born way glee born way eighteenth episode second season american television series glee episode overall originally aired fox united_states april episode written directed tribute lady_gaga second tribute artist history major plots episode center topic homosexuality kurt lays longtime bully come terms sexuality rivera plots run school queen hopes winning love interest brittany heather morris born way attracted positive reception critics felt better episodes season episode came scrutiny conservative media critics criticized depiction homosexuality episode featured cover versions seven songs notably cover born way lady_gaga musical works featured episode include cover versions song know got broadway production musical covers performances met generally positive reception critics noting contained best musical selection exception cover versions released singles available digital download initial airing episode viewed million american viewers garnered nielsen rating share demographic lowest ratings total viewership season episode ratings total viewership significantly declined previous episode night neglect previously low point viewership plot dance rehearsals upcoming nationals competition glee club captain cory_monteith accidentally breaks lea_michele nose doctor recommends rachel considers modelling nose finn current girlfriend girls duet mash feel pretty finn oppose planned transformation tries help accept nose jewish heritage recruits convinces look idol refused pressure alter nose ultimately rachel decides having surgery club member rivera uses rachel broken nose launching point highlight group members physical flaws aiming help achieve self acceptance glee club director urges embrace perceived flaws printing shirts worn group performance lady_gaga born way encourages school guidance counselor confront begins treatment psychiatrist shane lesbian decides run school queen hope win love best friend dating realizes popular closet noticing checking sam chord elaborate scheme attain goals threatens agrees stop bullying drove kurt glee club pair form anti bullying club school safer order kurt bolster glee club chance nationals boost popularity beard bolster issues apology kurt group meeting involving fathers kurt wants transfer hesitant admits privately queen scheme change heart anti bullying movement kurt agrees return start school club kurt arrives glee club joined away fronted boyfriend farewell rendition know kurt marks entry solo performance said goodbye sunset boulevard race queen begins campaigning quinn discovers quinn overweight transferring attempts sabotage quinn campaign revealing image students quinn popularity actually increases girls like apologizes quinn quinn confidence pride brittany shows shirt gives shirt reading believing reads lesbian wearing argue brittany finally storms saying loved brittany loved shirt dance episode closes club minus embracing identities performing born way song emma arrives wearing shirt acknowledges problems reads join performance watch audience wearing shirt production episode extended ran minutes opposed usual minutes reported producers included extra musical performances fill extended time slot series creator stated believed extension granted songs cut length welcomed additional minutes screen time commented desperately cutting episodes write editing room throwing away stuff love time interesting content wise extension focus episode lady_gaga song born way approved use glee song premiered second episode highlight gaga music season according focus born way characters embracing things don like performances features starting come terms homosexuality plot arc began season sixth episode kissed intended series creator happy ending explained like turn drugs alcohol commit suicide glee nature optimistic plans conclude storyline positively fellow character born way set final episodes season increase focus love best friend brittany episode additionally marked appearance guest star shane smart cool kind psychiatrist recurring character characters seen born way include glee club members kurt boyfriend school bully father paul addition born way songs covered episode know said goodbye musical mash feel pretty west story got musical duck sauce released digital singles episode know included series seventh soundtrack glee said goodbye born way feel pretty included series eighth soundtrack glee music volume reception ratings born way broadcast april united_states averaged nielsen rating share demographic averaged nearly million american viewers initial airing hour garnered million american viewers rating demographic despite airing simultaneously cbs nbc ordinary family abc tree hill half hour episode million american viewers rating demographic despite airing alongside los_angeles cbs dancing stars abc voice nbc total viewership ratings lowest second season glee previous episode night neglect watched million american viewers acquired rating share airing episode watched million viewers million watched week watched cable week critical response born way given positive reception critics rolling_stone entertainment_weekly considered improvement previous episode wrote gave charm wit plausible plot lines missing week predictable episode added better episode didn feel long minutes ign robert_canning gave episode great rating said episode entertaining felt need hour half emily washington_post agreed extended length like called lame attempts fill time said started decent episode cite promising storylines including rachel noted usually leader caricature things annoying episode genuinely struggling wanting love way houston_chronicle summed follows epic episode sort los_angeles_times reacted positively wrote minute episode lot laughs lot heart