Who would watch a TV show about high school students who are in the glee club? Well, as someone who enjoys musical theater, dancing, singing, and drama, I watched every season of Glee three times and loved every minute of it. I continue to rewatch certain episodes of Glee when I need a good laugh, when I need drama in my life, or simply when I get bored. I can say with confidence that I will never tire of watching Glee because it keeps viewers, like myself, coming back for more. Before I delve into the show, be prepared for loads of petty high school drama.
The TV show Glee follows a group of high school teenagers as they try to deal with the struggles of high school by channeling their energy into the Glee Club (The New Directions) led by their Spanish teacher. The group originally starts with the outcasts of the school: Tina Cohen-Chang (the goth girl with a stutter), Artie Abrams (the nerd in a wheelchair), Kurt Hummel (the closeted gay teen), Mercedes Jones (the diva with few friends), and Rachel Berry (the Photo Source talented self-driven girl with no friends). The director of this motley crew happens to be the Spanish teacher, Mr. Will Schuster. Throughout the first season, new members join the club – whether they wanted to or not – and would make up the entirety of the New Directions. Finn Hudson, the quarterback of the football team, joins the club because Mr. Schuster found marijuana in his locker; Finn was given an ultimatum: join the glee club or face expulsion. Quinn Fabray, Santana Lopez, and Brittany Pierce, who are all cheerleaders, try out for the New Directions with orders to spy on the teacher and the club for their cheer coach: Sue Sylvester. Sue’s primary mission throughout the show is to “Destroy the Glee Club.”
Glee falls on my list of must-watch TV shows for many reasons:
1. Amazing Cast
To start, the talent alone of the cast members in this show should be enough of a reason for anyone to watch Glee. Several members in this cast have been nominated for prestigious awards, including Tony awards, Golden Globes, Primetime Emmy Awards, People’s Choice Awards, Satellite Awards, and even an Oliver Award. These actors entertain all audiences and amaze anyone willing to watch.
(Video of Jane Lynch winning the Golden Globe for “Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television” for her performance as Sue Sylvester on Glee)
2. Incredible Musical Performances
If there is one part of the show Glee that falls short, it most certainly is not the musical numbers performed. These performances captivate viewers; they are out-of-this-world. Some of my favorite performances from Glee include “Don’t Stop Believing” (Season 1 Ep. 1), “And I am Telling You” (Season 1 Ep. 13), “Me Against the Music” (Season 2 Ep. 2), “Smooth Criminal” (Season 3 Ep. 11), and “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” (Season 3. Ep. 21). You also cannot forget about the number of musicals the club performs in the show like The Rocky Horror Picture Show and West Side Story.
3. Character Arcs Photo Source.
Someone should also watch Glee for the character arcs of each character. For example, Rachel learns to not care what others think and to follow her dreams of playing Fanny Bryce in Funny Girl on Broadway. Finn unlocks his true passion for music; he does not have to choose between football and the glee club. Sue learns to accept the glee club, but more importantly gives Becky Jackson, a student with Down Syndrome, the chance to be on the cheer team and as her secretary.
(Video of Rachel Berry performing “I’m the Greatest Star” as Fanny Bryce in Funny Girl on Broadway. Season 5 Ep. 17)
4. Celebrity Appearances
Another reason to watch Glee is for the number of recurring characters played by A-list celebrities. This list includes Kristen Chenoweth, Idina Menzel, Johnathan Groff, Gwyneth Paltrow, Demi Lovato, Adam Lambert, John Stamos, Neil Patrick Harris, Olivia Newton-John, and Brittney Spears. The constant celebrity cameos excite viewers and add spice to the show.
5. Drama
It cannot be just me who loves teen drama on TV. Well, the high school drama that exists in the Glee universe is too juicy not to love. Quinn Fabray gets pregnant as a sophomore in high school but not with her boyfriend’s baby. There is a search for Rachel’s real mom who later ends up adopting Quinn’s baby. Kurt is bullied by a football jock who later turns out to be gay himself. The love triangles in Glee add to the drama and make the show more exciting. My favorite love triangle occurs in seasons 1 and 2 of Glee: Quinn loves Finn, but Finn loves Rachel, and Rachel loves Finn but also has a side “fling” with Finn’s best friend, Puck, who was the one who got Quinn pregnant. All of this keeps viewers like me coming back for more after each episode.
(Video of a massive fight between best friends Quinn Fabray and Santana Lopez. Season 2 Ep. 1)
When it comes to Glee, there is so much more to it than meets the eye. What starts as a TV show about teens in a high school glee club emerges into a show full of character development, an emotional roller coaster of a storyline, and musical numbers that celebrate a wide range of artists. More importantly, however, is that Glee teaches viewers the important messages of acceptance, self-love, and hope. Teens watching Glee are inspired to be proud of who they are. Ultimately, I strongly recommend Glee to all people who enjoy music, like to watch the drama unfold, and like to laugh.
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