Damian McGinty and Naya Rivera stir the gleek soup.
Damian McGinty needs to become my leprechaun so I can wish good will upon Ali Adler and Marti Noxon. These two women understand exactly what Glee needed: drama, conflict, and Sue Sylvesterisms that gleeks will quote for ages to come. After a soft Season One and awkward Season Two, Season Three is becoming the show Glee was meant to be. “Pot o’ Gold” stirs our Glee club members further apart and develops them along the way.
Rory Flanagan (played by the bronze-tongued Damian McGinty) comes to McKinley as part of an exchange student program. He is living with Brittany (Heather Morris) and wants to put his clover in her gold. Mercedes (Amber Riley) continues to recruit for the new all-female show choir and Sue continues to dish the snark for her congressional campaign. Quinn (Dianna Agron) and Puck (Mark Salling) also plot to get their child back.
What can I say about the multiple plots of this episode? They are all satisfying and every through-line is covered. Not every series through-line is covered but every story mentioned in this episode is given time to grow and flourish. I appreciate the series return to more dramatic plotlines; it feels like if Skins (the British one, not the MTV one) met Broadway and had some great sex. The return of Santanna (Naya Rivera) and Brittany’s relationship is a nice way to bring back the drama (and a good way to keep those foaming-at-the-mouth lesbian fans calm.) The episode isn’t perfect. Poor McGinty looked stiff when Rivera was chugging threats at him. Despite that, he worked his foreign charm to his advantage and sounded like an Irish Frank Sinatra. The pacing of the episode feels like you’re watching a TV film – except in the good way. No joke goes too long and no scene hogs the show. Did I mention that Sue (Jane Lynch) has gained her grade A bitchiness back?
Damian McGinty, you cute leprechaun you, don’t stop being on this show. That is my one wish.
Some stats and info about Glee, “Pot O’ Gold”
TV SHOW – Glee
SEASON/EPISODE – Season 3, Episode 34
AIRED ON – November 1st, 2011
NETWORK/STREAMING SERVICE – FOX/Hulu
GENRE – Drama, Musicals, Comedy
CREATED BY – Ian Brennan, Brad Falchuk, Ryan Murphy
CAST – Chris Colfer, Jane Lynch, Lea Michele, Matthew Morrison, Kevin McHale, Naya Rivera, Jenna Ushkowitz, Amber Riley, Mark Salling, Heather Elizabeth Morris, Chord Overstreet, Darren Criss, Harry Shum Jr., Cory Monteith, Jayma Mays, Dianna Agron
This review originally appeared on TV Geek Army.