It's only been...holy Journey medley, 7 months! But finally Glee is back with a double episode that takes us on a steady emotional adventure from depressing to uplifting in true Glee style. Let's get right into it!

The first episode of this final season "Loser Like Me" starts off at a low point for Rachel. How low? Alanis Morissette low. After abandoning her promising stage career for the bright lights of Hollywood, we find Rachel's sitcom has failed spectacularly. She returns home via Alanis' "Uninvited" ballad to find her dads are getting a divorce and her home up for sale. Wow, Glee, not living up to your series title. This is pretty bleak.

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It's quickly clear that Rachel isn't the only one having an awful time of it. Blaine and Kurt have broken up (again, of course) after some commitment-nerves related squabbling leaves both of them rather miserable. On the upside, Blaine has been appointed a non-teaching position as adviser to the Warblers (which is swell given Dalton famously has no actual teachers). He's right at home digging his heels where he feels most comfortable, jumping on furniture and singing our favorite Top 40 hits.

It's obvious both Rachel and Blaine have come home to Lima to lick their wounds and regroup, but Kurt starts this season off with hopes of moving on. With a year of work-study ahead of him, speed dating and a new Tinder account, he's ready to get back out there. That is until he has an emotional breakdown and realizes he made a horrible mistake breaking things off with Blaine. Oh well, we've got to get the gang back to Lima somehow right?

Everyone’s favorite track-suit clad villain is also back with a true reign of terror over good old William McKinley High School. Sue Sylvester is terrifying as ever, if a little bit overboard with her tyranny. (I thought the releasing the hounds bit was a nice touch though!) She also has a good point about the boomerang quality of the Glee club’s shinning stars. I’m sure we’ll be exploring that this season!

Meanwhile, Rachel seeks counsel with Will Schuester who is now coaching Vocal Adrenaline. Well, as much as one can coach that dancing and singing well-oiled machine. The ex-New Directions coach seems to be doing pretty well though, with the most adorable baby boy on prime-time TV and a pay raise.

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 But he is unhappy with the lack of challenge in his life and he’s still got some Yoda-like advice for Rachel.  She decides to take matters into her own hands and revive the Glee club, enlisting Kurt’s help with that plan when he comes back to Lima to get Blaine back.

Too bad it’s too little too late when Kurt meets with Blaine to ask his forgiveness and pick up where they left off. We get to see the return of fan-favorite Dave Karofsky (Max Adler) in a way we would never have imagined (if spoilers weren’t rampant on the internet) as Blaine’s new beau. It turns out Dave reminded a heartbroken Blaine about what a good person Kurt was to forgive Dave’s bullying and that Blaine should forgive Blaine in turn. I don’t think anyone is concerned about the endgame status of the beloved Klaine, but I do hope Glee does right by Dave Karofsky, adorable Yogi Bear that he is.

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We close this first episode with the inevitable rendition of "Let It Go". Because it is inevitable. But what a beautiful rendition it was and an excellent way to officially start off this final season of Glee. We’re going to have to let it go.

Friday night's second episode "Homecoming" kicked off at Dalton Academy with a clever meta montage of Blaine trying out life as Darren Criss (lovely curls and all). It doesn't go well so instead he finds a comfy home in good old Gay Hogwarts (Dalton). The steady constancy and homoeroticism of the hallowed (and teacher-less) halls of the all boy's school is shaken by its first female student, Jane Hayward a ray of righteous sunlight that’s not about to deal with the boy’s-only nonsense. The Warblers close ranks against the new (and only) girl in school which sends Blaine into a moral conundrum about what to do.

Meanwhile in McKinley, Rachel gathers the forces of the Old New Directions to find fresh blood for her New New Directions. With everyone back in town and signed on to help, they set to trying to recruit from every group in the school from the football team to the Young Tea Party Patriots. It’s a fun introduction to the new generation, a smaller bunch than the last (failed) attempt at injecting new life into the Glee club.

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After a somewhat awkward dinner with his friends, ex-fiance, and ex-teacher, Blaine decides to do the right thing and tells Jane that even though the Warblers are against it, he’s willing to put his job on the line to make sure she’s one of them.

Sue tries to take down Rachel’s fledgling Glee club from the inside by enlisting the help of Post-Modern Gay Football player by offering him sex toys. As it turns out he ends up having a strong moral backbone (and some singing chops) and refuses.

Roderick (who appears to be Finn’s spirit come to save the Glee club) gives the best performance of these two episodes and is poised to be the new star of New Directions along with a pair of cheerful cheerleading twins, the post-modern gay football player, and (after deciding to choose her battles and join a glee club who appreciates her) St. Jane our new Queen.

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What are your feelings on this super-sized premiere for Glee's very last season?