Let the sunshine in

Top 25 Season Two Finchel Moments

#1 // “I just really…love you” // Furt

Picking a number one moment for my favorite moment of the top half of season 2? It wasn’t even hard. Every part of this scene was perfection to me. I talked in my post about my #2 moment how Ryan Murphy took many opportunities to redo some of the Finchel interactions to set down the criticisms against them (particularly of Finn). And so here we have another Ryan Murphy episode and we have Santana putting down Rachel. But unlike Britney/Brittany when Finn snickered at Santana’s insult towards Rachel, when Santana insults Rachel, telling Finn that Rachel is dragging down his reputation and if he’d just tell everyone they’d slept together, Finn doesn’t miss a beat. He tells Santana he can’t tell people he slept with her because Rachel would break up with him and he’s in love with her…and then he kicks Santana out. In that moment, Finn chooses Rachel above Santana (the most popular, and widely-accepted as the hottest, girl in school) and his reputation. Never has there been a teenage boy so regretful of having no strings attached sex with the hottest, most popular girl in school because he’s afraid the least popular girl in school will dump him.

But that’s really secondary to why I love this scene. I’ll state the obvious: I’ll take anything where they’re making out (they didn’t even make it to the bed!). I’m shallow like that. But the end of this scene just really made it for me: she makes a quiet joke as he’s still processing Santana’s threat, asking him if he’s going to say how pretty she looks. And he quietly and solemnly crosses over to her, taking her in. You look amazing. A quiet beat. Rachel picks up on it and asks what’s wrong. I just really…love you. As well as Lea and Cory carry the heavy, emotional scenes, I almost prefer moments like this: stripped bare of everything but raw emotion. I love you, too. It’s the first time we’ve ever heard Rachel tell Finn she loves him (though I doubt it was the first time she ever said it). And that really says it all: they just really love each other.

Top 25 Season Two Finchel Moments

#2 // Touchdown Promise // Britney/Brittany

So before I start my favorite moments from the back half of the season, I suppose I should finish up my favorite moments from the front half of the season, right?

Glee fans talk about continuity on Glee…mainly the lack of it. And I think one of my favorite parts of this scene was the continuity displayed in it. Rachel’s insecurities being spurred on by Finn dumping her and subsequently dating Brittany and Santana in Hell-o? I’m sure some people thought it was old news. For me? I was so glad to see that brought up because it’s something that *should* have been brought back up. Rachel didn’t trust Finn not to dump her when someone better came along. And for Finn? that notion was ridiculous. He loves her, she loves him and that should be enough. And thus, their impasse. If popularity is the problem? He’ll throw a touchdown just for her, so after they score, he can point to her and show everyone she’s his girlfriend, show everyone that he chose her. In season one, Finn got a lot of flack for not coming through for Rachel when it counted…for being “afraid” to show the world he was dating Rachel. And that touchdown promise? That was Ryan Murphy’s YOU MAD??? statement to the naysayers. You say Finn is embarrassed of Rachel? Lets have him talk about throwing a touchdown so he can show the entire school that he’s chosen her. I feel like a lot of season two was about that: taking the criticisms and invalidating them. Finn’s embarrassed of Rachel? He’s the one initiating much of their PDA and offering to throw touchdowns to display his affection for her in front of the entire school. Finn’s not as into Rachel as she is into him? She said she loved him twice. He’s said he loves her at least six times that I can think of off the top of my head. Rachel was Finn’s second choice? He chose her over Quinn…again.

And Finn’s not perfect. He’s not the perfect boy. He’s not the perfect boyfriend. I know that many people hold this scene against him…to say that Puck choose Rachel over football but Finn wouldn’t. There’s a few arguments to be had here. Firstly, Puck didn’t choose Rachel over football because we later learned in Mash Up he only joined Glee Club to keep an eye on Quinn, the girl he really loved. He didn’t choose Rachel over football…he choose Glee Club over football, so by extension, he was choosing Quinn. Secondly, when you love someone, you shouldn’t have to choose between them and something else you love…something that has defined you for so long. If the roles were reversed and Finn had come to Rachel in the choir room and said that her talent intimidates him (the way his popularity intimidated Rachel) and he needed to choose between Glee Club and their relationship, would we be judging Rachel for refusing to choose? Would we chide her for refusing to give up on the one thing that defines her above all else? Of course not. It’s a double standard that those who hold it refuse to acknowledge, lest they acknowledge their shipper bias has given this argument the weight of flimsy one-ply.

But back to this scene. The real reason I love this scene so much? The tenderness of him stroking her hair. The tiniest of moments. But hey, that’s part of why I love them so much.

Top 25 Season Two Finchel Moments

#3 // The breakup // Special Education

You’re all going to think I’m crazy for putting this on here at all, let alone this high on my list, but hear me out.

Are we a part of something special? You and me?

