Have you dropped off the Glee [1] train? This is the last season, but if you stopped watching or simply don't feel like spending time on the last 13 episodes, we understand. The show started off on such a high note (pun intended), but the momentum has dragged in the past few seasons. In case you're wondering what happens on the supersized season six premiere — but you really don't want to watch it — here's what you need to know, from the romance update to the music numbers. Plus, even though this season is focusing on the original characters, it wouldn't be Glee if there weren't some random new people, too. Get the scoop on them and everyone else ahead!
The Time and Place
It's approximately six months after the season five finale, and New York is a thing of the past. We're back in Lima, OH. Specifically, the season premiere mostly takes place at good old McKinley High School.
The Status of the Original Characters
- Rachel and Kurt: Rachel has moved back to Lima to restart her life after starring on the worst sitcom of all time — her costar was Carrot Top. She and Kurt are the new leaders of McKinley High's glee club, which is struggling because Sue shipped everyone from the previous club to different schools. (I know, weird.)
- Blaine: He's now the coach of The Warblers at his alma mater.
- Mr. Schue: He's a new father of a son named Danny and the coach of Vocal Adrenaline. Why, you ask? After Sue got rid of the club, she got him the job at Carmel High, home of the glee club's archenemies.
- Sam: Working under Coach Beiste, he's the assistant coach of McKinley's football team.
- The rest of the gang: In an effort to galvanize the new glee club, Rachel gets everyone back to McKinley, including Puck, Quinn, Santana, Brittany, Mercedes, Artie, and Tina.
The Musical Numbers
- The episode kicks off with Rachel singing Alanis Morissette's "Uninvited" as she leaves the Hollywood set of her failed show. It's an interesting choice for the first song of the final season, but as usual, she nails it.
- Blaine and The Warblers take on "Sing" by Ed Sheeran (which you can watch here [2]), and it's perfection.
- Perhaps the most memorable number of the evening is "Let It Go," as sung by Rachel. You'll definitely want to check it out [3], because it rivals Idina Menzel's version.
- Because you knew someone would do it, the original Cheerios (Santana, Quinn, Brittany) do a version of Ariana Grande [4]'s "Problem." It's a ton of fun, especially with Artie jamming out as well.
- The two-parter ends with a rendition of 2009's "Home" by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. By Glee standards, this song is a little old, but it pulls together the new and old characters in a really wonderful way.
The New Characters
- Roderick: Played by YouTube star Noah Guthrie, he's a new student at McKinley who just transferred from Chicago. He's tired of being bullied for his weight, but his incredible voice earns him a place in the glee club.
- Jane: She (Samantha Ware) is an ambitious girl who tries to get a spot on The Warblers but is turned down because, well, she's a girl. She jumps ship and becomes a member of McKinley's glee club.
- Spencer: He (Marshall Williams) is a gay football player at McKinley who doesn't take crap from anyone. Sue is pursuing him to infiltrate and demolish the glee club.
- Mason and Madison: They (Billy Lewis Jr. and Laura Dreyfuss) are a set of weird twins who are on the Cheerio squad but are also interested in the glee club.
The Relationship Update
Blaine and Kurt have broken up. In a flashback sequence, we see them having a heartbreaking fight while planning their wedding. Jump forward and Kurt is determined to get the love of his life back, but Blaine is dating — wait for it — Dave Karofsky from the first season! Yeah, I don't really buy it either, but whatever. They're really the only couple you need to know about right now, though Sam is making eyes at Mercedes again.