Wedding bells certainly seem as if they could be ringing in Glee's fourth season finale as Blaine is definitely caught up in the wave of excitement washing over the country as same-sex marriage continues to inch closer to being legal in all 50 states.
During the Fox musical's penultimate hour of the season, Blaine (Darren Criss) went so far as to ask Burt (Mike O'Malley) permission to marry his son, Kurt (Chris Colfer). What he didn't count on, however, was for Burt to continue being the voice of reason and warn the teenager that there's no reason he should rush the relationship, as they're too young for marriage.
Despite the common sense talk, the promos for the fourth season finale, fittingly titled "All Or Nothing" as the proposal and Regionals are both prominent story lines, Blaine seems to be marching ahead with his plan -- asking BFF Sam (Chord Overstreet) to be his best man and ring shopping where he meets the likes of Patty Duke.
The Hollywood Reporter caught up with Criss to preview Blaine's big move and how the season will end for one of Glee's most beloved (on and off again) couples.
PHOTOS: 'Glee' Season 4 in Pictures
The Hollywood Reporter: What can you tease about Blaine's proposal to Kurt in the finale?
Criss: Blaine's fixing to get engaged and he wants to propose. Blaine is really excited about the progression of what's happening with marriage equality in the country and he's getting really invigorated by the excitement in the air. We're obviously miles, if not light years ahead of where we were as little as five years ago and Blaine gets wrapped up in that. He really wants to be a part of it, though I think he's a bit young. Marriage equality is one thing and getting married when you're far too young and not ready for it is another, which could be an interesting thing to explore. When you do look at marriage equality, then you look at the mature side of it, which is: OK, now that this can happen, let's treat it as responsibly as everybody else should in the world. We'll see if Kurt and Blaine do. I don't know if they do, but he definitely wants to get married.
THR: How will Kurt respond to Blaine's wedding talk?
Criss: I don't think Kurt knows. I don't think Kurt knows so we'll see. I've yet to know that. I don't know. We'll see. We'll see how he reacts.
PHOTOS: 'Glee's' Unforgettable Guest Stars
THR: You also got to work with Patty Duke, who plays an openly gay jewelry store owner who takes Blaine under her wing.
Criss: What a treat that was. She's textbook darling. She's been through a lot in her life and is no stranger to media attention and the pitfalls that that entails. She's very graceful, generous, friendly and just burst of energy and delight. Everybody was so obsessed with her. I had an exchange with Sean Astin that day and told him, "I'm taking your mom out on a date tonight and I mean that." So she was great and Meredith Baxter was gorgeous. I love working with her. She has this very understated, straight-faced humor where she has this very sarcastic sensibility that I immediately gravitated toward. They have been friends for years so seeing them doing a role together after they've been out for the same things for a large part of their careers was really fun to see them catching up.
THR: What's the nature of Blaine's relationship with them?
Criss: Patty Duke's character, Jan, sees a bit of herself in Blaine and it goes from there.
THR: Might we see a proposal before the season ends or will it be a cliffhanger?
Criss: I don't know if it will be a cliffhanger. I don't know how they're going to cut it. We shot a variety of different things and I don't know what they're going to use. It's good to end a season on a cliffhanger, but it also ends at Regionals so we still have a year to go -- there's no graduation or anything.
THR: That's something we haven't seen Glee do before -- extend its school year into next season.
Criss: It is a big change, but it's also a nice way to keep us around a little longer, which is fine for me. Maybe we'll be stuck in senior year for the next two seasons! (Laughs)
THR: Do you want to see Blaine head to New York?
Criss: I don't mind. I want to see Blaine doing something. New York would be cool. You have to be economic with what stories you're telling so people can't just go off to other cities in the world. If he goes to New York, I wouldn't see that as such a surprise. Blaine really would like to go to New York, he wants to be wherever Kurt is. I'm really happy with this season; they really wrote a lot for Blaine, which I'm very grateful for. I've also gotten to spend a lot of time with Chord Overstreet and Blaine and Sam's relationship has been really fun. Our little bromance is just as real off-screen as it is on-screen and we've been very thankful. We sent a little something to the writers at the end of the season thanking them for really developing our characters and giving us a chance to really get to know each other and play.
PHOTOS: 'Glee's' Season 4 Premiere Party
THR: Your tour sold out in minutes. That must feel amazing.
Criss:It does! I didn't think that would happen and I was OK with that not happening. I took a leap of faith of going to places that I've never been before for a show and I'm very pleased to say that I guess I'm not the only one that's excited about going on tour. Although I do think most of the tickets were bought by my mom.
THR: Any chance some of your Glee co-stars will join you?
Criss: We'll see! I certainly have to step up my game a little bit now that those people are actually coming to this thing so I'll try and give people their money's worth. If they're available, I think most of the Glee kids are probably off in beautiful, exotic places not going on tour and relaxing. I am crazy and can't stop working so if I can convince them to come out from under the hole that they have probably dug themselves comfortably in for relaxation time, then that would be fun.
What are you looking forward to seeing in Glee's fourth season finale? Hit the comments below with your thoughts. Glee airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. on Fox.
Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit
