quite shallow at this point (based on his idea that the QB and head cheerleader must be together and get married one day). Quinn fits his image perfectly.
Quinn on the other hand knows very well that its a "magical fantasy." She knows that the relationship isn't based on anything real. Its predicated on popularity, fulfilling social roles at the school, and playing out her "fantasy" re-do of her sophmore year. She can read "the writing on the wall," and knows that its not anything meaningful, or something that can be maintained for long. But Quinn is enjoying the ride while it last.
Both: This could be love.
"This could be love," the song never says that they love each other, because they don't. Sam tells Quinn that he "thinks" he loves her in the previous episode (2.08). Quinn tells Finn that she "thinks" she loves Sam in episode 2.11. They never get beyond thinking that they are in love because they don't actually feel it. The farthest they ever get is "this could be love," and "I think I'm in love." This song is the pinnacle of their relationship. They will get no higher than this. Everything goes downhill between these two from here on out.
So, "I've Had the time of My life," is a goodbye to the Quinn and Sam relationship, as it won't and can't be maintained for much longer. This storyline is complete as we end the first arc of season 2. Sam's other arc, his "dog days" involving competing with Finn and trying to find a place at McKinley, is over as well. He now has a new sense of identity and a new social group at the school that appreciates him (glee club). But he does have much worse "dog days" to come in the second and third arc of the season.
Samcedes: At the sectionals competition, Sam and Mercedes sit next to eachother in the audience as they watch the Hipsters and Warblers perform. Mercedes is to Sam's right and Quinn is to Sam's left. I may be pulling at strings but I'm going to take the liberty to intrepret this as foreshadowing. Mercedes is to Sam's right, so she is the "right" one for him, while Quinn is to his left, meaning she will be "left" by him. Its a stretch, but come on, its fun.
As New Directions wait back stage to perform, Quinn tells Sam that she's nervous and possibly experiencing post-traumatic stress because the last time she performed in a competition she went into labor (Sam is in way over his head with this girl). She implies that she may not be able to perform. "FYI, I'm totally available to fill in," Mercedes says, interrupting Sam and Quinn's conversation. She's "avaliable" to duet with Sam. We can interpret this as foreshadowing that Mercedes will take Quinn's place, "fill in," as Sam's girlfriend. Also, it can be seen as foreshadowing for the duet that Sam and Mercedes eventually get 3.10.
During Sam and Quinn's duet, Mercedes gets to sing. She hits the high notes that Quinn can't. We can interpret this as Mercedes being able to take a "duet" with Sam to higher places then Quinn. Mercedes will present a "higher and deeper" love (River Deep Mountain High, 2.04), than the one Quinn has with Sam (Lucky 2.04). The camera even focuses on Mercedes a few times. Mercedes gets the final note, singing higher and above everyone else. We can interpret this as Mercedes stepping into Sam and Quinn's "duet," placing herself into a romantic situation with Sam.
When Sam and Quinn's duet is over ND perform Valerie. Who is Mercedes dance partner? Its Sam. And as usual, they look good together. So Sam goes from dueting with Quinn to dancing with Mercedes. We can interpret this as Mercedes will in fact replace Quinn as Sam's romantic partner.
Now, lets look at the final song of the episode from a Samcedes perspective. Mercedes is singing a duet with Tina, "The Dog Days are Over." We know that it represents Mercedes because shes going through her "dog days" and is closed off from love. But it represents Sam too. The song foreshadows the "dog days" he's yet to endure, and how he will find love and happiness when he least expects it as well. These two are each other's happiness that "hits" them "like a train on a track." They find each other when they least expect it, and they relieve each other of the "dog days." And when Mercedes is singing this song, who comes over and knocks into her? Its Sam! Perhaps foreshadowing that he's the happiness that "hits her like a train."
Sam pushes his pelvis into Mercedes hip at the end of the "Dog Days are Over," performance. Its actually pretty weird and quite jarring. Thats not something people usually do. I interpret this as Sam was sub-conciosuly developing an attraction for Mercedes. That's why his pelvis does something he didn't tell it to do.
Samcedes Episode Analysis: 2.09 Special Education (Part 1)
Samcedes Episode Analysis: 2.09 Special Education (Part 1)
by Akilah
Mercedes: After Mr. Schue tells Rachel that she won't be getting a solo because he wants to showcase other people's talents, Mercedes assumes that she'll be getting the solo instead. But Mr. Schue has decided that Quinn and Sam should be featured in a duet for the Sectionals Competition. Mr. Schue is taking Emma's advice by showcasing other voices besides Rachel and Finn's.
Emma tells Mr. Schue that his competition numbers are always predictable; Rachel and Finn duet and Mercedes wails on the last note. She suggests he tries something different. Schue thinks he's shaking things up, but he still has Mercedes in the same position. She ends up wailing on high notes, but this time its in Quinn and Sam's duet. It really isn't much of a change at all. Especially considering that Sam and Quinn were the ones Rachel and Finn selected to win the duets competition and to be the "number 2" couple in ND. Mr. Schue is still allowing Rachel to run Glee club, even if he doesn't think he is. He is still marginalizing Mercedes, which comes back to bite him in 3.03.
At the end of the episode, Mr. Schue feels bad that Rachel wasn't able to perform a solo, so he asks her to perform a private number for ND. Rachel, not feeling up to it, offers the song to Mercedes and Tina who gladly accept. Its a nice gesture, but the problem is that Mercedes never gets anything in Glee club unless Rachel allows it. Mercedes is only getting to lead in a performance because Rachel doesn't want it and because she gave it to her. Again, Mr. Schuester over looks everyone else in favor of Rachel and lets Rachel make the decisions in ND.
Mercedes and Tina duet on the closing number. They sing "The Dog Days are Over." As with every closing number on Glee, this song speaks to one of the themes of the episode. Since this is the last episode of the first arc in Season 2, the song speaks to several themes within episodes 3.01 to 3.09. This song is about Kurt, its about Rachel, Emma, Will, Sam, Quinn, Santana and Artie. This song is also about Mercedes, and since she's the one singing it, I'd say it speaks to her storyline especially. Lets look at the lyrics:
Happiness hit her like a train on a track/ coming towards her, stuck still no turning back/ She hid around corners and she hid under beds/ She killed it with kisses and from it she fled/ The dog days are over, the dog days are done/ The horses are coming so you better run.
Mercedes is going through a difficult time. She's in her "dog days." Shes losing her best friend, Kurt, to Dalton and to Blaine. She's lonely and doesn't think she'll ever meet anyone. She wants to emerge from the background of ND because she knows she has so much more potential than what Mr. Schue is allowing her to be. Its not really a good time.
The song also speaks of being guarded and fearful of love. "She hid around corners and she hid under beds," this is indicative of Mercedes fearful and guarded nature towards love. In "The Substitute," Mercedes is shown as being lonely and desiring love but not wanting to admit it. She won't even admit it to her best friend and deflects her feelings by focusing on something else (tots). Mercedes is so guarded that she doesn't even want to admit this loneliness and yearning to herself. She's afraid of being vulnerable and getting hurt. Mercedes is "hiding" and running from love. Just like the song talks about.
Mercedes may be hiding from love but according to the song, it will find her anyway. "Happiness hit her like a train on a track/ coming towards her, stuck still no turning back," this is foreshadowing, letting the audience know that Mercedes will find love, or rather, love will find Mercedes. Kurt tells her as much in 2.07, "Love is just around the corner," he says, "Trust me Mercedes. You will find someone." Mercedes is still in her "dog days," but they will be ending soon. "The horses are coming so you better run," love is on its way.
One more thing. HummelBerry officially begins in this episode. RIP Kurtcedes. Dog days indeed.
by Akilah
Mercedes: After Mr. Schue tells Rachel that she won't be getting a solo because he wants to showcase other people's talents, Mercedes assumes that she'll be getting the solo instead. But Mr. Schue has decided that Quinn and Sam should be featured in a duet for the Sectionals Competition. Mr. Schue is taking Emma's advice by showcasing other voices besides Rachel and Finn's.
Emma tells Mr. Schue that his competition numbers are always predictable; Rachel and Finn duet and Mercedes wails on the last note. She suggests he tries something different. Schue thinks he's shaking things up, but he still has Mercedes in the same position. She ends up wailing on high notes, but this time its in Quinn and Sam's duet. It really isn't much of a change at all. Especially considering that Sam and Quinn were the ones Rachel and Finn selected to win the duets competition and to be the "number 2" couple in ND. Mr. Schue is still allowing Rachel to run Glee club, even if he doesn't think he is. He is still marginalizing Mercedes, which comes back to bite him in 3.03.
At the end of the episode, Mr. Schue feels bad that Rachel wasn't able to perform a solo, so he asks her to perform a private number for ND. Rachel, not feeling up to it, offers the song to Mercedes and Tina who gladly accept. Its a nice gesture, but the problem is that Mercedes never gets anything in Glee club unless Rachel allows it. Mercedes is only getting to lead in a performance because Rachel doesn't want it and because she gave it to her. Again, Mr. Schuester over looks everyone else in favor of Rachel and lets Rachel make the decisions in ND.
Mercedes and Tina duet on the closing number. They sing "The Dog Days are Over." As with every closing number on Glee, this song speaks to one of the themes of the episode. Since this is the last episode of the first arc in Season 2, the song speaks to several themes within episodes 3.01 to 3.09. This song is about Kurt, its about Rachel, Emma, Will, Sam, Quinn, Santana and Artie. This song is also about Mercedes, and since she's the one singing it, I'd say it speaks to her storyline especially. Lets look at the lyrics:
Happiness hit her like a train on a track/ coming towards her, stuck still no turning back/ She hid around corners and she hid under beds/ She killed it with kisses and from it she fled/ The dog days are over, the dog days are done/ The horses are coming so you better run.
Mercedes is going through a difficult time. She's in her "dog days." Shes losing her best friend, Kurt, to Dalton and to Blaine. She's lonely and doesn't think she'll ever meet anyone. She wants to emerge from the background of ND because she knows she has so much more potential than what Mr. Schue is allowing her to be. Its not really a good time.
The song also speaks of being guarded and fearful of love. "She hid around corners and she hid under beds," this is indicative of Mercedes fearful and guarded nature towards love. In "The Substitute," Mercedes is shown as being lonely and desiring love but not wanting to admit it. She won't even admit it to her best friend and deflects her feelings by focusing on something else (tots). Mercedes is so guarded that she doesn't even want to admit this loneliness and yearning to herself. She's afraid of being vulnerable and getting hurt. Mercedes is "hiding" and running from love. Just like the song talks about.
Mercedes may be hiding from love but according to the song, it will find her anyway. "Happiness hit her like a train on a track/ coming towards her, stuck still no turning back," this is foreshadowing, letting the audience know that Mercedes will find love, or rather, love will find Mercedes. Kurt tells her as much in 2.07, "Love is just around the corner," he says, "Trust me Mercedes. You will find someone." Mercedes is still in her "dog days," but they will be ending soon. "The horses are coming so you better run," love is on its way.
One more thing. HummelBerry officially begins in this episode. RIP Kurtcedes. Dog days indeed.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Samcedes Episode Analysis: 2.08 Furt
Samcedes Episode Analysis: 2.08 Furt
by Akilah
Sam: Sam is in the locker room lifting weights when Finn walks in. The two boys are standing in front of mirrors, which is symbolic for their relationship to each other. Sam is Finn's proxy and his replacement, his mirror image. Sam does not have a storyline that does not involve Finn up until this point. Finn is the one who takes him under his wing and manipulates him into joining the Glee club (2.01 and 2.04). Sam takes Finn's place as QB (2.01). Finn gives Sam a bad play during 2.03 that causes him to dislocate his shoulder, which makes Finn QB again. Finn picks out Sam's duet partner (2.04). Finn rigs the duets competition so Sam can win (2.04). Finn and Sam both have body issues (2.05). Finn gives Sam advice on how to "cool down" during make out sessions (2.06), and it leads to disaster. Sam is always in Finn's shadow, allowing the other boy to direct and manipulate him. Its not until this episode that Sam breaks away from Finn and begins to become his own man.
