Glee: “Grilled Cheesus” [Recap]

Religion is a tough issue to address in any situation. If you listen to the commentary on “The Simpsons Movie,” the writers had a tough time trying to decide how they would present the idea of the dome disaster being predicted in church. South Park had to take down the episode of Muhammad during their last season (which shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone, even if it was just a risque joke). So how could a primetime show address the topic of seeing the light?

Put it on a grilled cheese sandwich and call it a day.

*cue acappella group* Artie made the football team. Kurt’s dad and Finn’s mom are dating and happy, which makes the two of them like brothers. Sue has a disabled sister whom she loves very much – very uncharacteristic of her. And that’s what you missed on Glee. *end acappella*

Finn is making a grilled cheese on a George Forman grill; it turns out it doesn’t quite work the same since he tried to dry his shoes inside of the machine. When he opens the lid, the burn marks on one corner seem to be in the image of Jesus Christ. Finn’s torn between his hunger pains and preserving the holy relic, so he makes a compromise: he cuts the sandwich diagonally so the face of Jesus remains. We catch him offering a not-so-humble prayer in front of the sandwich: he asks that the team win the next football game, even with Artie as a member. In exchange, the Glee Club will honor him with spiritual music. There’s a quick cut to the game with Artie being hurtled down the field in his wheelchair and we assume there’s a victory, as Finn yells out, “Thank you, Grilled Cheesus!”

Kurt walks into his dad’s auto shop to give him a healthy breakfast wrap; Burt’s normal breakfast consists of a Coke and two Slim Jims and Kurt has to chide him for his bad dietary habits. Burt mentions that their usual Friday night dinner will be pushed up to 6 PM and that Finn and Carole (his mom) will be joining them. Kurt mentions that he’ll be unable to attend due to a sing-along performance of The Sound of Music; the week before he got out of their dinner by camping out to get the sixth season of “Gray’s Anatomy.” Kurt tries to negotiate to move dinner to another night and Burt expresses his disappointment: without their regular family dinners, there’s very little in the way of a family routine between them.

Later that day in the music room, Finn shares that he’s found Jesus, and that he’d like to pay tribute to him through music. Puck jokes that was Finn coming out of the closet and Kurt’s ears prick up (only to be disappointed after the announcement). Rachel is shocked, but Quinn and Mercedes are pleased: both feel that Glee could use something church-like and both find comfort in their religion. Brittany remarks, “Whenever I pray, I fall asleep.” Puck decides on a compromise: instead of something Christian-based, perhaps they could focus on spiritual music. “I’m a total Jew for Jesus. He’s my number one Heb” is his defense when asked if he has a problem with Christ and says he sees God every time he makes out with a new girl. Rachel thinks his statement is stupid and Puck challenges her to use that word to describe Billy Joel. He decides to focus on Jewish artists if Glee decides to bring up a spiritual tone, picks up a guitar, and sings “Only the Good Die Young.” Kurt is upset; he feels that the Church looks down on gays, women, and science.

Back at Burt’s shop, a customer is waiting to hear if a car part is in stock or not. Burt looks a little bit uncomfortable and the customer is concerned, but Burt waves it off as a bit of indigestion. Suddenly he winces and falls to the floor. It cuts to Emma Pillsbury running to Will’s office, her eyes wide with fear. Will and Emma interrupt Kurt’s French class to tell him about his dad. We find all three of them sitting in the hospital waiting room, hoping to hear any kind of news. A doctor shows up: Burt had a heart attack and is in a coma. The doctor doesn’t know what the damage is or when he will wake up. Kurt begs the doctor to let him see his father; Will and Emma follow him to the room. Kurt asks for a moment alone, which Emma doesn’t think is best but Will tells him that they’ll be outside if he needs anything. He holds his father’s hand and asks him to squeeze it if he can hear him – there’s no motion.

