Chapter Text
Kurt and Blaine both try to not to fall into old patterns of disagreement and hurt as they look for the perfect apartment in the middle of the bitter cold NYC winter, but their new behaviors create their own problems. Artie has a crisis at school when his documentary film professor tells him his work isn’t deep enough. Rachel debates between the bustle of dorm life and Jesse’s more emotionally complicated invitation to live with him.
Songs include:
"Rent" (Rent) - Kurt, Blaine, Artie, Rachel, Elliott
"Here Comes the Rain Again" (Eurythmics) - Kurt, Blaine
“Shake It Up” (The Cars) - Artie, Blaine
“Never Gonna Give You Up” (Rick Astley) - Jesse
“Go Down Singing” (Michelle Chamuel) - Rachel
The episode opens on Rachel sitting down heavily on a couch next to Kurt - in a big industrial-feeling apartment space - and saying, “How did your apartment search go today?” “Even worse than yesterday, and I didn’t think that was possible,” Kurt says. “How was your visit to the dorms?” “I don’t want to talk about it,” Rachel replies. Cue montage of Klaine looking at horrible apartments (insects, trash, no windows, no ceilings, no kitchen, mold, noise, dirt, so impossibly tiny the front door can’t open all the way before hitting furniture) and Rachel meeting up with horrible potential dorm roommates. “I know we had no room to breathe and even less privacy, but I kind of miss our old loft,” Kurt says. “At least we’re back in New York,” Rachel says, and they lean into each other with a tired smile. Title card: Glee!
Both Rachel and newlyweds Kurt and Blaine are looking for places to live. Klaine are moving into an apartment together, which is stressing them out over not having the same opinions, and Rachel needs to decide if she’s going back to the NYADA dorms or take Jesse’s offer to live with him. Rents are high, apartments are awful, and time is running out. It’s winter, and they’re bundled up even inside. It’s discouraging. With friends over, they sing an abridged version of “Rent” and climb all over furniture and onto the fire escape, rather like the actual musical but filled with the joy of performing the song together.
Rachel goes back to NYADA, nervous but with her head held high with faked confidence. She walks into a building with Kurt, and he pats her on the shoulder before he goes off to greet friends there. She steels herself and goes off to class on her own.
As Kurt and Blaine go on with their search at the next apartment, Kurt tries not to make the same relationship mistakes as before and be too critical or insist on things being his own way, instead trying to let Blaine have what he wants despite the fact that Kurt hates Blaine’s dream apartment.
Blaine feels like Kurt is holding back, like he did by the end of their broken engagement, because he can tell Kurt isn’t enthusiastic, and he feels shut out but wants to prove he isn’t needy.
They worry about falling back into a bad place (and sing about it). “Here Comes The Rain Again” Grey, rainy, moody shots through windows, so much worry and love.
Artie’s documentary film seminar professor is critical of his past work and tells him he wants him to step it up in his class. Artie is frustrated by the comments, because he’s trying hard already. He shares his worries with Blaine at the diner later that day, who tells him challenging himself is good, but he also needs to find a way to enjoy himself or he'll burn out. (Blaine knows all about that.) At the end of the day, art is difficult, but there's no point if they aren't enjoying it.. He needs to shake things up. They sing “Shake It Up” together.
Kurt and Blaine see yet another apartment. Kurt loves it but tries not to show it, but Blaine can see it in his face and feels frustrated that Kurt is verbally non-committal. Afterward, they are determined to push aside their concerns and reconnect over pizza at the sublet. All that matters is each other and being together, after all. They tentatively put their cards on the table, talk about their options, and select a compromise apartment. It has two bedrooms, so maybe they’ll need a roommate to be able to afford it, but they can figure that out.
Jesse sings to Rachel (“Never Gonna Give You Up” dancing around out on the street, and she laughs about it and says she can’t believe he rickrolled her), but it feels to her like he’s pushing too hard. Rachel talks about it with Blaine afterwards. She’s mildly skittish from Jesse’s attention, both flattered and flustered. She wants love. But is it right? Can she really handle it? Blaine - kind and gentle - advises her to take it slowly if she’s not sure; as much as he, too, likes to jump into things, pushing too fast doesn’t always help.
Kurt is a jumble of jitters when he answers the phone, but they get the apartment they wanted. Cue happy jumping up and down for Kurt and Blaine!
Rachel tells Jesse she’s decided to move into the dorms and focus on school instead of the distraction/distance that Jesse offers. She needs to put herself first. He’s sad, but he says he understands and watches her with longing as she walks away.
End on the Rachel solo (“Go Down Singing” - starting on her own, spotlight on a dark stage, with friends singing backup together with her in the real world by the end), our determined heroes ready to keep fighting for what they love.