Back in the locker room, Finn tells Sam that he should be careful lifting weights since he may reinjure his shoulder. Finn doesn't say this because he cares about Sam, he just really wants to rub it in Sam's face that Finn took the QB position back from him. Sam catches on, he's starting to be able to "read" Finn. Sam tells him that he's working on it because he wants to get his QB position back. He explains that he's "on the cusps of being one of the most popular guys in school," and being QB will help solidify it. "I didn't think you were the type to care about that stuff," Finn says. This is interesting. Finn has heard Sam talk about popularity before so it should be no surprise that Sam cares about it. But I think Finn also sees something in Sam that Sam doesn't see in his self yet. Its Sam's integrity, and Finn witnessed it first hand.
Back in 2.04, Finn tells Sam that he can't duet with Kurt because he'll be teased and bullied if he does. Sam tells Finn that he can't renege on it because he gave Kurt his word and in his "world, that's that." Finn was taken aback. It was the opposite of what he would have done in that same situation. Finn is someone who looks out for hisself first. In 2.02, after promising Artie he'll get him on the football team, he reneges because he says he has to "look out for myself." Finn is selfish, but he also knows that Sam isn't. Finn was impressed by Sam's integrity, and this is something that distinguishes him from Finn.
Sam may have a lot of integrity, but he's also motivated by his quest for popularity. "Everybody cares," Sam says, regarding popularity. He explains it means being on top and not having to take crap from people, "no teasing, no slushie facials." Was Sam teased before coming to Mckinley? It would explain why he's trying so hard. Sam is obviously insecure and uncomfortable in his skin. Perhaps being bullied before is a reason why. Finn tells Sam that being QB won't put him on top (he knows from experience), "especially since you can't even get Quinn to be your girlfriend." Sam says he's working on that. That's one thing you can say about Sam, if he wants something then hes going to work for it.
Sam not only replaced Finn as QB and as one of the most popular guys in school, he replaced him as Quinn's boyfriend. Quinn is re-doing her Sophmore year, the year she got pregnant, lost Finn, lost her popularity, lost her home and lost her "perfect" body. This year, Quinn is starting from the time before she got pregnant and before Rachel entered her life. Back then Quinn was with Finn, the QB and she was the head Cheerio. In this re-do, Sam is playing Finn. So, right on que, Sam takes her back into that room where he mistook Mars for Venus, war for love, and completely opens his heart up to Quinn.
"These mobiles aren't the stars of Mckinely, we are," he says. "I'm going to be quartback soon and you're already head cheerleader," and he gets down on one knee. Its almost like something he saw in a teen romantic comedy. The whole relationship is predicated on their popularity status. In Sam's mind the quarterback dates the head cheerleader because that's how its suppose to go. Again, Sam is playing a role. He doesn't know who he is yet so its easy for him to feel comfortable playing a part in Quinn's story, which is nothing more than a do over of her previous year of high school.
"I think I love you," Sam tells Quinn, and this is the furthest their emotions ever go for each other. They never do more than "think" they love each other. This phrase comes up again in 2.12 when Quinn tells Finn that she "thinks she loves Sam." They never really feel love because its not there. He pulls out a ring box and presents it to her. Its his heart, wide open for Quinn to take. She mocks him,"What are you six?" Quinn knows how immature he's behaving because she really is much more mature than she wants people to think. She's been through too much to be that naive.
Sam says that he wants to marry her one day, but for now, he wants her to be his girlfriend. The funny thing is, Quinn never admits that shes dating Sam. They are obviously dating but she won't even acknowledge him. Its a form of control. She wants the status that comes from dating him, and she wants him to be Finn all over again, but she doesn't want to be hurt again the way Finn hurt her. She is completely confused, but no one really understands that, especially not Sam. Quinn closes the box he holds in his hands as he grovels at her feet. Its foreshadowing for what she'll do to his heart. He'll eventually learn not to be so "wide open" with his emotions after Quinn gets through with him. He asks if that means "no" but she won't even give him that. She tells him "maybe" and keeps him in limbo. Its the ultimate form of control.
When the boys of ND approach Karofsky about his bullying of Kurt, Sam is the one who really steps up to the plate. After Karofsky pushes Mike into Artie, Sam retaliates and shoves Karofsky into a locker. Karofsky is a lot bigger than him, but Sam does not hesitate and manages to get a few hits in before Karofsky gets the better of him. With these actions Sam stepped out of Finn's shadow and behaved like a leader. Finn told Rachel he wouldn't get involved in approaching Karofsky because he had to look out for his self. Again, Finn is selfish. But Sam proved that he can be selfless. This is the integrity that Sam has. This is the honorable side of Sam that Kurt mentioned in 2.04. Sam did something that Finn wouldn't do and he was rewarded for it. The other guys on the football team called him a "true leader." Sam learned that he didn't need the title of QB to be on top. All he needed was to be his self.
Sam also got the girl. Quinn wore his ring and decided to become his girl friend. The interesting thing about this is that she broke into his locker to get the ring. She used a nail filer. Quinn could have just asked him for it and he would have gladly given it to her, but she decided to steal it from him instead. This shows that she may be giving in a little, but she wants to be the one in control. She could not humble herself enough to tell him "yes," and asks for the ring. She had to use a "nail filer" to break into his locker to get it. "Nail filer," and the "breaking" into the locker are foreshadowing for the way she breaks his heart and hurts him. But for now Sam is happy.
