In A Very Glee Christmas, Sue turns Grinch and steals Christmas presents bound for disabled orphans or something, and Brittany, who still believes in Santa, asks for the impossible, for her BF Artie to walk.

This episode was a tearful ride for me. I’m easily moved and a sucker for such things, but I still think this episode delivered, at long last, some of the heart that first made me a fan.

The emotional part of the ride started with a moving story by Coach Beiste of asking Santa to make her look more like the other girls. I loved Coach Beiste as a character and I love that she is simultaneously strong, feminine, vulnerable and masculine, in that order. This episode drove that home, and the expression in this shot says it all.

The ride continues to the inevitable tearful end when Artie get an unexpected albeit temporary gift. I thought this was a clever end. It was an unexpected way to deliver the predictable.

Musically, the highlight of this episode was the group performance of “Welcome Christmas“, with an honorable mention going to “Baby, It’s Cold Outside“. I do have two words for Kurt and Blaine. “Kiss already!”

As always, you can watch the full episode online using GL33′s convenient interface.

Featured Music
The Most Wonderful Day of the Year
We Need a Little Christmas
Merry Christmas Darling
Baby, It’s Cold Outside
You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch
Last Christmas
Welcome Christmas

Bootylicious

Imagine

True Colors

Papa Don’t Preach

Hair/Crazy in Love

Don’t Make Me Over

Here’s the music from glee Episode 8.

Bust a Move (Glee Cast Version): Performed by Will at the beginning.

Thong Song (Glee Cast Version): Sung by Will when working with Emma on the wedding dance.

What a Girl Wants by Christina Aguilera: Sung by Rachel when singing with Puck before they oddly make out.

Sweet Caroline (Glee Cast Version): Originally sung by Neil Diamond, this is started off by Puck during rehearsal.

Sing, Sing, Sing by Benny Goodman: The instrumental music that Sue and Will dance to.

I Could Have Danced All Night (Broadway Version): Played when Will and Emma dance at the wedding dress shop.