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.