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.