New York

New York is the twenty-second and final episode of Glee's second season and the forty-fourth episode overall. It premiered on May 24, 2011 one hour later at 9pm instead of the regular 8pm due to the finale of American Idol being on at that time on Fox.

As the Glee Club season settles towards the end of the year, New Directions have finally stepped foot into New York. They prepare to write original songs but New York prys and distracts them, but eventually gives them more passion. Will struggles to decide whether to choose Broadway or New Directions, Quinn has hit rock bottom, Finn chases after Rachel once more, Rachel decides between New York or choosing Finn, and the New Directions perform at Nationals.

The episode was written and directed by Brad Falchuk.

Plot
As a montage of striking images of New York City wash over her to the strains of George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, Rachel stands at the center of Times Square and takes it all in: "I made it!"

New Directions are thrilled to have made it to the top of the show choir heap and are eager to explore the city, though Finn reminds them that they still have two original songs to write. But before they buckle down, they share a lyric from New York, New York's New York, New York. As they check into their hotel, Finn and Rachel discuss how Quinn is taking her breakup with Finn unexpectedly well, while Puck and Lauren try to score Manhattans at the bar until Will catches them and calls an emergency group meeting. He says that they need to be locked down until they finish their new compositions before he slips away to pursue his own Broadway agenda.

After he leaves, Brittany writes My Cup and sings it with Artie. Puck and Quinn say the hotel room has no inspiration for them and believe they should go outside and let New York write the song for them. Everyone eventually agrees and they visit various sites in New York, singing I Love New York/New York, New York. Meanwhile, Will visits the theater of April's musical Crossrhodes: The April Rhodes Story and sings Still Got Tonight on the stage. The director for April's show hears Mr Schuester's singing and tells him that he has the talent to make it big.



Back at the hotel rooms, the New Directions girls and Kurt are having a pillow fight while Rachel tries to write a song for Nationals. Meanwhile the boys are discussing Finn and Rachel, telling Finn to take her out while they are in New York City. Rachel eventually receives a text message from Finn and meets him on Bow Bridge in Central Park. They go to Sardi's and see Patti LuPone. Rachel musters her courage to talk to her and in doing so, receives praise from Patti as she was also in a show choir when she was younger. She also makes a remark to Rachel, calling Finn "cute." After the date as Finn and Rachel walk back to the hotel. The New Directions boys follow them singing Bella Notte. Near the end, Finn tries to kiss Rachel however Rachel tells him that she can't.

Kurt wakes up Rachel in order to have breakfast at Tiffany's. Rachel and Kurt discuss their futures; Rachel wants to go to college in New York, as does Kurt who reveals that Blaine also would be there. Rachel, however, is worried about Finn and unable to decide on what to do. To help her decide, Kurt pulls Rachel to the Gershwin Theater where Wicked is playing. They sneak inside and perform For Good together. Rachel decides what she wants; she doesn't need anyone to distract her from her career.

Santana and Brittany are standing outside the bathroom trying to get Quinn to come out so that Santana can re-pencil her eyebrows on. Once Quinn comes out, she tells them that she is going to tell Mr. Schue that Rachel and Kurt keep sneaking off. Santana and Brittany manage to convince her to not do that. Santana tells Quinn that she understands that she is upset because Finn dumped her, but that she needs to get over it so that they can concentrate on winning nationals. Quinn then angrily tells them that she doesn't care about a stupid show choir competition. However, Santana tells her that Glee club is something they can all be proud of. Quinn then starts to tear up and says that every girl member of the glee club has love except her. She then bursts in to tears and Santana and Brittany immediately feel guilty for giving her a hard time because they didn't realize how much the break up had affected Quinn. They then comfort Quinn and Santana tells her to get a new haircut because it will make her feel better. Brittany agrees with this.

The day before Nationals, Mr. Schuester sees Dustin Goolsby, coach of Vocal Adrenaline, who reveals he knows all about Mr. Schuester leaving to join April's show. Dustin suggests that Mr. Schuester doesn't tell his Glee kids or they'll lose their confidence. However when Mr. Schuester returns to his room he finds out that Dustin has already told the kids. Upon hearing this, Mr. Schuester proclaims that he's here to stay with them forever.

At Nationals, Rachel sees Sunshine in the bathroom (reminiscent of their first meeting in Audition) after hearing her throwing up. Sunshine reveals she's nervous and asks why Rachel is so mean and hateful towards her when she thought that New Directions was a group where everyone was safe. Rachel reveals that she felt threatened by Sunshine's talent. Sunshine tells Rachel that she's heading to the Philippine Embassy to have her green card revoked and plans on returning home since she believes it's the only way she can escape Vocal Adrenaline. Rachel, however, tells her to consider and perform since she has a gift, finally settling their rivalry.

Mr Schuester and Dustin meet at the souvenirs stand. Dustin explains that he sends shirts to every team they beat at Nationals. Mr. Schuester purchases a shirt, telling Dustin that when New Directions wins, he should expect a shirt from them.