This episode marked a shift in Sam's character. He went from trying so hard to be someone else (Finn) to gain popularity and a pretty girlfriend, to learning that he can earn respect and get girls to like him by being true to his integrity. He learned that being his self was okay. After this we start to see a change in the way Sam presents his self. He becomes much more relaxed and his "dork" side shows up a lot more.
Mercedes: Rachel calls a meeting for ND girls who have boyfriends on the football team. Mercedes is absent of course. She isn't invited because she doesn't have a boyfriend, let alone one on the football team. Santana crashes the meeting but is humiliated and kicked out because she doesn't have a "real" boyfriend either. Its no wonder Santana and Mercedes formed the TTones. They have both been marginalized within ND.
Mercedes is Kurt's date at Carol and Burt's wedding. She comes dancing down the aisle with Kurt and stands besides him, opposite Rachel and Finn, at the alter when Carol and Burt exchange vows. Kurt talked a lot about her using him as a substitute boyfriend, but he's using her as a substitute girlfriend as well.
At the end of the episode, Kurt tells New Directions that he's leaving Mckinley and transferring to Dalton. Mercedes stands up and walks over to hem. "I've gotta go," he tells her, mirroring her words and demeanor from the previous episode (2.07). The break up between Mercedes and Kurt is complete. They remain friends for the rest of the season, but its never the same.
Samcedes: Mercedes and Kurt dance down the aisle together. Kurt spins Mercedes and she dances between Sam and Quinn. The four of them dance together. Its a cute scene.
What's more important is that in this episode we see how open to love Sam is. Sam is a hopeless romantic. He proposes to a girl he's only known for six weeks, and pledges his devotion to her. Sam is someone who wants love and desires love and isn't ashamed of showing it. He wears his heart on his sleeve and isn't afraid of taking chances on love because he believes its worth it.
Mercedes on the other hand is guarded. Shes closed her heart to love. She may want love and wants to be wanted, but she wouldn't dare let anyone know this. We learn this in the previous episode (2.07). Its an interesting juxtaposition. One episode featuring a girl who's lonely and wants love but is too afraid to let anyone know and wont even admit it to herself. The next episode features a boy who loves love and isn't afraid of being open to it and letting everyone know how he feels. These two are the same and yet they are opposite. They are a perfect balance for each other. Mercedes needs to learn to open up and Sam needs to learn how to hold back a little bit. When they each get to that point, they end up finding each other.
by Akilah
Sam: Sam is in the locker room lifting weights when Finn walks in. The two boys are standing in front of mirrors, which is symbolic for their relationship to each other. Sam is Finn's proxy and his replacement, his mirror image. Sam does not have a storyline that does not involve Finn up until this point. Finn is the one who takes him under his wing and manipulates him into joining the Glee club (2.01 and 2.04). Sam takes Finn's place as QB (2.01). Finn gives Sam a bad play during 2.03 that causes him to dislocate his shoulder, which makes Finn QB again. Finn picks out Sam's duet partner (2.04). Finn rigs the duets competition so Sam can win (2.04). Finn and Sam both have body issues (2.05). Finn gives Sam advice on how to "cool down" during make out sessions (2.06), and it leads to disaster. Sam is always in Finn's shadow, allowing the other boy to direct and manipulate him. Its not until this episode that Sam breaks away from Finn and begins to become his own man.
Back in the locker room, Finn tells Sam that he should be careful lifting weights since he may reinjure his shoulder. Finn doesn't say this because he cares about Sam, he just really wants to rub it in Sam's face that Finn took the QB position back from him. Sam catches on, he's starting to be able to "read" Finn. Sam tells him that he's working on it because he wants to get his QB position back. He explains that he's "on the cusps of being one of the most popular guys in school," and being QB will help solidify it. "I didn't think you were the type to care about that stuff," Finn says. This is interesting. Finn has heard Sam talk about popularity before so it should be no surprise that Sam cares about it. But I think Finn also sees something in Sam that Sam doesn't see in his self yet. Its Sam's integrity, and Finn witnessed it first hand.
Back in 2.04, Finn tells Sam that he can't duet with Kurt because he'll be teased and bullied if he does. Sam tells Finn that he can't renege on it because he gave Kurt his word and in his "world, that's that." Finn was taken aback. It was the opposite of what he would have done in that same situation. Finn is someone who looks out for hisself first. In 2.02, after promising Artie he'll get him on the football team, he reneges because he says he has to "look out for myself." Finn is selfish, but he also knows that Sam isn't. Finn was impressed by Sam's integrity, and this is something that distinguishes him from Finn.
Sam may have a lot of integrity, but he's also motivated by his quest for popularity. "Everybody cares," Sam says, regarding popularity. He explains it means being on top and not having to take crap from people, "no teasing, no slushie facials." Was Sam teased before coming to Mckinley? It would explain why he's trying so hard. Sam is obviously insecure and uncomfortable in his skin. Perhaps being bullied before is a reason why. Finn tells Sam that being QB won't put him on top (he knows from experience), "especially since you can't even get Quinn to be your girlfriend." Sam says he's working on that. That's one thing you can say about Sam, if he wants something then hes going to work for it.
Sam not only replaced Finn as QB and as one of the most popular guys in school, he replaced him as Quinn's boyfriend. Quinn is re-doing her Sophmore year, the year she got pregnant, lost Finn, lost her popularity, lost her home and lost her "perfect" body. This year, Quinn is starting from the time before she got pregnant and before Rachel entered her life. Back then Quinn was with Finn, the QB and she was the head Cheerio. In this re-do, Sam is playing Finn. So, right on que, Sam takes her back into that room where he mistook Mars for Venus, war for love, and completely opens his heart up to Quinn.
