Ninety minutes: That's how long Tuesday night's Glee has to deal with the one of the root causes of teenage angst — self-esteem woes — with the super-sized installment set against a song list climaxing with Lady Gaga's Born this Way. (Not only has the song hit the top of the charts, it's earned one of pop culture's current crowns: being featured in its own Gleepisode).

Sure, fans will get a taste of high school problems both conventional — Quinn's quest to be prom queen, Rachel's anguish about her distinctive nose — and not so common (counselor Emma's battle with obsessive-compulsive disorder). But most importantly, one of the season's main storylines is poised to come to a head: Kurt's ongoing struggle as a gay teen, his progress now intertwined with that of closeted classmate (and major bully) Dave Karofsky.

Glee advisor (and Spanish teacher — although when is this guy actually in a regular classroom?) Mr. Schuester will no doubt come to the rescue and teach his talented-but-overlooked band of outcasts about self-acceptance. We can't forget Glee's perennial "I am beautiful, no matter what they say" motto.

Kurt's battle to define himself and live his life freely has been one of the most emotional and gripping aspects of the series thus far. His development and the poignant scenes showing his nuanced relationship with his father have made for strong television. It's as juicy as the show gets — aside from the literal "juicing" the singing teens get nearly every week when they're slushied in the face.

The show has received some criticism for its strong focus on teen homosexuality, but it exists in a North American cultural fabric that has barely skimmed the issue. And adolescent hardships of all stripes — including trying to accept one's sexual orientation — are the backbone of high school-set shows.

I see only one potential problem Tuesday night: will the inevitably flamboyant finale performance draw too much attention from a key Glee plotline? My fingers are crossed that mixing in the outrageous Gaga won't overshadow Kurt — and Karofsky's — story.

— Leviana Coccia