The decision to do an episode based around Saturday Night Fever might at first support the humourous observation by the show’s own Sue Sylvester that “Will, you’ve been out of ideas since Madonna week”. As the characters approach graduation, Glee coach Will Schuester is concerned that certain students are slightly directionless – particularly Mercedes, Santana and Finn – and Saturday Night Glee-ver is largely focused on them.

After wallowing in the background, with little but a half-hearted love interest storyline with the largely pointless Sam (Chord Overstreet) to show for this entire season, it is great to see more of Amber Riley’s Mercedes, who takes the lead on a show-stopping ‘Disco Inferno’, securing hers as almost certainly the strongest voice on the show.

However, it is disappointing to see her reunite with Sam, and no further layers are really added to the character. Still, with a voice like Riley’s, a more prominent role for her character is no less than essential for the remaining episodes.

Santana’s bid to be famous by any means necessary at first seems like a perfunctory character arc, but the sex-tape storyline is hilarious and thoroughly satirical, as the show can be at its best. Naya Rivera’s performance of ‘If I Can’t Have You’ is somewhat subdued, but shows off her gorgeous, husky tone well. The only quibble to be had with the character is the relationship with Brittany, which, as fan-pleasing as it is, remains unconvincing.

Meanwhile bumbling frontman Finn continues to run around looking confused, clasping his head in his hands, and even at the end of the episode seems to have reached nothing more than an uncertain conclusion. His musical numbers remain cringeworthy, and as for his romance with Rachel, only Lea Michele’s heartfelt performance of ‘How Deep is Your Love’ as Rachel provides a shred of belief that there are actual deep-set feelings in the otherwise ever-saccharine Finn/Rachel pairing.

Musically, it is risky choosing a soundtrack with so much falsetto, and, noticeably, not having Kurt sing lead on any of them. Most of the male vocal performances sound uncomfortably pitched and auto-tuned to death, although the quality of the songs often make up for it.

Whilst the musical numbers were once suited to each character, bringing out their personalities and unique traits, it is only when the girls get their chance to put their spin on the tracks that the show’s musical heart truly comes alive.

Aired at 9pm on Thursday 19th April 2012 on Sky1.

> Buy the Seasons 1-2 boxset on Amazon.

> Order the Season 3 boxset on Amazon.

What did you think of the episode? Let us know below…