"These mobiles aren't the stars of Mckinely, we are," he says. "I'm going to be quartback soon and you're already head cheerleader," and he gets down on one knee. Its almost like something he saw in a teen romantic comedy. The whole relationship is predicated on their popularity status. In Sam's mind the quarterback dates the head cheerleader because that's how its suppose to go. Again, Sam is playing a role. He doesn't know who he is yet so its easy for him to feel comfortable playing a part in Quinn's story, which is nothing more than a do over of her previous year of high school.
"I think I love you," Sam tells Quinn, and this is the furthest their emotions ever go for each other. They never do more than "think" they love each other. This phrase comes up again in 2.12 when Quinn tells Finn that she "thinks she loves Sam." They never really feel love because its not there. He pulls out a ring box and presents it to her. Its his heart, wide open for Quinn to take. She mocks him,"What are you six?" Quinn knows how immature he's behaving because she really is much more mature than she wants people to think. She's been through too much to be that naive.
Sam says that he wants to marry her one day, but for now, he wants her to be his girlfriend. The funny thing is, Quinn never admits that shes dating Sam. They are obviously dating but she won't even acknowledge him. Its a form of control. She wants the status that comes from dating him, and she wants him to be Finn all over again, but she doesn't want to be hurt again the way Finn hurt her. She is completely confused, but no one really understands that, especially not Sam. Quinn closes the box he holds in his hands as he grovels at her feet. Its foreshadowing for what she'll do to his heart. He'll eventually learn not to be so "wide open" with his emotions after Quinn gets through with him. He asks if that means "no" but she won't even give him that. She tells him "maybe" and keeps him in limbo. Its the ultimate form of control.
When the boys of ND approach Karofsky about his bullying of Kurt, Sam is the one who really steps up to the plate. After Karofsky pushes Mike into Artie, Sam retaliates and shoves Karofsky into a locker. Karofsky is a lot bigger than him, but Sam does not hesitate and manages to get a few hits in before Karofsky gets the better of him. With these actions Sam stepped out of Finn's shadow and behaved like a leader. Finn told Rachel he wouldn't get involved in approaching Karofsky because he had to look out for his self. Again, Finn is selfish. But Sam proved that he can be selfless. This is the integrity that Sam has. This is the honorable side of Sam that Kurt mentioned in 2.04. Sam did something that Finn wouldn't do and he was rewarded for it. The other guys on the football team called him a "true leader." Sam learned that he didn't need the title of QB to be on top. All he needed was to be his self.
Sam also got the girl. Quinn wore his ring and decided to become his girl friend. The interesting thing about this is that she broke into his locker to get the ring. She used a nail filer. Quinn could have just asked him for it and he would have gladly given it to her, but she decided to steal it from him instead. This shows that she may be giving in a little, but she wants to be the one in control. She could not humble herself enough to tell him "yes," and asks for the ring. She had to use a "nail filer" to break into his locker to get it. "Nail filer," and the "breaking" into the locker are foreshadowing for the way she breaks his heart and hurts him. But for now Sam is happy.
This episode marked a shift in Sam's character. He went from trying so hard to be someone else (Finn) to gain popularity and a pretty girlfriend, to learning that he can earn respect and get girls to like him by being true to his integrity. He learned that being his self was okay. After this we start to see a change in the way Sam presents his self. He becomes much more relaxed and his "dork" side shows up a lot more.
Mercedes: Rachel calls a meeting for ND girls who have boyfriends on the football team. Mercedes is absent of course. She isn't invited because she doesn't have a boyfriend, let alone one on the football team. Santana crashes the meeting but is humiliated and kicked out because she doesn't have a "real" boyfriend either. Its no wonder Santana and Mercedes formed the TTones. They have both been marginalized within ND.
Mercedes is Kurt's date at Carol and Burt's wedding. She comes dancing down the aisle with Kurt and stands besides him, opposite Rachel and Finn, at the alter when Carol and Burt exchange vows. Kurt talked a lot about her using him as a substitute boyfriend, but he's using her as a substitute girlfriend as well.
At the end of the episode, Kurt tells New Directions that he's leaving Mckinley and transferring to Dalton. Mercedes stands up and walks over to hem. "I've gotta go," he tells her, mirroring her words and demeanor from the previous episode (2.07). The break up between Mercedes and Kurt is complete. They remain friends for the rest of the season, but its never the same.
Samcedes: Mercedes and Kurt dance down the aisle together. Kurt spins Mercedes and she dances between Sam and Quinn. The four of them dance together. Its a cute scene.
What's more important is that in this episode we see how open to love Sam is. Sam is a hopeless romantic. He proposes to a girl he's only known for six weeks, and pledges his devotion to her. Sam is someone who wants love and desires love and isn't ashamed of showing it. He wears his heart on his sleeve and isn't afraid of taking chances on love because he believes its worth it.
Mercedes on the other hand is guarded. Shes closed her heart to love. She may want love and wants to be wanted, but she wouldn't dare let anyone know this. We learn this in the previous episode (2.07). Its an interesting juxtaposition. One episode featuring a girl who's lonely and wants love but is too afraid to let anyone know and wont even admit it to herself. The next episode features a boy who loves love and isn't afraid of being open to it and letting everyone know how he feels. These two are the same and yet they are opposite. They are a perfect balance for each other. Mercedes needs to learn to open up and Sam needs to learn how to hold back a little bit. When they each get to that point, they end up finding each other.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Samcedes Episode Analysis: 2.07 The Substitute
Samcedes Episode Analysis: 2.07 The Substitute
by Akilah
Mercedes: Kurt is livid as he tells Mercedes about Rachel taking over the glee club since Mr. Schue has been absent. Mercedes tries to comfort him, "We'll forget all about it tonight while bowling." Mercedes confidence that they'll "forget about it" indicates that they usually forget about their problems when they hang out together. They are each other's comfort and companionship. Except this time, Kurt has other plans. "I can't, Blaine asked me to hang out." Mercedes is disappointed, she has been "looking forward to it all week." Hanging out with Kurt was suppose to be the best thing about her week. I imagine when she's with him he helps her "forget all about," the crappy things going on in her life, whether those things be ND, school or anything else.