As Singaz Wit Attitude performs Yeah!, various members from New Directions comment on their talents. The second team to perform is Vocal Adrenaline, but Sunshine is nervous and can't stand to sing. Rachel gives her a thumbs up and Sunshine gains her confidence and sings As Long as You're There while the rest of Vocal Adrenaline dance behind her.

New Directions get ready to perform backstage. Before they perform, Rachel congratulates Finn on the song he wrote and Finn reveals that he loves Rachel. She tells Finn she loves him, but wants to focus on her dreams. Rachel and Finn perform Pretending while Jesse appears and sits next to Mr Schuester saying he couldn't stay away. Mr Schuester asks him if he's here for New Directions or Rachel, to which Jesse doesn't reply. After the song, Finn and Rachel are so overcome by emotion that they kiss on stage, to which the audience responds in silence. Jesse asks Mr. Schuester if the kiss was scripted, who confirms it wasn't. After a few moments pass,  Mr Schuester starts clapping and the audience joins him tentatively. New Directions then performs Light Up the World. They receive a standing ovation after their performance.

Outside the theater New Directions group together wondering how they did. Rachel and Finn talk about the kiss, with Finn calling it "the kiss of the century." Jesse comes over and angrily tells Finn that their "unprofessional" kiss will cost them the nationals then he compliments Rachel. Kurt reveals the results are posted. The Top 10 move on to the final round. Mr. Schuester bravely agrees to check the list and sees that Vocal Adrenaline placed in the top 10. New Directions, however, are not on the list, meaning they do not proceed to the next round. Everyone shares in a moment of silence and sadness.



Back in Lima, Ohio, Kurt is telling Blaine that when they got back to the hotel and Santana loses it. However Kurt isn't upset, as he's had a 'pretty good year'. Blaine watches Kurt the whole time with a smitten look on his face and when he finishes speaking, he tells Kurt for the first time that he loves him. Kurt looks at him, surprised, after he finishes his drink of coffee and says "I love you too." Mercedes and Sam then come up to Kurt and Blaine to say hello before joining the queue. Mercedes wonders if Kurt and Blaine "could tell." Sam believes they couldn't, they join hands revealing that they are in a relationship together.



At McKinley, Brittany and Santana discuss the future. Santana, who believes that Finn and Rachel's kiss cost them Nationals, shows Brittany a voodoo doll of Rachel. When asked why she isn't upset, Brittany says the Glee club is her family and that she wants to stay with them forever. She then tells Santana that she loves her more than she's ever loved anyone in the world, and because of that, "anything can happen." They share an intense hug and Santana tells Brittany that she is her best friend; Brittany says the same.Elsewhere in the school, Emma is congratulating Will on coming 12th, even hanging a banner. Will thanks her and is humored by the banner. Meanwhile, Rachel and Finn discuss their relationship in the library. They  each think that everyone hates them. Rachel asks Finn if kissing her was worth it, to which he responds, "Yeah." She also agrees with him. Rachel then tells Finn that when she graduates she's going to college in New York. But Finn points out that graduation is still a year away and they have time. They kiss, signifying they are back together, and then proceed holding hands to the final Glee Club meeting of the year, implying they are back together, where everyone is waiting for them. Mr. Schuester shows the group the tiny trophy they got from Nationals which receives a large mock ovation from the group. They all cheer and hug as the camera focuses out of the choir room, the episode and season comes to an end.

Unreleased Songs

 * New York, New York by Frank Sinatra sung by New Directions.

Background Songs

 * Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin as performed by the New York Philharmonic.
 * Someone to Watch Over Me as performed by Michael Tilson Thomas and the Buffalo Philharmonic.
 * He Loves and She Loves  as performed by Michael Tilson Thomas and the Buffalo Philharmonic.
 * Moon River from Breakfast At Tiffany's as performed by Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops.

Special Guest Stars

 * Jonathan Groff as Jesse St. James
 * Cheyenne Jackson as Dustin Goolsby

Guest Stars

 * Charice as Sunshine Corazon
 * Mike Starr as Usher
 * Harry Shum Jr. as Mike Chang
 * Chord Overstreet as Sam Evans
 * Darren Criss as Blaine Anderson
 * Ashley Fink as Lauren Zizes

Special Appearance

 * Patti LuPone as Herself

Co-Stars

 * Sue Jean Kin as Clerk
 * Michael Mandell as Mo
 * Stacey Sargeant as Barmaid
 * Don Stephenson as Hotel Manager

Absent Cast Members

 * Jessalyn Gilsig as Terri Del Monico
 * Jane Lynch as Sue Sylvester
 * Mike O'Malley as Burt Hummel