Finn takes out the Grilled Cheesus from the fridge starts praying again. He admits that he’s not sure if God works in a similar fashion as a genie, and asks if He could do something about Rachel’s breasts: they’re nice, but not at all womanly. He asks for God to acknowledge the fact that Glee is now going in a spiritual direction with their music, and if He could do anything about Rachel’s boobies, he’d be extremely grateful.

Kurt is trying to keep a brave face in Glee Club and everyone feels genuinely sorry for him. Brittany hands him a book report on heart attacks (a pretty construction paper piece, it appears) and mentions she was dropped a letter grade because she did wrote it in crayon. Finn bursts into the room upset; he just found out about Burt through his mother. He asks Kurt why he didn’t tell him in person and his hurt that Kurt doesn’t feel much of a family bond. Mercedes offers to sing “I Look to You” to help comfort Kurt; she doesn’t know how else to express how she feels. Tina and Quinn sing with her. He thanks her, but still says he doesn’t believe in God and compares it to Santa for adults. Mercedes is disappointed, but Kurt argues that if God existed, his sexual orientation wouldn’t be viewed as a choice. Kurt tells everyone that he appreciates their thoughts, but asks that they refrain from praying and walks out of the room.

Sue and Will are in Principal Figgins’ office, debating the issue of “Church and State.” Will asks how Sue found out about their spirituality lesson and she replies that she has cameras everywhere (i.e. Brittany and Santana). Will doesn’t understand why there would be any issues with their topic for the week, but Sue points out the old saying of “separation of church and state.” She feels that that idea is the backbone of a civilized nation and that if the kids want to praise Christ, they should “enroll at Sweet Holy Mother of God Acadamy on I Love Jesus Street.”

Rachel pays a visit to Finn at his house. She wants to talk about his newfound discovery of Jesus and how she’d like for her future children to be raised in the Jewish faith. Her plan is to wait to start a family [with Finn] after she’s got a few Tonys under her belt at the age of twenty-five. “We’re not going to have sex until we’re 25?,” Finn meakly asks. She wants their children to have the freedom of in their choice of religion in a way that she feels is right and Finn agrees. They makeout on the bed; Rachel lets him touch her breasts. He thanks Grilled Cheesus.

Sue calls Brittany and Santana into her office for a status update. Brittany shares that she gave Kurt a card which read “heart attacks are just from loving too much.” Santana shares that Kurt hasn’t been too pleased with this week’s lesson. Kurt gets called into her office and Sue works her charm: she understands that he’s going through a tough time and agrees that religious themes shouldn’t be pressed upon him in Glee. She brings up the idea of protesting this lesson in front of the school board, but will need his help, as she needs an official complaint from a student.

Emma busts into Sue’s office, upset. She’s found out about the complaint Kurt made and confronts Sue: “What happened to you that made you such a miserable tyrant?” Sue (in a rare moment for her) shares the trials her big sister, Jean, went through because of her Down Syndrome. Sue prayed for a change, but nothing happened, which lead her to believe that God didn’t exist. Emma feels Sue is being too cynical about people finding comfort in a higher power, but Sue stands her ground and asks Emma to leave.

Tina complains about the reaction from the school: first they were too sexy, now they’re too religious – there’s no satisfying anyone. “Now I know what Miley feels like” is Brittany’s response. The rest of Glee is upset about Kurt filing the complaint and siding with Sue. Mr. Schue defends Kurt’s right to speak his mind, even if the rest of the group is unhappy about it.

Finn takes out the Cheesus in the locker room, offers thanks for being able to touch Rachel, and asks for the chance to be made quarterback again. Puck catches Finn praying and Finn’s embarrassed: he asks if Puck is going to tell everyone. Puck admits that he’s started going to Temple again to pray for Kurt’s father, even though it seems to be a wussy thing to do. He catches a glimpse of the Grilled Cheesus, makes fun of Finn for burning his sandwich, and moves on.