Mercedes asks Kurt if he and Blaine are secretly dating which Kurt denies. "It's just nice to have someone to talk to," he says. Mercedes pauses and her facial expression changes. She looks insulted. "What is that suppose to mean," she asks. Mercedes has always been his confidant, and he's always been hers, but now it sounds as if hes saying that he can't talk to her. "It means someone like me," he says. These two are not communicating like they use to. Mercedes just isn't enough for Kurt any more, and when they do talk, sometimes their words are misconstrued. Kurt says that he wants to communicate with someone who understands him, who is also gay, but Mercedes only hears rejection.
Its another day and Mercedes is going over her plans for their shopping trip. Again, Kurt has other plans. "Oh, I forgot," he says. He forgot to communicate with her that he and Blaine were going to see Rent at the community theatre. "Blaine got us tickets." Mercedes is confused, "Us, as in all of us?" Kurt tells her no, that Blaine could only get two tickets. Once again, Mercedes plans with Kurt have been canceled because of Blaine. Blaine is taking away Mercedes best friend.
Mercedes goes to dinner with Kurt and Blaine who are putting her to sleep with their conversation about gay issues. Blaine takes notice that Mercedes is not interested in the topics they are discussing so he suggests talking about things that interests her. Mercedes perks up, but Kurt suddenly takes over the conversation again, and its back to things that Mercedes doesn't care about.
This is when the communication between Mercedes and Kurt really gets bad. Shes listening to him talk to Blaine but all she can hear is "gay, gay, gay, gay, gay..." She and Kurt no longer speak the same language. Communication between these two has completely fallen apart.
Mercedes is hurt and angry, but she won't admit this to herself. One thing about Mercedes is that she has a lot of pride. She can't handle being vulnerable or allow people to think that she needs them. She has so many walls up that its hard for her to even know what's really going on in her heart. Being a person who is prideful and afraid of being vulnerable, shes a master of deflection. So Mercedes deflects her hurt and loneliness and anger onto tater tots.
I doubt Mercedes was crazy about tater tots before Kurt started dissing her. The tater tots seem to symbolize Mercedes relationship with Kurt. As soon as Kurt cancels their plans and tells her that he can't talk to her the way he can talk to Blaine, Mercedes sees tots and focuses on them. She'd rather not think about what's happening between her Kurt. She doesn't want to deal with the pain of losing him so she turns her attention to something else. When Kurt rejects her for the second time, Mercedes goes to get tots but they are suddenly snatched away by Santana and the other Cheerios via Sue Sylvester. Sue has banned tots from the school. Mercedes tots are gone and there is nothing that she can do about. She can't make the tots come back, just like she can't bring back the old comfortable relationship she had with Kurt. Kurt is being snatched away from her, just like the tots.
Mercedes rather have people think shes angry and obsessed with food than allow them to see her as vulnerable and in need love and companionship. She rebels against the tots ban, starting a protest in the cafeteria, then barging into Sue's office to beg for her tots. Its no use. Tots are gone forever.
Mercedes may not be able to admit her feelings to herself or anyone else, but Kurt can see right through her. He says that he knows she's been lonely and jealous of his relationship with Blaine. He then tells her that he's gotten her a gift. He set her up on a date with Anthony Rashad, a cute black football player. She questions why Kurt picked him. "No reason," Kurt says. "So it doesn't have to do with the fact that he's one of 5 black guys at this school?" Kurt denies it, but its obvious that his race was the main factor is why he picked Anthony. Mercedes is suspicious of Kurt. She doesn't trust him with this aspect of her life.
"I can't take this anymore," Mercedes says. Kurt assumes shes talking about being single and lonely. "Trust me Mercedes, love is just around the corner." Mercedes claims that she wasn't talking about that but about tots. This is a lie. Mercedes was talking about being single and lonely, she just can't admit that to herself or to anyone else.
In the last scene between Kurt and Mercedes, Mercedes is going on about tots, shes even snuck some into the school. Kurt then gets real with her. "You have to stop this," he says. "You're substituting food for love. And most importantly, you're substituting me for a boyfriend." Its harsh. Its true what he says, but its also unfair. Up until recently Kurt was perfectly fine with playing substitute boyfriend/girlfriend with Mercedes, and he'll do it again in 2.08. What makes it worse is that Kurt now has someone else, but Mercedes is more alone then ever.
Kurt offers her reassurance. "You will find somebody, Mercedes," he says. Mercedes is quiet as she listens to him and doesn't reveal too much in her body language or facial expressions. She's closed off from him. "You're right," she says while wearing a small smile. "I gotta go." She walks away but Kurt asks where shes going. She says shes going to check out that Rashad kid, but we never see Rashad again. As she walks off, she looks like shes willing herself not to cry. She gives Kurt a little wave and mouths bye. Kurt watches her as she walks down the hall. Its a sad moment and feels more like a break-up scene than two friends having a spat. I think this was the point where Mercedes feelings for Kurt started to change. He may have been honest with her but he hurt her feelings, and the relationship she had with Kurt was suppose to keep her from getting hurt in the first place. Mercedes got dumped by her substitute boyfriend. Things have changed between Kurtcedes. We won't see these two alone together anymore. From now on there is always at least a third party present when they interact.
I want to talk about the mash-up at the end of the episode, "Singing in The Rain" and "Umbrella." The final song in every episode of Glee speaks to one of the themes of the episode. This mash-up speaks about dedication and loyalty in love and friendship, but also about being ready to let go and move on. Its sung by Mr. Schue and Holly Holiday, but its really a conversation between Kurt and Mercedes. "Singing in the Rain," represents Kurt. In 2.04, when Kurt was going to duet with Sam, he mentioned male duets like the ones seen in "Singing in the rain." "Umbrella" represents Mercedes. Let's look at the lyrics.
