"City of Angels" is the eleventh episode of the
fifth season of the American musical television series ''
Glee
Glee means delight, a form of happiness.
Glee may also refer to:
* Glee (music), a type of English choral music
* ''Glee'' (TV series), an American musical comedy-drama TV series, and related media created by Ryan Murphy
* ''Glee'' (Bran Van 30 ...
'', and the ninety-ninth episode overall. Written by Jessica Meyer and directed by
Elodie Keene
Elodie Keene (born April 10, 1949 in Berkeley, California) is an American film director, television director, producer and editor. As a television director, her credits include '' ER'', ''NYPD Blue'', ''The Practice'', '' Ally McBeal'', ''Charme ...
, it aired on
Fox
Foxes are small to medium-sized, omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull, upright, triangular ears, a pointed, slightly upturned snout, and a long bushy tail (or ''brush'').
Twelve sp ...
in the United States on March 11, 2014, and features New Directions defending their National Show Choir Championship in Los Angeles. This episode includes brief flashbacks to scenes showing the late
Finn Hudson
Finn Christopher Hudson is a fictional character from the Fox musical comedy-drama series ''Glee''. The character was portrayed by Cory Monteith and first appeared on television when ''Glee'' premiered its pilot episode on Fox on May 19, 2009. ...
(
Cory Monteith
Cory Allan Michael Monteith (; May 11, 1982 July 13, 2013) was a Canadian actor and musician who played Finn Hudson on the Fox television series ''Glee''. As an actor based in British Columbia, Monteith had minor roles on television series before ...
).
Plot
Glee club director
Will Schuester
William Michael Schuester, often referred to as Mr. Schue, is a fictional teacher character and one of the two main protagonists from the Fox musical comedy-drama series ''Glee'', alongside his student Rachel Berry. He has appeared in ''Glee'' ...
(
Matthew Morrison
Matthew James Morrison (born October 30, 1978) is an American actor, dancer and singer-songwriter, best known for his role as Will Schuester on the Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox television show ''Glee (TV series), Glee'' (2009–2015). He has s ...
) asks
Sam Evans
Sam Evans is a fictional character from the Fox musical comedy-drama series ''Glee''. The character is portrayed by actor Chord Overstreet, and appeared on ''Glee'' starting with the second season premiere episode entitled "Audition", first bro ...
(
Chord Overstreet
Chord Paul Overstreet (born February 17, 1989) is an American actor and musician. He is best known for his role as Sam Evans on the Fox television series ''Glee'' (2009–2015). He has starred in the Apple TV+ comedy series ''Acapulco'' since 20 ...
) to be ready to act as a leader when New Directions travels to Los Angeles for the National Show Choir Competition.
Carole Hudson-Hummel (
Romy Rosemont
Romy Rosemont (born October 28, 1964) is an American actress, who has appeared in multiple television series, including ''Shark'', ''Grey's Anatomy'', ''CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'', ''Prison Break'', and ''Private Practice''. She got her brea ...
) and
Burt Hummel
Burt Hummel is a fictional character from the Fox musical comedy-drama series ''Glee''. The character is portrayed by actor Mike O'Malley, and first appeared on ''Glee'' in the fourth episode of the first season, "Preggers". Burt was developed ...
(
Mike O'Malley
Michael Edward O'Malley (born October 31, 1966) is an American actor, writer and producer. Born in Boston and raised in New Hampshire, O'Malley hosted the early 1990s children's game show '' Nickelodeon Guts'' before moving to Los Angeles later ...
), mother and step-father of the club's late co-director
Finn Hudson
Finn Christopher Hudson is a fictional character from the Fox musical comedy-drama series ''Glee''. The character was portrayed by Cory Monteith and first appeared on television when ''Glee'' premiered its pilot episode on Fox on May 19, 2009. ...
(
Cory Monteith
Cory Allan Michael Monteith (; May 11, 1982 July 13, 2013) was a Canadian actor and musician who played Finn Hudson on the Fox television series ''Glee''. As an actor based in British Columbia, Monteith had minor roles on television series before ...
