"Glee, Actually" is the third Christmas episode of the FOX musical drama series Glee, aired as the tenth episode of its fourth season.
Synopsis[]
Artie injures himself on an icy wheelchair ramp at McKinley High. Finn helps him to the school nurse's office, where Artie tells Finn he wishes that the accident that paralyzed him had never happened. Artie falls asleep in the nurse's office and enters a dream sequence. In the dream, as explained by his guide, Rory, Artie was never paralyzed and as a result many of the events as he knows them never took place. The glee club never got off the ground, and Will Schuester has become an apathetic alcoholic under the control of his wife, Terri. Kurt is bullied by jocks – including several of the glee club members – because of his homosexuality, and as a result never graduated from high school. Rachel works as a librarian in the school library, having never had a chance to be a star. Becky Jackson is the school slut because she was never treated with respect because Artie never took her on a date. Artie gathers the glee club as he knows it and performs "Feliz Navidad" in an attempt to inspire them to establish a glee club, but fails. Last, Rory informs Artie that Quinn Fabray never managed to recover from her car accident, which happened regardless of her participation in the glee club, and, since she didn't have the support of her friends, died of a broken heart. Rory explains to Artie that wheelchair-bound Artie is the heart and soul of the glee club, and Artie wakes up from the dream with a better appreciation of his role in the club.
Burt surprises Kurt and Rachel by showing up at their New York apartment. Burt explains to Rachel the significance of Christmas in Kurt's life, especially after the death of his mother. Rachel goes on a cruise, while the Hummels continue to bond in New York. Burt reveals to Kurt that he has prostate cancer, but it was diagnosed at an early stage and his chances for survival are very high. Burt then surprises Kurt again by revealing that he has paid for Blaine to travel to New York to spend Christmas with them. They have an awkward but cordial reunion, and sing "White Christmas". Back at the apartment, Burt, Kurt and Blaine continue several of the Hummels' Christmas traditions, and have dinner.
'Puck' invites Jake Puckerman to travel to Los Angeles with him. Puck tries to impress Jake with the lifestyle he lives in Los Angeles, but when the actual owner of the house where Puck told Jake he had been living returns home and kicks them out, Puck admits he has been lying about his lifestyle. The brothers return to Lima and later have a Hanukkah dinner at Breadstix, together with their respective mothers. The dinner goes badly at first, as the two women resent each other, but Puck and Jake convince their mothers that all four of them have a common bond: they were all placed into a difficult situation by Puck and Jake's father. The women begin to talk and soon start to bond. Puck informs Jake that he will be staying in Lima, while he works on a screenplay.
Sam and Brittany reveal to each other that they believe in the 2012 Mayan apocalypse. Believing that the world is about to end, Brittany cashes out her savings and gives her friends expensive gifts, and Sam proposes to her. Coach Beiste performs the wedding ceremony. When the apocalypse does not occur as expected, Sam and Brittany realize that they are still married, and meet the Coach at Breadstix to ask for help. Beiste reveals that she is not actually qualified to perform weddings, and that they are not officially married. She did this because she didn't really want them to get married. Both Sam and Brittany are disappointed that the world didn't end, but they realized that it felt good being nice to others. Coach Beiste, feeling sorry for them, pretended that an archaeologist named Indy found a Mayan calendar predicting that the world would end on September 14th, 2014. This lifted Sam and Brittany's spirits, who were delighted to find out that there was still time to tell others how they felt.
After failing to satisfy Becky with her Christmas gifts, Sue draws Millie's name in a Secret Santa event held among the McKinley High faculty and staff. Unsure what to get Millie, Sue happens upon a conversation between Millie and her daughter, Marley. Marley wants to have a Christmas tree and at least some gifts, but Millie explains that they need to save money to pay a counselor to treat Marley for her eating disorder. After seeing this, Sue breaks into the Roses' home that night and surreptitiously leaves them a Christmas tree, several presents, and enough money to pay Marley's counselor. Becky reveals to Millie that Sue was behind the surprise when bribed by candy and Millie attempts to return the money, but Sue refuses to accept it. Millie then brings Sue to the auditorium, where several of the glee club members including Marley sing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", joined in unison by the four glee clubbers singing in Breadstix and the two singing in the New York apartment.
Songs[]
- "Feliz Navidad"
- "White Christmas"
- "O Hanukkah"
- "Jingle Bell Rock"
- "The First Noel"
- "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
Availability[]
The episode was made available on the Glee: The Complete Fourth Season DVD and Blu-ray sets, released on October 1, 2013.
Cast[]
| Actor/actress | Character |
|---|---|
| Chris Colfer | Kurt Hummel |
| Darren Criss | Blaine Anderson |
| Jane Lynch | Sue Sylvester |
| Kevin McHale | Artie Abrams |
| Lea Michele | Rachel Berry |
| Cory Monteith | Finn Hudson |
| Heather Morris | Brittany S. Pierce |
| Matthew Morrison | Will Schuester |
| Chord Overstreet | Sam Evans |
| Mark Salling | 'Puck' |
| Harry Shum Jr. | Mike Chang |
| Jenna Ushkowitz | Tina Cohen-Chang |
| Jessalyn Gilsig | Terri Schuester |
| Mike O'Malley | Burt Hummel |
| Dot-Marie Jones | Shannon Beiste |
| Aisha Tyler | Jake's Mother |
| Gina Hecht | Mrs. Puckerman |
| Melissa Benoist | Marley Rose |
| Jacob Artist | Jake Puckerman |
| Becca Tobin | Kitty Wilde |
| Blake Jenner | Ryder Lynn |
| Damian McGinty | Rory Flanagan |
| Samuel Larsen | Joe Hart |
| Lauren Potter | Becky Jackson |
| Trisha Rae Stahl | Millie Rose |
| Sarah Buxton | Mrs. Cross |
| Harrison Forsyth | Cross Kid |
| Bonnie Hellman | Nurse |
| Daniel Curtis Lee | Phil Lipoff |
| Jesse Luken | 'Boom Boom' |
Videos[]
See also[]
- Other episodes:
- Albums: