Glee ran its final episode just this past March, after a six-year run on the Fox network. In its heyday (circa seasons one through maybe four) Glee broke records with viewers, won a Golden Globe, and even went on a live concert tour. Although it may be over, here are eight reasons why Glee was undoubtedly the best show ever.
1. The Characters
Ryan Murphy, the show’s director, did an amazing job with casting for Glee. Interestingly, some of the actor’s and actresses’ auditions inspired their Glee character development. For example, Lea Michele’s pianist messed up during her audition for the show, and her reaction inspired Rachel Berry’s character. Additionally, Chris Colfer impressed Murphy so much that they wrote in the character of Kurt Hummel just for him.
Additionally, Cory Monteith (who sadly passed away before the series ended), played Finn Hudson with such charm and humility that it is difficult to imagine anyone else in that role. Equally hilarious were Britney S Pierce’s one-liners, and Coach Sylvester’s dead-pan, cruel humor that simultaneously made fans cringe and burst out laughing. The writers did an amazing job balancing her character with cruelty and kindness, and Lynch’s acting brought the character to life.
2. The Drama
Pregnancies, fake pregnancies, adoption, cheating, attempted suicides, homelessness, sexuality— Glee just about tackled it all at some point during the series. The show wasn’t afraid to talk about the hard issues out in the open, which caused some controversy throughout the series. When the series began in 2009, the US was still fighting for equality and gay rights. The show introduced Kurt Hummel, and followed him through his hardships of coming out and being gay in a very conservative, midwestern community.
The show also addressed teenage pregnancy right off the bat in season one, with Quinn Fabray’s pregnancy with (presumably) Finn, which she blames on an “incident” in the hot tub. The plot tackled how the US deals with sex and abstinence, sex education, and the reality that teen moms face. There was also the fake pregnancy scandal with Will Schuester’s wife, and the discovery was possibly one of the most intense TV moments in history.
3. The Music
Nothing was better than seeing the Glee cast do a rendition of a current popular song, or doing a throwback from the 80s. Part of what made Glee so amazing was the incredible talent that cast possessed to pull off these numbers. Several members came from Broadway, while others had no professional experience— just raw talent!
Some of the best episodes were ones that centered on certain artists or genres, such as the Michael Jackson episode or the Whitney Houston episode. Also unforgettable was the “Britney” episode, in which Britney S. Pierce convinces herself she is Britney Spears, and the New Directions perform all of Britney’s old songs. Additionally, the song featured in the pilot episode of Glee, Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’,” won a Grammy and was one of the most popular covers Glee ever performed.
4. The Guest Stars
Glee was absolutely filled with the best-of-the-best for guest stars. In the first season, Idina Menzel played Vocal Adrenaline’s coach, as well as Rachel’s birth mother. Kristen Chenoweth also guest-starred as April Rhodes, a washed-up former glee club member. Both actresses were in the original Broadway version of Wicked.
Later in the series, Sarah Jessica Parker guest-starred as Kurt’s boss at Vogue.com, which was a lovely addition to the fourth season, especially when Glee began losing its momentum. Kate Hudson also made an appearance in the fourth season as Rachel’s bitter and snippy dance teacher at the New York Academy for the Dramatic Arts. Other fun guest stars that did not have reoccurring roles were Ricky Martin, Lindsay Lohan, and Perez Hilton.
5. The Message
Glee whole-heartedly grasped the idea that being yourself is okay. Many of the cast members supported this notion on and off camera, through video campaigns and the “No H8” campaign. Glee focused on the idea that high school is one of the most judgmental places for teenagers to be, and this show was extremely influential in giving kids the confidence to be themselves. While many popular shows that aired around the same time as Glee, like Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars, none projected such a powerful and inspirational message that empowered a generation.