Singing in the Rain: "I'm singing in the rain, what a glorious feeling, I'm happy again, I'm laughing at clouds, so dark up above, the sun's in my heart, and I'm ready for love."
Kurt has been going through a lot lately. His father had a brush with death, he's been getting bullied and harrassed by Karofsky, and he's been lonely. He meets Blaine and suddenly he's "happy again." He's found a boy just like him who he can talk to, who takes away his loneliness, and whom he can possibly fall in love with. Blaine is the "sun" in his heart, that the song talks about. He's "ready for love," and that makes everything else endurable. Despite the tough things in his life, "the rain," he can still sing and dance in it. There are still "clouds" and its "dark up above" but he's happy. He stands right in the middle of the rain and knows that everything is ok. He doesn't want or need an "Umbrella," because he's perfectly fine in the rain. He's ready to face the world head on.
Umbrella: "You have my heart, we'll never be worlds apart, with you I'll always share, these fancy things can never come in between, you're part of my entity here for eternity, when the world has dealt its cards, together we'll mend your heart, you can stand under my umbrella."
Mercedes is guarded, but when she lets someone in she really shows them love and compassion. She took in Quinn when Quinn needed a home, and she tried hard to reach Kurt when his father was in a coma. Mercedes love is like an Umbrella. The relationship she has with Kurt is an "umbrella" because its suppose to keep them both from getting hurt. This "umbrella" protects them from the rain of disappointments and hard times in their lives. Mercedes was not ready to let go of Kurt in this episode, he has her "heart," she'll "always share" with him, and he's part of her "entity here for eternity." Mercedes wants to stay under the umbrella with him, but he doesn't want it anymore. Kurt is "singing in the rain" he doesn't want or need an umbrella because he has the "sun" in his heart and he's "ready for love."
Sam: He's barely in this episode. He's even missing from one of the choir room scenes. I've got nothing.
Samcedes: When Rachel takes over Glee club and asks ND which song they would like her to perform for Sectionals, Santana jumps out of her chair ready to attack her. To the left and right of her are seated Sam and Mercedes. When she jumps up, they both grab her and pull her back. Samcedes working together as one. These two are the only characters besides Brittany who know how to handle Santana.
During the mash-up of "Singing in the Rain/Umbrella," Mercedes and Sam are dance partners. They share an "umbrella." Kurt may not want to share Mercedes umbrella anymore but Sam does. At least that's what we see visually in the performance. Really, they look good together and so comfortable while performing.
Kurt tells Mercedes several times in the episode that she'll be finding love soon. This is foreshadowing for Samcedes. The narrative is letting us know that Mercedes will be getting a love interest, but who that would be was still unknown.
by Akilah
Mercedes: Kurt is livid as he tells Mercedes about Rachel taking over the glee club since Mr. Schue has been absent. Mercedes tries to comfort him, "We'll forget all about it tonight while bowling." Mercedes confidence that they'll "forget about it" indicates that they usually forget about their problems when they hang out together. They are each other's comfort and companionship. Except this time, Kurt has other plans. "I can't, Blaine asked me to hang out." Mercedes is disappointed, she has been "looking forward to it all week." Hanging out with Kurt was suppose to be the best thing about her week. I imagine when she's with him he helps her "forget all about," the crappy things going on in her life, whether those things be ND, school or anything else.
Mercedes asks Kurt if he and Blaine are secretly dating which Kurt denies. "It's just nice to have someone to talk to," he says. Mercedes pauses and her facial expression changes. She looks insulted. "What is that suppose to mean," she asks. Mercedes has always been his confidant, and he's always been hers, but now it sounds as if hes saying that he can't talk to her. "It means someone like me," he says. These two are not communicating like they use to. Mercedes just isn't enough for Kurt any more, and when they do talk, sometimes their words are misconstrued. Kurt says that he wants to communicate with someone who understands him, who is also gay, but Mercedes only hears rejection.
Its another day and Mercedes is going over her plans for their shopping trip. Again, Kurt has other plans. "Oh, I forgot," he says. He forgot to communicate with her that he and Blaine were going to see Rent at the community theatre. "Blaine got us tickets." Mercedes is confused, "Us, as in all of us?" Kurt tells her no, that Blaine could only get two tickets. Once again, Mercedes plans with Kurt have been canceled because of Blaine. Blaine is taking away Mercedes best friend.
Mercedes goes to dinner with Kurt and Blaine who are putting her to sleep with their conversation about gay issues. Blaine takes notice that Mercedes is not interested in the topics they are discussing so he suggests talking about things that interests her. Mercedes perks up, but Kurt suddenly takes over the conversation again, and its back to things that Mercedes doesn't care about.
This is when the communication between Mercedes and Kurt really gets bad. Shes listening to him talk to Blaine but all she can hear is "gay, gay, gay, gay, gay..." She and Kurt no longer speak the same language. Communication between these two has completely fallen apart.
Mercedes is hurt and angry, but she won't admit this to herself. One thing about Mercedes is that she has a lot of pride. She can't handle being vulnerable or allow people to think that she needs them. She has so many walls up that its hard for her to even know what's really going on in her heart. Being a person who is prideful and afraid of being vulnerable, shes a master of deflection. So Mercedes deflects her hurt and loneliness and anger onto tater tots.
I doubt Mercedes was crazy about tater tots before Kurt started dissing her. The tater tots seem to symbolize Mercedes relationship with Kurt. As soon as Kurt cancels their plans and tells her that he can't talk to her the way he can talk to Blaine, Mercedes sees tots and focuses on them. She'd rather not think about what's happening between her Kurt. She doesn't want to deal with the pain of losing him so she turns her attention to something else. When Kurt rejects her for the second time, Mercedes goes to get tots but they are suddenly snatched away by Santana and the other Cheerios via Sue Sylvester. Sue has banned tots from the school. Mercedes tots are gone and there is nothing that she can do about. She can't make the tots come back, just like she can't bring back the old comfortable relationship she had with Kurt. Kurt is being snatched away from her, just like the tots.