Trivia

 * A majority of this episode was shot on location in New York City. The cast and crew were even welcomed with open arms by Mayor Michael Bloomberg himself. The only scene taking place in New York City not shot on location was when Will sings "Still Got Tonight," which was shot in an abandoned theater in San Francisco.
 * Matthew became the first cast member to perform a song from his own album.
 * Partial details on the Will and Emma scene were revealed, the scene confirmed that they are both in fact single and that Emma is in fact getting better with some hinted 'Hot Action' (assumed to be a kiss).
 * According to pre-release images, Carole had some part in the New York scenes. However, she did not appear in the final cut of the episode. Her scenes may have also been cut.
 * Second Glee competition where the judges are not introduced. (First was in Special Education).
 * This is the most expensive episode to date, costing $6 million. (The second most expensive is The Sue Sylvester Shuffle, which cost between $3 and 5 million.)
 * Quinn yelling "I don't care about some stupid show choir competition" foreshadows the events of The Purple Piano Project, where she quits the New Directions.
 * During the Brittany/Santana scene, when they hug and Santana says, "You're my best friend," and Brittany says, "Me too," the original line was, "Mine too, and no matter what happens always will be."
 * At the very beginning, while the camera was sweeps around Times Square, there's a playbill of How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying with Daniel Radcliffe. Darren Criss (portrayer of Blaine Anderson) made his Broadway debut in How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying on Jan. 3, 2012, and his picture replaced that sign at that time.
 * In this season finale, as well as the season 1 finale, there are similar scenes of all New Directions members (somber) in a room with pizza.
 * This episode marks the last appearance of Dustin Goolsby on Glee.
 * This is the last time we see Lauren as a member of New Directions.
 * Quinn, Mike and Lauren were the only members in New Directions to not have a solo in any song in this episode.
 * This is the first and only time Mercedes doesn't sing in a competition while she's part of the club.
 * This episode marks the third and final appearance of Sunshine on Glee.
 * The flowery top that Santana wears during the bathroom scene with Quinn and Brittany is the same top Naya Rivera wore at the Season 4 photoshoot.
 * This was Lea Michele's favorite episode of the whole show to shoot. Source

Errors

 * When the New Directions are talking to Will about performing at Nationals, they say they are performing the following night when they really performed that night.
 * At the end of the episode when Brittany is talking to Santana, Brittany's bangs are constantly in a different position. Sometimes they are up, but then the camera angle changes and they are down.
 * At 36:09 you can see a camera in the lower left corner.
 * During the two New Directions songs Will and Jesse change places in the audience.
 * During the Lima Bean scene with Kurt and Blaine, front-shots of Blaine show his hand on his cheek with his fingers slightly curled, then back-shots show his hand on his cheek where his fingers are not curled at all.
 * In the opening scene on the bleachers in Times Square, Kurt says there were six misfits stumbling their way through a horrific rendition of Sit Down, You're Rockin' The Boat. But Finn had yet to join the New Directions, so there were only 5 members at the time.
 * Santana is not seen in the opening scene. She only appears at the scene when they were in hotel, together with Brittany and Quinn, while Finn and Rachel walk by.
 * When Santana suggests to Quinn that she gets a haircut, the actress already has a haircut and is just wearing extensions. You can tell because her hair is shorter and thinner than it was.
 * When Rachel and Finn are behind the stage waiting to perform, they stand next to each other, but when the performance starts they come into the stage in two different directions.
 * When Santana, Brittany, and Quinn are arguing, Brittany's hand is by her side, but in the next shot, her hand is on her cheek.

Quotes
"Quinn: You might want to check the dates on those tickets, Rachel, because Cats closed about eleven years ago. Rachel: He did seem crazy. Charged my credit card by swiping it through his butt crack."

"Rachel: I'm surprised at how well Quinn is taking the break-up. I guess I was wrong about her being a vindictive harpy. Finn: I guess she just accepted the inevitable. Rachel: Or maybe she's just distracted by the awesomeness of New York. I know I am."

"Do you think this voodoo doll looks enough like Rachel Berry to actually work?"

"Santana: Yeah, well. This is a club. This is not a family. Brittany: Okay, well. Family is a place where everyone loves you no matter what, and they accept you for who you are."

"Rachel: You wrote an amazing song, Finn. I didn't know you had it in you. Finn: Who cares about the song? What I don't understand is, all you've ever wanted is for us to be together. And I'm basically standing here begging for you and suddenly you're not interested. Rachel: I am interested. More than interested. This is my dream. Being here in New York. I'm not gonna let anyone or anything keep me from it. I'm sorry, Finn. I love you, but there's nothing you can say or do that's gonna change my mind about it."

"It's all over the Broadway blogosphere. And by "Broadway blogosphere" I mean the one blog that cares about Broadway."

"Kurt: Did you know I could get ahi tartare and a steak sandwich at 3 in the morning from their all-night dining menu? I feel like Eloise.

Brittany: I have pills for that."

"¡Escucha! ¡Soy de Lima Heights Adjacent y yo tengo orgullo! ¿Sabes lo que pasa en Lima Heights Adjacent? ¡Cosas malas! (Listen! I'm from Lima Heights Adjacent and I'm proud! You know what happens in Lima Heights Adjacent? Bad things!)"

"When you're different, when you're special, sometimes you have to get used to being alone."

"Puck: You're in New York, the city of love. Sam: I thought that was Paris"