), agree to chaperone New Directions on the trip in place of Emma, and remind the club members how much Finn cared about them.
New Directions arrives in Los Angeles, and are met there by former member
Mercedes Jones
Mercedes Jones is a fictional character from the Fox popular musical comedy-drama series ''Glee''. The character is portrayed by actress Amber Riley, and has appeared in ''Glee'' from its pilot episode, first broadcast on May 19, 2009. Mercedes w ...
(
Amber Riley
Amber Patrice Riley (born February 15, 1986), sometimes known mononymously as RILEY, is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her portrayal of Mercedes Jones on the Fox comedy-drama series ''Glee'' (2009–2015). For her perform ...
), who has been given a record deal by
Sony
, commonly stylized as SONY, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. As a major technology company, it operates as one of the world's largest manufacturers of consumer and professional ...
. They are then confronted by rival show choir Throat Explosion and its intimidating leader Jean-Baptiste (
Skylar Astin
Skylar Astin Lipstein (born September 23, 1987) is an American actor and singer. He became known for portraying Jesse Swanson in the musical films ''Pitch Perfect'' (2012) and ''Pitch Perfect 2'' (2015). He originated the role of Georg in the Broa ...
). Later,
Ryder Lynn
Ryder Lynn is a fictional character from the Fox musical comedy-drama series ''Glee''. The character is portrayed by actor Blake Jenner, and has appeared in ''Glee'' since its fifth episode of the fourth season, "The Role You Were Born to Play", ...
(
Blake Jenner
Blake Alexander Jenner (born August 27, 1992) is an American actor. Jenner won the second season of Oxygen's ''The Glee Project'' and, as a result, portrayed Ryder Lynn on the Fox musical comedy-drama series ''Glee''. He has since had starring a ...
) speaks with
Marley Rose
Marley Rose is a fictional character from the Fox musical comedy-drama series '' Glee''. The character is portrayed by actress Melissa Benoist, and has appeared in ''Glee'' since the premiere of the fourth season, " The New Rachel", first broa ...
(
Melissa Benoist
Melissa Marie Benoist ( ; born October 4, 1988) is an American actress, singer and producer. Her first major role was Marley Rose on the Fox musical comedy drama ''Glee'' (2012–2014), where she was a series regular during the fifth season. S ...
) because she has apparently given up on her dream of becoming a singer-songwriter. She has received no response to the songs she's been sending out to contests, and she tells him that she's planning to quit the glee club after Nationals. He and
Jake Puckerman
''Glee'' is a musical comedy-drama television series that aired on Fox in the United States for six seasons from 2009 to 2015. It focuses on the high school glee club New Directions competing in the show choir competition circuit, while its membe ...
(
Jacob Artist
Jacob Artist (born October 17, 1992) is an American actor, singer, and dancer. He is best known for his roles as Jake Puckerman on the Fox musical comedy-drama series ''Glee'' and as Brandon Fletcher on the ABC drama-thriller series '' Quantico'' ...
) are rooming together, and after the two affirm that they are actually friends despite their past rivalry for Marley, they conspire to give copies of Marley's songs to Mercedes, who tells Marley that the songs are good and she needs to pursue her musical dreams.
Tina Cohen-Chang
Tina Cohen-Chang is a fictional character from the Fox musical comedy-drama series ''Glee''. The character is portrayed by actress Jenna Ushkowitz and has appeared in ''Glee'' from its pilot episode, first broadcast on May 19, 2009. Tina was deve ...
(
Jenna Ushkowitz
Jenna Noelle Ushkowitz (; born April 28, 1986) (born Min Ji []) is a South Korean-born American actress, singer, producer and podcast host. She is known for her performances in Broadway musicals such as ''The King and I'' and '' Waitress (musical ...
) and Sam are with Carole and Burt, remembering past competitions, and Tina expresses regret that this will be their last one. Carole says that at least she will be here for this one—unstated is that Finn cannot be—but then apologizes. Later, however, she tells Burt that she doesn't think she can deal with seeing the competition, and the two decide to go to Laguna Beach instead.
