Entertainment

This 'Glee' "Let It Go" Teaser Returns To McKinley

by Loretta Donelan

Though we've already heard Lea Michele sing Frozen's "Let It Go," Fox has just released the video for the song, which is from the premiere of the final season. The song itself is not particularly revolutionary, Michele's version sounds very similar to her TV mother Idina Menzel's original performance of the song, but the video hints that the season will see a return to the show's roots.

For those who have not kept up with Glee, or have forgotten, the show has strayed in recent seasons to New York City, where some of its stars are trying to make it in show business with varying levels of success. Meanwhile, at McKinley High, the glee club was shut down. This new season sees Rachel returning to her old high school to revive the glee club, which is what she seems to be going through in the song. Like Elsa singing "Let It Go" in Frozen, Rachel seems both hopeful and alone. Rather than a full ensemble belting out the song, Rachel is front and center, both empowered and lonely.

The only other characters who appear in the video are Mr. Schuester, who hands over the reins to Rachel at the beginning, and Sue Sylvester, who appears ominous and frosty at the end.

The video, with its classic shots of McKinley High, elaborate auditorium performance, and Rachel Berry focus, marks a return to the Glee of yore. Though Sue has floundered between good and evil for a while, she seems to be back to her scheming ways, serving as Prince Hans, if you want to weakly extend the Frozen metaphor.

Ryan Murphy, the creator of Glee, has confirmed this shift to the Glee I used to know and (reluctantly) love. The sixth and final season will feature a time jump of a few years, and the return of old characters who were phased out on previous seasons. Said Murphy in a conference call:

The final season is really its own story and its own location and while the New York stuff will be alive, the final season is not New York-centric at all. It really [will be] a lovely, fitting season that…dwells on the original people that were on the show and what happens to them and how they give back. That really is the last season.… We'll revisit some of the new kids that came and went. There's a return of the Jane-Matt characters in a big way. It's really interesting, very sweet, satisfying ending to the story.

Though I doubt that Glee will be able to return to the glory of its first season, especially considering the still harrowing absence of Cory Monteith's Finn, I hope that it will wrap up the series in a satisfying way. Ideally, it will draw back some viewers who long ago abandoned the show, and maybe even bring in some younger Frozen fans in its two-hour Friday premiere on Friday, January 9th.

Image: Fox