Glee Season 2 Episode 20 – Prom Queen
Air Supply cancels their scheduled performance for McKinley High’s junior prom just a few days before the event. Principal Figgins requests the glee club to perform in their place. Will and Sue are reluctant to have New Directions perform. Will is concerned that this would distract the club members from their preparations for the Nationals competition. Principal Figgins offers to give Air Supply’s fee to New Directions to help fund their trip to Nationals, which convinces Will to agree.
The competition for prom king and queen has intensified further as Jacob Ben Israel, a school reporter, discloses the contenders’ rankings. Finn and Quinn are the front runners, Puck and Lauren are in second place, and Karofsky and Santana follow in third place. Puck begins to worry about his relationship with Lauren affecting his image. Karofsky and Santana increase their anti-bullying efforts to boost their rankings.
Kurt asks Blaine to be his prom date. Blaine is hesitant but agrees to Kurt’s request. Blaine revealed his hesitation was because of having been beaten up after “coming out” following a dance at his previous school. Despite Burt and Blaine’s qualms about Kurt’s homemade outfit being too daring, Kurt wears it to prom as he is determined to be himself.
Mercedes is upset no one asked her to prom despite her not wanting to have a boyfriend. She and Rachel ask Sam to take them both to prom, or what they called “prom on a budget.”
Jesse St. James appears while Rachel is practicing in the school’s auditorium. Jesse sings “Rolling in the Deep” with her, apologizes for his previous behavior, and asks her to go to the prom with him.
To regain his firebrand image, Puck concocts a plan to spike the prom’s punch bowl. He recruits Artie to help him, who is still upset from his breakup with Brittany. Artie sings “Isn’t She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder to ask her to be his date to the prom. Brittany turns him down saying that she will go to the prom alone. Puck asks Artie again, and this time, he agrees.
Kurt walks through McKinley High’s halls with Karofsky. They talk about bullying and homosexuality. Karofsky makes an emotional apology to Kurt.
Artie, Sam and Puck’s rendition of Rebecca Black’s “Friday,” kicks off the prom followed by Rachel’s rendition of Christina Perri’s “Jar of Hearts.” Blaine sings his version of Black Kids’ “I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You.” Brittany and Tina sing with Blaine. Finn gets into a fight with Jesse because he notices how close Jesse holds Rachel. Sue, the prom coordinator, throws both boys out.
Sue catches Artie in the attempt to spike the punch and talks to him in her office. Sue threatens Artie that he will perform dental work on him until he tells her who the plan’s mastermind is. Artie refuses to name Puck because he knows that he will be expelled because of it. Artie instead confesses that he was only pouring non-alcoholic lemonade into the bowl.
Principal Figgins declares Karofsky as the prom king and, with hesitation, announces Kurt wins the prom queen title. Kurt feels humiliated and runs from the gym. Blaine consoles Kurt in the hallway. Kurt is angered by the students and their secret ballots but he returns to the gym to claim his crown. In the restroom, Quinn slaps Rachel. Quinn blames Rachel for her loss and for her boyfriend getting kicked out of prom. Quinn regrets her actions afterward. Brittany talks to Santana and tells her that she probably lost because the students sensed that she was not being her true self.
Kurt delivers a witty statement as he is crowned prom queen. Karofsky and Kurt dance as it is tradition for the prom king and queen to do so. Kurt tells Karofsky that this is the right opportunity to be true to himself. Karofsky hesitates, decides he can’t do it and leaves Kurt alone on the dancefloor.
Blaine dances with Kurt as Mercedes and Santana sing a duet of Abba’s “Dancing Queen.”
Featured Songs
Title Original Artist
“Rolling in the Deep” Adele
“Isn’t She Lovely” Stevie Wonder
“Friday” Rebecca Black
“Jar of Hearts” Christina Perri
“I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You” Black Kids
“Dancing Queen” Abba