I bitch a lot about the lack of continuity on this show. This one scene had more continuity than the entire season did connecting to last season. I loved the throwback to Pilot and I love how they reinforced the metaphor of Finchel to the glee club. Being a part of something special makes you special. Rachel counted on the glee club making her special, but where she found she was the most special was in her relationship with Finn.

I love you.

Three little words. So much emotion and inflection. It’s never sounded more raw or emotional. It’s never sounded so honest. And then they clung to each other. They breathed each other in. They poured a week’s worth of fighting and angst into one embrace. They love each other *so* much. It’s almost ridiculous sometimes. But it’s the one thing on the show I’ve never doubted.

No more lying. Ever.

And that’s where I usually end the episode because the rest is just so sad. But that’s, perhaps, the beauty in it. This is, by far, Lea and Cory’s best scene together. I’ve never seen them connect so well…so emotionally and honestly…and I think the trouble I have watching the remainder of this scene is that I feel it too much.

You said you’d never break up with me.

The best part of all of this now, though, is to ever break them up again…it’s going to be tough. She’ll never cheat on him again. He’ll never lie to her again. Of that, I’m sure. If they can come back from this (and we know they will), it’s going to be awfully hard to ever split them up again. And the continuity. God bless the continuity.

This scene. It’s so raw and emotional. But the reason I love it so much, even when it breaks my heart, is because there is no doubt they love each other. They love each other *so* much more than they’ve loved anyone or anything else. And for me? That’s something that’ll always be beautiful to watch. Even when it breaks my heart.

(The gif portion of this graphic won’t post. FUUUU TUMBLR. So I’ll link to it: http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/2824/29690395.gif)

Top 25 Season Two Finchel Moments

#4 // The Only Exception // Britney/Brittany

I have to be honest- when the spoiler leaked that this was the big song that Rachel was going to sing to Finn, I wasn’t happy. Subtextually? The song doesn’t really fit. It fits on a more literal level, but I’m a girl that craves subtext. And I’m glad to say I was wrong about it because really, I can’t watch this scene and not smile.

You have to ignore a lot of the song to get to what the show was getting at…that Finn is Rachel’s only exception. He’s the boy who loves her for her. He’s the one person who’s made her happier than anyone or anything ever has. And Finn and Rachel? They’re the only exception. This was the only non-Britney song in a Britney tribute show.

My favorite part, though, was the throwback to Hell-o. This was, in many ways, the Finchel Hell-o do-over. In Hell-o, Finn chose Brittany and Santana over Rachel. That was the point of the preceding scene in the locker room- to remind us of that and to show us how Rachel still hadn’t gotten over it. And so we have Finn at his locker with Brittany and Santana again…Rachel standing off to the side observing them this time. And the minute Finn sees Rachel, he’s gone. He doesn’t even say goodbye to Brittany and Santana- he smiles at Rachel, shuts his locker and walks away, his eyes never leaving his girlfriend from the moment he sees her. He chooses Rachel. And they walk away from everything and everyone…hand in hand…happier than we’d ever seen either of them.

Top 25 Season Two Finchel Moments

#5 // The reemergence of the mailman // Never Been Kissed

There’s no subtext here. This was just flipping hot. She.licked.his.neck. (I know there’s ~fandom controversy between those who see it and those who don’t. I saw it the moment it aired). And never the shy one, the lovely Ms. Berry took second base all on her own. Her hand leaves his face, her shoulder drops…and the mailman appears right on cue.

Top 25 Season Two Finchel Moments

#6 // Wedding Vows // Furt

Burt kind of really says it all, doesn’t he? It’s short, it’s sweet and it packs such an emotional punch. But instead of showing Carole as he’s saying this part of his vows…the most important part…the most emotional part…they’re showing Finn turning to Rachel and this look they share. And they didn’t show Quinn looking at Sam, or Mike looking at Tina, or Will thinking of Emma. It was just Finchel. A deliberate choice. Something for us to remember while they’re apart…that no matter what happens between them, no matter if they’re together or apart, they’re it for each other. There’s no one else. At the end of the day, it’s just them. And they’ll love each other forever.

Top 25 Season Two Finchel Moments

#7 // Don’t Go Breaking My Heart // Duets

Don’t Go Breaking My Heart? I should have seen that breakup coming a mile away LOL. Ominous foreshadowing aside… I love when Finn and Rachel sing together. I really do. The way they connect through music…it’s really something. It doesn’t matter if it’s an angsty push-and-pull or a song full of smiles and fluff. Lea and Cory have this amazing ability to just bring every emotion that song could possibly convey and pour it into their performances. Take this one- it’s all fun and smiles until one part near the end, where they look at each other and just get very serious, as if they’re warning each other not to break their hearts. The way they weave so many emotions and subtext throughout their performance…the way they connect…it’s just intangible. It’s beautiful to watch.