good lessons character development good numbers surprises todd_vanderwerff gave wrote finally got sense yes second season building trying tell emotional story humorous born way time long time feel like fan glee million felt episode didn live hype said wasn disappointed vanity_fair reacted positively noted focusing makes pop high school superstars tonight episode bit reminded supposed kids salon thought born way best episode date epic hero returning long journey walking halls scared performing skill sincerity friends love awe mtv mixed emotions criticized abrupt changes storylines episode thought episode noble effort didn work way supposed wall_street_journal stated episode sounded perfect notes called best episode continued night held wonderful gems clear message witty great character build tailored songs carried emotional critics praised development wrote goodness writers sat room identified best lines tonight episode decided fantastic vanderwerff called highlight episode best thing episode work story writers cooked rivera come season going generic cheerleader actual character motivations better villain sue added storyline realizing love brittany probably lesbian nicely plotted surprisingly deep reveal hasn washed away qualities heightened degree struggles true maintain status hottest girl school online wrote episode cemented love insult beginning episode mean said inner monologue entertaining characters outer cnn considered episode highlight went write embraced inner lesbian sort best lines like straight straight bitch got love critics reacted negatively episode felt jumped shark starting episode felt kurt storyline major flaws messages sent mixed episode garnered criticism number conservatives found depiction homosexuality interview conservative media critic felt latest initiative promote gay agenda added clearly vision growing america high school parents want send kids music performances musical performances cover versions episode received generally positive commentary stated loved song choices atlantic felt episode carried best selection music glee episode long time commended tailored songs carried emotional critics reacted acclaim mash feel pretty gave performance commented said pairing rachel quinn duet vocally like putting pit bull cage match actually worked surprisingly balanced incredibly lovely tone writers atlantic review praised mash said beautiful noted arrangement clever ladies sounded great song placed perfectly plot characters restored bit depth episode brown stated song lovely felt unexpectedly gorgeous haunting noted example skilled music directors mash ups felt best performance night line gave piece said vocally visually stunning set piece duet partners commented song floated like rachel quinn beautifully poured sentiments ugly wrote poignant moment inclusion west story feel pretty makes great pop theater mash reminds glee heart kurt performance said goodbye met critical acclaim brown stated song absolutely stunning way thought emotional connection storytelling ability pat gave song wrote kurt apparently picked helpful notes brothers emerged better solo singer recall enjoyable kurt added song don think member ensemble commended kurt voice gave song said feel like haven strong musical moments kurt season number pushed falsetto impressive heights went long way deficit thought moment season rose turn high notes big vocals gave stars called lovely properly sentimental called performance concluded turns said goodbye valentine self knowledge self improvement young gay singer dream treating world stage commanding like star new directions rendition born way strongly approved lady_gaga twitter account wrote loved glee born way episode admire brave fighting modern social gave performance commented wasn favorite group number felt song wasn lady_gaga best effort kind song called thematically admirable gaga tune gave stars gave approved rendition nice hear tina mercedes kurt lead vocals instead rachel duet got finn mike considered gave stars impressed jazz band arrangement mike teaches finn moves choreography cute guess good sign spent half number focusing mike matching green shirt shoe went question song inclusion episode confronting greatest teenage wonder better choice solo popular football player cheerleader girlfriend inability dance ultimately gave performance commented song selection slightly different angle theory charming definitely moments dance dance exchange enjoyable couldn imagine song finn voluntarily picked know performed received loved song commented going miss gave performance said mad pretty song sung performance acclaimed wrote rest maintain facade shows emotion tune simple powerful performance flash mob mall performance deemed pointless gave lowest grade episode enjoyed performance thinking episode fun moment beats year safety dance glee numbers mall reacted positively performance giving chart history cover versions featured debuted numerous musical charts rendition born way debuted number billboard hot issue dated sold copies united_states week release digitally downloadable single mash feel pretty highest charted single featured episode debuting number billboard hot peaked number thirteen digital charts sold digital downloads united_states week release highest charting glee single billboard charts loser like debuted number billboard hot sold downloads week know peaked number billboard hot charts sold copies week fourth single said goodbye charted number eighty ireland songs debuted issue dated mash peaked number thirty seven cover version know trailed number seven singles appeared canadian hot feel pretty mash peaked highest singles debuting followed born way know debuted number thirty charts respectively
Born This Way (Glee)