Why You Should Watch Funk Before Theatericality

Not dealing with discussions that will just lead me to hit my head in frustration and want to smack people? Hells yes!  

Ok so Funk often has a reputation as being just a terrible episode.  And I remember when it first aired a huge complaint was “why would you follow Theatericality” with this? Why is there no follow up on Shelby being Rachel’s mother?  Why does no one mention this?  Why is Quinn mad at Puck again? God Glee you suck so hard at continuity.”

but the thing is Funk was written and shot to be followed by Theatericality and Fox switched the order to have the mislabeled “Lady Gaga tribute episode” kick off sweeps.  and I think Funk suffers because of that.  So when i did i own rewatch i watched it in the order RIB intended and I like the episode better.  (It’s not my favorite but it’s not nearly as awful as fandom makes it seem)

Reasons why watching it in its intended order is necessary

Jesse’s absence during Theatericality is explained. Funk as we remember is the episode where Rachel finds out Jesse was in fact spying on New Directions.  (It’s important to note she never finds out Shelby was part of this plan.) He also breaks up with her during this episode.  He makes breakfast on her head as Kurt later calls it.  

So Rachel gets dumped in Funk.  And at this point in season 1 we’ve seen how she reacts to getting dumped by Finn.  She tells him off but she still remains constantly in his orbit and reminds him of what they had.  To be fair Finn does this too.  And what does she do at the start of Theatericality? She goes to spy on Carmel….Jesse’s school.  Rachel is spying when to this point she’s never endorsed spying on the competition. (doing scrimmages…steal their choreographers sure.)   I think show choir spying is Rachel’s equal to Facebook stalking her ex. 

She also gets Mercedes and Quinn to join her in her spying.  Now at this point Mercedes and Quinn are barely friends with Rachel. But they were there when she told everyone that she got dumped.  At this point Quinn and Mercedes are reaching out to everyone they recognize as hurting but hiding it.  

(I feel it shouldn’t have to be said that’s why in Figgins’ office that there is no comment from Will, Puck or Finn about Shelby being Rachel’s mother when they are dealing with that situation but you know I saw many people who reported the whole episode flip thing make that comment so consider me saying it.  At this point if Funk airs first….they don’t know.)

Funk is also important for Quinn’s story to make sense. Funk is all about her getting in touch with her anger at her situation. She’s pregnant. She’s been kicked out of her home and she feels no one supports her.  she’s living with puck which has it’s own brand of pressures because we know puck wants to be a dad. he wants to keep the baby.  Even if he’s not saying it Quinn knows this as well.  her adoption plan is out the window and she’s lost her position in school.  Puck has to hear her sing It’s a Man’s World and understand that she is mad and hurting. The pressures she is under are hurting her.  He can’t get to the point of singing Beth and finally accepting that Quinn is not going to keep the baby no matter how badly he wants her to if he doesn’t hear her sing It’s a Man’s World first.  

And we have to make sure we understand that because she gives up the baby in the next episode.  She’s gone back and forth in her decision all season long and now she’s made up her mind.  Not even her mom’s last minute promise of support can change her mind.