Beyond that, though, I really love the scene that followed the duet. I really loved that Finn mentioned Rachel’s veganism (it’s such a minute detail, almost a throwaway bit of dialogue…but I love that his mind goes there), but what I loved the most is that Rachel came to the idea to throw the competition…that she’s starting to be more selfless and she’s starting to see the bigger picture…and that that realization came as a result of her relationship with Finn. Finn and Rachel are such opposites in so many ways and I like that they can change each other for the better and inspire each other. I like that they have the ability to bring out the best in each other. It’s why, amongst other reasons, I root for them.

Top 25 Season Two Finchel Moments

#8 // Scheming Sesh // Duets

Duets Finchel? They’re my favorite Finchel. And there was so much to love about this scene. I think what gets me is just how at ease they are with each other. He’s so comfortable lounging in her bed…as if he’s done it a million times (he probably had…and I’m still bitter that we didn’t see more of it) and their back-and-fourth…the way they go about discussing how to throw the competition…it’s that intangible quality that just makes them work. And then she jumps on top of him and it’s the most adorable thing ever. While Lea and Cory handle angst extremely well, I think most people enjoy Finchel because they aren’t inherently angsty. They’re fun and adorable and light. And I think this scene was a prime example of it.

Top 25 Season Two Finchel Moments

#9 // “Thank you, Grilled Cheesus” // Grilled Cheesus

Lets get the obvious out of the way: this was a sure shot for a favorite moment just on the level that they were horizontal and making out. It was hot. I’m shallow. Moving on.

I think there’s something to be said for the level of maturity of the conversation they had before they got horizontal. That they were able to have a conversation about their future and children and faith. That Finn, who a year ago thought he was expecting a child at 16 years old, can now even have this conversation with Rachel. And with the writers skipping over so much of their relationship, I’m so glad we got to see them get to second base. Finn thinking about it and the process that got them there.

Did I mention it was hot?

Top 25 Season Two Finchel Moments

#10 // Pep Talk // Rocky Horror GLEE Show

He thinks she’s hotter than Brittany and Santana. She thinks he’s hotter than every guy in school…including Noah Fucking Puckerman. Bam!Canon.

I loved this scene so much. It takes a lot to be vulnerable with someone and let them in and share your biggest fears with them…especially when you’re 16 years old. But Finn let Rachel in and I love how Rachel reacted…so calm and rational. Finn and Rachel really do bring out the best in each other and I think this scene is a prime example of that. They bring out a confidence in each other that they don’t get with anyone else. And they’re so at ease with each other. I think her fiddling with his zipper was just insanely adorable. And that hug. So much love.

Top 25 Season Two Finchel Moments

#11 // Just the Way You Are // Furt

I’d be lying if I said that when I first found out that this song wasn’t something Finn was doing solely for Rachel I wasn’t a little sad, but when I saw it play…it was perfection. Finn singing for the three most important people in his life: his new brother, his mom, his girlfriend. And it just worked. But those parts directed at Rachel…man…this is why I ship them. The way they look at each other. The way they connect through song. The smiles. I don’t think we’ve ever seen Rachel as happy as she was when she was dancing with Finn (and I don’t think we’ve ever seen Finn as happy, either). I root for them because I root for these individual characters and happiness first and nothing and no one makes them as happy as they make each other.

Top 25 Season Two Finchel Moments

#12 // Nose poke// Britney/Brittany

Didn’t you like the banana bread I baked you? The smiles. The hands. The nose poke. I’m so smitten with them that it’s ridiculous. So much is made of the bigger moments ships have that people sometimes lose sight of the smaller moments. And I think with Finn and Rachel, it’s the smaller moments that define them and make me love them so much. The looks. The way they’re always touching each other or holding hands. The fact that she bakes him banana bread and he thinks it’s awesome.

Top 25 Season Two Finchel Moments

#13 // With You I’m Born Again // Duets

Can we get more “offensive” Finchel? On a purely entertainment level, this might be my favorite duet of theirs. So over the top. So hilarious.

Top 25 Season Two Finchel Moments

#14 // Last Christmas // A Very Glee Christmas

Oh Last Christmas. The Finchel fan in me cried. The angst whore in me jumped up and down. And the LC lover in me enjoys hearing them sing together, no matter what the circumstance.

The entire scene was sad. Rachel’s desperation to get Finn back. Finn’s inability to forgive her because he’s just so hurt. The subtext. But I think there’s beauty in their angst. Lea and Cory handle angst incredibly well and play off each other so well and as well as they connect through song in lighter circumstances, they connect just as well through tear-my-heart-out songs.

And then there was the subtext. Glorious subtext. There was something so hopeful in the whole two roads meeting at the end. The whole “you go one way, I’ll go another and we’ll meet up at the end” thing. The path the writers have foreshadowed for them. Finn and Rachel need to take separate roads…he needs to learn how to forgive her and she needs to reestablish herself without a boy to define her. But when those separate journeys come to an end, those roads will converge and they’ll have found their way back to one another.