That night, New Directions sneaks onto the stage of the auditorium, and Sam reveals that he brought Finn's plaque from the choir room to fulfill Finn's promise to be there with them at Nationals. Jean-Baptiste arrives, having made arrangements to use the auditorium for an all-night Throat Explosion rehearsal, and evicts New Directions. The next day, getting on New Directions' bus to go to Nationals, Sam can't find Finn's plaque in its case and accuses Jean-Baptiste of stealing it, though he denies doing so. Back on the bus, Sam gives a pep talk, telling everyone that Finn is there with them anyway.
At Nationals, the competition begins with the Amazonians show choir, after which Throat Explosion performs a mashup of "
Mr. Roboto
"Mr. Roboto" is a song by American rock band Styx, released as the lead single from their eleventh studio album, '' Kilroy Was Here'' (1983). It was written by band member Dennis DeYoung. In Canada, it went to #1 on the '' RPM'' national single ...
" and "
Counting Stars
"Counting Stars" is a song by American pop rock band OneRepublic from their third studio album, ''Native'' (2013). The song was written by lead singer Ryan Tedder, and produced by Tedder and Noel Zancanella. It was released as the album's seco ...
", leaving the judges looking impressed and Sam and
Blaine Anderson
Blaine Devon Anderson is a fictional character from the American musical comedy-drama television series ''Glee''. Played by Darren Criss, Blaine was introduced in the sixth episode of the second season as the openly gay lead singer of the Dalt ...
(
Darren Criss
Darren Everett Criss (born February 5, 1987) is an American actor, singer, and songwriter. He rose to fame starring on the television series ''Glee'' (2010–2015) and received Emmy and Golden Globe acting awards for his leading role as spree ...
) apprehensive. Backstage before they go on, Will starts giving New Directions some final encouragement, but Carole and Burt interrupt—they turned back when she came to realize Finn would want her to see them—and she and Burt tell them to "wipe the floor" with the competition.
New Directions starts with "
More Than a Feeling
"More Than a Feeling" is a song by the American rock band Boston, released as the lead single from the band's 1976 debut album by Epic Records in September 1976, with " Smokin' as the B-side. Tom Scholz wrote the whole song. The single pea ...
" featuring Blaine and Tina, continues with Artie being highlighted in "
America
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
", and ends with Sam taking lead on "
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the second track from their 1987 album ''The Joshua Tree'' and was released as the album's second single in May 1987. The song was a hit, becoming the band's se ...
", at which point Carole realizes that the set is made up of Finn's favorite songs. Afterward, while the group celebrates their performance, Sam is off by himself, and tearfully tells Will, "I did my best, Mr. Schue." When the results are announced, New Directions comes in second to Throat Explosion.
Back in Ohio, Finn's plaque has been returned by Jean-Baptiste, who discovered that one of the Throat Explosion members—now an ex-member—had stolen it. Carole and Burt come to the choir room, and she says that hearing them perform songs was healing for her, knowing that Finn will live on in them. The ceremony of putting the second-place trophy in the case is interrupted by
Becky Jackson
''Glee'' is a musical comedy-drama television series that aired on Fox in the United States for six seasons from 2009 to 2015. It focuses on the high school glee club New Directions competing in the show choir competition circuit, while its membe ...
(
Lauren Potter
Lauren Elizabeth Potter (born May 10, 1990) is an American actress, advocate, and comedian known for her role as Becky Jackson on the FOX series ''Glee''. Potter advocates for those with disabilities through organizations including AbilityPath, B ...
), who summons Will to see principal
Sue Sylvester
Susan "Sue" Rodham Sylvester is a fictional character of the Fox musical comedy-drama series, ''Glee''. The character is portrayed by actress Jane Lynch, and appears in ''Glee'' from its pilot episode, first broadcast on May 19, 2009, through th ...
(
Jane Lynch
Jane Marie Lynch (born July 14, 1960) is an American actress, comedian and author. She is known for starring as Sue Sylvester in the musical comedy series ''Glee'' (2009–2015), which earned her a Primetime Emmy Award. Lynch also gained recogni ...