Mercedes rather have people think shes angry and obsessed with food than allow them to see her as vulnerable and in need love and companionship. She rebels against the tots ban, starting a protest in the cafeteria, then barging into Sue's office to beg for her tots. Its no use. Tots are gone forever.
Mercedes may not be able to admit her feelings to herself or anyone else, but Kurt can see right through her. He says that he knows she's been lonely and jealous of his relationship with Blaine. He then tells her that he's gotten her a gift. He set her up on a date with Anthony Rashad, a cute black football player. She questions why Kurt picked him. "No reason," Kurt says. "So it doesn't have to do with the fact that he's one of 5 black guys at this school?" Kurt denies it, but its obvious that his race was the main factor is why he picked Anthony. Mercedes is suspicious of Kurt. She doesn't trust him with this aspect of her life.
"I can't take this anymore," Mercedes says. Kurt assumes shes talking about being single and lonely. "Trust me Mercedes, love is just around the corner." Mercedes claims that she wasn't talking about that but about tots. This is a lie. Mercedes was talking about being single and lonely, she just can't admit that to herself or to anyone else.
In the last scene between Kurt and Mercedes, Mercedes is going on about tots, shes even snuck some into the school. Kurt then gets real with her. "You have to stop this," he says. "You're substituting food for love. And most importantly, you're substituting me for a boyfriend." Its harsh. Its true what he says, but its also unfair. Up until recently Kurt was perfectly fine with playing substitute boyfriend/girlfriend with Mercedes, and he'll do it again in 2.08. What makes it worse is that Kurt now has someone else, but Mercedes is more alone then ever.
Kurt offers her reassurance. "You will find somebody, Mercedes," he says. Mercedes is quiet as she listens to him and doesn't reveal too much in her body language or facial expressions. She's closed off from him. "You're right," she says while wearing a small smile. "I gotta go." She walks away but Kurt asks where shes going. She says shes going to check out that Rashad kid, but we never see Rashad again. As she walks off, she looks like shes willing herself not to cry. She gives Kurt a little wave and mouths bye. Kurt watches her as she walks down the hall. Its a sad moment and feels more like a break-up scene than two friends having a spat. I think this was the point where Mercedes feelings for Kurt started to change. He may have been honest with her but he hurt her feelings, and the relationship she had with Kurt was suppose to keep her from getting hurt in the first place. Mercedes got dumped by her substitute boyfriend. Things have changed between Kurtcedes. We won't see these two alone together anymore. From now on there is always at least a third party present when they interact.
I want to talk about the mash-up at the end of the episode, "Singing in The Rain" and "Umbrella." The final song in every episode of Glee speaks to one of the themes of the episode. This mash-up speaks about dedication and loyalty in love and friendship, but also about being ready to let go and move on. Its sung by Mr. Schue and Holly Holiday, but its really a conversation between Kurt and Mercedes. "Singing in the Rain," represents Kurt. In 2.04, when Kurt was going to duet with Sam, he mentioned male duets like the ones seen in "Singing in the rain." "Umbrella" represents Mercedes. Let's look at the lyrics.
Singing in the Rain: "I'm singing in the rain, what a glorious feeling, I'm happy again, I'm laughing at clouds, so dark up above, the sun's in my heart, and I'm ready for love."
Kurt has been going through a lot lately. His father had a brush with death, he's been getting bullied and harrassed by Karofsky, and he's been lonely. He meets Blaine and suddenly he's "happy again." He's found a boy just like him who he can talk to, who takes away his loneliness, and whom he can possibly fall in love with. Blaine is the "sun" in his heart, that the song talks about. He's "ready for love," and that makes everything else endurable. Despite the tough things in his life, "the rain," he can still sing and dance in it. There are still "clouds" and its "dark up above" but he's happy. He stands right in the middle of the rain and knows that everything is ok. He doesn't want or need an "Umbrella," because he's perfectly fine in the rain. He's ready to face the world head on.
Umbrella: "You have my heart, we'll never be worlds apart, with you I'll always share, these fancy things can never come in between, you're part of my entity here for eternity, when the world has dealt its cards, together we'll mend your heart, you can stand under my umbrella."
Mercedes is guarded, but when she lets someone in she really shows them love and compassion. She took in Quinn when Quinn needed a home, and she tried hard to reach Kurt when his father was in a coma. Mercedes love is like an Umbrella. The relationship she has with Kurt is an "umbrella" because its suppose to keep them both from getting hurt. This "umbrella" protects them from the rain of disappointments and hard times in their lives. Mercedes was not ready to let go of Kurt in this episode, he has her "heart," she'll "always share" with him, and he's part of her "entity here for eternity." Mercedes wants to stay under the umbrella with him, but he doesn't want it anymore. Kurt is "singing in the rain" he doesn't want or need an umbrella because he has the "sun" in his heart and he's "ready for love."
Sam: He's barely in this episode. He's even missing from one of the choir room scenes. I've got nothing.
Samcedes: When Rachel takes over Glee club and asks ND which song they would like her to perform for Sectionals, Santana jumps out of her chair ready to attack her. To the left and right of her are seated Sam and Mercedes. When she jumps up, they both grab her and pull her back. Samcedes working together as one. These two are the only characters besides Brittany who know how to handle Santana.
During the mash-up of "Singing in the Rain/Umbrella," Mercedes and Sam are dance partners. They share an "umbrella." Kurt may not want to share Mercedes umbrella anymore but Sam does. At least that's what we see visually in the performance. Really, they look good together and so comfortable while performing.
Kurt tells Mercedes several times in the episode that she'll be finding love soon. This is foreshadowing for Samcedes. The narrative is letting us know that Mercedes will be getting a love interest, but who that would be was still unknown.
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