Rachel takes Finn to the lake at to sing “Papa Can You Hear Me?” – the song she would have performed in front of the group before Kurt’s complaint was made. Finn wants to know why they’re outdoors and she says it’s because Yentl sang outside. She sings the same song in the hospital room; the Glee kids and Finn’s mom are around the bed as well. Kurt is outside of the room and is upset that everyone came in to pray. A woman dressed in white comes in – Kurt has asked her to perform acupuncture on his father in the hopes that something happens.

Finn makes a play suggestion to Sam during the game because the QB on the opposite team has been overly tough. Sam gets injured badly and Coach Bieste is upset that they didn’t follow the play she had assigned. Finn gets made QB again due to Sam being out for the rest of the game (and possibly the season).

The next day, Finn receives congratulatory remarks in Glee. Kurt makes the announcement that his father is still the same but appreciates the thoughts he’s been receiving. Kurt shares his memories about his mom’s funeral and how his dad squeezed his hand to comfort him. He sings “I Want To Hold Your Hand” to his dad. Flashbacks of bike riding, tea parties, and his mom’s funeral play as he sings.

In the hallway, Mercedes asks if she can talk to Kurt. She feels that he’s closing himself off from his friends and is hurt. Kurt acknowledges this and apologizes for his behavior; he knows that all of his friends mean well. She asks if he’ll go to church with her that Sunday; she’ll dedicate the service to his father. Mercedes bribes him with the chance to wear a fabulous church hat, something Kurt gladly accepts.

Finn is in Emma’s office, confessing that he’s the reason Sam got hurt and tells her about his prayers for a football victory and being able to touch Rachel. Emma offers logical reasons for each of his wishes, and tells him that it’s not because of his Grilledd Cheesus. Finn is disappointed that there was no higher power involved, but Emma comforts him that everyone has difficulties and faces them in different ways. Finn sings “Losing My Religion” walking down the hall and in Glee.

We find ourselves in church. Kurt expresses his hope that he’ll be back at the hospital by 2PM to oversee the acupuncture session, but admits that it’s not working the way he had hoped. Mercedes leaves Kurt in the pews and goes up to sing with the choir. She has the choir sing “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” The whole congregation stands up during the song, and the woman next to Kurt picks up his hand and encourages him to stand with the rest of the church. Kurt smiles for the first time in a while.

Sue is at the nursing home with her sister, playing checkers. Jean wins the game and accuses Sue of letting her win. Sue asks Jean if she believes in God; Jean turns the question back on her. Sue admits that she doesn’t believe in God because of how mean others were to her sister. Jean tells her younger sister that God never makes mistakes and offers to pray for her.

Kurt is changing his father’s hospital gown and shares his church experience. He shares a memory of the first Friday night dinner after his mother’s passing – the chicken dinner was raw. Kurt’s holding his father’s hand and apologizes for turning away the Glee Club from his room. He admits that he doesn’t believe in God but that he believes in his father and their family. He regrets not sharing that with his dad sooner. As if he could hear, we see one of Burt’s fingers slowly grip Kurt’s hand. Kurt yells for the nurse.

In the auditorium, the Glee kids are dressed in white and sing “One of Us.” There are cuts inbetween the song of Finn finally eating the other half of the Grilled Cheesus; he seems to accept that the sandwich was nothing more than a sandwich. Sue watches from a distance, then slowly sneaks up behind Will. He senses her presence and quietly asks if she’ll report him for allowing the kids to sing about God. Sue doesn’t take her eyes off the group as she responds with a no.

This was a very emotional episode, but a good one. I’m not a big believer in God, but I will admit that there is something to be said about the use of prayer during a rough patch in life. My only problem with this episode: Kurt’s a minor, and his only living parent is in the hospital, just a hair away from being on life support. WHO THE HELL IS HE STAYING WITH?

Next week on Glee: looks like Sam joins Glee after all and must deal with the reality of getting slushees thrown in his face. Mr. Schue starts a duet competition, which means lots of jealousy, catfights, and drama. Will I be in front of the TV next Tuesday night? You bet!