).
Sue is just congratulating cheerleading coach
Roz Washington
'' Glee'' is a musical comedy-drama television series that aired on Fox in the United States for six seasons from 2009 to 2015. It focuses on the high school glee club New Directions competing in the show choir competition circuit, while its mem ...
(
NeNe Leakes
Linnethia Monique "NeNe" Leakes (; née Johnson; born December 13, 1967) is an American television personality, actress, presenter, businesswoman, author, and fashion designer.
Born in Queens, New York and raised in Athens, Georgia, she is best ...
) for having won her Nationals competition, but her news for Will is bleak: since he didn't win, and despite her affection for him, her duties as principal require her to disband the glee club along with several other school activities due to budgetary constraints. The bad news travels quickly:
Kurt Hummel
Kurt Elizabeth Hummel is a fictional character from the Fox musical comedy-drama series ''Glee''. Series creators Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan initially conceived of him as a fashionable gay countertenor who is routinely bullied a ...
(
Chris Colfer
Christopher Paul Colfer (born May 27, 1990) is an American actor, singer, and author. He gained international recognition for his portrayal of Kurt Hummel on the television musical ''Glee'' (2009–2015). Colfer's portrayal of Kurt received crit ...
) tells feuding fellow McKinley graduates
Rachel Berry
Rachel Barbra Berry is a fictional character and one of the two main protagonists, alongside Mr. Schue in the Fox musical comedy-drama series ''Glee''. The character is portrayed by actress Lea Michele, and appears in ''Glee'' from its pilot epi ...
(
Lea Michele
Lea Michele Sarfati (; born August 29, 1986) is an American actress, singer, songwriter, and author. She began her career as a child actress on Broadway (theatre), Broadway, appearing in productions of ''Les Misérables (musical), Les Misérab ...
) and
Santana Lopez
Santana Lopez is a fictional character from the Fox musical comedy-drama series ''Glee''. The character was portrayed by Naya Rivera, and has appeared in ''Glee'' from its pilot episode, first broadcast on May 19, 2009. Santana was developed by ...
(
Naya Rivera
Naya Marie Rivera (; January 12, 1987July 8, 2020) was an American actress, singer, and model. Recognized for her work on the popular musical comedy-drama series ''Glee'', she received various awards, including a Screen Actors Guild Award and ...
) of the club's demise during their shift at the Spotlight Diner in New York City.
Production
![Cory Monteith 2010 GLAAD Media Awards](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5d/Cory_Monteith_2010_GLAAD_Media_Awards.jpg)
The episode was in production by December 6, 2013. The scenes at the Nationals competition were filmed on December 17 and 18, and filming for the episode continued for at least another day.
A trio of guest stars are appearing as themselves in this episode, acting as judges of the National Show Choir Championship:
Marlee Matlin
Marlee Beth Matlin (born August 24, 1965) is an American actress, author, and activist. She is the recipient of numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, in addition to nominations for a ...
,
Jackée and
Johanna Rohrback. In addition, Skylar Astin appears as the lead singer of rival glee club Throat Explosion, Jean-Baptiste.
Recurring characters in this episode include former New Directions member Mercedes Jones (Riley), Finn's mother and stepfather, Carole Hudson-Hummel (Rosemont) and Burt Hummel (O'Malley), McKinley cheerleading coach Roz Washington (Leakes) and cheerleader Becky Jackson (Potter).
Seven songs from the episode are being released on a six-track EP with the same title as the episode. These include:
Randy Newman
Randall Stuart Newman (born November 28, 1943) is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, composer, and pianist known for his Southern American English, Southern-accented singing style, early Americana (music), Americana-influenced songs (often ...
's "
I Love L.A.
"I Love L.A." is a song by Randy Newman. It was originally released on his 1983 album '' Trouble in Paradise''. The song is about Los Angeles, California, and its hook is its title, repeated, each time followed by an enthusiastic crowd cheering, ...
