Joss Whedon + Neil Patrick Harris + Glee = Very cool!

So tonight we were finally treated to the Joss Whedon directed, Neil Patrick Harris guest starring episode of Glee entitled "Dream On". As you would expect from the title, the episode focused mostly on the idea of following your dreams. And as you may also expect, it was a pretty darn cool offering.

As both a Whedonite and a Gleek, I was salivating with anticipation over this cultivation of combined awesomeness. And while I have a few minor quibbles, the episode as a whole did not disappoint.

Neil Patrick Harris played Bryan Ryan, a former glee kid and classmate/rival of Will's, who first comes on the scene as a bitter, anti-show-choir advocate, but later attempts to pursue his former passion of singing. He and Will have an awesome duet of one-upmanship with Aerosmith's "Dream On" (did you notice that song and the episode title? They're the same!) Meanwhile Rachel and her now on-again boyfriend Jesse dig up dirt on Rachel's birth mother. And Artie, with some encouragement from Tina, wonders if he will ever walk again and pursue his dream of dancing.

Though there were laughs (like the show choir recovery group, or Sue's secret room "like Letterman"), there was quite a bit of drama. SPOILER ALERT: We discover that Rachel's mother is Vocal Adrenaline coach Shelby Corcoran, played by Idina Menzel (who, I realized while watching the show, does look a lot like Lea Michele). And we find out that Jesse is still working for Vocal Adrenaline and the plan is for him to return to his former choir, but he confesses to Shelby tonight that he does like Rachel. Will he turn out to be a villain in the end, or will he stay with New Directions because of genuine affection for the show's resident bossy ball of fussiness? Time will tell. But we finally got to see Menzel show off her vocal chops with a duet of "I Dreamed a Dream" between Shelby and Rachel. END SPOILER ALERT.

Under Whedon's direction, the episode balanced big scope with character intimacy, something that Whedon is very deft in. From the big production of the "Safety Dance" number and it's mix of stationary and hand-held cameras to the smaller scenes of two people in an office with the sun shining between the blinds, things looked and felt great.

My big complaint? More of Neil Patrick Harris please! I mean jeez, we only had like two songs with him, and one of them wasn't even a full music number, it was in a bar. When Kristen Chenoweth guest stars she has at least three full numbers. What, are they afraid to unleash his full and considerable musical chops on us? We can take it! They better be saving it for another episode, that's all I can say. But other than that, yay!

Only three episodes left for season 1. How will it all play out? Can we stand the suspense? You know where to vent or praise, see below.