I’ve watched this video a ridiculous amount of times at this point, and I’m very intrigued by what was supposed to be determined here, what this “duel” accomplished. I’m also fascinated by the sexual undertones here between two gay characters. Whether played purposely by Grant and/or Naya (or, perhaps, they’re both just sexy and can’t help it), the tension is there.

But watch Sebastian’s face the first time he sings “Annie, are you okay?” This line follows the moment he runs his hands along Santana’s arm, and she turns to him with a look with a mixture of shock and a little bit of…concern.

I think we’ve all assumed by his advances towards Blaine and hanging out in a gay bar that Sebastian is gay, and I think we’ve assumed right. It’s very possible that Sebastian, knowing what we do know about him, could end up being bisexual. But whether he’s gay or bisexual, Sebastian is sexually prominent right from the beginning.

Keeping that in mind, I think the shock on Santana’s face when he touches her in such a suggestive manner indicates that she knows how dangerous Sebastian can be. (That’s also heightened by the fact that Sebastian delivers the line about blood first…signifying he’s got the control?) As far as she knows, he’s gay. She’s gay. This duel should be all about anger and aggression. But Sebastian immediately adds this sexual element I’m guessing Santana wasn’t counting on. I think that briefly shakes her, which really adds fuel to Grant’s delivery of the first “Annie, are you okay?”

So when Sebastian stares at her and smirks, “Annie, are you okay?” I feel like, in the song, Annie is Santana. With every “Annie,” he utters, his emphasis and expression matches that how he’s feeling towards Santana. He surveys her body up and down a couple of times. He smirks more than once. Right before Santana belts out her “I don’t know”s (a sign of uncertainty perhaps?), Sebastian actually chuckles and shakes his head as if amused and backs away, making sure to keep looking back at her. 

Sebastian’s “Annie, are you okay?”s always seem to be addressed to Santana while Santana’s inflection of those lyrics are aggressive and challenging. Sebastian’s are mocking and this deadly playful tone, if that makes sense. He definitely takes on that cat persona of the cat/mouse dynamic they have here (a dynamic and expression often paired with sexual tension between two characters). 

Then, consider that Santana is the one to sing the “I don’t know. I don’t know, baby” lyrics. “I don’t know” seems to be a direct answer to the question “Annie, are you okay?” Sebastian is pretty much on the offensive and has control the entire time while Santana changes back and forth between retreating and standing her ground.

Plus, based on the camera angle at the end, I’d say we’re supposed to get the feeling that while they’re pretty evenly matched, Sebastian may have ended as the “winner” here. Now we can’t be 100% sure until we see the aftermath of this performance, but if that proves to be true, it’s safe to say that Santana=Annie, and she’s been struck by Sebastian=Smooth Criminal.

I’m positive I’m overanalyzing this. But it’s at least my head canon for this performance. Either way, I’m obsessed with the performance and with Sebtana, my new crackship.

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