" performed by Morrison, Criss, Overstreet,
Kevin McHale, and
Jacob Artist
Jacob Artist (born October 17, 1992) is an American actor, singer, and dancer. He is best known for his roles as Jake Puckerman on the Fox musical comedy-drama series ''Glee'' and as Brandon Fletcher on the ABC drama-thriller series '' Quantico'' ...
; "
Vacation
A vacation (American English) or holiday (British English) is either a leave of absence from a regular job or an instance of leisure travel away from home. People often take a vacation during specific holiday observances or for specific festi ...
" by
The Go-Go's
The Go-Go's are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1978. Except for short periods when other musicians joined briefly, the band has had a relatively stable lineup consisting of Charlotte Caffey on lead guitar and keyboards, Belind ...
; a mashup of
Styx
In Greek mythology, Styx (; grc, Στύξ ) is a river that forms the boundary between Earth (Gaia) and the Underworld. The rivers Acheron, Cocytus, Lethe, Phlegethon, and Styx all converge at the centre of the underworld on a great marsh, whic ...
's "Mr. Roboto" and
OneRepublic
OneRepublic is an American pop rock band formed in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in 2002. It consists of lead vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Ryan Tedder, lead guitarist and violist Zach Filkins, rhythm guitarist Drew Brown, bassist and cellis ...
's "Counting Stars" featuring Astin; and three songs performed by New Directions at Nationals:
Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
's "More Than a Feeling" featuring Criss and Ushkowitz,
Neil Diamond
Neil Leslie Diamond (born January 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. He has sold more than 130 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling musicians of all time. He has had ten No. 1 singles on the Hot 100 and Adul ...
's "America" featuring McHale, Overstreet,
Becca Tobin
Rebecca Grace Tobin (born January 18, 1986) is an American actress, singer, and dancer. She is known for her role as Kitty Wilde on the Fox musical comedy-drama series ''Glee''.
Early life
Tobin grew up in Marietta, Georgia, the younger of two ...
and
Alex Newell
Alex Eugene Newell (born August 20, 1992) is an American actor and singer. They are known for their role as Unique Adams on the Fox musical series ''Glee'' and Mo on ''Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist''. Newell also starred as Asaka in the Broadway ...
, and
U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" featuring Criss, McHale, Overstreet and Ushkowitz.
Reception
Ratings
"City of Angels" received a series-low-tying 0.9/3
Nielsen rating/share in the
18–49 demographic and attracted 2.30 million American viewers during its initial broadcast, a significant decrease over the prior episode's 1.0/3 rating/share and 2.68 million viewers on March 5, 2014.
Including DVR viewership, the episode's 18–49 rating was raised to 1.5.
Critical reception
"City of Angels" received generally positive reviews from critics.
Brandon Nowallk from ''The AV Club'' gave the episode B- stating "'City of Angels' is the perfect capstone for ''Glee''s middle period. Everything I've been saying about this season is here." Although he gave negative review about Jake, Ryder and Marley's subplot saying "When the characters aren't guided by Schmaltz, they're at the mercy of the writers misanthrophy".
Many critics enjoyed the New Directions tribute songs to Finn Hudson with Todd VanDerWerff stating "Part of what's powerful about this episode is that the tribute doesn't have any dialogue. Yes, the episode starts by invoking Finn, it brings Finn's parents to Los Angeles and it even makes a subplot out of Finn's portrait, but the centrepiece is the a three song tribute that you don't even know is a tribute until the final number. Jodi Walker from Entertainment Weekly's praised the "New Directions tribute to the legacy of Finn Hudson and all that he brought to the Glee club". Although he sad he was never going to see the new cast.
Vulture gave the episode 4 stars "it's not mawkish or over the top. It's gentle, impossible to look away from and nuanced; it's worthy of an Emmy consideration" and also praised Mike O' Malley's performance as Burt "Mike O' Malley as ever, is anchor, a perfect blend of gruff and kind."
References
External links
*
{{Glee episodes
2014 American television episodes
Glee (season 5) episodes