TV Review: GLEE – Season 3 – “Prom-asauras”

By CARL CORTEZ / Contributing Editor

Posted: May 9th, 2012 / 10:25 AM

Jenna Ushkowitz, Naya Rivera and Heather Morris in GLEE - Season 3 - "Prom-asauras" | ©2012 Fox/Mike Yarish

Stars: Dianna Agron, Chris Colfer, Darren Criss, Jane Lynch, Jayma Mays, Kevin McHale, Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Heather Morris, Matthew Morrison, Amber Riley, Naya Rivera, Mark Salling, Harry Shum Jr., Jenna Ushkowitz
Writer: Ryan Murphy
Director: Eric Stoltz
Network: Fox, airs Tuesday nights
Original Telecast: May 8, 2012

Sometimes GLEE hits an almost giddy high of capturing the essence of 1980s teen angst films while also living up to the potential of the first half of its own Season 1.

With “Prom-asauras” there are still remnants of the things that frustrate long-time fans (myself included), but it’s made up by one of the funniest and enjoyable proms captured on TV.

Graduation continues to loom for the students at McKinley High, and Rachel (Lea Michele) is still reeling from choking on her big NYADA audition. She’s in a pity party alongside Puck (Mark Salling) who realizes he won’t be graduating since he failed a major test.

There’s also the hint that class president and major airhead Brittany (Heather Morris) is failing too (guess she’ll be back next season as well). And since Brittany has done absolutely nothing as class president, she takes Prom duties to heart and comes up with the theme of “dinosaurs.”

Iqbal Theba in GLEE - Season 3 - "Prom-asauras" | ©2012 Fox/Mike Yarish

Very funny stuff – which results in some great sight gags, most notable Blaine (Darren Criss) forced to attend prom without hair gel (banned by Brittany of course, since hair gel didn’t exist during dinosaur times) and having a major frizzy fro.

Quinn (Dianna Agron) is also making progress with her rehabilitation, and plans to show everyone at prom how far she’s come. She’s also ankling, Quinn-style, to become Prom Queen along fellow nominee Finn (Cory Monteith). Of course, she decides to give up the crown and give the trophy to Rachel in the first decent thing she’s done in some time.

One of the other funnier bits involves Puck and Becky (Lauren Potter) bonding, getting drunk and crowning each other the King and Queen of the Anti-Prom (we also get another Becky voiceover courtesy of Helen Mirren).

Ryan Murphy, who hasn’t scripted an episode in quite some time, has fun with the current story developments while director Eric Stoltz knows a thing or two about teen angst having directed many GLEE episodes as well as starring in the seminal John Hughes teen film SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL. He does an excellent job with the material here, as always.

It all adds up to a pretty swell episode culminating with Quinn and Santana singing a great rendition of the Berlin song “Take My Breath Away”.

Next week is a big two-parter as New Directions head to Nationals – again. I’d bet money after last year’s debacle, they win with some sort of Rachel redemption thrown into the mix.

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